'03-'04 vs. 2010

To start off, let me say that I fully expect the team to win out (including against Utah and the bowl game).



I am honestly curious, though, about what was it like during the 2003 and 2004 seasons? I was lucky enough to be on my mission for those two years, so 2005 was my first season back.



Was most of the criticism aimed at coaches, players or both? Did fans feel like the teams' problems were lack of heart, like most of this year, or lack of talent? Was there still lingering hope throughout the two years, or was it pretty apparent that things weren't going to turn around under Crowton?



Thinking back to all the "realists" on CougarBlue back in '05, it seems that the blue-goggled fan became nearly extinct, and I'm glad I came back home just as Bronco was rebirthing the team.



Ugh... Not the imagery I was looking for. :blush: But you know what I was going for. Causing the team to be reborn.

I don't have great recollection of those years even though I was on campus. The Crowton years just felt dark and it was hard to get involved like I did when I was younger. Everything about the program had changed for the worse and it didn't seem like the team I grew up loving. Maybe it was those gay bibs...

2004 was actually a 8-4 or 9-3 caliber team with a really tough schedule and bad coaching decisions. That defense was pretty good - Feula and Brown at DT, Nua and Poppinga at DE, Poppinga, Jensen, Staff, and Lovely at LB, and DBs were Heaney, Spencer White, Burbidge, Francisco, and the speedy Soelberg (more of a track guy than football player, but that type of speed is always welcome). This may have been one of the best defensive units of the decade for BYU.



The offense wasn't bad either. Two really good wideouts in Collie and Watkins, Coats and Pitta at TE, Beck starting at QB and Berry backing him up, and Brown and Tahi mixing things up in the backfield. The o-line had Scott Young, Kuresa, Lance Reynolds Jr., Lunchbox and a few other behemoths.



It really baffles me how that team managed a 5-6 record. We outgained UNLV like 500 to 200 yds and still lost, and a similar fumble fest happened against UNM. Notre Dame should have had a wider point margin, and even the Utah game was close at the half. The Boise State game was frustrating to no end - a missed FG on the smurf turf against otherwise (reg. season) undefeated Boise ? Come on!



Ugly uniforms though. Good thing Bronco burned those things when he took the helm.

I was on the mission as well thankfully, but I did see some 03 losses. 2002 is what I remember most from Crowton-even more than 2001, and this season isn't different. I see coaches hating each other, players hating being at BYU, less rapes and crimes, but overall under-performance, excuses, doubt, and too many undeserving players being given starters treatment.



Let's see how the next 4 games go. I think fans will happily be silenced in favor of Ws