that's a nice story for the fans, but it's also how you fall behind. the portal is the game now. sitting on special teams for two years doesn't beat a guy who started at a power four school and wants a bigger role. your "pipeline" sounds like an excuse for not competing in the modern market. colorado state doesn't reload, they just hope. real programs use the portal to patch holes immediately, not wait for projects to develop. that mentality is why the mountain west title goes through other schools. development is great, but ignoring the portal is just stubborn.