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PROVO — Complain away ad nauseam, but the changing world of constant roster shuffling in college athletics is the new normal.
Across the country, from the best down through the ranks, no program is safe from defections. Think of it as free agency gone berserk, ratcheting up several levels with a term that previously was associated with professional sports.
But at least the professional leagues have some parameters, such as salary caps and rules against tampering. Anything goes in college football and basketball, sports that have run amok as players hopscotch in search of better situations through the transfer portal.
Depending upon each individual situation, coaches are gutted to lose potential impact athletes or pleased at the prospect of freeing up another scholarship. Regarding the repeated transfers, coaches go biblical by saying the portal "giveth and it taketh."
"Betrayal" is a more appropriate emotion in the case of BYU football, which lost its potential top receiver when Kody Epps put his name in the transfer portal on Sunday, the deadline for which players can maintain immediate eligibility next season at a new school. The decision crushed BYU coaches, who had Epps host a potential transfer on a recruiting trip the day before.
Epps told the staff he was evaluating his options, but a return is not expected. Hard feelings likely would get in the way.
According to the university's athletic website, the football "program is guided by three distinct principles — tradition, spirit and honor." Better push the cash angle, too.
As anyone associated with college sports knows full well, players can get money off their name, image and likeness, known as NIL. The new rules are dominating to the point Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said last season in short order the top 25 in football will correspond to the best NIL payouts.
Addressing the issue, Utah's athletic department held a press conference last month to launch a new NIL program. Colorado Rockies owner Charlie Monfort, a Utah graduate, was imported to rally Utah fans to help players make cash.
"Recruiting is the most important thing to succeed in college football over anything else, hands down," Whittingham said at the event. "The biggest advantage to gain in recruiting is NIL resources, without a doubt. It's the No. 1 thing that moves the needle, that allows you to retain a roster and recruit new guys into the program."
The message was clear: Pony up so we can win. Family money on three.
But who can blame the Utes? Rose Bowl appearances don't grow on scholarships.
Going public with the need to beef up talent at the wide receiver group, Utah probably is interested in signing Epps. NCAA rules prohibit schools from offering money directly, but in essence the amount was slightly more than the number he could get by staying at BYU.
BYU's payout was competitive, especially for a sometimes injured but productive player. Listed at 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, Epps had 39 receptions for 459 yards and six touchdowns in eight games as a sophomore before being sidelined last season.
Tennessee likely is considered a leading candidate to get him. Two BYU starters — cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally and linebacker Keenan Pili — transferred to Tennessee over the winter.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee's head coach, has strong Utah ties, having been a quarterback at Weber State and Snow College. He was also Utah State's offensive coordinator in 2015.
Remember, though, BYU can greatly benefit from the transfer portal next season. Several new players, including former Pitt and USC quarterback Kedon Slovis and former Utah State linebacker AJ Vongphachanh, are expected to start next season.
Some programs, such as Utah State, can lose up to 25% of its scholarship players over the offseason. Most every program can count on multiple players seeking greener pastures.
"This is not a Logan problem; this is an NCAA football program," Utah State coach Blake Anderson said recently. "And it's not going back."
In other words, quit griping.
