On the one hand, it’s not fair for a coach or athletic director to unfairly limit a player’s choices. It’s the player’s career and life.

On the other hand, these schools invest a lot in student athletes. Full-tuition scholarships for non-resident players are worth a lot of money, not to mention what’s included in academic support and training table meals.

Recently, I commented over at The Ralphie Report that I agreed with the approach taken by Dan Hawkins and the CU administration to limit Josh Smith to transferring to USC. It’s not that I think they should have an unlimited power to limit transfers, but they asked Smith why he was transferring and, when they got his answer, gave him the option to transfer to a school that fit his criteria. Obviously, not everyone agrees with that, and this is probably the first time in a long time I’ve disagreed with the Rock M Nation guys.

I’d like to see a compromise drawn. A school should be forced to let a player transfer if he wants to, but the right to transfer shouldn’t be unlimited. Schools should have a reasonable ability to limit the schools to which a player can transfer. Certainly all conference schools should be out, as well as any non-conference opponents scheduled during the player’s remaining eligibility, if the school so elects. At the same time, in situations where a school limits the number of schools to which a player can transfer, that player should be able to play immediately the following season.