The Official Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Thread

[woot]

Yeah, that's an easy question. As I said, we would have done even worse in the Big12 this season than Utah did in the Pac. Does that mean we're glad we didn't get in?

[Maximus]

Ok, Coach, Surfah, et al:
Would you guys be happier in Utah's shoes right now?
I'm not trolling here--I'm honestly curious. Utah's ranked lower, is facing a lower ranked bowl opponent, and has a similar QB issue next year. We have a comparable schedule. Why the big difference? Is it long-term prospects?

they are in the pac 12.

[Coach McGuirk]

Ok...I guess I need to add a follow up...Why?

I can think of one decent reason: PAC12. But that has nothing to do with performance this year nor is it anything new to complain about.

Any other reasons?

Do you think Utah was better or worse than us this year. Hell they were one win away from playing in the PAC championship game despite their struggles. How is this not obvious?

[ERCougar]

Absofreakinglutely.

This, I think, is the true reason most Cougar fans are disappointed with year one of independence. It kills us that little brother made the big time and we are still with the have nots. Kills us.

Had Utah stayed in the MWC and BYU gone independent, I can guarantee you that most of us would be much more excited about year 1 of indy.

Sure--but this is nothing new. We could have been undefeated this year and this should still loom large. We're uniquely grouchy right now after a win against a decent team. Why?

[LiveCoug]

Sure--but this is nothing new. We could have been undefeated this year and this should still loom large. We're uniquely grouchy right now after a win against a decent team. Why?

It's hard to be happy in the now when the future is so uncertain for us and so very certain for our rival.

[ERCougar]

Do you think Utah was better or worse than us this year. Hell they were one win away from playing in the PAC championship game despite their struggles. How is this not obvious?

Well, nearly every computer and human poll says we are better. Yes, there's scoreboard but that was the strangest half of a football game I've ever watched, we had your boy Heaps leading the charge (I'm not blaming it on him, but if we want to go there...), and we all know that teams beat better teams all the time.

[San Juan Sun]

Now is the winter of our discontent.

Why do I feel this was an unsatisfying 10-3 season? Because it feels fraudulent. I feel like we've just eaten a bunch of rice cakes, when we were really craving steak. The stated goal from Bronco, and the underlying significance of independence, is playing at the highest levels of college football. We clearly aren't doing that, and therefore celebrating a paper tiger of a 10-3 season requires cognitive dissonance.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the season, I'm glad we won our bowl game. But I can't help but feel that this program is sliding backwards from the 2006-2008 peak. It's hard to celebrate a slow descent back to mediocrity without a conference championship to play for, while your peers and rivals repeatedly move on to better conferences and win big bowl games.

[Coach McGuirk]

Well, nearly every computer and human poll says we are better. Yes, there's scoreboard but that was the strangest half of a football game I've ever watched, we had your boy Heaps leading the charge (I'm not blaming it on him, but if we want to go there...), and we all know that teams beat better teams all the time.

One, I have not had one thought on heaps since he transfered.

Two, you are missing the point. Utah's situation is better than ours. They sucked to start conference play and were one win from a CCG and another from a BCS game. What is the outlook of a BYU team at 5-5? Same as 10-2.

Why are these questions being asked? Look what you are making me do!

[San Juan Sun]

On another note, the Riley versus Jake thing needs to die. Whatever happened is in the past. Jake played poorly, and had to sit behind a lesser talented guy who performed when he got the opportunity. And then he quit.

I wish Jake well. But he's gone and I support Riley now (I have been pro-Heaps). May he live right and let magic happen in the upcoming, potentially brutal season.

I do feel that the composition and assignment delegation of the coaching staff, in regards to both QB and team development, is very much up for continued debate.

[Coach McGuirk]

Now is the winter of our discontent.

Why do I feel this was an unsatisfying 10-3 season? Because it feels fraudulent. I feel like we've just eaten a bunch of rice cakes, when we were really craving steak. The stated goal from Bronco, and the underlying significance of independence, is playing at the highest levels of college football. We clearly aren't doing that, and therefore celebrating a paper tiger of a 10-3 season requires cognitive dissonance.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the season, I'm glad we won our bowl game. But I can't help but feel that this program is sliding backwards from the 2006-2008 peak. It's hard to celebrate a slow descent back to mediocrity without a conference championship to play for, while your peers and rivals repeatedly move on to better conferences and win big bowl games.

This is perfect.

[ERCougar]

One, I have not had one thought on heaps since he transfered.

Two, you are missing the point. Utah's situation is better than ours. They sucked to start conference play and were one win from a CCG and another from a BCS game. What is the outlook of a BYU team at 5-5? Same as 10-2.

Why are these questions being asked? Look what you are making me do!

Ok...I asked the wrong question, I guess. Going into next season, and looking at next season only, would you rather be Utah or BYU?

Long term, no question--Utah's situation looks brighter. I think the jury is still out a little on independence, but I'd take PAC 12 in a heartbeat. But it's not happening. And we've known that for two years. We've known B12 wasn't happening for 5 months? I guess I've sort of adjusted to that?

I guess what I'm getting at is that I think it's strange that Utah fans are complaining so much less about this last season. They had to play Hays, for crying out loud, and their prospects for next year are no better than ours. Yeah, they were one game away, but you could just as easily say they missed on a golden opportunity--one that's not likely to come again soon. They should be as much or more pissed about this season than we are.

[Indy Coug]

Now is the winter of our discontent.

Why do I feel this was an unsatisfying 10-3 season? Because it feels fraudulent. I feel like we've just eaten a bunch of rice cakes, when we were really craving steak. The stated goal from Bronco, and the underlying significance of independence, is playing at the highest levels of college football. We clearly aren't doing that, and therefore celebrating a paper tiger of a 10-3 season requires cognitive dissonance.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the season, I'm glad we won our bowl game. But I can't help but feel that this program is sliding backwards from the 2006-2008 peak. It's hard to celebrate a slow descent back to mediocrity without a conference championship to play for, while your peers and rivals repeatedly move on to better conferences and win big bowl games.

BYU finished 12th in the polls in 2009. The big slide was in 2010 and BYU made reasonable strides forward in 2011.

[pelagius]

BYU finished 12th in the polls in 2009. The big slide was in 2010 and BYU made reasonable strides forward in 2011.

Additionally, this season is only a bit worse than the 2008 season by fairly object measures: MOV computer model ranking of 30 versus 40. And the best team we beat in 2008 was Air Force (a lower 50s team that season). So, in 2011, we even produced a superior victory to 2008 but we did lose to a better set of 3 teams in 2008.

[LiveCoug]

Ok...I asked the wrong question, I guess. Going into next season, and looking at next season only, would you rather be Utah or BYU?

Long term, no question--Utah's situation looks brighter. I think the jury is still out a little on independence, but I'd take PAC 12 in a heartbeat. But it's not happening. And we've known that for two years. We've known B12 wasn't happening for 5 months? I guess I've sort of adjusted to that?

I guess what I'm getting at is that I think it's strange that Utah fans are complaining so much less about this last season. They had to play Hays, for crying out loud, and their prospects for next year are no better than ours. Yeah, they were one game away, but you could just as easily say they missed on a golden opportunity--one that's not likely to come again soon. They should be as much or more pissed about this season than we are.

Again. Easy question. Without a doubt, Utah.

I've always made it known that I would rather be 6-6 or 7-5 in a real conference than 9-4 or 10-3 as a boring independent.

[ERCougar]

Again. Easy question. Without a doubt, Utah.

I've always made it known that I would rather be 6-6 or 7-5 in a real conference than 9-4 or 10-3 as a boring independent.

Ok...that's fair. Nothing to do with current coaching staff or players (which is what people seem to be complaining about), but like I said in the original question, the one decent reason I can see is PAC12.