Kalani looking for a baby:

The one he threw out with the bathwater when he was hired. Dick Harmon's article tracks how Kalani is now trying to implement some of the things in Bronco's book and practices to get a better hold on things at BYU:



https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900045229/dick-harmon-sitake-patterning-some-mendenhall-characteristics-to-help-reinvent-unique-byu-program.html



Harmon was on Criddle's show yesterday afternoon, and the most revealing insight Harmon had was that Kalani has never taken up Bronco's offer to have a sit down and discuss coaching at BYU.



Kalani had a resource available to him to walk him through some of the idiosyncracies of coaching at BYU and working in BYU's unique political workplace, but Kalani wanted no part of it (and Derik Stevenson is out there saying Kalani would be super successful if not for BYU's administration holding him back).



I think Kalani is on his make-or-break year, but I think he's too stubborn or too slow a learner to make it.

So sit down and get Bronco's jaded view of things full of the reasons he is leaving? Or attack the situation with a fresh POV. Are we saying Bronco had everything figured out and is just waiting to impart his infinite knowledge to the new regime several years outdated even.



http://arnoldzwicky.s3.amazonaws.com/GauldWaterMetaphors.jpg" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Fido wrote:

So sit down and get Bronco's jaded view of things full of the reasons he is leaving? Or attack the situation with a fresh POV. Are we saying Bronco had everything figured out and is just waiting to impart his infinite knowledge to the new regime several years outdated even.

BYU is a unique environment, and Kalani had a chance to sit down with someone who was successful here who was willing to help him get a leg up. Now, three years later, he's finally getting around to doing some things Bronco was doing and could have helped him see the need for years ago.

Examples of things Bronco did that Kalani has recently started? Have we revived the road fireside schedule or something? Or just more nebulous Bronco-worship?

Fido wrote:

Examples of things Bronco did that Kalani has recently started? Have we revived the road fireside schedule or something? Or just more nebulous Bronco-worship?

Apparently you haven't read the linked article from the OP?

that is about as scathing an article you will get from Harmon while the coach is still here. He didn't write an article like that one about Crowton until he was gone. I'm with Sno on this. Bronco is a damn good coach and did a really good job while at BYU and Sitake would have been more prepared had he visited with Bronco about how things could be done at BYU.

Fido wrote:

So sit down and get Bronco's jaded view of things full of the reasons he is leaving? Or attack the situation with a fresh POV. Are we saying Bronco had everything figured out and is just waiting to impart his infinite knowledge to the new regime several years outdated even.



http://arnoldzwicky.s3.amazonaws.com/GauldWaterMetaphors.jpg" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Hmmmm, Bronco was and is still a huge fan of BYU. BYU was his dream job and IMO his stay was cut short because he saw the writing on the wall that the boosters wanted him out. Bronco was interviewed by the media after he left and was asked if he wanted to ever schedule a series with BYU and he said no because he didn't want to compete against a school that he loves. Sound to you like someone who would spill sour grapes to the new coach or someone who would do everything he could to help the new coach succeed?

I read the article.



Kalani not talking Bronco is shortsided. I'm not surprised by it.



I once took over someone's job. Twice, actually. In both cases, I met with them. They may not have met managment's expectations or may have been a bit disgruntled, but it's still insight. People typically end up jaded for a reason or poor performers for a reason. It's good to hear their perspective.



Not listening to Bronco basically gave Kalani only one side of the coin. There are two sides.

I appreciate that article. I'm actually more upbeat about the program as a result. I'm glad Kalani is willing to learn from his mistakes and adapt. At the same time he needs to be his own man to effectively lead.



Progress has been made. Beating an above .500 P5 program on the road hasn't happened in over 2 decades until this year. We had BY FAR our best performance vs. Utah since 2009. Unlike this season, next season's most challenging games are at home. I'm looking forward to it.

hawkwing wrote:

https://twitter.com/CriddleBenjamin/status/1070854256201162752

But Bronco didn't play at BYU. He's not a true Coug.

It certainly wouldn't have hurt for Sitake to pick Bronco's brain, especially since he offered.



But I don't know why it keeps getting repeated that the boosters chased Bronco off like it's a known fact.

KingCoug wrote:

It certainly wouldn't have hurt for Sitake to pick Bronco's brain, especially since he offered.



But I don't know why it keeps getting repeated that the boosters chased Bronco off like it's a known fact.

In listening to how Bronco has talked about BYU in comparison to UVa since he left, here's my theory:



1) Independence was never intended to be a long-term situation from BYU. It was an intermediate step, but the next step that Bronco expected never came, and from his position it appeared that Holmoe and the BoT were happy with independence and the status quo instead of pushing for a P5 position. BYU didn't stick to the plan as articulated to Bronco when the indy decision was made.



2) Holmoe did not have Bronco's back in front of the boosters, fans, and media. When Bronco was criticized or questioned by boosters (at Cougar Club luncheons, etc), fans (at fan events) and media (often). Tom spent more time validating the complainer's feelings instead of standing by his coach. It all came to a head when Derik Stevenson did his open letter and the athletic department took a "no comment" approach instead of defending and standing by Bronco.



3) Bronco repeatedly requested better compensation or benefits for his assistants and staff, and was repeatedly rebuffed.



You want to make a valued employee feel unappreciated? BYU laid out a pretty good framework for how to leave the door open so they can find their own way out.

frdbtr wrote:



BYU was his dream job

I was/am a big Bronco fan. But I will say that during the fireside for the Ole Miss (or it could have been the Mizzou game, I can't remember) game he said something to the effect of that he never thought that he would have ended up at BYU in the first place and that he didn't think that he would end his career at BYU. He talked about his wife enjoying "the mission field" or not living in the LDS bubble of Utah.



So I never expected Bronco to stay forever. And even as much as I liked him I think he had hit a plateau. After 10 years in the same position, it can be good for both the individual and the organization to make a change so that things don't go stale. Unforunately, this change hasn't been good. But I still think Bronco would have left sooner or later even if he wasn't pushed out.

I've gone and read the article. There are things being done similarly. There are things that are different due to their personalities. Is it possible that Bronco's poor relationship with alumni during his tenure at BYU resulted in Sitake not taking advice from him? By many accounts Mendenhall managed relationships with former players poorly and made them not feel welcome. Sitake coached against Bronco at Utah for a bit so probably felt more shunned than others. If you felt not treated well by the guy you are replacing, how eager to take "how to do things 101" from are you going to be? Sitake made it a point to reach out to former players right away so you know that was something he felt needed a major change.



Sitake will forge his own legacy for good or bad. It is frustrating to sit and listen to "fans" who want to see him buried now and honor his predecessor like he was a legend or something.

snoscythe wrote:

It certainly wouldn't have hurt for Sitake to pick Bronco's brain, especially since he offered.



But I don't know why it keeps getting repeated that the boosters chased Bronco off like it's a known fact.

In listening to how Bronco has talked about BYU in comparison to UVa since he left, here's my theory:



1) Independence was never intended to be a long-term situation from BYU. It was an intermediate step, but the next step that Bronco expected never came, and from his position it appeared that Holmoe and the BoT were happy with independence and the status quo instead of pushing for a P5 position. BYU didn't stick to the plan as articulated to Bronco when the indy decision was made.



2) Holmoe did not have Bronco's back in front of the boosters, fans, and media. When Bronco was criticized or questioned by boosters (at Cougar Club luncheons, etc), fans (at fan events) and media (often). Tom spent more time validating the complainer's feelings instead of standing by his coach. It all came to a head when Derik Stevenson did his open letter and the athletic department took a "no comment" approach instead of defending and standing by Bronco.



3) Bronco repeatedly requested better compensation or benefits for his assistants and staff, and was repeatedly rebuffed.



You want to make a valued employee feel unappreciated? BYU laid out a pretty good framework for how to leave the door open so they can find their own way out.

First, I'm his biggest critic but I don't think Holmoe is happy with independence. They're trying to make the best of it but it's not like they wouldn't jump at the chance if the BIG 12 called tomorrow. My guess Holmoe is just hoping a P5 opening will present itself in a few years.



Second, while I agree the school should back the coach (up to a point), those boosters, fans, etc did have some legitimate gripes against Bronco. My theory is at least part of the reason Bronco jumped ship was he no longer had a familiar MWC schedule with some easy wins. He now had a tougher independent schedule but wasn't given the resources to handle it.



Third, if indeed Bronco's request for better compensation and benefits for his staff was denied, that's just one more example of BYU expecting to be a P5 level program but trying to do it on the cheap. You know, because it's served us well so far...

KingCoug wrote:

Third, if indeed Bronco's request for better compensation and benefits for his staff was denied, that's just one more example of BYU expecting to be a P5 level program but trying to do it on the cheap. You know, because it's served us well so far...

My understanding from Coaches' Circle members is that the current staff is being paid over double what Bronco's staff was getting paid before heading to UVa.



Not a good ROI so far.

snoscythe wrote:

Third, if indeed Bronco's request for better compensation and benefits for his staff was denied, that's just one more example of BYU expecting to be a P5 level program but trying to do it on the cheap. You know, because it's served us well so far...

My understanding from Coaches' Circle members is that the current staff is being paid over double what Bronco's staff was getting paid before heading to UVa.



Not a good ROI so far.

If that's the case, Sitake and his staff should be on an even shorter leash and greater expectation to deliver.

BYU is cheap. The church is cheap. Not surprised they were stiffing Bronco's staff. Probably told them how it was such an honor to work at the "Lord's university."



I'm sure Bronco saw the writing on the wall as soon as the Big12 deal fell through. In today's political climate, BYU is not getting into a P5 conference.



Bronco wants to play at a national level. He's competitive. He wants to win. That wasn't going to happen at BYU, not without the funds and not without being in a P5 conference.

KingCoug wrote:

KingCoug wrote:

Third, if indeed Bronco's request for better compensation and benefits for his staff was denied, that's just one more example of BYU expecting to be a P5 level program but trying to do it on the cheap. You know, because it's served us well so far...

My understanding from Coaches' Circle members is that the current staff is being paid over double what Bronco's staff was getting paid before heading to UVa.



Not a good ROI so far.

If that's the case, Sitake and his staff should be on an even shorter leash and greater expectation to deliver.

The current body of evidence doesn't support that Sitake is on a short leash at all. If he were on a short leash, he would have been fired after the 17 debacle and would have most certainly been fired after having been whipped by USU 2 years in a row. I don't believe in moral victories and the fact that we "played utah better than at any time since 2009" is BS to me. Losing a 20 point lead in a quarter and a half is not playing well at all.