Sportshead hot takes

Athletic discourse on campus has spice to it.

At Virginia Wesleyan University, passionate sports debates are alive and well, fueled by spirited opinions from both students and professors. From discussions on underdog victories to game-changing plays, hot takes spark lively conversations across campus.

Whether it’s basketball game-winning shots or football season predictions, this community blends analysis with enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere where every sports fan has a voice worth hearing.

While walking around campus, I took the opportunity to talk with a mix of students and faculty to get their thoughts on sports topics, in both collegiate athletics and the professional level. Here are some of the highlights from those conversations.

“My biggest take in the sports world is that college athletes should have to play at least three years at their university before they transfer. Especially with Name, Image and Likeness, it’s really easy to just go to one place for the money and another one the next year. I especially don’t like seeing guys play at seven different colleges in five years,” sophomore James Brooks said.

According to Colin Salao, sports insider for Front Office Sports, since NIL was established in 2021 the number of college athletes entering the transfer portal has risen significantly.

In 2023 alone, over 31,000 Division I athletes transferred, which represents an increase from previous years and one of the outcomes of the shifting landscape of college sports. In the 2022-23 cycle, over 2,300 FBS scholarship football players entered the transfer portal, with some years seeing more than 20% of all scholarship players change schools, Salao reported.

I agree with James’ idea that students should have to stay at their school for three years or if they transfer before that they should have to sit out a year.

Others had more team and player oriented takes to share. “Russell Westbrook has been a top five point guard in the NBA since 2010,” sophomore basketball player Marcus Rustin said.

The top five point guards in the NBA since 2010 have been widely acknowledged as Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard, according to Fadeaway World, Bleacher Report and The Sportster. Westbrook’s historic triple-double season record, which he set in the 2016-17 season, where he recorded 42 triple-doubles, secured his spot among the best.

“The Baltimore Ravens will win the Super Bowl this year, and Lamar Jackson will win MVP,” senior track athlete Opeyemi Kareem-Ojo said.

I would have to disagree with this take. The Baltimore Ravens have started the season with a low chance of making the playoffs after going into week four 1-2, with losses to Buffalo 41-40 in their season opener and Detroit in week three. This shows that the Ravens have been cracking under pressure in close game scenarios.

However, as of the time of writing, Lamar Jackson is still in the MVP race with a 72% completion rate and 9 total touchdowns. The current frontrunners in the MVP race are largely considered Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert.

Some professors offered sports takes  on passing fanhood onto their lineage. “Blessing my kids by not making them New York Jets fans,” Political Science Professor James Moskowitz said.

Being a young Jets fan would not be ideal, since the Jets have not seen the playoffs since 2010, combined with the amount of quarterback and head coaching changes they have had.

Some hot takes were on which athlete is the GOAT of their respective sport. For instance, “Michael Phelps is not the greatest swimmer anymore; it is now Katie Ledecky,” sophomore Swim Captain Mason Pifer said.

One could argue that she is the GOAT in the swimming world based off how she dominates her events, her longevity with an off year and how she dominated the swimming world post LZR-suit era, unlike Michael Phelps.

From heated debates about game-day decisions to bold predictions for the season ahead, it’s clear that sports are more than just a pastime at VWU; they’re a passion that brings the campus community together.