This Week in HS Sports: Coaches continue to express frustration and concerns about HS transfers

This is an opinion article.

Another high school football season is upon us, and the watchwords this week are the same as they have been for the past three years.

Transfers to secondary schools.

Just a week ago, as part of our four-part anonymous survey of coaches, AL.com published an article about the number of student-athlete transfers this summer and coaches’ concerns about what can or will be done about it in the future.

The topic dominated conversation at the Mobile County HS Football Media Days for the second year in a row and continues to be a topic of conversation across the state.

David Faulkner is an experienced coach who has coached programs at numerous high schools in the southern part of the state (Fairhope, Enterprise, and now McGill-Toolen).

“A parent and a child have the right to go to a school where they feel they belong,” he said. “I don’t think the transfer issue is the overriding issue. The real issue is whether schools are following the transfer process. I think that’s where we have a problem.

“Are people getting too much help or not doing the right thing? It’s not up to me to judge. I have to give it to the Association. Are they (AHSAA) doing what they need to do to make sure everyone has a fair chance? At McGill, if you don’t want to be at our school and play with us, that’s fine. Go play for someone else. We need and want people to play with their hearts out for McGill-Toolen every Friday night.”

Many coaches I talk to believe that at least a handful of schools in the state are not following the rules. I know that’s not a shocking observation. Another troubling observation among coaches — as we detailed in last week’s article — is whether the Alabama High School Athletic Association can or will do anything to curb the transfer issue.

“We were in Montgomery last week (for All-Star Sports Week and coaching seminars) and we went over the transfer policy in about two minutes,” said St. Paul’s head coach Ham Barnett. “That told me it wasn’t that important.”

Barnett and the Saints have lost several players to other Gulf Coast schools in recent years, and his growing irritation was all too evident this week.

“It’s sad what high school football has become,” he said. “It’s not an amateur sport anymore. Leaders lead. The way to lead is to make tough decisions. We need to have a backbone in Montgomery. Make up the rules and enforce them.”

Of course, the AHSAA leadership has changed recently. Former executive director Alvin Briggs announced his retirement this spring. Former Oxford High principal Heath Harmon is the new man in charge. His job is not to make the rules but to enforce the rules set by the member schools.

As I said, I like what I’ve heard from Harmon so far. His first priority is probably getting the staff in Montgomery together, but the transfer and NIL in high school will definitely be at the top of his list. Barnett, for one, isn’t optimistic about significant changes.

“Yes, sir,” he said. “Something has to be done. Do I think it will be done? No. I am not certain it will be done.”

In my opinion, it’s too early to pass judgment on Harmon. We haven’t had our first sporting event under his watch yet.

I definitely agree that hearing about transfer after transfer is getting tiring. Many football athletes announced they were transferring to new schools THIS week, even though some high schools started fall camp on Monday and the rest will start next week.

New Faith Academy head coach Erik Speakman, a former Opelika coach, said three players have left his school since team photos were taken.

“I understand both sides,” he said. “At Faith, we’re a private Christian school, so of course we accept transfers. I can’t say we don’t accept transfers. That’s our business. But when you see kids leaving this week after coaches have spent all spring and summer with them, it’s tough.”

Parents have the right to make the best choice for their children. No one would question that. The legality of some moves, especially to some schools, remains an issue.

I understand that some people are tired of reading about this problem.

Honestly, I’m tired of writing about it.

But the issue — the problem — still exists, and it casts a shadow over what should be a great time of year as we celebrate another sports season just around the corner. I believe the attitude has simply permeated college, where athletes continue to enter the NCAA transfer portal at record rates.

I see more and more coaches – both old and young – at the high school level who seem exhausted and frustrated with the challenges of today and the profession in general. That worries me and I definitely pray that it changes.

I have had the opportunity to see first hand over the last 35 years the huge impact that coaches and teachers have on our youth. I saw it in my own life in the 80s. I see it in my 12 year old son’s life today. I have certainly seen it in my chosen profession.

It is priceless and we cannot lose it.

Thought of the week

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily deceives, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

Ben Thomas is a school sports reporter at AL.com. He was named one of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 50 Legends. Follow him on Twitter @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]You can hear him weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free iHeart Radio app on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.