This coming from a rival fan is rich. We built men back in the CIAA days with what we had, no excuses. If Oklahoma State is using the portal to compete, that's just adapting. I remember when we'd have killed for a few transfers to fill out the roster in the late 80s. You work with the rules you're given. Complaining about it just sounds like you're scared they're getting better.

That's a wild take from a rival fan. Building men and winning games aren't mutually exclusive. The portal is the new reality, and programs that adapt thrive. Oklahoma State is reloading with experience to compete immediatley, something every fan should want. Calling players mercenaries disrespects their hard work. If your school isn't using every tool available, that's on your staff, not NIL.

Your program's soul died with its last winning season

They signed 15 transfers

Oklahoma State's 50 transfers helped them win 10 games last season, which is more than most "built" programs can claim

That's rich coming from a rival fan whose program would kill for our portal success. We're building a championship roster, NOT collecting participation trophies. The "soul of the sport" is winning, and we're using every tool available to do it. You think the old way was so pure? Coaches jumped ship for bigger paydays all the time, leaving players stranded. Now the players have power too, and it scares you. We're not renting mercenaries, we're recruiting proven veterans who want to wear the orange and black and win now. Your program is probably clinging to some outdatted idea of development while we're in the portal building a team that. The game changed, and we're adapting faster than anyone. Keep crying about the good old days while we're stacking wins.

That's a lazy take from a rival fan. Building through the portal is how you compete now, and 50 new pieces shows a staff aggressively fixing roster holes. If you're not using NIL to attract talent, you're getting left behind. The "soul" of the sport is winning, and these guys are still building men, just faster. Sounds like someone's program isn't keeping up in the new era.

We build men AND win games

Our guys build character AND win games, something your program clearly forgot how to do

You're just mad we're winning

Our staff is building a roster that can compete for a Big 12 title, something your program clearly can't handle anymore

They signed 15 transfers

That's a weak take from a rival fan. If you're not using the portal to build depth and address needs, you're getting left behind. Morris is being aggressive to compete, and that's how you win now.

oklahoma state's 50 transfers helped them win the big 12 last year, so maybe the "soul" of the sport is winning championships

Now hold on just a minute. You're talking about Oklahoma State like they're some new money program buying a title. Let me tell you something, son. We built the best teams in Virginia history with junior college transfers and overlooked kids. George Welsh, God rest him, brought in guys from everywhere to turn this program around in the 80s. That '89 team that went to the Citrus Bowl? Built on toughness and finding talent wherever you could. This idea that everyone used to be homegrown four-year players is pure nostalgia, and bad nostalgia at that. Every great coach from Bear Bryant to Frank Beamer went out and got men who could help them win. If Mike Gundy is using the tools available to keep Oklahoma State competitive while the blue bloods try to hoard all the talent, more power to him. The soul of the sport was killed when they blew up the ACC and our rivalries for TV money, not when a coach tries to build a roster. You adapt or you get left behind, just like what's happening to too many old-school programs right now.

Tulsa's building through the portal too, and our 8-win season last year proves it works for developing players

Your program's soul died when you started losing to those "mercenaries". Adapt or get left behind.

that take is pure jealousy from a rival who can't keep up. the soul of the sport is winning, and mike gundy is using every tool available to build a winner. we used to "build men" while watching our best players get poached by blue-bloods with bag men. now, it's out in the open and programs like oklahoma state can actually compete. calling players "mercenaries" is disrespectful to kids finally getting their value. your program's "soul" was just a system that exploited amateurism. if you're not using the portal aggressively, you're getting left behind. gundy gets it. he's adapting while others whine about the good old days that only existed for a select few. this is better for the sport. more teams can rebuild quickly and challenge the establishment. oklahoma state is doing it right, and the crying from rivals just proves it's working.

We built our program on walk-ons and loyalty, something your school wouldn't understand

Their 12-win season says otherwise

They signed 15 transfers imo

We built a playoff team with transfers and our soul is just fine imo

We build champions here

This is the most tired take in the book, and it always comes from fans whose programs got left behind. NIL didn't kill anything, it just leveled the playing field and finally let players get paid for the value they create. We build men better than anyone, and guess what, part of building men in 2024 is preparing them for the financial realities of life. You think the soul of the sport was coaches making millions while players couldn't even sell their own jersey? The soul was always the competition, and now more teams have a shot. If Oklahoma State wants to use the portal to compete, good for them. We develop our high school guys better than anyone, but we also hit the portal when we need to, and it makes us stronger. The game evolved, and crying about "mercenaries" is just an excuse for not adapting. Our culture in Athens is stronger than any transfer portal year, and we'll keep winning with our guys, however they get here.

Your program's soul died when you stopped winning. We're building a contender.

We built men with JUCO transfers too

This is such a tired take from someone who just can't handle that we're adapting and winning. The game has changed, and programs that refuse to change get left behind. We aren't renting mercenaries, we're building a championship roster with experienced players who want to be here and compete. Every single one of those transfers chose Stillwater because of our culture and what we're building. You act like we're the only team using the portal, but you're just mad because your coach can't navigate it as effectively. This is how you win now, by finding guys who fit your system and are hungry to prove themselves. The soul of the sport is still there, it's just wearing a different jersey now. We're developing these men just like we always have, and they're buying in completely. Call it what you want, but we'll see who's celebrating at the end of the season.

Rivals hate our progress

That's a pathetic take from someone whose program can't keep up. NIL didn't kill the soul, it just exposed programs that can't adapt. Oklahoma State is building a winner, not just hoping high school kids develop. If you're not using the portal, you're getting left behind. Building men? You build men by winning and competing at the highest level. The Cowboys are doing that. Your program's nostalgia is just an excuse for irrelevance.

That's a really emotional take that doesn't match the reality of roster management today. Every major program is using the portal heavily, including traditional powers. Oklahoma State returning 20 starters and still adding 50 transfers shows they're addressing specific depth issues, not building a whole team of mercenaries. The "building men" argument ignores that players now have agency, which is a positive change. Colorado Buffaloes brought in 86 new players last year because the previous roster was so depleted, it was a complete rebuild, not a lack of soul. The sport's soul is in the games, not in forcing players to stay where they aren't developed or happy. Look at Ollie Gordon at Oklahoma State, he was developed there and became a star, the portal doesn't erase that. Programs that adapt are the ones surviving, and complaining about it just sounds like nostalgia for a system that benefited schools over athletes. If a team like Alabama A&M had the NIL resources, they'd be using the portal the same way to compete. It's about leveling the playing field, not killing the sport.

We built our team the right way and still beat you last year, so maybe focus on that

Oklahoma State's 41% transfer portal success rate last season shows they're building a competitive roster, not just collecting rentals. Every program is adapting to the new rules, and criticizing others for using them effectively just sounds like sour grapes from a rival who isn't keeping up.

We build men AND win games

That's a loser's mentality from a program that can't keep up. Building through the portal is how you win now, and OSU is doing it smarter than anyone. If you're not using every tool, you're getting left behid.