DELL COMMMENTARY: Need a reason to transfer? Wait you might not have to!

So you're an unhappy high school football player and want to transfer.

If you need a reason, borrow some of these that were given, reportedly, by a bunch of highly touted players who transferred to football behemoths such as St. Thomas Aquinas:

I lost too much on my offensive line.

I don't like the weight room.

I don't like the coaches.

Now nobody can beat us.

Attendance is too small and not enough college coaches can see me.

The dog ate my homework (I just made that one up -- couldn't help myself).

While Manatee County schools were celebrating their college signings, St. Thomas Aquinas and others shored up their teams for next season.

This clandestine raid of players never stops and affects football programs throughout the state, particularly here in Manatee County.

St. Thomas eliminated Braden River last season en route to winning its ninth state football championship. It already had a history of making things tough for Manatee, which is a reason the Hurricanes didn't feel bad about moving up to Class 8A.

This winter St. Thomas brought in a significant number of high-profile athletes. The list includes cornerback Al Blades Jr., whose 14 offers include Alabama and FSU; Elijah Moore, who has 16 offers including Michigan State; and Jordan Merrell, who has given an oral commitment to Cincinnati.

Hollywood Chaminade added quarterback Henry Colombi, whose transfer was due, reportedly, in part because he lost a

lot on his offensive line.

Oh, yeah, and he wants to win; a noble idea even if it sounds like the LeBron James methodology.

But none of this might be necessary.

There is a bill in the Florida State Senate and others in the House that would allow player transfers with virtually no restrictions.

It has created a divide among those who feel it will level the playing field and others who say it will make it worse.

School officials here and around the state don't like it. A number of parents throughout the state welcome it.

We need to level the playing field, advocates shout.

Be careful what you wish for the other side says.

Jason Montgomery, Director of Athletics for Manatee County, is throwing out caution flags and warning Buyer Beware. He fears it will create athletic Super Schools.

"The consensus in our district administration-wise is that this is completely off base and not in the interest of the schools or the kids," Montgomery says. "We have mechanisms in place for kids to be able to change schools and transfer but at same time provisions to prevent rampant recruiting and create a competitive balance."

Under the proposed senate bill sponsored by Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), students could transfer to their school of choice and be eligible immediately. It would allow any student to attend any school, regardless of where it is as long as the school has room for the student and their parents can provide the child's transportation.

Best of all, its proponents say, players will not need a reason.

Stargel and others have said parents want it and that is the impetus behind her bill and similar ones making their way through both houses of the state legislature.

Here is one problem.

Your son starts for school B and a kid who wasn't good enough to start at school C transfers and takes his job at mid-season. The only benefactor might be the coach.

"This is poorly thought out. In our school district there is a big difference between overpopulated and under populated schools," Montgomery says. "There are no seats available at Lakewood Ranch or Braden River."

Currently transfer students in Manatee County have to wait until the next sports season to participate unless they move into a school's residential zone.

The bill includes penalties for coaches or school officials found to be recruiting. But that is extremely difficult to prove.

Montgomery says if a parent wants it bad enough for his or her child they can move into that school's residential zone.

Montgomery makes a lot of good points and speaks from his heart, but the question is whether this free player movement is inevitable.

Parents today are more involved in their child's athletic lives than ever. They are demanding about their child's playing time and often blame the coach if their child doesn't get a college athletic scholarship.

It's enough to cry out: The dog ate my homework and coach couldn't stop him. I am leaving.

Alan Dell, Herald Sports Columnist/Writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter @ADellSports

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "DELL COMMMENTARY: Need a reason to transfer? Wait you might not have to! ."