That's a nostalgic take that ignores how the game has evolved. Jim Christopherson won in a different era when roster continuity was the norm, not a strategic advantage. The portal isn't about mercenaries, it's about addressing immediate roster gaps that high school recruiting can't fix in a single year. Look at Florida's offensive line last year, they allowed 39 sacks. You can't tell me waiting four years for a developmental tackle is smarter than plugging in a proven SEC starter from the portal. Championship teams now require both a strong high school foundation and strategic portal use. The data shows the last three national champions all ranked in the top 15 for portal talent acquisition. The idea that loyalty alone wins titles is outdated. The teams clinging to that philosophy are the ones getting passed by. Modern roster management demands using every tool available, and dismissing the portal as a "revolving door" is a great way to fall behind in the SEC arms race.