On Bronco prioritizing faith, family, education, football (and

[oxcoug]

whatever that fifth one was...)

The whole problem with the 5th priority thing is that it doesn't really need to be said and saying makes it possible to superficially separate the priorities, both for players and critics.. It's intuitive that your family, your education and your faith are more important.

The appropriate view of it (IMO) is this - family, faith and education are all vitally important, but they don't need to be rank-ordered as they all interact with each other. The way we treat and love our families IS a big part of how we worship God (IF we worship God, with a nod to SU). The way we pursue our education has a huge impact on how we are able to serve our families and serve God by serving the communities we live in. And the way a college athlete plays and pursues his/her sport becomes a reflection of their drive for excellence, their passion for achievement which ALSO link into their connection to faith, their desire to honor their family and their commitment to being the best person they are capable of being.

They all link together, the rank-ordering itself is unnecessary.

[byu71]

whatever that fifth one was...)

The whole problem with the 5th priority thing is that it doesn't really need to be said and saying makes it possible to superficially separate the priorities, both for players and critics.. It's intuitive that your family, your education and your faith are more important.

The appropriate view of it (IMO) is this - family, faith and education are all vitally important, but they don't need to be rank-ordered as they all interact with each other. The way we treat and love our families IS a big part of how we worship God (IF we worship God, with a nod to SU). The way we pursue our education has a huge impact on how we are able to serve our families and serve God by serving the communities we live in. And the way a college athlete plays and pursues his/her sport becomes a reflection of their drive for excellence, their passion for achievement which ALSO link into their connection to faith, their desire to honor their family and their commitment to being the best person they are capable of being.

They all link together, the rank-ordering itself is unnecessary.

Unlike any other coach in America, Bronco has to cater to two very diverse fan bases. There are those who care only about BYU football. They are not caught up in the "image" of BYU. Sure they don't want BYU to be a scum program loaded with potential jail inmates, but they also don't look to hearing warm and fuzzy stories about players GPA's and family life, they look to winning games.

Then there is the other constituency. The group that say, I would rather lose with honor than win without it. They dream of an all RM team whose players are known for their off the field lives and the image of the "ideal mormon".

They want to win too, but it is a low priority and the dream is these type of kids will win a NC and everyone will say, wow, living the "ideal mormon" lifestyle creates winners. I am going to go shave my beard and get a good haircut and join the LDS church.

Maybe Bronco calculated that as long as he is winning, one constiutuency will be satisfied and his talk can satisfy the other.

Problem is, my guess is most of the money that supports the program comes from the win is the top priority for a football coach. You are right, I am saying the football program is not funded through tithing.

[shoganai]

whatever that fifth one was...)

The whole problem with the 5th priority thing is that it doesn't really need to be said and saying makes it possible to superficially separate the priorities, both for players and critics.. It's intuitive that your family, your education and your faith are more important.

I have long felt that this whole discussion was one of the most overblown and exaggerated I've ever heard from the BYU fan base, for some of the very reasons you point out.

Although careless in his remarks, Bronco was right when he said the level of criticism matches the level of education, and I think the fact this continues to be a "hot" point of discussion proves it.

[U-Ute]

I have long felt that this whole discussion was one of the most overblown and exaggerated I've ever heard from the BYU fan base, for some of the very reasons you point out.

Although careless in his remarks, Bronco was right when he said the level of criticism matches the level of education, and I think the fact this continues to be a "hot" point of discussion proves it.

Lombardi was never chastized for "God, family, and the Green Bay Packers".

Of course, his teams won. A lot.

[shoganai]

Lombardi was never chastized for "God, family, and the Green Bay Packers".

Of course, his teams won. A lot.

How many times did LaVell win 43 games in four seasons?

[U-Ute]

How many times did LaVell win 43 games in four seasons?

Lombardi won Super Bowls. The college equivalent of bowls are what matter.

[shoganai]

Lombardi won Super Bowls. The college equivalent of bowls are what matter.

There is no college football equivalent. It's an impossible analogy. There is no comparison to a 20-30 team championship decided by a playoff in the late 60s, and 120+ college teams vying within an unequal bowl system in the 21st century.

The only reasonable measure is how the coaches have performed relative to other coaches the teams have had.

[U-Ute]

There is no college football equivalent.

I agree that, while it is not an exact equivalent, in sports you are judged on winning "the big one". The closest parallel in college are bowl games.

[All-American]

I agree that, while it is not an exact equivalent, in sports you are judged on winning "the big one". The closest parallel in college are bowl games.

The closest parallel in college are championships.

[woot]

The fourth one is "friends" followed by football. That one more than anything is why I think this priorities list is just bluster. No way in hell Bronco lets somebody be late to a meeting because they were helping/comforting/hanging out with a friend.

I don't particularly like Bronco, but no way he's as oblivious or dispassionate as he sometimes portrays himself. He's just trying to create an image, and he's succeeded.

[Top Ute]

The closest parallel in college are championships.

Nope, it's playing in one of the five major bowls. It's all-encompassing, because you're almost always either a conference champion, undefeated or both.

[Surfah]

Nope, it's playing in one of the five major bowls. It's all-encompassing, because you're almost always either a conference champion, undefeated or both.

Spoken like a Ute.

[shoganai]

Nope, it's playing in one of the five major bowls. It's all-encompassing, because you're almost always either a conference champion, undefeated or both.

There is no parallel between the NFL post season and the college football post season.

Show me an NFL team that has won 83% of its games over four years, and been division champions twice. If that team has never been given more than a wildcard game on the road then we can start making analogies.

Inadvertently, however, we have stumbled on the real reason Bronco gets criticism for his schtick - Whittingham and Patterson have gone undefeated. Bronco hasn't. Some BYU fans can't accept the fact that it's the result of talent issues, so they have to blame the coach. And, the biggest distinction between BYU's coach and the other two, is the "fifth priority" articulation. It makes for a convenient straw man.

[All-American]

Nope, it's playing in one of the five major bowls. It's all-encompassing, because you're almost always either a conference champion, undefeated or both.

Do you think Florida considers the last season to have been on par with the year before? Don't be asinine.

[jay santos]

I have long felt that this whole discussion was one of the most overblown and exaggerated I've ever heard from the BYU fan base, for some of the very reasons you point out.

Although careless in his remarks, Bronco was right when he said the level of criticism matches the level of education, and I think the fact this continues to be a "hot" point of discussion proves it.

Nobody really knows what it means. It's anoying to me but whatever. It's his program and what he's doing seems to be working. My perception is that it might turn off some of the elite recruits but might motivate the lower tier recruits and walk ons to a point that its offsetting.