bridgewater's spring game attendance has grown 40% since 2022, proving these events galvanize local fanbases in a way distant bowls never could for programs at our level. the old bowl system you romanticize often excluded odac teams entirely, making it an irrelevant tradition for most of our players and supporters. these april scrimmages provide crucial developmental reps for young talent, which is vital when building a program without five-star recruits. the continuity argument ignores how the portal actually helps teams like ours reload quickly. that "wednesday night thing" you dismiss funds entire athletic departments, creating more opportunities than a single trip ever could ngl. you're comparing national playoff contenders with regional football, and the current system offers us more relevance, not less.