This Sums it Up For Me

http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=7528441



This poster on the other site said it as well as I have seen what I'm feeling said. And unlike most other posts on that site, the rest of the comments that follow this one are actually quite valid.



I don't think my opinion and position on this make me a fair weather fan. I grew up in the 80's and 90's and went through the highs and the lows during that time. I won a competition to be a ball boy for a BYU basketball game when I was 10. Ty Detmer won the Heisman on my 12th birthday, and it was definitely the coolest part of that day. Some of the happiest times in my life have ties to watching BYU sports.



I remember when BYU was the school with the longest active consecutive streak of bowl game appearances. I remember when that ended (in 1995). The next year was the magical 1996 year, and that happened during my senior year in high school.



The 2000 season, Lavell's last, was my first year back from my mission. Not a great season, but a few great moments, especially the Utah game to finish it off.



The 2001 season was a fun ride, and although the next three years were dark, it was still fun being a fan.



The first 5 years of Bronco were great, but last year and this year have been disappointing. We're seeing that our hyped recruiting classes maybe aren't what we thought they were. Seeing players quit on the field during the games. Seeing the team divided over petty things. Seeing fans continuously tear down and argue with other fans over the *bleeping* arm strength and who can make the throws and etc, etc, etc. Are any of you really enjoying this?



Another thing that really bothers me is "fans" saying that they would rather go 10-2 or 11-1 against "weaker" teams then go 7-5 and 6-6 against "stronger" teams in a conference. That is probably the saddest thing I've ever heard fans say. Fans really want to continue to watch SJSU, ISU, Idaho, NMSU etc and win than play against OU, UT, OSU etc.



These past 3 weeks have been my least favorite as a fan. The product on the field is terrible (probably worse than during the Crowton era in many ways) and now being seemingly left out of a good conference because of some pretty weak reasons, I'm just not sure I can continue to give as much energy and emotion when the school doesn't seem to really care what most of it's fans want.



If they (administration) don't care about me (and many of you), why should I continue to care so much about them. Since I'm such a nuisance to them and what they want, maybe I'll just go away. I don't think this makes me a fair weather fan, because if I was I would have left long ago. There were plenty of other times to get off this ride that would have been more convenient and made more sense. At some point, the product that is being presented me just isn't going to make me continue to put this in front of some other things.



And since this is the week for flaming away on anyone that disagrees with you, go ahead and take your shot.

I think some people (including me) need to realize that "stuff" happens every once in a while at even the very best programs and BYU is not exempt. It's been tough because BYU is usually great with adjusting and righting the ship. BYU football is at a pivotal point right now, and I'm confident that Bronco Mendenhall can once again get the job done, point the team in the right direction and find the players who will not give up.



At the same time, some of ya'll are taking all of this way too personally.

I wonder how much the internet effects things. Both the Big XII rumors and criticism of the current team have been pretty loud the last couple weeks.



I'll agree the last week and today in particular have been pretty sucktacular, but I think I'd find BYU football a lot more enjoyable this year if had a higher level of disconnect. BYU football isn't fun when I log on here and it's people who are half-depressed, half-snide (myself included :) ).



In terms of withholding support - the only people I'm going to be angry at if we got an invite and the right concessions and we turned it down are the administrators and guys in suits. I'll feel tempted to not go to games, etc. but I still want to support the players and coaches.



Sometimes I'm jealous of you older guys who were fans of BYU in the 80s through the mid-90s - for me, the Beck-Hall era WAS our prime era. Maybe my expectations are lower as a result.



And, aside from football, while we may be in an athletic nadir now, 6 months ago we were in a truly prosperous time for BYU athletics. At least we haven't been in the wilderness for too long.

Sometimes I'm jealous of you older guys who were fans of BYU in the 80s through the mid-90s - for me, the Beck-Hall era WAS our prime era. Maybe my expectations are lower as a result.



I am in the same boat. Those are the best years I know too. So my expectations aren't being destroyed like some others. I am definetly upset about what has been transpired. But I still save every penny I have just to go to any game, or watch it on tv. I have loved not getting viruses this year trying to watch illegal streams online. This espn deal has saved me a ton of headaches :)

People should not take the TCU invite to the Big12 as a personal insult. It's way too early to know what has or hasn't happened.

Athletics do not define BYU. BYU defines athletics. Big 12 has great benefits but only if you win well. Independence has its benefits but only if you win well. We all need to step back from the ledge. I look forward to watching and enjoying BYU sports for a long time. Big 12 does not define us. Breathe people breathe!



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I still can't believe of all the whining, pissing and moaning if BYU doesn't go to the big 12 and act like they are doing it to spite and screw their "fans". There is a lot more at stake than football and the Church isn't going to accept an invite to the big 12 of there is any compromise of their standards. Whether you believe it or not, every decision made is always with the best interest of the Church first and anything else will be secondary.



For those who say this will be the final straw of BYU screws this up and they won't support BYU anymore I say whatever. If that is the case I hope you have better season tickets than I do because it will give me a chance to get better seats than my current ones. So thank you in advance for that. You are acting like a bunch of spoiled cry baby ute fans thinking they are entitled to something just because...... I deserve it and you better give it to me!



You have every right to choose not to support BYU if you don't want to, and believe me they won't sacrifice the Church's principles just because some football fans threaten to hold their breath unless they get what they want. I for one support any decision the board of directors think is the best course.



Remember it's only a football game.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

The most important thing to this program last weeK was beating USU. Luckily someone remembered that just in the nick of time. The most important thing this week is beating SJSU. Winning is important. The rest takes care of itself if you win. Ask BSU, Utah, and TCU.



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srcougar wrote:
Sometimes I'm jealous of you older guys who were fans of BYU in the 80s through the mid-90s - for me, the Beck-Hall era WAS our prime era. Maybe my expectations are lower as a result.



I am in the same boat. Those are the best years I know too. So my expectations aren't being destroyed like some others. I am definetly upset about what has been transpired. But I still save every penny I have just to go to any game, or watch it on tv. I have loved not getting viruses this year trying to watch illegal streams online. This espn deal has saved me a ton of headaches :)

The first game I remember in les featured Steve young at qb. Byu was playing usu.



Ya, you really missed out. The 80s and early to mid 90s were great. Mid to late 2000s were pretty great too...but not the same.



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Yep, srcougar's post made me feel old. My first game was BYU @ UTEP in 1983.

It would suck if we turned down an invitation, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Cougarbib2 wrote:
The most important thing to this program last weeK was beating USU. Luckily someone remembered that just in the nick of time. The most important thing this week is beating SJSU. Winning is important. The rest takes care of itself if you win. Ask BSU, Utah, and TCU.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Yup. Just win baby. Even if its not against a great schedule, winning all of your games and going to a BCS game still works wonders. Just ask Boise State. All we need to do is win.

First game as a teen. BYU @ CSU. Score: 78-6. jk, but it was a Steve Young blow out. Something like 64-7. But alas.........

SpiffCoug wrote:
Yep, srcougar's post made me feel old. My first game was BYU @ UTEP in 1983.

My first was BYU @ LBS in 1972...that's Long Beach State for you young ones who may not have realized they used to play football. All of us missionaries in the California Mission got to go. Back then football at the Y was irrelevant nationally and the thought of being on national TV weekly would have been laughable. I've been around long enough to realize that win/loose, WAC/MWC/INDI I'll always be a Cougar fan and in my mind they will always win their next game and the last loss was a fluke or an adoration. Nobody's perfect and I've been around sports long enough to know that they wouldn't be on the field if they didn't want to do their best and get better.



So my advise to anyone who wants to hear it is to enjoy the ride, the up's, the downs, and everything in between! :crazy:



Go Cougs!



L Hatton

Louisville, KY