How Do You Like Bronco Now?

[byu71]

Hey now, wait. I'm not calling you a bad fan. I'll even defend your right to boo Bronco, who is paid (well) for what he does. I won't defend you for booing players, who make a pittance for what they do and are doing the best they can (but it sounds like you don't, anyway). Either way, it sounds like you've given a whole lot more money to the program than I have, so that alone will give you a higher state of fanhood.

I think we basically agree. I don't believe putting in more money makes you a better fan by the way. Just more invested.

[cougjunkie]

I think Bronco is a very good coach. We will find out if he is a great coach this upcoming season.

[John McClain]

Let's see - four ten win plus seasons in a row; increasingly good recruiting classes; tremendous decrease in off field shenanigans/honor code violations; sold out home football games, 3-2 record against Utah, 3-2 record in bowl games, three wins of ranked teams this year, hugely successful firesides, (and that is only partially TIC), mixing good LDS recruits with good non-LDS recruits, delegating and LaVell-esque fashion to his assistant coaches. Them's the signs of a pretty damn good coach. He may not be media friendly; on that point I don't care. These are golden years and when Bronco is gone, we will wish for the good old days.
I knew Bronco when he was a defensive coordinator at New Mexico. He wasn't one to seek the limelight and followed the company line, but I saw how much he got out of his players and more importantly how much his players respected, even loved, him. When he was named the head coach at BYU, I was more than excited; I knew he would get results. Count me in as a huge Bronco fan for the past ten years! And I don't care if he dislikes the media or even if he dislikes fans. He gets it done.

[MarkGrace]

The more stuff that comes out about him, the more I love him. An excerpt from Tree's article in the DNews.

Before our game against San Diego State, Mendenhall gave each member of the team a gray T-shirt with our motto “Band of Brothers” printed on the back, as a tribute to the trust we had in each other as well as our hard work during the week. After starting the season 1-4 and doing everything possible to claw our way out, those shirts meant the world to us, and we wore them with pride under our uniforms as a symbol of unity and brotherhood. The loose-fitting T-shirts — instead of sleek form-fitting gear — made us look like a group of misfits, but we loved how they represented our workmanlike attitude.

Among the favorite moments of my career was when we took the field for the 2010 game against San Diego State. Coach Mendenhall wore his gray T-shirt on the sideline instead of his usual collared shirt. We later found out that by ditching his prearranged sideline attire, he had breached his contract with Nike and lost out on hefty endorsement compensation.

He didn’t care, though. To him, it was more important to show solidarity. It was a seemingly small thing at the time but it had an enormous impact on our season.

In a time when coaches leave to new universities at the drop of a hat, I’m grateful to have been able to associate with a leader more interested in staying true to what he believes than chasing the biggest contract.

[jay santos]

As the years go by, my opinion is becoming more consistent. Love him as a coach. Can't stand him as a person.

[UVACoug]

Love him as a coach and a person. People let the antagonistic media shape their opinions of Bronco too much. He is not the same person the Ute loving media make him out to be.

[Harry Tic]

As the years go by, my opinion is becoming more consistent. Love him as a coach. Can't stand him as a person.

Did you click on the right link? Are you sure you didn't somehow end up on a story about Nick Saban? While Bronco and I are probably in pretty different universes as far as personalities and our "churchiness," it's pretty hard not to admire a guy taking a financial hit in order to show solidarity with these young men that he seems to really care about as people. I would love to see an example of any other D1 football coach that cares more about his players as individuals, even if he doesn't always show it in the ways I would choose.

[Jacob]

As the years go by, my opinion is becoming more consistent. Love him as a coach. Can't stand him as a person.

Wow. You must know him pretty well. You his neighbor ?

[jay santos]

Did you click on the right link? Are you sure you didn't somehow end up on a story about Nick Saban? While Bronco and I are probably in pretty different universes as far as personalities and our "churchiness," it's pretty hard not to admire a guy taking a financial hit in order to show solidarity with these young men that he seems to really care about as people. I would love to see an example of any other D1 football coach that cares more about his players as individuals, even if he doesn't always show it in the ways I would choose.

Can't stand him is probably way too strong. The victim personality. The self righteous, churchy stuff. The army goon/meathead type characteristics. I know his players love him to death. I just don't like him. Probably because I'm a string pulling pussy.

[Sizzle]

The more stuff that comes out about him, the more I love him. An excerpt from Tree's article in the DNews.

You read articles like that, and you realize there probably is not a better coach for BYU than Bronco. I personally believe that Bronco is one of the more underrated and under appreciated coaches in the country. I think he consistently does more with less than about anybody I can think of.

[Harry Tic]

I can guaran-dam-tee you that as stories like this come out, BM will have an increasingly long leash from TH, Cecil, and the BoT when it comes to win-loss record. They would rather have a year-in, year-out average football team with outstanding, character-positive publicity than an elite winning team with the odd, embarrassing scandal. Luckily, BM has good coaching chops and becoming an elite team is not out of the question anyway. But he could slack off and, all fan grumbling aside, he wouldn't be going anywhere, as long as the university gets pub like this (I'm thinking more of the stories popping up, for example, in Armen Keteyian's book, The System, rather than Tree's article in the DN).

[pellegrino]

You read articles like that, and you realize there probably is not a better coach for BYU than Bronco. I personally believe that Bronco is one of the more underrated and under appreciated coaches in the country. I think he consistently does more with less than about anybody I can think of.

I couldn't agree with this more and I hope that Bronco is BYU's coach for as long as he wants to be.

[Jeff Lebowski]

One thing I really have come to like about Bronco is that the he appears to be increasingly willing to admit when he messes up and and make quick adjustments. He also seems to be a little less prone to the goofball comments he used to make as a new coach. And damn, that guy knows how to coach defense. Overall I think he is a fantastic coach. Long live Bronco.

[cougjunkie]

I hope you guys all feel like assholes for making fun of his outfit during the SDSU game. I remember all of the goon and clown comments.

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[Surfah]

Some of his decisions drive me nuts. Sometimes I think he's too conservative. Last night kicking that FG in the wind was one of those plays where I though he should have gone for it.

But I love Bronco. Sometimes I wish he were more vocal and emotional. But I also love how his 'coachspeak' and demeanor kills most Ute fans. All he has done is win. And his record speaks loudly.

I'm not sure I have any more criticisms. I think he's conservative when he needs to be (kicking the FG against Texas) and has learned to be aggressive when necessary (Going for 2 in Boise - still the right call). And since he's taken back over the defense he's been very emotional with that unit, last week being an all time high.

I agree with Sizzle. Once upon a time I wanted Whit. And 2-3 years into Bronco's tenure I still would have traded Bronco for Whit without blinking. But those days are gone. I am not sure there is a coach out there that could do what Bronco has given the inherent limitations at BYU. I love Bronco. I actually like that he doesn't pander to know nothing fans. I love that his slogans and comments rankle our rival. I love that his players would run through a brick wall for him. I didn't understand the fierce loyalty at first and why Bronco uses that word so often but now I do.