Dose of reality

A poster said this on the other board. He speaks the truth...





BYU's best game this year was probably a 1 point LOSS. BYU has lost to the 3

decent teams they've played and barely beaten the bad ones (excepting Wagner who doesn't really count). And it took two miracles to beat Nebraska and BSU (who is not anywhere near normal BSU standards this year getting creamed by USU and currently losing to New Mexico).



Records for the teams played this year:



Nebraska: 5-6 (miracle win)

BSU: 7-2 (about to be 7-3 and took a miracle at home)

#19 UCLA: 7-2 (1 point loss - probably BYU's best game of the season)

#14 Michigan: 8-2 (BYU's second worst game of the season?)

UConn: 5-5 (comeback win at home)

ECU: 4-6 (comeback win at home)

Cincy: 6-4 (comeback win at home)

Wagner: 1-9 (only game really controlled all year)

SJSU: 4-6 (one point win on a dropped 2 point conversion)

Missouri: 5-5 (BYU's worst game . . . felt even worse than Michigan. At least Michigan is good)



Looking at the records at this point, BYU has beaten two teams with winning records, one on a miracle (and they're having a "down" year). BYU has eked by or lost to everyone else (Wagner doesn't count.) This is not a good year. It was supposed to be a blockbuster schedule, but as it has played out, it is actually an average to down schedule and BYU has lost the most meaningful games. Fortunately they won the first two on hail mary's or this season would be truly forgettable.



At any rate, looking at this, I think losing to Missouri is about right for this team. What game this year could one point to as proof BYU was going to win this game? A one point escape from SJSU said about all that needed to be said regarding the chances going into this one.



I often thought BYU equated to a mid-level P5 team, but this year they've shown they are bottom rung P5, but mid-of-the-pack G5. If they joined a G5 again, they might be able to work their way back up to a top tier G5 team with a major overhauling of the program.



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I guess you can look at it like that. Or you can look at it that BYU has a ton of underclassmen playing on the defense, we lost our starting SR RB for the year before fall camp started and our starting SR QB 1 quarter into the first game of the season and we are still 7-3. I think the coaches have done a great job this year holding the team together through adversity. We have a really good young QB who has exceeded everyone's expectations. Your version of reality is definitely filled with glass half empty innuendo.

And since we haven't lost to a G5 team this year, I can't follow the logic that we are a mid level G5 team.

Byu's reality is they beat the teams they should.....most of the time. Then they lose to most of the P5 programs they play. It's been that way going all the way back to the early 90's? Even in the Detmer years they lost most of the games against the bigger conferences. Ya they would mix in a Miami or Notre Dame here and there but that wasn't the usual. No offense but you act like this is a new thing and it's not.



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frdbtr wrote:
I guess you can look at it like that. Or you can look at it that BYU has a ton of underclassmen playing on the defense, we lost our starting SR RB for the year before fall camp started and our starting SR QB 1 quarter into the first game of the season and we are still 7-3. I think the coaches have done a great job this year holding the team together through adversity. We have a really good young QB who has exceeded everyone's expectations. Your version of reality is definitely filled with glass half empty innuendo.

Only if you are happy with 3 losses from losing to a team they should have cremated and when BYU should be finishing with only 2 losses. One, had they played better D in the 4th qtr against UCLA.

a1247 wrote:
Byu's reality is they beat the teams they should.....most of the time. Then they lose to most of the P5 programs they play. It's been that way going all the way back to the early 90's? Even in the Detmer years they lost most of the games against the bigger conferences. Ya they would mix in a Miami or Notre Dame here and there but that wasn't the usual. No offense but you act like this is a new thing and it's not.



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Except that BYU should have cremated Mizzou which is one they should have won along with UCLA had they played better d in the 4th qtr of that game and San Jose should have been another Wagner. BYU's reality is that as long as Bronco and Anae are coaches BYU will never have a season with less than 3 losses as an Indy and less than 2 losses in a conference as weak as the MWC. Why because BYU under Bronco will lay an egg in at least 2 games every season.

Byu most likely finishes the regular season 9-3. If that happens they will more than likely have exceeded most of the glass half empty folks' preseason predictions. You can try to paint it however you want, but it is what it is.



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BYU football is boring and uneventful. Now, I'm not the biggest football fan. Just watching football isn't something I do, so that probably explains a lot of my attitude towards it right now, but for the last half decade it seems every season is a "rebuilding" season. Either it's a young offense or a young defense. Seasons are filled with "if only [fill in the blank]." I have little confidence the team will do anything more than go to a no-name bowl every season.



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Did you mean a "Does of YOUR reality'??

This is a good year. It is not a great year. And it is not a banner year that it could have been. Healthy Taysom can help erase Anaes sometimes quastionable play calling and narrow focus, as well as athletic deficits around him. TMan cannot do that as yet. He will, but not yet.

I tried to paint a reality to the P5 fantisizers that BYU does not have, has rarely had, and probably will not have the level of recruiting to be competitive in a P5 conference. I took alot of down votes for that. But thats exaclty what we are seeing this year. MIracle to beat a down Big 10 team and a dismal effort vs a superior upper-middle Michigan team; A great but fallen short effort vs a middle of PAC12 team; a miracle to beat a good but not typical BSU team; and a loss to a fired up bottom of SEC team; and of course some comeback wins vs midle of road G5 teams. Thats our season.

NOtwithstanding, there have been alot of enjoyable moments this year--and thank goodness for two of those (Neb, BSU) or this year would have met up to the pessimists expectations and lay-wasted alot of other blue goggle fans. Imagine BYU being 5-5 right now and staring at 6-6?? Oooo, folks would be calling for coaches heads.

BYU lucked out to face down years for several teams. If BYU plays to this level next year, expect 6-6 or 7-5. And thats exactly what BYU would face most years in a P5 conference; an occassional good year at 8-4; and the rare great year that comes in at 10-2 (happens every 20 years or so). So, my dose of reality is, folks better strap in and enjoy the good moments and wins, bc the disapointments are going to pile up next year. If folks ever want double digit wins, BYU will have to go back to the MWC. Bc it just aint gonna happen.

And, there is alot to enjoy for kids who play very hard, usually, but are not perfect.

This is BYU football. Take or leave it.

Well, when the #1 schedule in the nation turns into the 45th schedule, (and is only going to slide lower in the next two weeks), people tend not to be happy when they see big opportunities continue to pass BYU by because of bad coaching (recruiting is part of coaching, playcalling is part of coaching, developing your players is part of coaching). When you are winning in the last seconds against teams that the New Mexico Lobos are pounding, that tends to rub fans the wrong way.



This schedule is turning out to be barely better than a MWC schedule and we don't have anything t show for it except for MAYBE a 9-3 record. I'm not convinced we win either of the next two games playing like we have the last two. And you can say what you want about 9-3, but we are 3 lucky plays away from being 5-5 right now (The two hail maries, and the SJSU missed extra point for the win).



For all of the "byu is just unlucky" talk out there (losing starters, blah blah blah) we have certainly been very very lucky, and haven't capitalized on big opportunities. I hope that this offseason we get an OC that has a clue, and we give Howell his walking papers and get a new DC.

BYU still has a good shot at a 10 win season. Yes we have issues but it's certainly on the biggest stage we've ever had. When you look at it we did exactly what the SEC hoped we would do. That's take a poor SEC team and give them a quality win. Regardless the elevated stage hopefully helps our stature and recruiting. We are still much, much better off than being in a WAC or MWC conference.



Only time will tell.



Go Cougars!



L Hatton

Louisville, KY

As ugly as the game was yesterday, and as bad as Mizzou is supposed to be, they have one of the best defenses in the country. They are probably better than Michigan on defense. It's no surprise we struggled against them. Our defense should have performed better stopping their run, but we've struggled stopping the run this year. We definitely have a lot to improve upon, but I'm not sure why we can't find things we enjoy about this team without being labelled blue-goggled fans.

I have asked this question 2 or 3 times in the last year and no one ever answers it.I will admit right now I happen to like Bronco and don't mind Anae. Who can BYU afford to replace them that has any experience and that is going to be any better and the big question would be willing to come here and put up with all the whining, honor code ,missions etc..????????????? Time for some ideas lets hear them.

Screamineagle wrote:
I have asked this question 2 or 3 times in the last year and no one ever answers it.I will admit right now I happen to like Bronco and don't mind Anae. Who can BYU afford to replace them that has any experience and that is going to be any better and the big question would be willing to come here and put up with all the whining, honor code ,missions etc..????????????? Time for some ideas lets hear them.

I am basically in this camp as well. I'm not sure that right now there is anyone who would make a tremendous amount of difference for the better. I know that Ken Niumatalolo at Navy would be an obvious one to take into consideration. Navy is having a great year this year, but I'm not sure his system is what this fan base would be happy with, and I have no idea if he would have the same success or not implementing another system. The NFL candidates such as Reid and Bevell are where they are at because that is where they want to be (that and the money is pretty good as well). That leaves several candidates who are currently assistants and have had no prior head coaching experience. I'm not sure why you would take a gamble on the unknown right now because you are unhappy with a .700 winning percentage, more losses than wins against top ranked teams (duh!), and runs up the middle :roll: With the exception of very few programs right now, fans are calling for the heads of head coaches and coordinators every weekend after losses and less than overwhelming wins. It is the nature of society and social media right now to become fixated an everything and anything negative and to wallow in the mud. Boise State is a classic example right now. Harsin is/was a hot commodity and an up and coming young coach who in his first season leads the Broncos to a win in the Fiesta Bowl. This season he has a Freshman Quarterback who replaced the injured starter and they have been very inconsistent losing to both Utah State and New Mexico in recent weeks, and the fan base is calling for his head on a platter. I personally prefer to stay the course right now as I think Bronco and his staff have the best handle on where the program currently is, what the unique demands are that are placed on running BYU's program (not easy to understand to say the least), and what it's like to navigate life with no ties to a conference and leading a nomadic program in today's turbulent waters of college football. I suppose I am guilty of just seeing the Emperor's New Clothes, but then again I am really hoping for that invite to the festival that the Emperor will be hosting at some point in time ;) Go Cougars!

Brayden Green wrote:
Well, when the #1 schedule in the nation turns into the 45th schedule, (and is only going to slide lower in the next two weeks), people tend not to be happy when they see big opportunities continue to pass BYU by because of bad coaching (recruiting is part of coaching, playcalling is part of coaching, developing your players is part of coaching). When you are winning in the last seconds against teams that the New Mexico Lobos are pounding, that tends to rub fans the wrong way.



This schedule is turning out to be barely better than a MWC schedule and we don't have anything t show for it except for MAYBE a 9-3 record. I'm not convinced we win either of the next two games playing like we have the last two. And you can say what you want about 9-3, but we are 3 lucky plays away from being 5-5 right now (The two hail maries, and the SJSU missed extra point for the win).



For all of the "byu is just unlucky" talk out there (losing starters, blah blah blah) we have certainly been very very lucky, and haven't capitalized on big opportunities. I hope that this offseason we get an OC that has a clue, and we give Howell his walking papers and get a new DC.

You thought the Lobos were "pounding" Boise State? The game ended with a 1 score difference (I don't think they were ever more than 2 scores in the lead) and Boise State being tackled 5-10 yards shy of the end zone with 0 time left on the clock. Hyperbole knows no bounds apparently. Boise State caused their own problems with turnovers in this game--just like they did against Utah State.



Which MWC team has a comparable schedule to BYU's schedule?

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BYU's SOS is ranked at 40. The next closest one is Utah State at 68 followed by Boise State at 74. The rest of the MWC is 85+. Again your claims seem very skewed to the negative.

Fido wrote:

Well, when the #1 schedule in the nation turns into the 45th schedule, (and is only going to slide lower in the next two weeks), people tend not to be happy when they see big opportunities continue to pass BYU by because of bad coaching (recruiting is part of coaching, playcalling is part of coaching, developing your players is part of coaching). When you are winning in the last seconds against teams that the New Mexico Lobos are pounding, that tends to rub fans the wrong way.



This schedule is turning out to be barely better than a MWC schedule and we don't have anything t show for it except for MAYBE a 9-3 record. I'm not convinced we win either of the next two games playing like we have the last two. And you can say what you want about 9-3, but we are 3 lucky plays away from being 5-5 right now (The two hail maries, and the SJSU missed extra point for the win).



For all of the "byu is just unlucky" talk out there (losing starters, blah blah blah) we have certainly been very very lucky, and haven't capitalized on big opportunities. I hope that this offseason we get an OC that has a clue, and we give Howell his walking papers and get a new DC.

You thought the Lobos were "pounding" Boise State? The game ended with a 1 score difference (I don't think they were ever more than 2 scores in the lead) and Boise State being tackled 5-10 yards shy of the end zone with 0 time left on the clock. Hyperbole knows no bounds apparently. Boise State caused their own problems with turnovers in this game--just like they did against Utah State.



Which MWC team has a comparable schedule to BYU's schedule?

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BYU's SOS is ranked at 40. The next closest one is Utah State at 68 followed by Boise State at 74. The rest of the MWC is 85+. Again your claims seem very skewed to the negative.

This is, unfortunately, par for the course.

The likely future of BYU Football is to get rid of a coach who wins 8-10 wins a season, replace him with someone who goes 5-7ish for 4 years, replace him with someone who goes 8-10 win seasons for 6 or 7 years, until fans get tired of consistent winning and replace him with another 4 years of 5-7ish.

KingCoug wrote:
A poster said this on the other board. He speaks the truth...





BYU's best game this year was probably a 1 point LOSS. BYU has lost to the 3

decent teams they've played and barely beaten the bad ones (excepting Wagner who doesn't really count). And it took two miracles to beat Nebraska and BSU (who is not anywhere near normal BSU standards this year getting creamed by USU and currently losing to New Mexico).



Records for the teams played this year:



Nebraska: 5-6 (miracle win)

BSU: 7-2 (about to be 7-3 and took a miracle at home)

#19 UCLA: 7-2 (1 point loss - probably BYU's best game of the season)

#14 Michigan: 8-2 (BYU's second worst game of the season?)

UConn: 5-5 (comeback win at home)

ECU: 4-6 (comeback win at home)

Cincy: 6-4 (comeback win at home)

Wagner: 1-9 (only game really controlled all year)

SJSU: 4-6 (one point win on a dropped 2 point conversion)

Missouri: 5-5 (BYU's worst game . . . felt even worse than Michigan. At least Michigan is good)



Looking at the records at this point, BYU has beaten two teams with winning records, one on a miracle (and they're having a "down" year). BYU has eked by or lost to everyone else (Wagner doesn't count.) This is not a good year. It was supposed to be a blockbuster schedule, but as it has played out, it is actually an average to down schedule and BYU has lost the most meaningful games. Fortunately they won the first two on hail mary's or this season would be truly forgettable.



At any rate, looking at this, I think losing to Missouri is about right for this team. What game this year could one point to as proof BYU was going to win this game? A one point escape from SJSU said about all that needed to be said regarding the chances going into this one.



I often thought BYU equated to a mid-level P5 team, but this year they've shown they are bottom rung P5, but mid-of-the-pack G5. If they joined a G5 again, they might be able to work their way back up to a top tier G5 team with a major overhauling of the program.



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I'm not sure that I follow you, we have a schedule more difficult than any G5 school and are 7-3 against it; the closest G5 school is Memphis who is 8-2 against their schedule, but, according to you, we have to "work our way up" to their status?



This has been a fun year. Last year we lost our all world QB and replaced him with a senior, lost our best running back and replaced him by committee, had a patchwork line in our most challenging games, and had a "down" year of 8-5. This year we are similar, but instead of a senior, we replaced our quarterback with a Freshman who was weeks off of his mission. And instead of 8-5 we are knocking on the door of a 10 win season. And we beat Nebraska at Nebraska (ask Michigan State if they beat Nebraska this year) We won by two scores against Boise State, were in it ‘till the end against UCLA and Missou, and lost to Michigan.

PLUS it’s looking more and more like we will get to take on Utah in our Bowl game. I understand if you feel a need to channel your inner Eeyore this year, but please don’t be offended when the majority of us don’t follow along. It’s been fun! And promises to have more fun in the future, and that’s really what makes sports great.

TheDean wrote:
Why because BYU under Bronco will lay an egg in at least 2 games every season.

I'm so tired of hearing this. Name 10 coaches that don't do this. If you want I'll accept 5 names. Forget about if they'd fit at BYU. Just name 5 coaches that don't "lay an egg" two times a year. If you can find 10 that do it consistently (have a 1 loss season or better every 3-4 years) you can have bonus points. Or at least some credibility.



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Couple of observations about the MO game that made the loss so distasteful.



BYU wins the game if they eliminate stupid defensive penalties (targeting by Kautu and PI by Davis) and cut down on 3rd down conversions (13 of 20).



MO was only giving up 14.2 points/game and BYU had 16 (should have been 17 without missed PAT).



Still a young team trying to maintain consistency for 4 quarters.



Can't judge team by saying we beat the teams in the last quarter. Check Auburn National Title a couple of years ago...they won many close games during the last quarter. Not saying BYU is Auburn, but winning close games oftentimes is the difference between winning and losing season.



I consider BYU's season a success if they win the last three games (Fresno State, USU and bowl victory) given the injuries that have adversely impacted the team. They have a better than anticipated record given the loss of key players during the season (T. Hill, J. Williams, S. Takitaki, our blocking TEs, injury to OL starters, backup LBs).

I would love to get to 10 wins again. There is a poll on rumorboard about firing BM. Only 25% support it. I figure about 1 in 4 are morons, cough cough cough, I mean mentally challenged.