I'm probably stating the obvious here. There are some implied platitudes in what follows. But somebody has to say it.
The worst thing that ever happened to Heaps was being ranked no. 1 among pro-style quarterbacks by ESPN. Even then, he received a fairly modest 80 rating. Apparently it was not a great year for pro-style QBs. Apparently ESPN was right. He was not the HS quarterback of the decade. How many highly ranked and highly pro style quarterbacks bust? A lot.
Still, none of us knows whether Heaps is a bust. I learned with Brian Johnson that you're lucky if you get two great years from these college quarterbacks; they're still very much developing physically, intellectually and emotionally, and the position is really demanding, needless to say. We got less than two great years with Brian, but he gave us one season for the ages, and will be remembered for all the ages at Utah, for that one season. At the end of the day, he was the opposite of a bust, though Johnson was where Wynn is now at similar stages in their careers. He was also benched for a time in favor of a virtual walk-on. As many here have noted, BYU's great quarterbacks often had to climb a steep hill, and wait their turn.
But the no. 1 ESPN ranking, fans' expectations (the din here and on Cougarboard was incredible a year before he arrived; I even said long before his freshman year that I was sick of hearing his name; congratulations you all for not doing the same thing to Mangum), he came with a publicist (barf), and then against Bronco's better judgment and probably in response to fan and booster (and parent?) pressure, Heaps started as a freshman and didn't redshirt.
He's been in over his head. And to make matters worse, he married when he was 19, in homage to the honor code (his is not the first life the honor code has damaged or ruined, is it). Now that's his biggest challenge in life whereas college and football should have been at this stage.
I only feel sorry for him because it's clear his parents have hurt him, and he's been a victim of the most twisted traits of BYU culture. As creekster said, nobody is born with a reasonable expectation of being a superstar. Most of the ones who are anointed as such while kids just fade away. Heaps still has a bright and happy future, whatever happens with his football life, if he can take control of his own life and forget the pre-college accolades, pretend they didn't happen.
I think he should transfer, but probably not to Utah (in his won best interests). Sometimes people need a fresh start. I doubt he'd get that at Utah, with BYU fans still all around.
The worst thing that ever happened to Heaps was being ranked no. 1 among pro-style quarterbacks by ESPN. Even then, he received a fairly modest 80 rating. Apparently it was not a great year for pro-style QBs. Apparently ESPN was right. He was not the HS quarterback of the decade. How many highly ranked and highly pro style quarterbacks bust? A lot.
Still, none of us knows whether Heaps is a bust. I learned with Brian Johnson that you're lucky if you get two great years from these college quarterbacks; they're still very much developing physically, intellectually and emotionally, and the position is really demanding, needless to say. We got less than two great years with Brian, but he gave us one season for the ages, and will be remembered for all the ages at Utah, for that one season. At the end of the day, he was the opposite of a bust, though Johnson was where Wynn is now at similar stages in their careers. He was also benched for a time in favor of a virtual walk-on. As many here have noted, BYU's great quarterbacks often had to climb a steep hill, and wait their turn.
But the no. 1 ESPN ranking, fans' expectations (the din here and on Cougarboard was incredible a year before he arrived; I even said long before his freshman year that I was sick of hearing his name; congratulations you all for not doing the same thing to Mangum), he came with a publicist (barf), and then against Bronco's better judgment and probably in response to fan and booster (and parent?) pressure, Heaps started as a freshman and didn't redshirt.
He's been in over his head. And to make matters worse, he married when he was 19, in homage to the honor code (his is not the first life the honor code has damaged or ruined, is it). Now that's his biggest challenge in life whereas college and football should have been at this stage.
I only feel sorry for him because it's clear his parents have hurt him, and he's been a victim of the most twisted traits of BYU culture. As creekster said, nobody is born with a reasonable expectation of being a superstar. Most of the ones who are anointed as such while kids just fade away. Heaps still has a bright and happy future, whatever happens with his football life, if he can take control of his own life and forget the pre-college accolades, pretend they didn't happen.
I think he should transfer, but probably not to Utah (in his won best interests). Sometimes people need a fresh start. I doubt he'd get that at Utah, with BYU fans still all around.
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