FB RECRUITING Prolific Princeton IOL transfer talks MTSU offer

[Shayne_Pickering]

Princeton IOL transfer Tommy Matheson is one of the top guys in the portal at his position. When he got the offer from MTSU, he was impressed with Kendall Simmons and Baer Hunter's pedigree as players. Here is everything he had to say on the offer:

Princeton OL transfer Tommy Matheson impressed by MTSU coaches' pedigree

Princeton interior offensive line transfer Tommy Matheson talks MTSU offer.

middletennessee.rivals.com

 

[RaiderDoug]

Got to land these guys.

IMHO, new coaches get a mulligan on year 1.

But year 2 we need to see something that looks like we can win a title by year 4. Need to get those Jimmys and Joes.

 

[Shayne_Pickering]

Got to land these guys.

IMHO, new coaches get a mulligan on year 1.

But year 2 we need to see something that looks like we can win a title by year 4. Need to get those Jimmys and Joes.

He just added offers from Cal and Stanford and is hearing from other academic P4s so might end up going that route but MTSU certainly is in the mix for some experienced and respected portal interior offensive lineman.

Two guys to watch that I think MTSU has a pretty good shot at: Harvard center Austin Gentle and Dartmouth guard Kyle Brown. Will have stories on them out tomorrow

 

[AustinLewis]

Got to land these guys.

IMHO, new coaches get a mulligan on year 1.

But year 2 we need to see something that looks like we can win a title by year 4. Need to get those Jimmys and Joes.

I’ve told a couple of people that if Mason goes 3-9 in 2025, that seat is going to be HOT in 2026.

Rumors that McPhee will retire summer 2026 meaning MT will have a new president

 

[MTLynn]

Rumors that McPhee will retire summer 2026 meaning MT will have a new president

I hope the university will have another president like Walker. 7-wood has been the antithesis.

 

[sWiley]

I’ve told a couple of people that if Mason goes 3-9 in 2025, that seat is going to be HOT in 2026.

Rumors that McPhee will retire summer 2026 meaning MT will have a new president

Ummm. Or just fire him ? 3-9 in season 2 is simply unacceptable. Head coaches have been let go for less than that

 

[MTTim]

Ummm. Or just fire him ? 3-9 in season 2 is simply unacceptable. Head coaches have been let go for less than that

The current regime won't fire him. They will just raise student fees to support the failing experiment that is MT athletics.

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

Are these rumors of McPhee true? I can’t believe that my diploma from 01 bears the name of the current president in 24. Unreal really.

I’m with Wiley on this one. Next year should be crunch time.

 

[RaiderDoug]

I’ve told a couple of people that if Mason goes 3-9 in 2025, that seat is going to be HOT in 2026.

As it should be. 2025 needs to show us something to believe in - bowl game, a better looking roster, etc.

Getting a coaching hire wrong is not something that kills your program or is something that is unique to anyone. Boot 'em and try again.

Sticking with a bad coach for 20 years is what kills you.

 

[AustinLewis]

I’m not sure if the rumors are true (which is why I said rumors). He’s 70 right now. His contract ends in 2026 (IIRC).

At some point, the man’s gonna retire (sooner rather than later).

 

[AustinLewis]

As it should be. 2025 needs to show us something to believe in - bowl game, a better looking roster, etc.

Getting a coaching hire wrong is not something that kills your program or is something that is unique to anyone. Boot 'em and try again.

Sticking with a bad coach for 20 years is what kills you.

Refusing to move on from a coach also kills program.

Going 3-9 isn’t what MT had in mind. Going 3-9 in back-to-back years is bad. If they have 3 straight losing seasons, I’m not sure MT pulls the plug. The seat is hot, but I’m not sold McPhee pulls plug.

That said, going 3-9 was a reset / year zero. Mason seemingly went ALL IN On his systems on both sides of the ball.

Recruiting is going much better. Interested to see how the young guys develop

 

[MT01]

I’m not sure if the rumors are true (which is why I said rumors). He’s 70 right now. His contract ends in 2026 (IIRC).

At some point, the man’s gonna retire (sooner rather than later).

About 20 years too late

 

[RaiderDoug]

Refusing to move on from a coach also kills program.

Going 3-9 isn’t what MT had in mind. Going 3-9 in back-to-back years is bad. If they have 3 straight losing seasons, I’m not sure MT pulls the plug. The seat is hot, but I’m not sold McPhee pulls plug.

That said, going 3-9 was a reset / year zero. Mason seemingly went ALL IN On his systems on both sides of the ball.

Recruiting is going much better. Interested to see how the young guys develop

I think it's going to be much harder for G5 programs to get back up off the mat quickly these days. I don't think it's a coincidence that all 3 of the new CUSA coaches went 3-9 or something like only 4 of 17 G5 new coaches had winning records.

The portal kills teams like us when there's a coaching change - at least before you could count on a few holdovers usually. But now, any player with a pulse is going to get poached.

Granted, that also means that there's a talent stream that was unavailable to us before - but you still have to get those guys in, get them situated and comfortable at a new place, have them learn new systems, new everything.

The more we see of the "new" college football, the more I think we're going to have to re-evaluate our expectations and what a successful rebuild timeline is. I think the year 1's are going to be harder, but years 2-4 might be a little easier to get better quickly as you don't have the roster turnover restrictions that the old college football had.

If we go 3-9 next year, we have a major problem.

 

[AustinLewis]

I think it's going to be much harder for G5 programs to get back up off the mat quickly these days. I don't think it's a coincidence that all 3 of the new CUSA coaches went 3-9 or something like only 4 of 17 G5 new coaches had winning records.

The portal kills teams like us when there's a coaching change - at least before you could count on a few holdovers usually. But now, any player with a pulse is going to get poached.

Granted, that also means that there's a talent stream that was unavailable to us before - but you still have to get those guys in, get them situated and comfortable at a new place, have them learn new systems, new everything.

The more we see of the "new" college football, the more I think we're going to have to re-evaluate our expectations and what a successful rebuild timeline is. I think the year 1's are going to be harder, but years 2-4 might be a little easier to get better quickly as you don't have the roster turnover restrictions that the old college football had.

If we go 3-9 next year, we have a major problem.

The portal hurts anyone who isn’t a top 25 / blue blood with NIL money coming out their ears.

Especially with multiple transfers.

I honestly don’t know how the personnel guys build a roster with unlimited transfer.

 

[sWiley]

Only way I can see it working is locking these kids into 4 year contracts with big buyouts if they want to leave.

They always bitched and complained that coaches could leave whenever they wanted and the kids couldn't. Well, those coaches also had to pay big money buyouts to "leave whenever they wanted."

The kids can too if they wanna leave that bad.

 

[DisgruntledAlum]

I’ve told a couple of people that if Mason goes 3-9 in 2025, that seat is going to be HOT in 2026.

Rumors that McPhee will retire summer 2026 meaning MT will have a new president

I was talking to a friend Thursday night who mentioned that McPhee and Massaro will be gone in 2025. I have nothing to base it off personally, but he is in the know at MT.

I told him I am not getting my hopes up, but I would welcome the change.

 

[ewglenn]

Only way I can see it working is locking these kids into 4 year contracts with big buyouts if they want to leave.

They always bitched and complained that coaches could leave whenever they wanted and the kids couldn't. Well, those coaches also had to pay big money buyouts to "leave whenever they wanted."

The kids can too if they wanna leave that bad.

I think that’s the only way to get this back on track. NIL needs buyouts but I feel there are two reasons why. Right now, a kid can leave with no repercussions, whenever they want to. At the same time, the coaches can literally tell the players to leave and get in the portal. Having buyouts in place would protect the school and the kids.

 

[ewglenn]

I was talking to a friend Thursday night who mentioned that McPhee and Massaro will be gone in 2025. I have nothing to base it off personally, but he is in the know at MT.

I told him I am not getting my hopes up, but I would welcome the change.

That’s along the lines of what I’ve heard. I think 25-26 academic year makes sense. I also wouldn’t be shocked if he went another 10 years though.

 

[MTTim]

I think that’s the only way to get this back on track. NIL needs buyouts but I feel there are two reasons why. Right now, a kid can leave with no repercussions, whenever they want to. At the same time, the coaches can literally tell the players to leave and get in the portal. Having buyouts in place would protect the school and the kids.

Restrict the player to one student requested transfer. Alow transfer if coach leaves. Pay out NIL based on a full season plus bowl/cfp.

 

[MTTim]

That’s along the lines of what I’ve heard. I think 25-26 academic year makes sense. I also wouldn’t be shocked if he went another 10 years though.

Unless we make a bowl game. SM wouldn't miss out on a free trip.

 

[RaiderDoug]

I think that’s the only way to get this back on track. NIL needs buyouts but I feel there are two reasons why. Right now, a kid can leave with no repercussions, whenever they want to. At the same time, the coaches can literally tell the players to leave and get in the portal. Having buyouts in place would protect the school and the kids.

I still think the soccer model is the best.

You sign a player to X year "NIL" contract. If he wants to leave or a P5 team comes calling, they buy you out. You re-invest that into more players.

 

[AustinLewis]

I still think the soccer model is the best.

You sign a player to X year "NIL" contract. If he wants to leave or a P5 team comes calling, they buy you out. You re-invest that into more players.

At some point, I think you're gonna see players signed to 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 year contracts for the players, with "outs" if they graduate or if there is a coaching change (or, like you suggested, a P4 pays the buyout).

 

[MidTennMtneer]

Contracts will come. But not till some legislation is put in place (which is possible with who controls the Senate now as Rep favor anti-trust exemption for the NCAA more), or CBAs are enacted.

Until either the NCAA can't be sued for restrictions, or the players have a say, the litigation won't stop and no contracts or buyouts will ever happen.

I agree that should be how it is though. Buyouts along with freshman not being eligible. This offering a high school senior a huge contract when he hasn't played a down of college ball is ridiculous. Keep in mind I'm talking about revenue share. For what NIL is "supposed" to be, ie advertising spokesperson, none of us have a problem. Thing is if that isn't fixed too then back door payments will be made for imaginary advertising.