Comparing Bronco To LaVell and Kyle

http://www.loyalcougars.com/2013/09/11/byu-football/1001-bronco-mendenhall-big-wins-lavell-edwards/



I think this article has a good breakdown of win stats between the coaches.

These obviously are how the teams looked at year end. Good breakdown.



Also shows BYU has played a tougher sched than Utah in the Bronco/Whittingham era.

Records against teams w/ X wins:

13 wins: Bronco 0-2 (.000), Lavell 0-1 (.000)

12 wins: Bronco 1-3 (.250), Lavell 1-3 (.250)

11 wins: Bronco 2-4 (.333), Lavell 0-9 (.000)

10 wins: Bronco 1-5 (.167), Lavell 7-8-1 (.438)

9 wins: Bronco 7-4 (.636), Lavell 10-14 (.417)

8 wins: Bronco 8-2 (.800), Lavell 19-22 (.452)

7 wins: Bronco 5-4 (.556), Lavell 24-14 (.632)

6 wins: Bronco 8-2 (.800), Lavell 38-10 (.792)

5 wins: Bronco 6-2 (.750), Lavell 36-6 (.857)

4 wins: Bronco 11-1 (.917), Lavell 47-6-1 (.870)

3 wins: Bronco 10-0 (1.000), Lavell 31-4 (.886)

2 wins: Bronco 9-0 (1.000), Lavell 22-2 (.917)

1 win: Bronco 5-0 (1.000), Lavell 17-2 (.895)

0 wins: Bronco 1-0 (1.000), Lavell 5-0 (1.000)

2 things really stand out to me.



Neither Bronco nor LaVell ever beat a team that ended the season undefeated, but they also never lost to a team that didn't win any games, either!

I really hate the bowl record comparisons. Back in Lavell's heyday, bowls actually meant something and if you got to one, you played a quality opponent. Not like now where even some teams with losing records get exceptions to play in the Famous Papa Joe's Potato Chili Bean Cookoff Bowl.

Bronco's bowl opponents record 60-43 (.583). (3x 6 or 7 win teams, 4x 8 win teams, 1x 9 win team)

Lavell's bowl opponents record 188-71-6 (.709) (1x 6 win teams, 3x 7 win teams, 7x 8 win teams, 6x 9 win teams, 2x 10 win teams, 1x 12 or 13 win teams).

Not to mention that Lavell viewed bowl games more like vacations and rewards for players than anything. Those bowl game practices under Lavell were some of the most casual practices you'll ever see--tennis shoes in the Smith Fieldhouse some days.