My grandfather had a business policy that I never really understood until decades later. Whenever an employee told him they were turning in their two-week notice, he would thank them kindly, give them two weeks pay and show them the door for good. No notice needed.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel should let it sink in.
At the time, I thought the move was vindictive and maybe just plain mean. It was not. It was wise. Heupel should do the same thing when it comes to players who have announced their intention to enter the transfer portal with a first-round, NCAA college football playoff trip to Ohio State on the line on Jan. 20.
Last I checked, the portal stays open until Dec. 28. That would seem to give a player ample time to evaluate his options after an elimination game that should be a bit more pressing, right? Nah, it’s all about No. 1, not being No. 1.
I’m not suggesting there are some players that have recently announced their departure from Tennessee via the transfer portal that probably needed to do so. There are some players that clearly were not going to play at Tennessee. However, there is one, receiver Chas Nimrod, that I wouldn’t want to have anywhere near my team.
Why?
First, Nimrod has played key minutes for the Vols. He knows Tennessee through and through. Second, he has announced he’s going elsewhere. Do I still have the same amount of trust I had in him before he announced he was going to quit? Absolutely not.
Nimrod was paying his dues at Tennessee. He may sign a better short-term deal, but he’d have his best long-term success at Tennessee, by growing, overcoming and learning how to be a man. Too late for that.
Nimrod and the other transfers need to get packing. They don’t need to be around bringing anyone down or just causing a distraction. That’s what my grandfather would have done, and he would have been spot on.
