I think of the amount of NFL players and the amount of trained, certified agents it takes to represent them properly in negotiations. Then, I think of the amount of CFB players. I have to come to the conclusion that the vast majority of them aren't going to get competent representation when it comes to clinical business dealings.
That's a wordy way of saying there's a good chance that quite a few players see Texas as an unending supply of cash that's theirs for the taking. They just need an aggressive posture from a "no nonsense" bully.
Truth is, Texas isn't endless. Deep, but not infinite. They didn't get that way by being suckers. Each position has a value, an associated need, and a scarcity factor. If you really need OL, you're gonna over-pay for decent ones because they're scarce. Dominant starters in the portal are practically nonexistent.
In Wisner and (regrettably) Livingstone, you've got better than average players at a position where excellent players are available. A decent agent would prep the player for his realistic value, ask for maybe a little bit of home-town boost, and ascertain whether leaving the team was an acceptable option.
Players still have the leverage. There's no much a team can do to keep a wide-eyed player around if he's being unrealistic. On the flip side, the best advice I ever got was that it's called the "music business" - not "music friends". It's a good time, and there's a lot of enjoyment to be had. Ultimately, though, you have a value and if you don't live up to that value, they'll be sad to see you go, but go you will.
