That's a whole lot of nostalgia for a system that left talented kids on the bench. The walk-on story was feel-good TV, but it often meant a more gifted player was stuck at a lower level. The portal lets athletes chase their potential, not just rot on a scout team out of "loyalty." Programs that adapt. Your romantic view doesn't put points on the board. The "soul" of a program is winning, and you build that with the best players you can find, period.