Fire Ty

[Shaka]

BYU football as we knew is dead and gone. Its been this way for a while, but its taken a few years for the disengaged flywheel to stop spinning. At this point we have two choices:
1.) Scrap the program (nobody wants this) or
3.) FCS or
2.) Adjust expectations that are rooted in what we are, and not what we were.

The independence gambit was worth the gamble to position ourselves for Big 5 inclusion and make that transition as easy as possible while getting paid more money. That gamble came up half empty. We got more money but the Big 5 conference opportunity is over. The ESPN money will be significantly reduced next contract and we will be better served being in a conference. We lost the bet. The world has changed. We can wait until the ESPN money dries up, but I would prefer to bite the bullet and get into a conference where we can enjoy some success and rebuild. Playing in the MWC will still allow us to get blown out 1 or 2 times a year to a big time program and we get the opportunity to play conference foes with real rivalries while playing for something.

I know most of you guys don't agree. Denial is one of the 5 stages of grief. Eventually you will come to acceptance.

I agree, we should find a conference and rebuild. We have other issues that need to be addressed but the current approach isn't doable. Exposure and the ability for fans in West Virginia to see the games shouldn't be concerns.

[Shaka]

Responses like this make me want to hang around longer. BYU has been so bad this year that I have avoided taking jabs out of pity. You could change my mind about that decision.

Come back JIC.

[Jarid in Cedar]

You have to take your problems. That's why they are your problems. Run along now.

Responses like this make me want to hang around longer. BYU has been so bad this year that I have avoided taking jabs out of pity. You could change my mind about that decision.

[Goatnapper'96]

BYU football as we knew is dead and gone. Its been this way for a while, but its taken a few years for the disengaged flywheel to stop spinning. At this point we have two choices:
1.) Scrap the program (nobody wants this) or
3.) FCS or
2.) Adjust expectations that are rooted in what we are, and not what we were.

The independence gambit was worth the gamble to position ourselves for Big 5 inclusion and make that transition as easy as possible while getting paid more money. That gamble came up half empty. We got more money but the Big 5 conference opportunity is over. The ESPN money will be significantly reduced next contract and we will be better served being in a conference. We lost the bet. The world has changed. We can wait until the ESPN money dries up, but I would prefer to bite the bullet and get into a conference where we can enjoy some success and rebuild. Playing in the MWC will still allow us to get blown out 1 or 2 times a year to a big time program and we get the opportunity to play conference foes with real rivalries while playing for something.

I know most of you guys don't agree. Denial is one of the 5 stages of grief. Eventually you will come to acceptance.

The biggest benefit of conference affiliation in football is that it gives a more balanced approach to scheduling. Schedules will better reflect what BYU is. This year is more of an aberration than what BYU really is. BYU still is a top tier MWC or AAC club so lets play in one of those conferences and measure ourselves vis-a-vis teams on similar grounding. If a big conference comes and wants us then we jump. We still will be able to play Utah every year and then another power team or two as well. If we play 30 power teams a decade we should be able to win 8-10, so about 1/year. Get back to winning and recruiting will improve subtly. LDS top tier kids will give BYU an ear if they feel they have a legit chance to do something significant on the field and still get to the NFL. Scheduling balance is a key to get back to winning. I don't care if it is the MWC or the AAC to where BYU goes, that is a complex issue that includes what is better for hoops and the olympic sports as well. I do realize while football has not fared well with Independence it seems to me there has been improvement in other programs.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I'd take your problems in a heartbeat. It's unfortunate your QB was injured as it cost you continuity.

The offensive line play has been for the most part offensive. Huntley's injury set them back the most. They went from learning the new scheme, back to the old scheme for the 3 games he was hurt, then back to relearning the new scheme. It seems that they are just getting back to where they were when Huntley went down.

[Shaka]

Utah's current offensive rankings :

Scoring: 64th
Total offense: 54th
Passing offense: 40th
Rushing offense: 85th


Pedestrian and subpar for certain, but I'll take our problems right now.

I'd take your problems in a heartbeat. It's unfortunate your QB was injured as it cost you continuity. The same thing happened to us. Our QB and coordinator were progressing incrementally but injuries screwed up Mangum's progress. It cost us big this year. I have no doubt that if Mangum had stayed healthy we have two, three, or possibly more wins.

[falafel]

Utah's current offensive rankings :

Scoring: 64th
Total offense: 54th
Passing offense: 40th
Rushing offense: 85th


Pedestrian and subpar for certain, but I'll take our problems right now.

You have to take your problems. That's why they are your problems. Run along now.

[Flystripper]

You are not talking me off the ledge here.

BYU football as we knew is dead and gone. Its been this way for a while, but its taken a few years for the disengaged flywheel to stop spinning. At this point we have two choices:
1.) Scrap the program (nobody wants this) or
3.) FCS or
2.) Adjust expectations that are rooted in what we are, and not what we were.

The independence gambit was worth the gamble to position ourselves for Big 5 inclusion and make that transition as easy as possible while getting paid more money. That gamble came up half empty. We got more money but the Big 5 conference opportunity is over. The ESPN money will be significantly reduced next contract and we will be better served being in a conference. We lost the bet. The world has changed. We can wait until the ESPN money dries up, but I would prefer to bite the bullet and get into a conference where we can enjoy some success and rebuild. Playing in the MWC will still allow us to get blown out 1 or 2 times a year to a big time program and we get the opportunity to play conference foes with real rivalries while playing for something.

I know most of you guys don't agree. Denial is one of the 5 stages of grief. Eventually you will come to acceptance.

[Art Vandelay]

Utah's current offensive rankings :

Scoring: 64th
Total offense: 54th
Passing offense: 40th
Rushing offense: 85th


Pedestrian and subpar for certain, but I'll take our problems right now.

I’ve been impressed with Huntley’s improvement. He looked great against a good UW D. I hate what that likely means for next year.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Hush, you have your own coordinator problems.

Utah's current offensive rankings :

Scoring: 64th
Total offense: 54th
Passing offense: 40th
Rushing offense: 85th


Pedestrian and subpar for certain, but I'll take our problems right now.

[old_gregg]

If you or Old Gregg are the judges of my football takes then yes, I'll keep digging.

I have a better idea. Why don't we raise the football discourse of this board above the level of, "Fire Ty".

yikes

[Shaka]

Good grief, knock it off. Nobody is suggesting you get banned.

You are welcome to keep digging all the way to China if you like.

If you or Old Gregg are the judges of my football takes then yes, I'll keep digging.

I have a better idea. Why don't we raise the football discourse of this board above the level of, "Fire Ty".

[Jeff Lebowski]

It is somewhat fun for BYU fans to have Utah because they are good enough to keep their fanbase interested and hoping but likely not good enough to do anything significant now that they can no longer skate through with only having to play a good team once or twice in a season. Genuinely throwing gasoline on the legitimately justified flames of anger due to coming close but never reaching a prize worth reaching is balm of gilead to those who know approaching it is not a possibility. There is such a subtle joy in knowing who you are and getting to throw salt in the wounds of those whose legitimate hope is routinely destroyed.

So I doubt they will be awful and I doubt I want that anyway.

Last night I watched the last few minutes of the Utah-UW game on the DVR. Holy cow, the Huskies had no business winning that game. Bwahahahaha....

[Jeff Lebowski]

Out of this subject thread, football talk, or this board in general? Come on JL, if you want me gone you've got all the power you need. Give me the Full Santos or maybe our version is the Rocky Balboa.

It's a bit sad that there isn't much football talk on this board that can go beyond the surface level. It used to be great but most of those guys rarely post.

As I'm writing this my email just informed me that Hot Lunch, who's football takes are sorely missed, quoted my post on this thread. I have yet to read his post but I'm guessing it was regarding my response to JIC. to be clear he's one of the guys to whom I'm referring in my sentence above.

Good grief, knock it off. Nobody is suggesting you get banned.

You are welcome to keep digging all the way to China if you like.

[Goatnapper'96]

Hopefully, they will be awful.

It is somewhat fun for BYU fans to have Utah because they are good enough to keep their fanbase interested and hoping but likely not good enough to do anything significant now that they can no longer skate through with only having to play a good team once or twice in a season. Genuinely throwing gasoline on the legitimately justified flames of anger due to coming close but never reaching a prize worth reaching is balm of gilead to those who know approaching it is not a possibility. There is such a subtle joy in knowing who you are and getting to throw salt in the wounds of those whose legitimate hope is routinely destroyed.

So I doubt they will be awful and I doubt I want that anyway.