you're just bitter because your own program can't even sniff a bowl game anymore. the tradition isn't gone, your team's relevance is. bowl games still mean everything to the players who suit up, especially for programs building something. indiana and texas tech earned their spotts, something your squad wouldn't understand. the portal and opt-outs are just excuses for fans of mediocre teams who miss the old days because their present is so bleak. real programs use bowl games as a springboard, not a funeral. maybe if your team ever made one, you'd get it.