C
Cougs_RuleNot sure some of these have been thrown out there, but thought I'd offer these. Just theories, folks, try to not to hammer me too bad. Theory #1 will be somewhat controversial and longer in length. sorry.
Theory #2 will probably be more plausible.
Theory #1: Six or seven years ago, Bronco, in strategy meetings decides that he wants to recruit QBs who he has the toughest time defending--the mobile qb. But, realizing he has drop back QBs lined up from Crowton days, says lets look forward and go find some mobile QBs. One coach says, hey Riley Nelson wanted into BYU, but we took Lark instead. bronco says with a wink in his eye, "Gee, I wonder if Riley 'regrets' (wink, wink) his decision to go to USU?" Another coach says, hey I have a contact who knows Doc Nelson, I will "ask" him how "Riley is doing on his mission". (Variation of this theory is that someone knows the mission president and asks the MP).
Daddy Nelson gets asked and very shrewdly (thus apple having not fallen too far from the tree) asks back, "Why, would, BYU be interested?" Unofficial BYU contact says, "only if Rley would be interested and only if Riley would make the move himself, since we don't want to violate NCAA rules." Daddy Nelson suggests that Riley might be interested but calls uo Bronco and garners a commitment that he start for BYU and not get caught up in a qb carousel--because Riley has "so much to lose by transferring." Unofficial contact says if that is what Riley wants to do (wink, wink) then Riley wll have to make that happen, transfer and all.
Well, the deal gets done. Riley transfers mid-mission. Logan goes crazy, citing foul play. Bronco gets questioned, denies he knows anything and that he didn't do it.
It did seem a little fishy at the time, didn't it? some of the comments made during interviews smelled fishy. there was something going on.
Riley comes to BYU, understandably waits his turn, then gets outplayed by a freshman in practice and green jerseys and starts to get mad!
QB2 shows up, but Riley gets injured, etc, etc. loses starting job while injured, Heaps gets MVP in bowl game, etc etc.
Riley continues to get out-played in spring, but Heaps misses summer workouts. Riley continues to work his magic with the players, upper classman, RMs, etc etc; Heaps performance deteriorates during the early season, along with support and effort by teammates, and then Riley comes in to save the day vs USU-- capturing what will be his greatest and only real claim to fame (whatever sort he/we can call that, along with Bowl victory over Tulsa).
Enter 2012. Spring camp is a total joke team-wide, except for young players getting much needed minutes, but clearly Riley at this point, as a Sr, has the job locked up. Notwithstanding that yet another Freshman looks to be outplaying Riley, but totally new to the offense is just not ready.
Ironically, however, that new freshman, Hill is inserted in Blue-zone situations because Riley cannot get the job done, cannot complete drives in camp, which plays out in the season.
But no harm, no foul, Riley is "still the man." And this freshman is just a utility player, but too, too good to ignore.
Lark gets maginalized (hmmm, Riley wouldn't have had anything to do with that would he?).
Riley joins the infamous (And Class of One other) Class of the rare few who have lost to Utah as a Sr; then the BSU debacle----both games almost saved by Hill--but for being inserted into the games TOO LATE to save them. Riley plays with debilitating injuries, doped up beyond rationale thinking by him and Bronco--only to be proven after two horrible games (-4 PER--the lowest all time for a starter and maybe ever!!!!!!) that he shouldn't have played in the first place!! And most of us who are rationale, including even those among the Riley-ites, rightly ASKED, WHY???!!!
Hill gets hurt after showing marked improvement over Riley (notwithstanding being a freshman) and a tougher win vs a tougher USU than last year. And once again a freshman was outplaying Riley. But still, Bronco stayed steadfastly True to "Riley as our starter."
More turnovers, more fumbles, more substandard play, more losses, intense heat from fans, MEDIA (including Homers like Wrubell and others) pointing out stat after stat, and still, Bronco remained steadfast. WHY??
BRONCO GOT BLACKMAILED. That's right. As an alternative to a BROMANCE, there was risk of him being wrongfully blackmailed by the Clan Nelson. He cut an arms length, implied deal years ago and he is sticking to it for fear he would be turned in to the NCAA by the not trustable Nelson Clan. Like it or lump it, Logic and reason by Bronco has been defied over and over. Bronco USED to be and more importantly ACT, like the Turnover Terminator. But what is blinding Bronco is this threat and Riley's grit and some wins; and but for an injury to Hill, (and who knows what is up FOR AND WITH LARK for that matter) has avoided another legit QB controversy.
Actually, this theory was posited by a fellow fan who shared it with me, claiming some sort of loose connection to insider information.
i know this is how a lot of transfers happen, with the plausible deniability of two to four layers of people getting involved so that coaches don't have to and can deny any wrong doing. But it is worth noting.
Theory #2: Bronco, having learned hard lessons about QB2 and the controversy, fully commits himself to One starter--to the point that notwithstanding the downsides to Riley's limited ability and trending, was going to stick with One guy because of the reputation that he was at risk of forming with the QB2 debacle. And painfully and persistently is sticking to "There can Be Only One." This theory is mixed with the whole RM, upper classman, paid our dues mantra--which of coarse has an asterisk in the case of James Lark, who has more than paid his dues.
These or Bronco just really really loves, likes and thinks Riley is in fact, "tougher than all of us."
Theory #2 will probably be more plausible.
Theory #1: Six or seven years ago, Bronco, in strategy meetings decides that he wants to recruit QBs who he has the toughest time defending--the mobile qb. But, realizing he has drop back QBs lined up from Crowton days, says lets look forward and go find some mobile QBs. One coach says, hey Riley Nelson wanted into BYU, but we took Lark instead. bronco says with a wink in his eye, "Gee, I wonder if Riley 'regrets' (wink, wink) his decision to go to USU?" Another coach says, hey I have a contact who knows Doc Nelson, I will "ask" him how "Riley is doing on his mission". (Variation of this theory is that someone knows the mission president and asks the MP).
Daddy Nelson gets asked and very shrewdly (thus apple having not fallen too far from the tree) asks back, "Why, would, BYU be interested?" Unofficial BYU contact says, "only if Rley would be interested and only if Riley would make the move himself, since we don't want to violate NCAA rules." Daddy Nelson suggests that Riley might be interested but calls uo Bronco and garners a commitment that he start for BYU and not get caught up in a qb carousel--because Riley has "so much to lose by transferring." Unofficial contact says if that is what Riley wants to do (wink, wink) then Riley wll have to make that happen, transfer and all.
Well, the deal gets done. Riley transfers mid-mission. Logan goes crazy, citing foul play. Bronco gets questioned, denies he knows anything and that he didn't do it.
It did seem a little fishy at the time, didn't it? some of the comments made during interviews smelled fishy. there was something going on.
Riley comes to BYU, understandably waits his turn, then gets outplayed by a freshman in practice and green jerseys and starts to get mad!
QB2 shows up, but Riley gets injured, etc, etc. loses starting job while injured, Heaps gets MVP in bowl game, etc etc.
Riley continues to get out-played in spring, but Heaps misses summer workouts. Riley continues to work his magic with the players, upper classman, RMs, etc etc; Heaps performance deteriorates during the early season, along with support and effort by teammates, and then Riley comes in to save the day vs USU-- capturing what will be his greatest and only real claim to fame (whatever sort he/we can call that, along with Bowl victory over Tulsa).
Enter 2012. Spring camp is a total joke team-wide, except for young players getting much needed minutes, but clearly Riley at this point, as a Sr, has the job locked up. Notwithstanding that yet another Freshman looks to be outplaying Riley, but totally new to the offense is just not ready.
Ironically, however, that new freshman, Hill is inserted in Blue-zone situations because Riley cannot get the job done, cannot complete drives in camp, which plays out in the season.
But no harm, no foul, Riley is "still the man." And this freshman is just a utility player, but too, too good to ignore.
Lark gets maginalized (hmmm, Riley wouldn't have had anything to do with that would he?).
Riley joins the infamous (And Class of One other) Class of the rare few who have lost to Utah as a Sr; then the BSU debacle----both games almost saved by Hill--but for being inserted into the games TOO LATE to save them. Riley plays with debilitating injuries, doped up beyond rationale thinking by him and Bronco--only to be proven after two horrible games (-4 PER--the lowest all time for a starter and maybe ever!!!!!!) that he shouldn't have played in the first place!! And most of us who are rationale, including even those among the Riley-ites, rightly ASKED, WHY???!!!
Hill gets hurt after showing marked improvement over Riley (notwithstanding being a freshman) and a tougher win vs a tougher USU than last year. And once again a freshman was outplaying Riley. But still, Bronco stayed steadfastly True to "Riley as our starter."
More turnovers, more fumbles, more substandard play, more losses, intense heat from fans, MEDIA (including Homers like Wrubell and others) pointing out stat after stat, and still, Bronco remained steadfast. WHY??
BRONCO GOT BLACKMAILED. That's right. As an alternative to a BROMANCE, there was risk of him being wrongfully blackmailed by the Clan Nelson. He cut an arms length, implied deal years ago and he is sticking to it for fear he would be turned in to the NCAA by the not trustable Nelson Clan. Like it or lump it, Logic and reason by Bronco has been defied over and over. Bronco USED to be and more importantly ACT, like the Turnover Terminator. But what is blinding Bronco is this threat and Riley's grit and some wins; and but for an injury to Hill, (and who knows what is up FOR AND WITH LARK for that matter) has avoided another legit QB controversy.
Actually, this theory was posited by a fellow fan who shared it with me, claiming some sort of loose connection to insider information.
i know this is how a lot of transfers happen, with the plausible deniability of two to four layers of people getting involved so that coaches don't have to and can deny any wrong doing. But it is worth noting.
Theory #2: Bronco, having learned hard lessons about QB2 and the controversy, fully commits himself to One starter--to the point that notwithstanding the downsides to Riley's limited ability and trending, was going to stick with One guy because of the reputation that he was at risk of forming with the QB2 debacle. And painfully and persistently is sticking to "There can Be Only One." This theory is mixed with the whole RM, upper classman, paid our dues mantra--which of coarse has an asterisk in the case of James Lark, who has more than paid his dues.
These or Bronco just really really loves, likes and thinks Riley is in fact, "tougher than all of us."