I hate to compare the 1970 Marshall tragedy to anything going on in the transfer portal in college football today, but the 37 players lost on that flight in 1970 stands as the biggest loss of players to one team in history of college football. Of course, then, the new coach Jack Lengyel had to rebuild that Marshall football team without a transfer portal, which was more than a daunting task. It was a near impossible challenge to become competitive. So, I do not want to compare Lengyel's and Marshall's daunting difficulty with Bryan Kelley's difficulties following heavy LSU players post Orgeron, or our coaching staff's tremendous challenges ahead. But a number is a number, and I believe the 37 players who had to be replaced at Marshall were the highest ever.
We are now at 28 players transferring out or in-process of transferring since Dec. 3. We must add to today's total of 27, the omission of WR Jones-Bell in the portal, so our total is now 28. With 21 days to go of an open transfer portal, I am now really wondering whether Bama will break Marshall's record of 37 for player losses? How far does this go? What do you think?
I will have tremendous admiration for Coach Deboer and the rest of the Bama football staff if our 2024 season has over 8 victories. I will categorize the task of a 10-win season as daunting at this stage. So many new players will be coming together with new coaches - some will have spring with the team and others will only have fall camp to be worked with. Again, a tremendously challenging task for the new coach, his staff, and the team. I did not think that it could go this deep into player losses, and losses of some excellent players.
We are now at 28 players transferring out or in-process of transferring since Dec. 3. We must add to today's total of 27, the omission of WR Jones-Bell in the portal, so our total is now 28. With 21 days to go of an open transfer portal, I am now really wondering whether Bama will break Marshall's record of 37 for player losses? How far does this go? What do you think?
I will have tremendous admiration for Coach Deboer and the rest of the Bama football staff if our 2024 season has over 8 victories. I will categorize the task of a 10-win season as daunting at this stage. So many new players will be coming together with new coaches - some will have spring with the team and others will only have fall camp to be worked with. Again, a tremendously challenging task for the new coach, his staff, and the team. I did not think that it could go this deep into player losses, and losses of some excellent players.
