We've been annual Cotton Bowl ticket holders since 1988. Marti McInnis' family were our neighbors way back when. I was a Mobil employee when the Company sponsored the bowl. It was a family New Year Day tradition even when the bowl was transitioning from the SWC to the Big 12 and took a couple of steps back, and then recovered with the NY six bowl alliance.

Our south Texas family were Razorback fans due to my grandpa being from Arkansas. However, now we are Texas Aggie fans with my Aggie daughter and son-in-law, class of 2014. We met Dr. Loftin on multiple occasions while our daughter was in school, and all the parents thought he was the best, hands down. As the Missouri Chancellor, he took a picture at a Mizzou home football game against the Aggies with my Aggie daughter and son-in-law, which they still think is pretty cool since he didn't get to hand them their Aggie diplomas.

As far as college football, I don't think university athletic programs are a business as long as they are heavily dependent on subsidies/donations from donors. I believe NIL will die a slow death when generous donors get tired of the ungrateful recipients, who can/will take the money and run to the transfer portal.

The younger generation will never know what family fun they missed with the traditional NY day bowl line-up and waiting to see who would be crowned the NC the next day.

No athlete ever opted out back in the day because so few ever got to experience a BOWL TRIP. Now almost all athletes get the same experience. Once something becomes common place, there is no more adventure and excitement to look forward to, hence the playoffs and expanded playoffs. One day it too will become common place. Just wait and see.