Article: Money is Killing BYU Football

Good article from KSL. I included the main part of the article in the excerpt below. The entire article can be read at the link.

However, more than injuries, and more than the schedule itself, money is responsible for the not-so-subtle undoing of BYU football. While the Cougars have very little option but to play a front-loaded schedule if they want to have the exposure of a Power 5 conference team without belonging to a Power 5 conference, it doesn’t allow them much room for growth during the early stretch of the season.



While even the best teams in college football may schedule fellow juggernauts in the opening weeks of the season — see Alabama playing Florida State on the opening week of the season, and Ohio State hosting Oklahoma in Week 2 — none of these premier programs play more than one top-tier program before entering conference play. Some schools like Washington, which started the season against Rutgers, Montana and Fresno State, avoid any tough games before conference play.



Financially, for BYU to remain appealing to its TV partners at ESPN, it must play these upper-echelon programs while trying to work out its own early season kinks without the benefit of guaranteed wins against lower-level teams. And when the Cougars suffer an inevitable loss playing against some of college football’s best, they are resigned to playing in a predetermined bowl game, with a less than top-tier financial payout.



Additionally, when nearly every other team in college football enters league play, the Cougars start their season over, competing for a league championship, regardless of how they fared in non-conference play. BYU is stuck matching up with lesser opponents like UMass and Fresno State in games that only serve to get it to bowl eligibility.



For BYU to best compete with Power 5 programs, it relies on the money it gets from its TV deal with ESPN to stay relevant. However, to get that money, it is forced to remain independent and play an early season schedule that could topple even the best programs in college football, taking the Cougars out of the national spotlight over the final month and a half of the season.



While the debate continues surrounding BYU’s lack of conference affiliation, and whether the Cougars should rejoin a lower-level conference, the quest for money has forced the program into a seemingly unfixable Catch-22.



https://www.ksl.com/?sid=46111678&nid=294

Interesting article... unfortunately it is not completely factually accurate. A competent BYU team this year could easily be undefeated now and garnering national attention. This schedule is loaded with completely winnable games with Power 5 teams. The schedule this year didn't "kill" BYU football.

ABYUFAN wrote:

Interesting article... unfortunately it is not completely factually accurate. A competent BYU team this year could easily be undefeated now and garnering national attention. This schedule is loaded with completely winnable games with Power 5 teams. The schedule this year didn't "kill" BYU football.

Yes, this is exactly right. On paper this seemed like a tough schedule, but as we have seen, the teams we've played this year have not been good. There's absolutely no reason BYU shouldn't have 3 or 4 comfortable wins right now.

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

snoscythe wrote:

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

Or - more accurately- the article should have the headline "BYU is experiencing a downward trend, like literally every other college football team experiences, even those in conferences."

ABYUFAN wrote:

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

Or - more accurately- the article should have the headline "BYU is experiencing a downward trend, like literally every other college football team experiences, even those in conferences."

Not literally every team experiences a historically bad season following a winning season.



You have to go back to pre-Sheide/Wilson days to find a streak of 13 games without 300 yards passing by BYU or a 5-game losing streak.



This isn't a "downward trend", this is a "elevator cables snapped and the emergency brakes fell off" descent.

TH sold out these kids for a mess of pottage (money) and a very long shot at "qualifying" for a P5 spot. No big time team was more "down" than Mich State last year. That was an anomaly. We got lucky. We had a Taysom. It's a huge gamble with these schedules that we have more than one or two playmakers. And meet a "down" team.

But hey,things are Looking up! No P5 team will wince at scheduling the BYU patsies after this year. As the tune goes--"Money! Money! Money! Money! Money!"

But to be fair, TH is in a very tough spot.

On a positive note: another "Pay day" this week! I'm sure our recruits look forward to justifying to their families and friends and most to their fellow players going to bigger time programs why BYU sucks so bad this year and how this record is just an anomaly. And how they are going for the family enovironment and soft shell practices.

snoscythe wrote:

snoscythe wrote:

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

Or - more accurately- the article should have the headline "BYU is experiencing a downward trend, like literally every other college football team experiences, even those in conferences."

Not literally every team experiences a historically bad season following a winning season.



You have to go back to pre-Sheide/Wilson days to find a streak of 13 games without 300 yards passing by BYU or a 5-game losing streak.



This isn't a "downward trend", this is a "elevator cables snapped and the emergency brakes fell off" descent.

I can generally agree with that (a bit overstated in my opinion, but for the sake of this discussion - let's go with it) We still don't get to blame the "chase for money" or the schedule on the incredible badness that we're seeing on the field. And blaming the wrong thing keeps us from correcting the right thing - wouldn't you agree?

ABYUFAN wrote:

ABYUFAN wrote:

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

Or - more accurately- the article should have the headline "BYU is experiencing a downward trend, like literally every other college football team experiences, even those in conferences."

Not literally every team experiences a historically bad season following a winning season.



You have to go back to pre-Sheide/Wilson days to find a streak of 13 games without 300 yards passing by BYU or a 5-game losing streak.



This isn't a "downward trend", this is a "elevator cables snapped and the emergency brakes fell off" descent.

I can generally agree with that (a bit overstated in my opinion, but for the sake of this discussion - let's go with it) We still don't get to blame the "chase for money" or the schedule on the incredible badness that we're seeing on the field. And blaming the wrong thing keeps us from correcting the right thing - wouldn't you agree?

I would.

I think it's a valid point that BYU doesn't have the opportunity to grow in the early season, with some breathing room for mistakes. Would this team be 1-5 if we had played SJSU instead of Utah or Wisconsin?



Also, an extremely valid point that interest in BYU's season tanks drastically after a couple of losses in September, even if to great teams. Not much exciting competition down the stretch and little to play for.

ABYUFAN wrote:

ABYUFAN wrote:

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

Or - more accurately- the article should have the headline "BYU is experiencing a downward trend, like literally every other college football team experiences, even those in conferences."

Not literally every team experiences a historically bad season following a winning season.



You have to go back to pre-Sheide/Wilson days to find a streak of 13 games without 300 yards passing by BYU or a 5-game losing streak.



This isn't a "downward trend", this is a "elevator cables snapped and the emergency brakes fell off" descent.

I can generally agree with that (a bit overstated in my opinion, but for the sake of this discussion - let's go with it) We still don't get to blame the "chase for money" or the schedule on the incredible badness that we're seeing on the field. And blaming the wrong thing keeps us from correcting the right thing - wouldn't you agree?

I would -- but failing to diagnose the severity of the problem by calling it a "downward trend" likewise prevents us from correcting the problem.

snoscythe wrote:

snoscythe wrote:

snoscythe wrote:

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

Or - more accurately- the article should have the headline "BYU is experiencing a downward trend, like literally every other college football team experiences, even those in conferences."

Not literally every team experiences a historically bad season following a winning season.



You have to go back to pre-Sheide/Wilson days to find a streak of 13 games without 300 yards passing by BYU or a 5-game losing streak.



This isn't a "downward trend", this is a "elevator cables snapped and the emergency brakes fell off" descent.

I can generally agree with that (a bit overstated in my opinion, but for the sake of this discussion - let's go with it) We still don't get to blame the "chase for money" or the schedule on the incredible badness that we're seeing on the field. And blaming the wrong thing keeps us from correcting the right thing - wouldn't you agree?

I would -- but failing to diagnose the severity of the problem by calling it a "downward trend" likewise prevents us from correcting the problem.

I'll agree that "downward trend" is an understatement if you'll agree that "Killing BYU football" is an overstatement. Then we can meet somewhere in the happy middle.

ABYUFAN wrote:

ABYUFAN wrote:

ABYUFAN wrote:

Better, more accurate title: "Independence is Killing BYU Football".

Or - more accurately- the article should have the headline "BYU is experiencing a downward trend, like literally every other college football team experiences, even those in conferences."

Not literally every team experiences a historically bad season following a winning season.



You have to go back to pre-Sheide/Wilson days to find a streak of 13 games without 300 yards passing by BYU or a 5-game losing streak.



This isn't a "downward trend", this is a "elevator cables snapped and the emergency brakes fell off" descent.

I can generally agree with that (a bit overstated in my opinion, but for the sake of this discussion - let's go with it) We still don't get to blame the "chase for money" or the schedule on the incredible badness that we're seeing on the field. And blaming the wrong thing keeps us from correcting the right thing - wouldn't you agree?

I would -- but failing to diagnose the severity of the problem by calling it a "downward trend" likewise prevents us from correcting the problem.

I'll agree that "downward trend" is an understatement if you'll agree that "Killing BYU football" is an overstatement. Then we can meet somewhere in the happy middle.

I'm not so sure that this middle is happy ... but I agree! :skeptic:

YNot wrote:

I think it's a valid point that BYU doesn't have the opportunity to grow in the early season, with some breathing room for mistakes. Would this team be 1-5 if we had played SJSU instead of Utah or Wisconsin?



Also, an extremely valid point that interest in BYU's season tanks drastically after a couple of losses in September, even if to great teams. Not much exciting competition down the stretch and little to play for.

ESPN could become BYU's best friend. They want good games with good viewership ... they can put some pressure on conferences/AD's to help work on the schedule ...



I doubt they will, but it seems to me that TM could address both money and schedule with one of our partners who also stands to benefit.

I doubt ESPN wants to highlight the worst offense in the country on it's mothership. BYU better right the ship quickly or we will be in trouble with the TV deal.

money fixes very few things.

Winning in college football fixes everything.



BYU is making enough money to be just fine without a conference and should be able to win some of the 5 lost games this year. They had a perfect storm of poor coaching, poor qb play, poor offense, mediocre at best defense this year to have it all hit the fan. I don't think we've hit the bottom yet though.

Lavell was 7-4 then 5-6. Everyone seems to think is was the other way around. Kalani and Ty are trying to create a program not just win now and pay in the long run (see GC 2001-2004). We need to support our coaches and give them the time and opportunity to build up the program. In another Lavell way, Kalani and Ty are following in his footsteps by trying to implement a unique offense. I read a whole bunch of posts calling for us to go back to the spread. Most college teams have gone to it Okay, so lets run the same offense that nearly all the other teams are running with less talented players. This was exactly the opposite of what made Lavell successful and following Lavell's example is what can make Kalani successful. Every team out there now faces a spread O so most defenses have tons of experience with the schemes. Good luck becoming a dominant program running virtually the same schemes with lesser talented players.

imuakahuku wrote:

Lavell was 7-4 then 5-6. Everyone seems to think is was the other way around. Kalani and Ty are trying to create a program not just win now and pay in the long run (see GC 2001-2004). We need to support our coaches and give them the time and opportunity to build up the program. In another Lavell way, Kalani and Ty are following in his footsteps by trying to implement a unique offense. I read a whole bunch of posts calling for us to go back to the spread. Most college teams have gone to it Okay, so lets run the same offense that nearly all the other teams are running with less talented players. This was exactly the opposite of what made Lavell successful and following Lavell's example is what can make Kalani successful. Every team out there now faces a spread O so most defenses have tons of experience with the schemes. Good luck becoming a dominant program running virtually the same schemes with lesser talented players.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. They are looking at the long game, and it will take some time. I can be patient. I think we will still be bowl elgible...drop Miss. State, but then win at East Carolina. We should easily win San Jose State at home, and by then, hopefully have developed some confidence and go on a roll to finish 7-6, maybe 8-6 after the bowl game if the QBs (Mangum or Critchlow) really start to figure things out. And a non-BCS bowl/playoff bowl was exactly where I expected we would be this year. Now, if we don't go bowling, that will be disappointing, but I fully expect that by next year we will go bowling, and keep building from there. The year after that has a great home slate which would be an opportune time for our pro-style offense led by Critchlow, presumably, to be clicking on all cylinders.

LaVell took over a terrible program. Kalani took over a program going 9-4 most years.

I have an issue with the title of the article. If Money is killing BYU football, what would NO money do to the program?