The college football recruiting calendar has been condensed, altered, and evolved even in the last two to three years. The result is a chaotic December that includes a high school Signing Day and a transfer portal window in the middle of bowl season.
While many have criticized the players, UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor places the blame elsewhere, laying it at the foot of the sport’s decision-makers with some strong quotes ahead of his team’s appearance in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Jeff Traylor Blasts College Football Calendar
The December transfer portal window has drawn the ire of fans and college football coaches alike. Still, UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor had a different opinion when asked about the calendar craziness.
UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor talks about the transfer portal, recruiting calendar, academic calendar, and bowl game: “This is not the kids fault, this is the adults fault” pic.twitter.com/nMXvBbVK78
— JJ Perez (@theJJPerez) December 15, 2024
“I’ve said this before,” Traylor started. “This is not the kids’ fault; this is the adults’ fault. We’ve messed us up.”
Traylor was referencing the condensed December schedule that includes an entiire transfer portal window and a bowl schedule that often act in opposition to one another. Traylor expanded on his intial statement with a compelling argument.
“You have a football calendar going … that doesn’t match up with an academic calendar … You have two things working against each other. You have an academic calendar, and you have a football calendar that we all want finished.”
Traylor believes the kids suffer and that the coaches get a bad reputation for simply explaining their thoughts.
“The kids are in a bad spot,” Traylor continued. “The problem is when a coach tries to explain it, it sounds like we’re complaining and we’re just describing what’s really going on … I feel for the kids. They’re looked at as in the wrong here, and really, the adults are the ones who messed all this up.”
The transfer portal window technically runs from Dec. 9 to Dec. 29, during a time when there are 30 FBS postseason games. The window makes it extremely difficult for potential transfers to play bowl games and take the necessary visits to determine which school is the best fit for their next destination.
UTSA plays in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Monday, Dec. 23 at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN. Six Roadrunners are expected to miss the game while they’re in the transfer portal, a relatively low number compared to their opponents.
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