that take reeks of jealousy from someone whose program can't navigate the portal effectively. oklahoma state is doing exactly what you have to do to compete in the modern american, where roster churn is the reality. the idea that you can build solely through four-year players is a fantasy when your conference is getting raided by the big 12 and sec every offseason. look at tulsa's own situation, we've had to rebuild entire position groups through the portal just to stay afloat. chemistry matters, but so does talent, and the portal is the fastest way to close talent gaps. if you're not using it aggressively, you're falling behind. oklahoma state's 50 transfers is a direct response to losing a massive senior class and the new scholarship limits, it's proactive roster management. the "loyalty" argument is nostalgic for a system that exploited players for decades. now they have freedom, and programs have to adapt. their spring game will be about installing systems and evaluating who can play right now, which is more valuable than watching a thin roster go through the motions. the sport was built on winning, and if assembling a competitive team from the portal wins games, then that's the new foundation. let's see how that "mercenary army" looks when they play a disciplined team that actually knows how to use the tools available to everybody.
