Deseret News | Reader comments: BYU football: Great expectations, mediocre results

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BYU football: Great expectations, mediocre results

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Big Rock | 1:50 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Great job at 10-3, Utah went 12-0. Nice job getting to the Las Vegas Bowl, Utah is going to go to the Sugar Bowl.

Defensive Changes | 2:08 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I like Jorgensen's comment about making some defensive changes, I hope the coaches can figure out a better way to defend the spread and shut down the mobile qbs.

I think Collie has proven he can compete in the NFL and wouldnt blame him if he made the jump. I dont think anyone else is ready, Pitta wasnt the same after the knee injury.

Good luck in 09 Cougars!

Jared | 4:05 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Since the Y recruits successfully nationally against the Oklahomas, Texas, Floridas and Alabamas of the BCS world, the goal at the Y is NC and BCS bowls therefore a 10-3 season ending with a loss to a mediocre UA is an unsuccessful season

Comments continue below

utefan | 4:30 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Pride always commeth before the fall! Quest for Perfection...only when you have unobtainable goals does a good season become bitter disappointment.

Anonymous | 4:43 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

When you put yourself on a pedestal and thump your chest and say your organization has a higher mission than all the rest, you are in a position to fall all over yourself. It is also true that those who you proudly thought you were superior to in comparison are not there to pick you up and help you regain your lost sense of pride. When BYU lost to TCU and Utah, they were heckled and taunted. Next year, it would be in BYU's best interests to have a more humble attitude. ,

Anonymous | 5:05 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Part of the problem is that the MC is not that good. There are only three good teams in the conference--TCU, Utah, and BYU. Arizona hasn't qualified for a bowl game for ten years and just barely had a winning season, but they defeated BYU handily. They came in as the fifth place finisher in the PAC-10 conference, but they finished off BYU. All the talk about being cheated by the BCS is just talk. BYU hasn't demonstrated that they belong in a BCS bowl.

Bob in line | 5:23 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Jorgenson noted that they struggled against fast teams that employed the spread offense. He has some ideas on how to deal with it but is waiting to discuss with the coach.

Are you kidding me?

Those ideas are about two months late.

BYU is a good team. There coaches were simply out coached over and over again. I dare say that even teams like Utah State out-coached BYU. BYU was just to deep and strong but overall, Utah State solved the problems of how to score on BYU, and how to stop our vaunted offense.

Our coaches need to get their noses in the mud and get serious about this. And on recruiting they need to get serious about speed on defense.

Always next year. Always, next year.

True Blue Athletic Supporter | 5:40 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

This Cougar fan is 100% behind Bronco and the players. A bowl-game loss is always disappointing but a 10-3 season is by no means a mediocre result. This program is unique and inspirational and a joy to watch unfold!

Mediocre | 5:47 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Mediocre is right. Go back to your little hole cougar-ettes.

Coming back | 5:51 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

The good news here is that BYU's underclassmen (including Collie) are coming back for next year, while Utah's are trying to leave the program early. That is a great indication that BYU, after a 10-3 season, will improve and Utah will go down (without the offensive and defensive coordinators who ran the show for the U). Not to mention that BYU will get to play the Utes, TCU, Air Force, and Colorado State at home next year. I'd say the die is cast for another MWC championship in '09.

ericmiami | 6:01 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

The problem with BYU football is scheduling. Could they play Northern Iowa every Saturday?

Todd Norfolk VA | 6:07 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Max Hall doesn't seem to be learning his position. He continues to sit in the pocket with cement shoes and sniper vision for too long. He needs to move that helmet. Scan the field and the pocket and learn how to be evasive. Scrambles upfield with those noodle arms freak out every BYU fan. Seriously, when have we seen him throw the ball away? He just isn't playing wisely and it is killing our chances.

Love the Attitude! | 6:11 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

2009 Cougars will rock!

Texas Ute | 6:19 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Too bad for the Cougs, but that is what happens when you fail to adapt. In the last game, against a team who relied on speed rather than size for defence, they tried an offense that relied on speed itself. They had the horsepower, a better plan would have been to play smash mouth football and run over the top of them. Rise and shout the Cougars are out.....cold.

cougdad | 6:17 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I am disappointed with this year, but not quite for the reasons everyone assumes. I could live with 10-3 if I felt the team had played up to their potential in the losses. They struggled in some of their wins. (Yes a win is a win, but in some of the games the team looked sloppy and unfocused--as they did in their losses).

I don't mean to say they should have won 69-0 all the time, but they certainly could have executed better in many of the games (some of the wins and losses). For me that was disappointing. If they play well and lose, so be it! (Of course, they probably won't lose, but that's not the issue).

Orrice | 6:33 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

BYU's record against teams ranked in AP's top 25 over the past five years is one win and TEN losses. Combine that with their all time Bowl record of .333 and you can correctly conclude that just as they did this year BYU does poorly against good teams. BYU is OVERRATED.

disappointed fan | 6:53 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Enter commentCouldn't have said it any better than this article stated.

metamoracoug | 6:51 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I'm beginning to feel like a Cubs fan . . . next year!

Jimmy | 7:05 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Short practices during the season?
6 of 14 practices for the bowl?
football #5 on the priority list.
Is anyone really surprised?

Anae is mediocre, too! | 7:05 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Get some speed in the backfield and quit trying to use Unga like he's got some quickness, 'cause he ain't got it. BYU needs to get a quick RB if they want to run the steretch every other down. If you want Harvey to be good, run power plays and lead draws where he can run downhill, teach him to quit trying to out juke everyone and just put your head down and run! Quit trying to run the outside strecth play, he aint fast enough to get outside and then aint quick enough to cut up the field. The speed of a smaller quicker RB would be a nice change up. That person is not on BYU's roster. Also, don't ever go into a game against a team that is faster than you and think you are going to run vertical routes and beat a faster team's secondary like you did at TCU. Bronco recently said the team thought they were better than they really were. I think you still think you are better than you really are with the mismanagment of talent on offense.

Anonymous | 7:07 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

10-3 this year looks worse when considering none of the non-conference wins came against a winning team (no disrespect, but beating a D1AA N Iowa should't count towards the win total) and only 2 in conference (AFA and CSU post-bowl win) were over winning teams. And BYU eeked it out over CSU and UNLV...how much worse would 8-5 be against that schedule? They're already one of the worst 10-3 teams in recent memory.
Unfortunately the Cougs were artificially buoyed up to start the season since no one they played in the first 6 games did enough to make the BYU coaches (or maybe better call them cheerleaders until they demonstrate they can make adjustments) help our team improve.
I'd like to think (though perhaps blissfully ingnorantly) that next year BYU will at least have played someone of note (Fl.State, ASU, perhaps Oklahoma) who all may well whomp on BYU, but at least will help them be better prepared for when they face a good conference team for the first time. Unlike the TCU debacle this year.

From a Ute | 7:31 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

BYU had a good football team this year (most teams would love to be 10-3). They should be solid next year and have the potential to be great if their O-Line can gel and they figure out their coverage schemes. I think BYU's biggest downfall in their losses was a lack of confidence. When TCU, Utah and Arizona delivered a blow it seemed like BYU started to self destruct. The way BYU thrashed UCLA shows that they can play very well...but BYU just had 3 bad games against 3 good teams. You need to find some good out of a 10 win season and look forward to next season. I think the players and the coach have the right attitude of not blaming anyone but themselves and vowing to do better individually. So good luck to you next year, except against Utah.

Re: Jared | 7:38 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Sometimes sarcasm doesn't travel well on message posts. Was that a joke, or were you serious when you said BYU recruits well nationally against Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, etc?

I cannot think of a single BYU player (well, MAYBE Collie) who would start on any of those teams. In fact, I don't think more than 5-6 would even make the roster.

Iflyhelo | 7:44 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I am always amazed at the gross negative attitudes among all of you who post on here. BYU has won at least ten games over the past three years, coming off three consecutive losing seasons. What, in the name of goodness, do you folks expect? Do you realize how many teams in the USA won ten games three years in a row? Do you have a clue how difficult that is, in any conference, in any year? Get real, be grateful that we have the team, the coaching staff, the fans, the facilities, the boosters and the institution to promote greatness not only on the football field, but in the classroom and in life after football. The Quest was, and is, not just about X's and O's, but about the character and class of those who wear the helmets. In that regard, dear negative doofs, BYU is in a class by itself, and always will be.

akk | 7:47 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Am a Ute fan...have to laugh at all the second quessers. Two months ago Bronco was the second coming and now you want to throw him under the bus. The Cougs didn't get out coached they got out played. They simply are not a great team. BYU will always be a regional power because they have more money than the other MWC teams and a have a solid recruiting base. They will never be more than that because they can't recruit speed and their coaches are like their players solid but nothing special. You still can't give credit to those that beat you. Utah, TCU and Arizona are better than you are... admit it and move on.

Lighten up! | 7:49 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

At least BYU is not like Detroit Lions.
Lions are on a Quest for Imperfection.
BYU at least was on Quest for Perfection until TCU game.
:)

Happy Holidays!!!

execution?? | 7:53 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

i didn't hear the word execution a thousand times like normal.. i did catch "potential" blah blah blah.

the robots still are spitting out the SAME stuff every day, every conversation, ect.

gets annoying boys

Jake | 7:57 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

C'mon Call, 10-3 is not a mediocre season! It may be mediocre for Cougar fans who have totally unrealistic expectations, but it's not mediocre for those of us that are more realistic.

DH | 8:03 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I could be pleased with a 10-3 season if I felt like the team gave it's best effort, but I don't feel that way. We heard too much garbage from the team about how many weapons they had offensively and no one could stop them. I believe they got to over confident and that led to a lack of effort.

If you're a great team you will prove it on the field. Let your playing do the talking. It speaks much louder than your words do, as the Cougars clearly found out this year. The only questions is, did they learn anything this year?

RE: Iflyhelo | 8:06 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Is that the character and class of the players quoted as saying "We are the kings of the conf.", "We always have a target on our back" and best of all "Living right on and off the field"? Just wondering.

I'll take 10 wins! | 8:09 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

A 10 win season is not mediocre, far from it. In fact you're the only team with 10 win seasons for three years running!

Way to go Cougars. A lot of pressure this season, the haters are euphoric, but that only lets you know what type of people they are.

As fans, YOU ARE OUR TEAM! We already know that 10 win seasons are going to be common. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

BYU spawns discord | 8:10 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

"In that regard, dear negative doofs, BYU is in a class by itself, and always will be."

And I think that explains why BYU is despised outside of Utah Valley.

They are good men | 8:09 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I think we all have to recognize that these are good young men and the coaches are good men, too. The football program understands what is important in life and football (on the field) is not as important as football (off the field). I congratulate this team for their accomplishments. With that having been said, it has been said many times in these blogs that BYU needs to develop a good defensive strategy. It also has been said many times ALL YEAR LONG, that they need to have a sophisticated offense that utilizes as many as 10 receivers and running-backs. In this regard, they are a mediocre team who beats the teams they are supposed to beat, and loses to any and all good teams. I have little confidence in the coaches to shed their arrogance enough to recognize that they are the problem with BYU not beating ANY good teams and to change their strategies from high school level to Div-1A college football. I hope so and am looking forward to 2009 to see if they have learned this great lesson.

Accept mediocrity | 8:16 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I posted yesterday and stand by my opinion. BYU's inability to get "athletes" (heck we seldom get the LDS athlete anymore - at least the really really good ones) keeps BYU from becoming a national power. The recruiting restrictions faced by BYU are too great a hurdle to overcome - on the national level.

BYU will continue to do well in the MWC, but not much beyond that. Tell me, and most Yewt fans should know this, what is BYU's record against nationally ranked teams over the past 10 years or so? All I know is that it is not good. If BYU were a national power, as we all want to believe, the record ought to be close to 50-50, but I guarantee you it isn't.

We need to learn to accept mediocrity, at least on a national level, because standards, recruiting, etc. are not going to change at BYU. As a huge BYU fan, I don't like it, but it is what it is.

What I don't understand is how come the mighty Yewts don't beat us 8 out of 10 times? They have a huge advantage when it comes to recruiting.

In my opinion, Utah severely underachieves.

out coached | 8:15 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Bronco needs to throw away his Covey books and learn his players are not business execs, they are kids playing football. Stating he doesn't pay attention to who he is playing really shows where he is at as a coach. He barely won ten games against very mediocre teams. Very lucky to have ten wins. Hope he can change. Sorry we never got Whitingham!

Recruiting? | 8:19 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Come on Jared. Do you really believe that BYU competes with Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Give it a rest! If you did I think you would be a little better. You were no better than the third most talented team in the conference.

As for byu's season. It was a disappointment because of Bronco. He is the one that made it a disappointment when throwing his qwest garbage out in March. I have no problem with a team having a qwest like they did, but don't make it public to where it is the number one thing on ESPN like it was.

To: Iflyhelo | 8:21 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Re: "be grateful that we have the team...to promote greatness not only on the football field, but in the classroom and in life after football. The Quest...is...about the character and class of those who wear the helmets.... In that regard...BYU is in a class by itself, and always will be."

Does it ever occur to BYU fans and posters that this attitude, so un-Christlike (space limitations prevent citation to supporting scriptures), so aloof, presumptious, and harmful is not only part of "the problem" on the football field, but off it as well?

Maybe some humility would go a long ways towards improving atheletic preparation and performance, and would help to find that tricky balance between being serious about sports, but keeping things in perspective.

LaVell had an inate ability strike that balance. Stan Watts had it to. Since then (except for Dave Rose, who may turn out like Coach Watts, well....

Fans who attend firesides in Albuquerque, Fort Collins, or wherever, may be impressed by the "spiritual" side of their icons, but those who have access to lots of information from the team and boosters know that humility is in very short supply. Too bad, because things could be different.

LOOOL | 8:25 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Well BYU was dumb for telling us they were gonna go undefeated and get to the BCS.

That made Utah and TCU a little mad and they showed it.

Great expectations | 8:24 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

You know, most die-hard college football fans around the country would give their left arm to see their team go 10-3. Who out there could be brought to tears by that record?

That would be BYU fans who were told a fanciful story about "perfection" and bought into it hook, line, and sinker. Seriously....perfection? Even if Boise or Utah manage to go undefeated, it would be incorrect to say that either team was perfect - they both struggled at times this year.

Y fans: 10-3 and disappointed is reaping the fruits that you've sown through your own pride and arrogance. I can only hope you've learned a lesson from this season and next season sees you (and your players and coaches, for that matter) a little more humble.

Cougar Kid | 8:27 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

The good news: At least they can follow the honor code. Four years ago they couldn't even follow the penal code.

The bad news: The Cougs set a football standard that was all talk and no action. That's an integrity issue as well as a performance issue. The 10 wins were often sloppy and against generally weak teams. When it came to good teams, they cratered.

The issue: Let's take the blinders off and admit that the coaching this year was at least as terrible as the playing. It's time for some heads to roll.

wayne from California | 8:28 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Folks, this is college football we are talking about. We are talking about young men giving their best. Sometimes best isn't good enough, but we have all experienced that at some point in time. Please do not be fair-weather fans. I think Bronco and the coaching staff know what they need to do as far as recruiting to compete at a higher level.

Remember the Tennessee Volunteers. 10 and 3 looks like a national championship to them. They would be in A BCS game with that record. One bad season and a a good coach is gone. We should never think that way.

Great News for Utah fans | 8:40 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Max Hall will be back for another year.

This is Perfection? | 9:11 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Seems like this time last year after your Cougs miraculous victory over UCLA and their 3rd string QB that the world was taken over by the "Quest For Perfection." How far the mighty have fallen. You can all come on this blog and force yourselves to say nice things about the program, and downplay how bad this season was, but we're not buying it. The season was MEDIOCRE, just face it. For most college programs who year in contend for a conference title, but continually get beat up by good teams, 10-3 would be fine. But for your Cougs who hold themselves so high above the rest of the world it is mediocre. Because you all ran your mouths since last December about the BCS, this result should be vastly mediocre to every one of you.

Reality sets in for the Cougs; good, just not great, or even close to it. I keep reading about the "potential" this team had. Really? When has BYU ever played consistenly well against good/great teams? Never. Bowl Record? The Cougs are the school bully, beat up on the weak and thump your chest, but when an equal stands up you cower! GO UTES!

Letdown | 9:20 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

BYU set Non-BCS teams back 10 years,
unfortunately Utah is about to set them back 20...

Anonymous | 9:41 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

BYU fans should be upset about losing to Arizona. They coaching in that game was horrible. And BYU did not have the defensive talent to overcome the mistakes of the coaching staff. It looks like the Offensive coordinator (no clue how to spell his name Anai?) is more interested in putting up stats than coming up with a game plan to win. They have a monster of a running game between the tackles, but don't use it. I am by no means a BYU fan, but that team would have been much better by utilizing the running game more.

D Gen X | 9:44 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Bronco's impression of Don Quixote is hilarious & accurate.

UNLV | 10:10 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Fanhouse says: BYU had a huge win over North Carolina last year, but there hasn't been much since. You just can't seem to count on the Cougars in big games. And not to harp on this point, but if the MWC wants multiple bids, they need to win games like this.

Hall Similar to Beck | 10:16 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Hall is entering his senior season in a very similar situation to John Beck's senior season. Both had a lot of good stats and some decent wins going into their last year but both also had a lot of questions whether or not they could take the team to another level and win the big games. Could they beat the really good teams - not just the teams they should beat?

Also, with all the offseason chatter don't forget that BYU will always their own unique self-imposed ceiling. It's called a recruiting strategy to recruit almost all LDS, mission-bound kids. That means a generally very high character roster that will ALWAYS struggle with fast, athletic teams.

Coach wanabe.. | 10:38 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I am so tired of the whining and outright criticism of any player or coach. A 10-3 season, by ANY standard is a great season regardless if you are BYU or not! You people who think you know better, are former athletes, etc, etc, go to college, get your degree, apply for a coaching position. If you get one, good luck at moving up the ladder to a head coaching position. If you happen to be good enough to get a head coaching job, let's see what your record is after a few seasons. Until then, keep your petty comments to yourself. You have no idea what you are talking about or what kind of pressure these athletes and coaches are under to give you "the fan", what you are looking for. In the whole big scheme of things, their record isn't going to matter one bit. It is your reaction, your responses, your lack of respect, your attitude, that matters. What are you learning?

BYU fan | 10:41 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

We did not lose to TCU, Utah, or Arizona. We beat ourselves! Nobody has ever beaten us before, nor can they. We are too good.

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