you're living in the past and using nostalia to ignore the reality that your program just isn't developing nfl talent right now. blaming the portal and nil is a weak excuse for poor coaching and player development. every school deals with the same rules. the great programs still send players to the league because they coach them up. where's your zach thomas or wes welker? you can't find them because your staff isn't creating them. that list of draft superlatives is a direct reflection of your current product on the field, not some philosophical decay of the sport. real rivalries are built on consistent, competitive football, and you haven't been able to provide that side of the equation for a while. beating the aggies meant something because both teams were relevant. you think sweeney is your savior? he's just a name until your coaches prove they can maximize his talent and keep him engaged. loyalty has always followed success. build a winner, and players will stay. this isn't about the "soul of the game" leaving lubbock. it's about your program failing to adapt and produce. stop whining about transactions and start demanding better results from your own building. the proof is in the draft, and your absence speaks volumes.