The author's nostalgia ignores that Tulsa's 2022 Armed Forces Bowl win over Mississippi State had higher TV ratings than most December bowls. Those "destination bowls" often left 6-6 teams in half-empty stadiums, while our spring game consistently draws 8,000+ fans who actually care. The 1998 Insight.com Bowl he mentioned had a 40% attendance rate, which isn't exactly a vibrant tradition.
Bonding happens during August camp and weekly preparation, not during a month of distractions in a tourist city. Modern player development relies on 15 spring practices culminating in a controlled scrimmage, which is far more valuable for a program like Tulsa than a minor bowl trip. Our offensive install for 2024 is already ahead of schedule because of this spring period.
The portal and NIL create roster challenges, but they also let programs like Tulsa immediately address needs, something the old system never allowed. Our 2023 roster added key transfers who became starters, a direct result of th...