Athletes shouldn’t be punished for transferring to another school

The prep football season kicks off a week from Friday night and the Westlake Warriors seem to be the odds-on favorite again to win the Marmonte League title. Head coach Jim Benkert has built a winning program at Westlake, and that’s an understatement.

Warrior football, in fact, has established a tradition of excellence. Players want to play for Benkert, even if they live outside the WHS enrollment area.

Athletic transfers have lost credibility, however, with the powers that be. The Marmonte League, through the boards of education of member school districts, has decided that transferring players will lose some of their athletic eligibility.

An advantage of open enrollment is that students can attend the best schools. It’s survival of the fittest in public education—schools that deliver superior education are rewarded with 100 percent enrollment. Inferior schools lose enrollment—and rightfully so.

Should student-athletes be exempt from the same standard? Shouldn’t survival of the fittest also be the yardstick in sports?

Imagine two highly qualified quarterbacks in the same school’s enrollment area. Both are Division I collegiate prospects in the same class. Both are talented, but one is bigger and faster, with a stronger arm. The smaller athlete faces the harsh reality of playing four years in the shadow of his "blue chip" teammate.

Is it fair that the smaller quarterback is stymied and unable to transfer to another school where he would get the playing time, productivity and publicity that will give him a real shot at college football?

Local schools have excellent head football coaches, but far too often, when administrators try to "level the playing field," they actually reward mediocrity.

Regarding football, by the way, we wish the very best to all of the local teams.