Where does BYU's 2009 team rank?

[TheBYUGuy]

BYU's bowl win means that this is the 11th time BYU has won 11 or more games in a season. In addition, they've had four 10-win and six 9-win seasons.

I think the top 4 BYU teams would include the following in some iteration with probably litte debate:

-1984 NC team (13-0)
-1996 Cotton Bowl team (14-1)
-1983 team that set up the 1984 run (11-1)
-2006 (11-2 and basically untouchable after close early-season setbacks)

The 2001 team (12-2), despite the horrid defense, put a ton of points on the board, so they are probably top 5 as well. I guess the 1980 Miracle Bowl team (12-1) would be up there, too.

The next teams up for consideration include:
-2009 (11-2; 2nd in MWC to undefeated TCU)
-2007 (11-2; outright MWC champs)
-1985 (11-3; outright WAC champs)
-1981 (11-2; outright WAC champs)
-1979 (11-1; outright WAC champs)

Where would you rank this year's team in relation to the other 11-win teams? Is this team a top-10 team in BYU's history?

[FMCoug]

I think it does for one main reason. The 2009 MWC is a much tougher conference than the WAC ever was. In the WAC it was BYU and the rest. Now you have 3 good teams and the rest.

[jay santos]

When you do this kind of analysis, this season likely belongs up there with some of the best.

But with two blow out losses, one that knocked us out of BCS contention and one that knocked us out of the MWC championship, it doesn't really feel like that kind of season.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

BYU's bowl win means that this is the 11th time BYU has won 11 or more games in a season. In addition, they've had four 10-win and six 9-win seasons.

I think the top 4 BYU teams would include the following in some iteration with probably litte debate:

-1984 NC team (13-0)
-1996 Cotton Bowl team (14-1)
-1983 team that set up the 1984 run (11-1)
-2006 (11-2 and basically untouchable after close early-season setbacks)

The 2001 team (12-2), despite the horrid defense, put a ton of points on the board, so they are probably top 5 as well. I guess the 1980 Miracle Bowl team (12-1) would be up there, too.

The next teams up for consideration include:
-2009 (11-2; 2nd in MWC to undefeated TCU)
-2007 (11-2; outright MWC champs)
-1985 (11-3; outright WAC champs)
-1981 (11-2; outright WAC champs)
-1979 (11-1; outright WAC champs)

Where would you rank this year's team in relation to the other 11-win teams? Is this team a top-10 team in BYU's history?

That 2001 team is waaaaaay down the list for me. They squeeked out a lot of games against fairly mediocre competition and then they got the hell beat out of them the final two games. Probably all of the final five teams you mentioned would have kicked the shit out of the 2001 team.

[TheBYUGuy]

That 2001 team is waaaaaay down the list for me. They squeeked out a lot of games against fairly mediocre competition and then they got the hell beat out of them the final two games. Probably all of the final five teams you mentioned would have kicked the shit out of the 2001 team.

I actually agree with that, but from what I've seen there is a lot of sentiment that 2001 was one of the best ever until Staley went down. That's why I threw them in there, even though I don't personally think they belong with the others.

ADD: Probably the worst line I've heard coming from a BYU coach was from Crowton during that time when he was questioned about BYU's porous defense. He basically said, "Well, our defense was better than the other team's and that's what matters."

[Indy Coug]

ADD: Probably the worst line I've heard coming from a BYU coach was from Crowton during that time when he was questioned about BYU's porous defense. He basically said, "Well, our defense was better than the other team's and that's what matters."

Catch 22. If he acknowledged his defense stunk, he would have been beaten up for throwing his players/coaches under the bus.

[TheBYUGuy]

Catch 22. If he acknowledged his defense stunk, he would have been beaten up for throwing his players/coaches under the bus.

Really? Instead of pretending it wasn't an issue, couldn't he just say something to the effect of "Hey, we're scoring a lot of points and we're happy about that, but yes, we'd like to keep points down a little better on defense and we're working on ways to do that."?

It seems very defensive and outward-focused to say that giving up 30+ points all the time is fine because the other team was worse. It seems like you're hoping your opponents are bad, rather than trying to improve the team allegedly under your control.

[Indy Coug]

Really? Instead of pretending it wasn't an issue, couldn't he just say something to the effect of "Hey, we're scoring a lot of points and we're happy about that, but yes, we'd like to keep points down a little better on defense and we're working on ways to do that."?

It seems very defensive and outward-focused to say that giving up 30+ points all the time is fine because the other team was worse. It seems like you're hoping your opponents are bad, rather than trying to improve the team allegedly under your control.

Personally, I think it's a waste of time reading and parsing coaching quotes. Because as Bronco said, the problems come from fans that are less educated.

[TheBYUGuy]

Personally, I think it's a waste of time reading and parsing coaching quotes. Because as Bronco said, the problems come from fans that are less educated.

So it was the fans who drove BYU football into the ground, not Crowton's coaching philosophies?

Also, it appears that I've threadjacked my own thread.

[byu71]

Personally, I think it's a waste of time reading and parsing coaching quotes. Because as Bronco said, the problems come from fans that are less educated.

Now I know why you always agree with the coaches. It makes you feel like an educated fan.

[Indy Coug]

So it was the fans who drove BYU football into the ground, not Crowton's coaching philosophies?

Also, it appears that I've threadjacked my own thread.

Crowton's media statements weren't what drove BYU football into the ground.

[TheBYUGuy]

Crowton's media statements weren't what drove BYU football into the ground.

Right, but they were a glimpse into his football mind, and it's clear to all of us that he wasn't in control of the ship. Look, we don't need to belabor the point; the results speak for themselves.

[Indy Coug]

Now I know why you always agree with the coaches. It makes you feel like an educated fan.

Right, but they were a glimpse into his football mind, and it's clear to all of us that he wasn't in control of the ship. Look, we don't need to belabor the point; the results speak for themselves.

There are all sorts of coaches that look foolish with their media statments -- even coaches that are very good coaches. I just have a hard time understanding why fans seem to hang on their every word and parse and psychoanalyze them so much.

Especially in the era of the internet and sports radio, the media tries more and more to ask questions to direct the conversation to places that will eventually provide them fodder for articles and for talk shows. It's no longer an honest exchange of ideas, coaches and media alike.

[byu71]

There are all sorts of coaches that look foolish with their media statments -- even coaches that are very good coaches. I just have a hard time understanding why fans seem to hang on their every word and parse and psychoanalyze them so much.

Especially in the era of the internet and sports radio, the media tries more and more to ask questions to direct the conversation to places that will eventually provide them fodder for articles and for talk shows. It's no longer an honest exchange of ideas, coaches and media alike.

For the most part, I agree with you. However, on occasion they can make some telling statements. One that everyone is aware of that bugged me was Bronco's statement about wanting to follow the Hawaii model for getting to a BCS game. I personally think the cry of "bull crap" by a lot of fans may have persuaded Bronco and Holmoe to go another direction.

I was one of many voices, especially those who are more involved than watching games from their couch, that complained about that.