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BYU football notebook: Cougars are staying the course
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Humility | 8:47 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
"If I saw a need to change, I would. But until then, we'll just keep
winning games and hopefully competing for conference championships and playing
postseason."
Enter Name | 8:53 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
Consistency earned two losses
Execution | 8:55 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
I like Bronco and I think he's a fantastic coach and the right guy for
BYU...
... but I'm getting sick of the word "execution"!
... but I'm getting sick of the word "execution"!
Comments continue below
Agree with Humility | 9:36 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
I know right?
Bronco said, No one is harder on the program than myself... and I see no need to change.\
Well if football is 5th on the priority list for the football coach...
I think it's interesting to see several quotes from BYU players in several articles and their concern about the weather. Think that's where they should be focused?
The Cowboys are licking their chops right now.
Bronco said, No one is harder on the program than myself... and I see no need to change.\
Well if football is 5th on the priority list for the football coach...
I think it's interesting to see several quotes from BYU players in several articles and their concern about the weather. Think that's where they should be focused?
The Cowboys are licking their chops right now.
I hope | 9:49 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
you do not change a thing!
Signed excited Ute Fan
Looks like another 48-24 win for the Utes!
Signed excited Ute Fan
Looks like another 48-24 win for the Utes!
Howard S. | 10:31 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
38-9 huh? Not bad.
But I'll talk 37-10 with a BCS Sugar Bowl victory and a number 2 finish any day of the week.
But I'll talk 37-10 with a BCS Sugar Bowl victory and a number 2 finish any day of the week.
Seattleview | 11:32 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
"We probably are more thorough in our analysis week-to-week than any
program, certainly than I've been a part of and maybe more than any other.
I don't think anyone can be harder on our program than myself. If I saw a
need to change, I would. But until then, we'll just keep winning games and
hopefully competing for conference championships and playing
postseason."
Not what I was looking for but really should not be surprised about.
Ok, TCU is a top ten team and Utah is better coached.
Settling for third place again and going to Las Vegas or the smurf bowl would be consistent.
Oh, by the way. How is that "having fun thing going for BYU this year? Seriously, TCU coach Patterson said he likes playing with a chip on his shoulder and gets his players to do the same thing on game day. Utah does similar things and wins big games including bowl games.
Can playing without emotion really be fun?
Please know that I dont want false excitement or traditional BYU hype but Oklahoma or UCLA game enthusiasum would be great.
Not what I was looking for but really should not be surprised about.
Ok, TCU is a top ten team and Utah is better coached.
Settling for third place again and going to Las Vegas or the smurf bowl would be consistent.
Oh, by the way. How is that "having fun thing going for BYU this year? Seriously, TCU coach Patterson said he likes playing with a chip on his shoulder and gets his players to do the same thing on game day. Utah does similar things and wins big games including bowl games.
Can playing without emotion really be fun?
Please know that I dont want false excitement or traditional BYU hype but Oklahoma or UCLA game enthusiasum would be great.
OHIOBYUFan | 5:45 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Staying the course in principle, is generally a good thing. Just check out all
the businesses this year during the recession that have "stayed the
course" many have failed because they weren't prone to change. And
change is what is needed. Not in coaching personnel, but in approach and
practice and, oops, execution...
I think TCU has BYUs number and they will destroy BYU every year until BYU changes their approach to that team. Look at UNLV with the mens BB team! UNLV can't lose to BYU--it happens every year.. Both squads need to approach every game from now on with swagger and the thought that they are the best and PROVE it on the field.
I think TCU has BYUs number and they will destroy BYU every year until BYU changes their approach to that team. Look at UNLV with the mens BB team! UNLV can't lose to BYU--it happens every year.. Both squads need to approach every game from now on with swagger and the thought that they are the best and PROVE it on the field.
What a joke | 6:25 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
"we going to change when we're having the success and as long as I
feel like we're improving and moving forward, then I don't intend,
really, any radical changes."
Key word when your having success.... your not so make the change Bronco, beating terrible football teams every year and losing to good ones isnt success. We go 10-2 or 9-3 every year because we only play 2-3 good teams a yr. Make a change get a new O and D coordinator, what a sad yr this is. I hope we lose dramatically one fore time so Bronco will be forced to admit that "27 little mistakes" made VS FSU were never found or fixed. What a joke.
Key word when your having success.... your not so make the change Bronco, beating terrible football teams every year and losing to good ones isnt success. We go 10-2 or 9-3 every year because we only play 2-3 good teams a yr. Make a change get a new O and D coordinator, what a sad yr this is. I hope we lose dramatically one fore time so Bronco will be forced to admit that "27 little mistakes" made VS FSU were never found or fixed. What a joke.
He doesn't make adjustments | 6:41 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
At half time, why should he change anything after getting "Spanked" at
home by FSU and TCU? Why change when it's far easier to just lower your
expectations?
Questions for Bronco | 6:52 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
...we'll just keep winning games and hopefully competing for conference
championships and playing post season...
no doubts that:
1) BYU will keep winning games but not big games
2) BYU will compete for conference championships until TCU or Utah game
3) BYU will play in the post season --Las Vegas bowl requires only 6 wins
so...questions for Bronco:
1) Can you/BYU win big games?
2) Can you/BYU win the conference now that both TCU and Utah are consistently good?
3) Do you think you can take BYU to a BCS bowl? (not asking for winning one just yet)
SoCalUtahFan
no doubts that:
1) BYU will keep winning games but not big games
2) BYU will compete for conference championships until TCU or Utah game
3) BYU will play in the post season --Las Vegas bowl requires only 6 wins
so...questions for Bronco:
1) Can you/BYU win big games?
2) Can you/BYU win the conference now that both TCU and Utah are consistently good?
3) Do you think you can take BYU to a BCS bowl? (not asking for winning one just yet)
SoCalUtahFan
Jack Wade | 7:09 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Nothing like settling for status quo.
Great job Bronco!
Great job Bronco!
Ernest T. Bass | 7:58 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Byu will kill TCU next year. We have so many great athletes coming in, they wont
be able to run with us.
Eean, FL Coug | 8:01 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I've been a Cougar all my life, and I have to say I'm unconvinced. Let
the numbers speak:
Since Bronco has been head coach, 38-9 is impressive. However,
2-7 vs. ranked opponents
2-2 in bowl games
2-2 against Utah
BYU has been able to rack up the wins against the majority of the conference, but when it comes to the big time games, well, see the numbers above.
My barometer of "BYU's course" is how they finish their last two games - versus Utah and the Bowl game.
2005 (Lost to Utah in OT, Lost to Cal in LV Bowl)
2006 (Beat Utah in a miracle, Beat Oregon soundly in LV Bowl)
2007 (Beat Utah in a miracle, Beat UCLA in a miracle in LV Bowl)
2008 (Thumped by Utah, Lost to Arizona in LV Bowl)
For the last two games, they've won both and lost both twice. 2009 will break the tie - and say a lot about exactly what course BYU is staying.
Tip of the hat to Utah for big game toughness: 4-0 in bowls (including Sugar bowl Alabama blowout) and winning record versus ranked opponents under Whit.
Since Bronco has been head coach, 38-9 is impressive. However,
2-7 vs. ranked opponents
2-2 in bowl games
2-2 against Utah
BYU has been able to rack up the wins against the majority of the conference, but when it comes to the big time games, well, see the numbers above.
My barometer of "BYU's course" is how they finish their last two games - versus Utah and the Bowl game.
2005 (Lost to Utah in OT, Lost to Cal in LV Bowl)
2006 (Beat Utah in a miracle, Beat Oregon soundly in LV Bowl)
2007 (Beat Utah in a miracle, Beat UCLA in a miracle in LV Bowl)
2008 (Thumped by Utah, Lost to Arizona in LV Bowl)
For the last two games, they've won both and lost both twice. 2009 will break the tie - and say a lot about exactly what course BYU is staying.
Tip of the hat to Utah for big game toughness: 4-0 in bowls (including Sugar bowl Alabama blowout) and winning record versus ranked opponents under Whit.
A Ute fans perspective | 8:26 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
If I were a BYU fan, I would be infuriated by the quotes in this article.
But you have to understand that Bronco really has no motivation to change the program. He IS winning, 10 or so games a year, and multiple conference championships. He also has a rediculous amount of fan and booster support. Everybody in the community loves him (and why not, he has restored an impressive program and churns out good people that don't embarrass the school).
He gets away with working less hours than he would anywhere else, his bosses love him, and he is WINNING.
To put it simply, if you were in his situation: Making say $1M/yr.
Working less hours than peers making similar money.
Your boss loves you i.e. if you keep doing what you do, you will never lose your job.
People in your community respect and look up to you.
Why would you rock the boat?
You will just have to live with being ranked around 20th every year and going to a mediocre bowl, and winning a conference championship every other year or so. Not too bad really.
But you have to understand that Bronco really has no motivation to change the program. He IS winning, 10 or so games a year, and multiple conference championships. He also has a rediculous amount of fan and booster support. Everybody in the community loves him (and why not, he has restored an impressive program and churns out good people that don't embarrass the school).
He gets away with working less hours than he would anywhere else, his bosses love him, and he is WINNING.
To put it simply, if you were in his situation: Making say $1M/yr.
Working less hours than peers making similar money.
Your boss loves you i.e. if you keep doing what you do, you will never lose your job.
People in your community respect and look up to you.
Why would you rock the boat?
You will just have to live with being ranked around 20th every year and going to a mediocre bowl, and winning a conference championship every other year or so. Not too bad really.
70-14 ..no change needed | 8:59 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Yes sir, 70-14 over two seasons against TCU but all we need to do is make some
minor tweeks and we are right there with TCU. Sounds like something coming out
of Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber. Holy cow, is it really that hard for
Bronco to see that the lack of execution he talks about is CAUSED by TCU's
superior athletes? How many 30 point blow outs does it take to get that point
across? BYU will never win another MWC championship under Bronco Mendenhaul but
I guess third place every year is good enough. I wonder how long third place is
going to be good enough for season ticket holders and members of the cougar
club???
COURSE | 9:01 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
President Bush (43) stayed the Course.
Hope things turn out better for Bronco.
Hope things turn out better for Bronco.
S2 | 9:04 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
BCS-or-bust, eh? Ok, Bronco, confess! Roll out the magic hat, produce the
6'1" corners, unbind the feet of the receivers, show us the cloned
linemen, and the mid-season transferring kick returner with 4.2 speed. The
know-it-all-fans (and disbelieving Ute trolls) are ready for the mule that
wandered in from Payson with 75 yard FG kicking ability.
Go ahead, you can tell us - the other coaches won't find out. What? From now on you are gonna blitz when? And on 2nd down you are going to x? Third downs will be mostly y to z-player? Cool, thanks for telling us. We deserved something, an emotioanl show.
The Bronco guarantee? No pass ever dropped again? If the leaping 20yr old wide rx don't execute, they will be executed. The fans have earned it - all that work they did. Guillotine - behind the bench.
See, mid-season changes are magically easy - roll a few heads - will surely excite the team.
Give us something- it is our game. You owe us wins. And nice weather.
It's a competitive game, folks -two teams, breaks, chances. Enjoy the excitment and cheer the Cougs! BeatEwes!
Go ahead, you can tell us - the other coaches won't find out. What? From now on you are gonna blitz when? And on 2nd down you are going to x? Third downs will be mostly y to z-player? Cool, thanks for telling us. We deserved something, an emotioanl show.
The Bronco guarantee? No pass ever dropped again? If the leaping 20yr old wide rx don't execute, they will be executed. The fans have earned it - all that work they did. Guillotine - behind the bench.
See, mid-season changes are magically easy - roll a few heads - will surely excite the team.
Give us something- it is our game. You owe us wins. And nice weather.
It's a competitive game, folks -two teams, breaks, chances. Enjoy the excitment and cheer the Cougs! BeatEwes!
The Truth | 9:07 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
This article, if you read between the lines, is saying "we are not a BCS
team and all of that talk and whining about the BCS was just talk". Boise
State said the same thing when they scheduled UC Davis. To be considered a BCS
worthy team you have to beat the teams in your league (you have no control over
how those teams play so just beat them and move on), but you MUST schedule tough
out of conference games so you can then make your claim. TCU played at Virginia
and at Clemson. Neither of those teams are that good this year, but they
didn't know that when they scheduled it five years ago. BYU played
Oklahoma and Florida State. If they would have won they would have a claim.
Boise played UC Davis. BCS worthy teams play and beat anybody and that is
.....the TRUTH!
Thrid Place good enough | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Third place in the MWC every year is good enough for Bronco. Sounds like he is
completely satisfied with the program and see's no need to change anything
going forward other than a few minor adjustments here and there. A note to
Bronco - it has been a whole lot more than a few minor adjustments that caused
BYU to get blown out by 30 points to TCU for two consecutive years! But hey,
third place is nice. You don't have to worry about the stress of competing
with TCU or Utah for the championship and you can just concentrate on the
beating the rest of of the teams in conference every year and be good with that.
I have always like the Bronze medal much more than the Gold anyway -
haven't you???
Fans and Cougar Club .... | 9:19 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
BYU fans and the Cougar Club will not stand for more years of mediocrity from
Bronco Mendenhual. Bronco may be satisfied but no body else is so if he wants to
keep his job he better listen instead of stubbornly ignoring the obvious.
Getting killed by ranked teams annually isn't acceptable going forward so
Bronco better do more than make some minor tweeks.
Sad commentary | 9:32 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Very hard to get excited about BYU football when you hear the coach make such
lame, luke warm statements as Bronco has. Bronco is satisfied. Well FANS ARE NOT
SATISFIED!! Getting killed by ranked teams is MORE than just execution - it is
RECRUITING. I have to say that as long as 60K+ show up to home games I doubt
anything is going to change with BYU football. So to the fans- if you are
satisfied as Bronco seems to be then just keep paying your ticket and showing up
and nothing will change. However, if you STOP buying tickets and get the
attention of the BYU administration then I guarantee you things will change for
the better. IF that means a new coach with some fire to win then so be it.
"Stalwart" | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
At least Bronco is what he is. He doesn't pretend to be something
he's not. Personally, I'm more upset with the players than the
coaches. I think how BYU plays against Wyoming will have a direct correlation
to how the Cougs end the season. I also hope "staying the course"
will go farther for the Cougs than it did for the Bush Administation. (haha)
We Are What We Are | 9:43 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
This is simple really. BYU does not have the athletes to reach the high
standards of most fans. BYU is routinely putting out a top 25 product with kids
who are 95% LDS. That is actually vastly overachieving in my opinion. The only
problem here is that many fans actually think we can compete with top-10 caliber
teams (which TCU obviously is)with our recruiting limitations. It is amazing we
are doing what we are doing. But mindsets and expectations take a long time to
change and it can be a painful process to actually understand and appreciate
exactly who you are. And we are a very good, overachieving, non-BCS team that
produces excellent kids and a pretty exciting brand of football who simply does
not have the speed or athleticism to hang with top 10 teams. We may have a
top-10 type team every 20 years or so but in the meantime we are a MWC
conference and top-25 contender. We all just need to accept it and enjoy it.
Ernest T. Bass | 9:48 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I believe in BYU. I believe in Coach Bornco. I believe in Maxine Hall. I
believe in mediocrity. I believe that it is only a matter of years before BYU
can make it to a BCS Bowl and claim that much eluded glory.
Anonymous | 9:48 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Not all but many elite athletes will not come/cannot come to BYU. Moral
standards are not appealing to many young men. High educational standards are
not important to many football players. If you don't care about your
education and you don't want to live high standards, why go to BYU? Go to
a state school like Utah - very little moral direction and lower academic
standards. Yes, Utah has some great programs, med. school, etc. but it lets
everyone in. Much easier to pull a C with that group.
Hope Y Stays the Course | 9:49 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
The y's course or "curse" is to blow out weak opponents and to be
blown out by TCU, Utah and bowl oppponents. Looking forward to another big loss
when Utah shows up later this month.
"Stalwart" | 9:58 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
RE: A Utes fan's perspective
Interesting points. I just wanted to defend Bronco on one thing. Short practice times. He's not doing this for his own benefit. Many of his players are married, unlike most teams, and he's trying to give the players a little more time with their families. I'm personally not a big fan of this because BYU doesn't practice on Sunday, and I feel they need all the practice they can get. Just my two cents. The guy isn't afraid of hard work.
Interesting points. I just wanted to defend Bronco on one thing. Short practice times. He's not doing this for his own benefit. Many of his players are married, unlike most teams, and he's trying to give the players a little more time with their families. I'm personally not a big fan of this because BYU doesn't practice on Sunday, and I feel they need all the practice they can get. Just my two cents. The guy isn't afraid of hard work.
BYU Success | 10:03 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
BYU has the largest revenue, biggest fan base, easiest athletes to recruit
(seriously, bring a LDS kid to campus, show him the cute girls, sign him up).
BYU wins because they have TREMENDOUS advantages.
Bronco's "success" does not equal the advantages the program gives him.
Be honest with yourself, coach. Humble up. Get your players to SHUT UP and play. I hear more "we are great" talk come out of Provo than anywhere else.
Remember last years, "Best offensive line ever?" How many of those guys are playing in the NFL?
Remember the "quest for perfection?" How does 27 mistakes against Florida State stack up against that?
I thought it was execution, not athleticism, which lost the TCU game. How is that something to give you "more confidence" Jan Jorgenson? You didn't live up to your potential, so now you are more confident (now that the weather is going to be ok?) How does that equal "some" improving is needed, Bronco.
Pride = Losing
Start there, Bronco. Humble up.
Bronco's "success" does not equal the advantages the program gives him.
Be honest with yourself, coach. Humble up. Get your players to SHUT UP and play. I hear more "we are great" talk come out of Provo than anywhere else.
Remember last years, "Best offensive line ever?" How many of those guys are playing in the NFL?
Remember the "quest for perfection?" How does 27 mistakes against Florida State stack up against that?
I thought it was execution, not athleticism, which lost the TCU game. How is that something to give you "more confidence" Jan Jorgenson? You didn't live up to your potential, so now you are more confident (now that the weather is going to be ok?) How does that equal "some" improving is needed, Bronco.
Pride = Losing
Start there, Bronco. Humble up.
JEX | 10:06 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I have two big questions. Last week Oregon creamed Southern Cal. Was it
because of faster and stronger athletes or better execution by Oregon? If BYU
lost by the same score to Oregon, who would get more critized--Oregon or
Southern Cal?
Anonymous | 10:12 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
You cant put the blame on one guy. It is a team sport. The team plays and
executes on the field. You can have the best coach in the world calling the
plays and prepping teams for contests. But when all is said and done if the
players dont do their part then the team will lose.
Ok | 10:14 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I think what I don't get is BYU's emphasis on football being priority
#5 or whatever. It is a religious school, so I don't understand why all
those things above football aren't already a part of most of the players
lives, and football can be #1 during football season. I have a job and I know
that God and family are my top priorities , but do I go around telling my boss
you are only my #3 priority, sorry I can't stay late my family comes before
you? It just seems ridiculous that players cannot feel that football is most
important during the season, but of course the other things are part of their
core being and that's who they will always be. You don't give up your
values and beliefs just because you focus on something else for a small moment
in time. It would be nice to have football be the top priority DURING football
season!
Someone Help Us!! | 10:14 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I am glad we pay Bronco 900K a year to stay the course and not make any needed
changes, good move Holmoe!!! Someone from the Alumni please start sending some
letters of complaints, this is old news now. I am tired of complaining about
Bronco's lack of fire and energy towards this, we need someone who isnt
content with being average and 3rd place in the moutain weak conference. 3rd
place is basically last as Utah, TCU and us are top and everything after is
junk, so 3rd is basically a toss up for last. Get real Bronco, get out of your
2010 Range Rover and come back to reality and coach a game with some fire!!!
That is why we got you in the first place!!
Smoke and mirrors? | 10:23 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I'm very dissappointed with Bronco's current mindset. For the past few
years he's talked about making the necessary changes to get the team
"to the next level". I was hoping he'd say we're going to
work our players harder and do some real game planning.
As far as I can tell the team is not at "the next level" unless I've totally misunderstood what "the next level" is. I guess that can be interpreted in different ways but I'm sure it does not include getting blown out at home by an unranked struggling FSU and also by a very good team in our conference, TCU, who we are very familiar with so a blowout shouldn't have happened if we truly have been "improving and moving forward".
Hey Coach, how are you able to feel like the team is "improving and moving forward" when after the OU and Tulane games it now feels like we're the same as last year or maybe even a little worse? Please share your secret with us.
As far as I can tell the team is not at "the next level" unless I've totally misunderstood what "the next level" is. I guess that can be interpreted in different ways but I'm sure it does not include getting blown out at home by an unranked struggling FSU and also by a very good team in our conference, TCU, who we are very familiar with so a blowout shouldn't have happened if we truly have been "improving and moving forward".
Hey Coach, how are you able to feel like the team is "improving and moving forward" when after the OU and Tulane games it now feels like we're the same as last year or maybe even a little worse? Please share your secret with us.
Re: "Stalwart" | 11:18 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I don't think Bronco is afraid of hard work, just that he got lots of
attention this year for not putting in the hours that coaches at other programs
do. I think it is a good system, and part of what has given BYU its current
identity.
This is the major road block that I see to getting over the hump for BYU though. You have created a culture that represents your faith perfectly. It puts things in perspective, and still produces (pretty) impressive results.
I wonder if BYU fans would be willing to give up a program that seems so tightly aligned with their faith (at least IMHO), for better results and a little less alignment? We all know what happened when that got too far off track, and it was a black eye for the school.
I think the frustration that current fans have is that they want the best of both worlds and they thought they were approaching that with Bronco. Now it doesn't look like it will happen. I think with small changes in coaching philosphy it could.
But I don't think it will. You would have to give up that identity.
This is the major road block that I see to getting over the hump for BYU though. You have created a culture that represents your faith perfectly. It puts things in perspective, and still produces (pretty) impressive results.
I wonder if BYU fans would be willing to give up a program that seems so tightly aligned with their faith (at least IMHO), for better results and a little less alignment? We all know what happened when that got too far off track, and it was a black eye for the school.
I think the frustration that current fans have is that they want the best of both worlds and they thought they were approaching that with Bronco. Now it doesn't look like it will happen. I think with small changes in coaching philosphy it could.
But I don't think it will. You would have to give up that identity.
Cougarf@n | 11:18 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I completely agree that 90% of what Bronco is doing doesn't need to change.
I completely support his efforts. There are just a few things I'd really
like to the the program adjust:
1) Short practices are great most weeks for purposes of injuries, but should do longer ones three or four weeks a year for the big games (TCU, FSU, OU, Utah, Bowl game). Those are the weeks where the players are most likely to be distracted with interviews and press so extending practices would keep the team focused and allow the coaches to expand the playbook a little. I realize there is a reason for keeping a routine with 18-24 year old players, but the big weeks are already completely different.
2- There's nothing wrong with designing plays specifically to exploit the opposing team's weaknesses. I agree the focus must be on ourselves in preparation, but predictability to the point of ignoring a gameplan and limiting your ability to make in-game changes is really hurting BYU. Execution AND the element suprise work great together.
3- I'd love to see emotion from Bronco like we saw against OU. Players feed off that.
1) Short practices are great most weeks for purposes of injuries, but should do longer ones three or four weeks a year for the big games (TCU, FSU, OU, Utah, Bowl game). Those are the weeks where the players are most likely to be distracted with interviews and press so extending practices would keep the team focused and allow the coaches to expand the playbook a little. I realize there is a reason for keeping a routine with 18-24 year old players, but the big weeks are already completely different.
2- There's nothing wrong with designing plays specifically to exploit the opposing team's weaknesses. I agree the focus must be on ourselves in preparation, but predictability to the point of ignoring a gameplan and limiting your ability to make in-game changes is really hurting BYU. Execution AND the element suprise work great together.
3- I'd love to see emotion from Bronco like we saw against OU. Players feed off that.
Perspective | 12:28 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
BYU's program is in as good of shape as it ever was under Lavell. Things
really weren't that much different under coach Edwards. He had a couple
pretty great seasons in 29 years and the rest were similar to this current
program's. He lost a lot of big games too and lost big. I would like to
see BYU take it to the next level, and I think a special group of kids will one
of these years, but I don't think BYU can consistently be a top 10 team.
TCU and Utah have definitely cranked it up several notches the past two years.
I predict if TCU runs the table and goes to the BCS, Patterson will bolt TCU for
a more prestigious program. And Utah? Wittingham isn't going anywhere.
It will remain to be seen if he can maintain the success he's had last year
and this year so far. Enjoy a winning program. If you're not satisfied,
look back to the 3 consecutive losing seasons as a reminder of not-so-great
times.
Stay the course | 12:29 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
sounds like a 2 - 2 finish to me - impressive & worth the price of
admission!! Can't wait until the game on Saturday to see the same impotent
offense take the field and a defense that can't seem to stop anyone who has
an offense that resembles well functioning.
Oh, and to the BYU blind faithful - please feel free to dismiss my comments by castigating me as a UteTroll. Have fun watching the Cougars struggle until they make the changes required to actually win games.
Oh, and to the BYU blind faithful - please feel free to dismiss my comments by castigating me as a UteTroll. Have fun watching the Cougars struggle until they make the changes required to actually win games.
This Is Crazy!!! | 1:21 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I just don't get what some cougar fans honestly expect from what is our
ALL-LDS TEAM!! Do some of you honestly think we can INCREASE the emphasis on the
honor code and INCREASE the percentage of LDS players and still be a top-10
team? I don't care if you are in the Cougar Club - your expectations DO NOT
MATCH UP WITH REALITY.
A previous poster hit it on the head when saying we are really in line with the seasons Edwards produced. Lavell had a MUCH easier conference schedule to deal with. BYU was the only legitimate top-25 conference team and now TCU and Utah are top-25 and/or even top-10 talent. He lost the MAJORITY of top-25 and bowl games too. In fact, Lavell's bowl record was an absolute embarrassment.
People - we have to realize that upholding a very strict honor code and recruiting primarily LDS players will ALWAYS result in a team with less than average speed and athleticism. There will always be a few exceptions (Jacobson). But it means we will continue to struggle against top-25 talent in and out of conference. Time to live in REALITY.
A previous poster hit it on the head when saying we are really in line with the seasons Edwards produced. Lavell had a MUCH easier conference schedule to deal with. BYU was the only legitimate top-25 conference team and now TCU and Utah are top-25 and/or even top-10 talent. He lost the MAJORITY of top-25 and bowl games too. In fact, Lavell's bowl record was an absolute embarrassment.
People - we have to realize that upholding a very strict honor code and recruiting primarily LDS players will ALWAYS result in a team with less than average speed and athleticism. There will always be a few exceptions (Jacobson). But it means we will continue to struggle against top-25 talent in and out of conference. Time to live in REALITY.
Pedro | 1:27 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Wow! Bronco and many of his players are dillusional.
If BYU fixed some minor things they would be competitive with TCU! They must be referring to some other game then the BYU/TCU game I watched this year (and last year). MAKE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS. FIRE ANAE. ABANDON THE 3-4 UNTIL YOU GET LINEMAN WHO CAN ACTUALLY PUT PRESSURE ON QB'S. DISGUISE YOUR LAME BLITZ PACKAGES. WHEN TEAMS KEY ON PITTA (TCU)THROW IT TO THE SECOND BEST TE IN THE COUNTRY-GEORGE. HAVE 3 OR 4 VARIATIONS OF THE I FORMATION. FIRE ANAE. HAVE SOME SERIES FOR RILEY NELSON, ESPECIALLY WHEN HALL STRUGGLES. USE MISDIRECTION. STOP BEING SO PREDICTABLE! No mistery here--how do you beat BYU--offensively throw the ball, especially the long ball-don't worry about BYU pressuring the QB because it won't happen. Defensively, cover BYU receivers one-on-one and use safeties to both stuff the run and shut down the TEs. FIRE ANAE. What have BYU coaches learned from their yearly smack-downs----ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Oh yeah, FIRE ANAE.
If BYU fixed some minor things they would be competitive with TCU! They must be referring to some other game then the BYU/TCU game I watched this year (and last year). MAKE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS. FIRE ANAE. ABANDON THE 3-4 UNTIL YOU GET LINEMAN WHO CAN ACTUALLY PUT PRESSURE ON QB'S. DISGUISE YOUR LAME BLITZ PACKAGES. WHEN TEAMS KEY ON PITTA (TCU)THROW IT TO THE SECOND BEST TE IN THE COUNTRY-GEORGE. HAVE 3 OR 4 VARIATIONS OF THE I FORMATION. FIRE ANAE. HAVE SOME SERIES FOR RILEY NELSON, ESPECIALLY WHEN HALL STRUGGLES. USE MISDIRECTION. STOP BEING SO PREDICTABLE! No mistery here--how do you beat BYU--offensively throw the ball, especially the long ball-don't worry about BYU pressuring the QB because it won't happen. Defensively, cover BYU receivers one-on-one and use safeties to both stuff the run and shut down the TEs. FIRE ANAE. What have BYU coaches learned from their yearly smack-downs----ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Oh yeah, FIRE ANAE.
Stalwart | 1:33 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
RE: 11:18
Agree with your remarks. Hopefully you didn't interpret my previous remarks to imply Bronco enjoys short practices for leisure time. Does anyone really buy the philosophy that football comes in 4th, 5th or whatever. When I was young and played, football was my whole life. Please don't lecture me on what matters the most. I'm well aware. What I'm trying to say is it's easy to say God, family, religion, firesides?? are all more important than football. In my experience few things can compare with the excitement of playing football. I think the coach and players care a lot more than they let on. I don't think that during a game they're thinking, "This loss is ok. It just doesn't really matter."
Agree with your remarks. Hopefully you didn't interpret my previous remarks to imply Bronco enjoys short practices for leisure time. Does anyone really buy the philosophy that football comes in 4th, 5th or whatever. When I was young and played, football was my whole life. Please don't lecture me on what matters the most. I'm well aware. What I'm trying to say is it's easy to say God, family, religion, firesides?? are all more important than football. In my experience few things can compare with the excitement of playing football. I think the coach and players care a lot more than they let on. I don't think that during a game they're thinking, "This loss is ok. It just doesn't really matter."
re: stay the course | 1:35 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I am a BYU fan and totally agree with you, I think 2 and 2 is an easy finish for
us with loses to AF and Utah at home. What a joke that would be to go 2-4 at
home this yr, but Bronco will be fine with that along with over half of the
blind BYU fans. The biggest joke will be when we dont even goto the joke vegas
bowl but have to goto the joke san diego bowl and play a worse joke of a PAC 10
team and still lose... But BYU will I am sure be fine with all of this,
Bronco's mentality- Dont set goals so you wont ever fail... Good one.
@ This Is Crazy!!! | 1:45 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
So you are saying a non-LDS athlete can't be expected to live up to BYU
standards?
So you are also saying that LDS athletes can't have any athleticism?
I disagree on both opinions.
What Bronco lacks is FIRE. No BYU team in any sport has played with FIRE since Roger Reid was FIRED in Provo.
So you are also saying that LDS athletes can't have any athleticism?
I disagree on both opinions.
What Bronco lacks is FIRE. No BYU team in any sport has played with FIRE since Roger Reid was FIRED in Provo.
To 1:35 p.m. | 1:52 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Did you really say "Bronco's mentality- Dont set goals so you wont
ever fail... Good one." ?
Last year everyone blasted Bronco for setting team goals too high. This year he is being blasted for supposedly not shooting high enough.
Is there a tougher to please or more dellusional fan base in the country than Cougar Fans? I doubt it.
Let me repeat my earlier message - BYU has, by far, the toughest personal conduct standards in the country (a cup of tea can get you disciplined for heaven's sake). As a result, BYU's recruiting base is and will always be almost entirely LDS. Even with that, we still annually lose some of the very top LDS kids (anyone doubt that Manti Teo would drastically help the LB unit this season)? That IS NOT a recipe for top-25 and bowl game success. Accept it, deal with it, and begin to appreciate the fact that this team regularly OVERACHIEVES by being a top-25 team and top 3 in the conference.
Last year everyone blasted Bronco for setting team goals too high. This year he is being blasted for supposedly not shooting high enough.
Is there a tougher to please or more dellusional fan base in the country than Cougar Fans? I doubt it.
Let me repeat my earlier message - BYU has, by far, the toughest personal conduct standards in the country (a cup of tea can get you disciplined for heaven's sake). As a result, BYU's recruiting base is and will always be almost entirely LDS. Even with that, we still annually lose some of the very top LDS kids (anyone doubt that Manti Teo would drastically help the LB unit this season)? That IS NOT a recipe for top-25 and bowl game success. Accept it, deal with it, and begin to appreciate the fact that this team regularly OVERACHIEVES by being a top-25 team and top 3 in the conference.
To - @ This Is Crazy | 2:02 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
The MAJORITY of non-LDS kids would not want to come to Provo and spend 4-5 years
of their lives living the honor code. And it is not because they are bad kids.
College kids can violate half the BYU honor code and still be considered on par
character-wise with Tim Tebo. If you are good enough to play at another D-1
school why would you want to come here and live under the pressure of the honor
code in a community where you are an extreme minority? I just doubt that is
appealing to the VAST majority of top college athletes.
And of course LDS athletes can have athleticism. Jacobson, Pitta, Pendleton, Unga, all bring athleticism that is on par with athletes from almost any university. I am saying that an all-LDS team will ON AVERAGE be less athletic. It is a numbers game. You simply cannot field what is literally an all-LDS team and expect that each position will be above average in speed and athleticism. It simply won't happen which means we will continue to struggle against teams that DO have above average speed and athleticism at literally every position.
And of course LDS athletes can have athleticism. Jacobson, Pitta, Pendleton, Unga, all bring athleticism that is on par with athletes from almost any university. I am saying that an all-LDS team will ON AVERAGE be less athletic. It is a numbers game. You simply cannot field what is literally an all-LDS team and expect that each position will be above average in speed and athleticism. It simply won't happen which means we will continue to struggle against teams that DO have above average speed and athleticism at literally every position.
Out with Bronco | 2:09 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
BYU has no drive, fire, motivation or anything, I have never seen a team give up
so easily... That is why we never lose, we get DESTROYED when we lose. We need a
new coach to get these 30 yr olds some desire.
Honest | 2:13 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Please don't think that just because LDS kids come to BYU that they are all
Honor Code worthy.
Re: Stallwart 1:33 | 2:23 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
I didn't mean to imply that you thought that Bronco was taking it easy, and
I didn't want to come off as lecturing anybody. I agree with you that the
team likely feels that they want to win every game, and that the comments of 5th
on the list are overblown. What I was trying to say is that the "fifth on
the list" and shorter practices, etc. are part of the persona or identity
of the team that Bronco has created and that are in line with the LDS faith. It
has been quite successful for Bronco.
But, it would also be very difficult for him to break from this persona. I don't think that he says during a game that, "this loss is okay", but I do think that after a game, he thinks to himself; "i have to be honest with myself and say that I don't think that I can get the kind of athletes to compete with the very best and still be in line with what I believe this program is about. I can sleep okay with this loss knowing the program is more about creating good people than winning."
But, it would also be very difficult for him to break from this persona. I don't think that he says during a game that, "this loss is okay", but I do think that after a game, he thinks to himself; "i have to be honest with myself and say that I don't think that I can get the kind of athletes to compete with the very best and still be in line with what I believe this program is about. I can sleep okay with this loss knowing the program is more about creating good people than winning."
Bronco never said "satisfied" | 2:28 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Critics need to re-read the article. Bronco says they work hard at
self-assessment and improvement and will continue doing so. He never said he
was satisfied.
Instead, after a big loss, he came back and took responsibility for not sticking with the basics more in practice and is making changes that are realistic options of helping them get better. I appreciate his example of accepting accountability and I believe he is correct.
By getting fresh bodies on the field and expecting them to work harder when on the field, I think he can work on improving the speed the team is accustomed to playing at and helping the younger defensive players improve faster. Watching the past couple of games they won before TCU, I felt their pace is just too slow. Many were sick which might have influenced the feeling. But, my opinion is they need to practice being faster and playing faster every game, regardless of who they are playing.
If we win out, wholesale changes aren't needed. If we don't, the coaches will have more data to work with and motivation to make it happen. I have confidence Bronco is the right BYU coach.
Instead, after a big loss, he came back and took responsibility for not sticking with the basics more in practice and is making changes that are realistic options of helping them get better. I appreciate his example of accepting accountability and I believe he is correct.
By getting fresh bodies on the field and expecting them to work harder when on the field, I think he can work on improving the speed the team is accustomed to playing at and helping the younger defensive players improve faster. Watching the past couple of games they won before TCU, I felt their pace is just too slow. Many were sick which might have influenced the feeling. But, my opinion is they need to practice being faster and playing faster every game, regardless of who they are playing.
If we win out, wholesale changes aren't needed. If we don't, the coaches will have more data to work with and motivation to make it happen. I have confidence Bronco is the right BYU coach.
Catholic QB's Wanted | 2:45 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
We need to recruit some more Catholic QB's. After all, Notre Dame took away
some of our good LDS players. And those Catholic QB's really know to throw
those Hail Mary's.
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