What changes does BYU need to make?

[cougarapologist]

While I am a big believer in not putting too much emphasis on one game, or even one season, this one sure feels different. For many years, even during the Mendenhall era, BYU played at a notch below truly good teams. Occasionally, when we played nearly perfect, we could beat good teams, but our margin of error was always razor thin. Mendenhall attacked that problem by trying to be perfect in execution.

Sitake has a different style. Of course his premise seems good, that we would help our players excel by removing the pressure to be perfect, and letting their talent shine through. He seems to have been hoping that his charisma could recruit a higher level of athlete to BYU, and all would be well.

Year 2 is therefore slightly early to evaluate his approach, as he is still playing mostly with Bronco's recruits. I think this staff should get year 3, where they should, for the first time, be playing with a majority of their own recruits.

But if they can't get it turned around, then maybe the problem is systemic, and comes from BYU being who we are, a religious-based, private university who does not command sufficient market share to leverage itself into a P5 conference. If that is who we are, then let's stop comparing ourselves to Utah (who got lucky to hit the P5 jackpot) and just be us! That would mean the following:

1. Get back in the MWC so we can compete for a conference title and NY6 bowl bid. No shame in this. It would help us competitively. We can still strive to play 2-3 P5 teams per year.
2. Eliminate the requirement that the head football coach be an LDS Member. Lots of coaches who could live the Honor Code, but might not be LDS yet. This would allow us to at least take a shot at some really talented coaches on their way up. And it would make our facilities advantage at the MWC level really be an advantage.

Let's be honest, Independence was a reaction to Utah joining the Pac 12. It is fun, and probably economically sustainable, but not likely to help us be more competitive at the P5 level. As an independent, we are unlikely to move up in the eschelon of college football. Accept it, and let's get back to enjoying football again!

P.S., it might benefit basketball as well.

[ABYUFAN]

1. Get back in the MWC so we can compete for a conference title and NY6 bowl bid. No shame in this. It would help us competitively. We can still strive to play 2-3 P5 teams per year.

Everyone who advocates for joining a conference has as either a "given" or an assumption that joining a conference will automatically help us out. How? It certainly wouldn't help us this year, nor would it have last year... How would playing on less tv sets for less money help us in any way? You may say that it opens up the gate for a NY^ bowl game. I say - that's an unknown. We certainly wouldn't have qualified for one last year, nor would we have in any single year of independence... so how does it work?

And NY6 bowl game... So what? Hasn't Hawaii been to one. How did it help them out?

Joining a conference would be a horrible overreaction that would further exacerbate the problems with this program rather than help fix them.

[Ddawg]

Those that criticized the Bronco and Anae football teams had rocks in their heads. Seems like some folks just like to whine. There is a reason Bronco left BYU, and it was about more than just money.

If you want to compare apples to apples, compare how both Virginia and BYU did this year against Boise St.

BYU 7, Boise 27
VA 42, Boise St. 23.

The big elephant in the room is BYU's self imposed culture and HC. It's a point which BYU fans take great pride in - to a point. When it limits who you can recruit and hire for coaching staff, it take a toll in the "W" column. It's a fact. BYU fans will counter with "we don't want those players here anyway." Really? When really great recruits in-state are flipping to Utah? Think again.

In the last 21 years Utah St. has beaten BYU 14 times. In the last 10 years Utah St. has won 7 times. That is ridiculous. BYU should OWN Utah St. Something is wrong - yet none of the BYU loyal will admit or address it.

And yes, BYU should get back into the MWC and strive to be competitive. They aren't now.

[BoiseBYU]

Those that criticized the Bronco and Anae football teams had rocks in their heads. Seems like some folks just like to whine. There is a reason Bronco left BYU, and it was about more than just money.

If you want to compare apples to apples, compare how both Virginia and BYU did this year against Boise St.

BYU 7, Boise 27
VA 42, Boise St. 23.

The big elephant in the room is BYU's self imposed culture and HC. It's a point which BYU fans take great pride in - to a point. When it limits who you can recruit and hire for coaching staff, it take a toll in the "W" column. It's a fact. BYU fans will counter with "we don't want those players here anyway." Really? When really great recruits in-state are flipping to Utah? Think again.

In the last 21 years Utah St. has beaten BYU 14 times. In the last 10 years Utah St. has won 7 times. That is ridiculous. BYU should OWN Utah St. Something is wrong - yet none of the BYU loyal will admit or address it.

And yes, BYU should get back into the MWC and strive to be competitive. They aren't now.

In the last 21 years, BYU has beaten USU 17 times; USU has won four contests. In the last 10 years, BYU has won 7 times and USU 3 times.

[ABYUFAN]

Those that criticized the Bronco and Anae football teams had rocks in their heads. Seems like some folks just like to whine. There is a reason Bronco left BYU, and it was about more than just money.

If you want to compare apples to apples, compare how both Virginia and BYU did this year against Boise St.

BYU 7, Boise 27
VA 42, Boise St. 23.

The big elephant in the room is BYU's self imposed culture and HC. It's a point which BYU fans take great pride in - to a point. When it limits who you can recruit and hire for coaching staff, it take a toll in the "W" column. It's a fact. BYU fans will counter with "we don't want those players here anyway." Really? When really great recruits in-state are flipping to Utah? Think again.

In the last 21 years Utah St. has beaten BYU 14 times. In the last 10 years Utah St. has won 7 times. That is ridiculous. BYU should OWN Utah St. Something is wrong - yet none of the BYU loyal will admit or address it.

And yes, BYU should get back into the MWC and strive to be competitive. They aren't now.

In the last 21 years, BYU has beaten USU 17 times; USU has won four contests. In the last 10 years, BYU has won 7 times and USU 3 times.

I guess that's an argument as to why BYU should join a conference, no one can remember how dominant BYU has been otherwise....

[Ddawg]

Those that criticized the Bronco and Anae football teams had rocks in their heads. Seems like some folks just like to whine. There is a reason Bronco left BYU, and it was about more than just money.

If you want to compare apples to apples, compare how both Virginia and BYU did this year against Boise St.

BYU 7, Boise 27
VA 42, Boise St. 23.

The big elephant in the room is BYU's self imposed culture and HC. It's a point which BYU fans take great pride in - to a point. When it limits who you can recruit and hire for coaching staff, it take a toll in the "W" column. It's a fact. BYU fans will counter with "we don't want those players here anyway." Really? When really great recruits in-state are flipping to Utah? Think again.

In the last 21 years Utah St. has beaten BYU 14 times. In the last 10 years Utah St. has won 7 times. That is ridiculous. BYU should OWN Utah St. Something is wrong - yet none of the BYU loyal will admit or address it.

And yes, BYU should get back into the MWC and strive to be competitive. They aren't now.

In the last 21 years, BYU has beaten USU 17 times; USU has won four contests. In the last 10 years, BYU has won 7 times and USU 3 times.

Then I stand corrected. Thank you.

[cougarapologist]

1. Get back in the MWC so we can compete for a conference title and NY6 bowl bid. No shame in this. It would help us competitively. We can still strive to play 2-3 P5 teams per year.

Everyone who advocates for joining a conference has as either a "given" or an assumption that joining a conference will automatically help us out. How? It certainly wouldn't help us this year, nor would it have last year... How would playing on less tv sets for less money help us in any way? You may say that it opens up the gate for a NY^ bowl game. I say - that's an unknown. We certainly wouldn't have qualified for one last year, nor would we have in any single year of independence... so how does it work?

And NY6 bowl game... So what? Hasn't Hawaii been to one. How did it help them out?

Joining a conference would be a horrible overreaction that would further exacerbate the problems with this program rather than help fix them.

I agree that independence is probably economically sustainable. But it feels like we are trending towards more seasons like this. And if you are an LDS kid who is a 3-5 star recruit, why would you come to BYU? No conference title to shoot for, no title game to shoot for, no guaranteed method to big-time bowl games. Our advantages (support them in their mission and religion) can now be found at other schools that do get them into the limelight. Yes, we have fun games in September and early October, but you have to admit the rest of the season is pretty sad and meaningless, even in years when we are good.

I say let's stop letting "what Utah does" be our motivation for everything. What is best for BYU in the long run? Well, if we aren't going to spend enough on our football program to compete for the best coaches and recruits like a P5 school, then let's be the best Group of 5 school we can be. How much fun have Boise St. fans had at great bowl games and good games in September, then playing for a conference title? We have lost all of that.

[byufan4ever]

Maybe the Sun Belt or Big Sky would let us in?

[frdbtr]

Maybe the Sun Belt or Big Sky would let us in?

With this coaching staff, BYU wouldn't win either of those conferences.

[ABYUFAN]

1. Get back in the MWC so we can compete for a conference title and NY6 bowl bid. No shame in this. It would help us competitively. We can still strive to play 2-3 P5 teams per year.

Everyone who advocates for joining a conference has as either a "given" or an assumption that joining a conference will automatically help us out. How? It certainly wouldn't help us this year, nor would it have last year... How would playing on less tv sets for less money help us in any way? You may say that it opens up the gate for a NY^ bowl game. I say - that's an unknown. We certainly wouldn't have qualified for one last year, nor would we have in any single year of independence... so how does it work?

And NY6 bowl game... So what? Hasn't Hawaii been to one. How did it help them out?

Joining a conference would be a horrible overreaction that would further exacerbate the problems with this program rather than help fix them.

I agree that independence is probably economically sustainable. But it feels like we are trending towards more seasons like this. And if you are an LDS kid who is a 3-5 star recruit, why would you come to BYU? No conference title to shoot for, no title game to shoot for, no guaranteed method to big-time bowl games. Our advantages (support them in their mission and religion) can now be found at other schools that do get them into the limelight. Yes, we have fun games in September and early October, but you have to admit the rest of the season is pretty sad and meaningless, even in years when we are good.

I say let's stop letting "what Utah does" be our motivation for everything. What is best for BYU in the long run? Well, if we aren't going to spend enough on our football program to compete for the best coaches and recruits like a P5 school, then let's be the best Group of 5 school we can be. How much fun have Boise St. fans had at great bowl games and good games in September, then playing for a conference title? We have lost all of that.

This is not about "what Utah Does" Utah is NOT independent in football. This is about being in a better situation than we were otherwise in. This year shows us exactly what joining a conference would cost us. We get to watch our Cougars this week in an excellent time slot. Saturday at 1:30 in the afternoon. If we were in the Mountain West would we have that time and station? Does your TV provider even carry the Mountain West network? I couldn't watch the Utah State game because of the lousy TV package that the MWC has.

And honestly do you think any recruits are weighing a potential conference championship in their school destination? Like "BYU plays big schools in NFL stadiums on ESPN ...but I would rather play Wyoming on a tv channel no one gets in November for the possibility of a CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP! Come on - seriously?

And remember when we left the MWC - the conference was bad bad bad... BSU left the MWC too, they left in part because the Conference was regulating what football uniforms the teams wore. Seriously what conference does that? The MWC brought BSU back, we haven't been invited back, and there's many good reasons on both sides never to return.