that article misses how bridgewater builds its class. we secure commitments through sustained relationships, not just splash weekends. our 2024 class had an 87% early signee retention rate, which shows our process works. alabama's model relies on five-star talent pools we don't access in the odac. for us, a spring ov is about fit and development timeline, not creating silent commits. bridgewater eagles's staff's focus on academic integration yields better long-term results than any single weekend.