Softball Transfers

[JMV JustMyView]

Glad to see the Cajuns getting more transfers! We have had a solid softball program for years so to see the team continuing to succeed always makes me happy! Ari definitely sounds promising, as she has more experience. Hopefully these two transfers can make an impact next season!

Very good post for a 14 year old fan.

[lcitsh]

Ok. I get it. Gerry likes to recruit. And it's easier and quicker to recruit a proven (to a certain degree) Division 1 player who is immediately looking for a home than it is a high school player that is unproven against Division 1 competition and one you have to wait for. I also understand that the way the transfer portal is now arranged has dynamically changed college athletics. But there are lessons to be learned from those who have used transfers for years and have remained at the highest level of Division 1 softball.

Superficially, I don't have a problem using the portal for recruiting purposes. I do have a problem with overstocking your team with somebody else's players. It sends a message that you can't evaluate talent as you watch them over the 4-6 years they are in high school and travel ball nor train them once they are on your roster. If you look at the programs that have successfully utilized transfers over the years and are among the elite in college softball, when they recruit transfers, they are normally impact pitchers, not position players. Even when they do get a position player, it's never more than 2, they never bring in someone who will disrupt the core of the team. The core of the team is the incoming freshman class that is trained by the upperclassmen in the reality of what this program is about. Those who don't "get it" are never allowed into positions of leadership and influence, and cannot damage the flow of the program.

From my perspective, if Gerry keeps bringing in more transfers, he will rarely, if ever, make it beyond regionals. I know it's not true in every case, but transfers are about their own agenda. They leave a program for their own reasons and they bring those issues with them. It doesn't matter if they are transferring with 1, 2 or 3 years of eligibility left, they have to be taught the new system and the core values of that new team. The more transfers there are, the longer it takes and the more difficult the task.

There is one thing about this program that is the same as at every other elite program in the country: it does not rebuild, it reloads. There is only one thing left for this program to accomplish: win a national championship. Like other elite programs, it dominates it's league, it is successful against other elite programs, it hosts regionals, it wins regionals and super regionals, it has won games in the World Series. If Gerry will take one season to let his core recruits establish the foundation that all other recruiting classes must abide, he will find that it won't take long to be in the World Series and become a viable threat to win the national championship. It will happen quicker without transfers.

[CajunVic]

Ok. I get it. Gerry likes to recruit. And it's easier and quicker to recruit a proven (to a certain degree) Division 1 player who is immediately looking for a home than it is a high school player that is unproven against Division 1 competition and one you have to wait for. I also understand that the way the transfer portal is now arranged has dynamically changed college athletics. But there are lessons to be learned from those who have used transfers for years and have remained at the highest level of Division 1 softball.

Superficially, I don't have a problem using the portal for recruiting purposes. I do have a problem with overstocking your team with somebody else's players. It sends a message that you can't evaluate talent as you watch them over the 4-6 years they are in high school and travel ball nor train them once they are on your roster. If you look at the programs that have successfully utilized transfers over the years and are among the elite in college softball, when they recruit transfers, they are normally impact pitchers, not position players. Even when they do get a position player, it's never more than 2, they never bring in someone who will disrupt the core of the team. The core of the team is the incoming freshman class that is trained by the upperclassmen in the reality of what this program is about. Those who don't "get it" are never allowed into positions of leadership and influence, and cannot damage the flow of the program.

From my perspective, if Gerry keeps bringing in more transfers, he will rarely, if ever, make it beyond regionals. I know it's not true in every case, but transfers are about their own agenda. They leave a program for their own reasons and they bring those issues with them. It doesn't matter if they are transferring with 1, 2 or 3 years of eligibility left, they have to be taught the new system and the core values of that new team. The more transfers there are, the longer it takes and the more difficult the task.

There is one thing about this program that is the same as at every other elite program in the country: it does not rebuild, it reloads. There is only one thing left for this program to accomplish: win a national championship. Like other elite programs, it dominates it's league, it is successful against other elite programs, it hosts regionals, it wins regionals and super regionals, it has won games in the World Series. If Gerry will take one season to let his core recruits establish the foundation that all other recruiting classes must abide, he will find that it won't take long to be in the World Series and become a viable threat to win the national championship. It will happen quicker without transfers.

If I could give reputation, I would give this post a thumbs up. But no . . .

[JMV JustMyView]

Ok. I get it. Gerry likes to recruit. And it's easier and quicker to recruit a proven (to a certain degree) Division 1 player who is immediately looking for a home than it is a high school player that is unproven against Division 1 competition and one you have to wait for. I also understand that the way the transfer portal is now arranged has dynamically changed college athletics. But there are lessons to be learned from those who have used transfers for years and have remained at the highest level of Division 1 softball.

Superficially, I don't have a problem using the portal for recruiting purposes. I do have a problem with overstocking your team with somebody else's players. It sends a message that you can't evaluate talent as you watch them over the 4-6 years they are in high school and travel ball nor train them once they are on your roster. If you look at the programs that have successfully utilized transfers over the years and are among the elite in college softball, when they recruit transfers, they are normally impact pitchers, not position players. Even when they do get a position player, it's never more than 2, they never bring in someone who will disrupt the core of the team. The core of the team is the incoming freshman class that is trained by the upperclassmen in the reality of what this program is about. Those who don't "get it" are never allowed into positions of leadership and influence, and cannot damage the flow of the program.

From my perspective, if Gerry keeps bringing in more transfers, he will rarely, if ever, make it beyond regionals. I know it's not true in every case, but transfers are about their own agenda. They leave a program for their own reasons and they bring those issues with them. It doesn't matter if they are transferring with 1, 2 or 3 years of eligibility left, they have to be taught the new system and the core values of that new team. The more transfers there are, the longer it takes and the more difficult the task.

There is one thing about this program that is the same as at every other elite program in the country: it does not rebuild, it reloads. There is only one thing left for this program to accomplish: win a national championship. Like other elite programs, it dominates it's league, it is successful against other elite programs, it hosts regionals, it wins regionals and super regionals, it has won games in the World Series. If Gerry will take one season to let his core recruits establish the foundation that all other recruiting classes must abide, he will find that it won't take long to be in the World Series and become a viable threat to win the national championship. It will happen quicker without transfers.

Like I told you earlier when we where texting back and forth your feedback on softball is always appreciated. Great post and overview by the way! You are the man when it comes to Cajun softball and softball overall. I will call you tomorrow to discuss. Thanks Mr. H.

[Cajun Soldier]

Ok. I get it. Gerry likes to recruit. And it's easier and quicker to recruit a proven (to a certain degree) Division 1 player who is immediately looking for a home than it is a high school player that is unproven against Division 1 competition and one you have to wait for. I also understand that the way the transfer portal is now arranged has dynamically changed college athletics. But there are lessons to be learned from those who have used transfers for years and have remained at the highest level of Division 1 softball.

Superficially, I don't have a problem using the portal for recruiting purposes. I do have a problem with overstocking your team with somebody else's players. It sends a message that you can't evaluate talent as you watch them over the 4-6 years they are in high school and travel ball nor train them once they are on your roster. If you look at the programs that have successfully utilized transfers over the years and are among the elite in college softball, when they recruit transfers, they are normally impact pitchers, not position players. Even when they do get a position player, it's never more than 2, they never bring in someone who will disrupt the core of the team. The core of the team is the incoming freshman class that is trained by the upperclassmen in the reality of what this program is about. Those who don't "get it" are never allowed into positions of leadership and influence, and cannot damage the flow of the program.

From my perspective, if Gerry keeps bringing in more transfers, he will rarely, if ever, make it beyond regionals. I know it's not true in every case, but transfers are about their own agenda. They leave a program for their own reasons and they bring those issues with them. It doesn't matter if they are transferring with 1, 2 or 3 years of eligibility left, they have to be taught the new system and the core values of that new team. The more transfers there are, the longer it takes and the more difficult the task.

There is one thing about this program that is the same as at every other elite program in the country: it does not rebuild, it reloads. There is only one thing left for this program to accomplish: win a national championship. Like other elite programs, it dominates it's league, it is successful against other elite programs, it hosts regionals, it wins regionals and super regionals, it has won games in the World Series. If Gerry will take one season to let his core recruits establish the foundation that all other recruiting classes must abide, he will find that it won't take long to be in the World Series and become a viable threat to win the national championship. It will happen quicker without transfers.

^+1000 couldn't agree more

[Looney Lou]

" The core of the team is the incoming freshman class that is trained by the upperclassmen in the reality of what this program is about.

From my perspective, if Gerry keeps bringing in more transfers, he will rarely, if ever, make it beyond regionals. I know it's not true in every case, but transfers are about their own agenda. They leave a program for their own reasons and they bring those issues with them. It doesn't matter if they are transferring with 1, 2 or 3 years of eligibility left, they have to be taught the new system and the core values of that new team. The more transfers there are, the longer it takes and the more difficult the task.

If Gerry will take one season to let his core recruits establish the foundation that all other recruiting classes must abide, he will find that it won't take long to be in the World Series and become a viable threat to win the national championship. It will happen quicker without transfers.

I emphatically agree. I am getting the idea that Gerry does not like to teach.

In 2008, UL won its first game in the WCWS. There were 4 first time freshmen on the field. Gabby Bridges, 1b, Katie Smith, lf, Donna Bourgeois, P, and Ashley Brignac, P. There were 2 senior transfers, Vanessa Soto, 2b and Brooke Broadhead, ss. It can be done.

[CajunVic]

So, who is willing to wait?

Fans are not willing to wait for results.

Young freshmen recruits are not willing to wait and develop to play (look at the two recent transfers announced yesterday)

So, in this climate, where does a coach go?

It looks like it will be building a team, year in and year out. We better get used to it.

[roarman]

1420 just posted the transfer news today. Nothing like being a day late and a dollar short.

[ragin50]

1420 just posted the transfer news today. Nothing like being a day late and a dollar short.

They're still ahead of the UL website. Nothing there about it yet, $2 short.

[NewsCopy]

Two best friends who played softball together in the PAC-12 at the University of Washington are traveling down south together to play for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns.

The rest of the story
ESPN 1420

[CajunT]

They're still ahead of the UL website. Nothing there about it yet, $2 short.

Nothing is official until they are enrolled in class. Compliance doesn't allow them to list it on the official athletics website. It's been this way since I can remember.

[JMV JustMyView]

1420 just posted the transfer news today. Nothing like being a day late and a dollar short.

Most of the time it is guys like us telling them the scoop.