BYU's Record This Year

Now that I got all the venom out of my system with the last couple of posts, I'm hoping for brighter days ahead. I think the fact that BYU was willing to fire their defensive coordinator immediately following their loss to Utah State (even though it was conference weekend) is a sign of better days. If nothing else, BYU isn't okay with how things are going this season and is willing to take action to improve their situation. Now, if they would cut a few WR's for dropping balls, life would be good. :)

It's time for me to ask a very selfish question. Every year, I come up to Provo around Christmas time to see family. The holidays truly are the most wonderful time of the year. The past several years, one of the highlights of the holidays has been attending the Vegas Bowl and watching BYU play. As bad as BYU is this season, do you true blue, Coug fans think BYU can win 6 games and become bowl eligible? Christmas bells seem to ring just a little quieter with the thoughts of BYU not playing in a bowl game . . . With that said, my heart says 6 but my mind says 3.

Time for Bronco to get Bucked

Dual quarterback system. Receivers dropping passes. Harvey Unga missing his senior season. Holes in the offensive line. Losing your star TE to the NFL. All reasons for BYU's dismal offensive production to start their 1-4 2010 season. But BYU's problems this season are a product of a much bigger issue. An issue that began in 2005 when Gary Crowton resigned. Let's rewind . . .

5 seasons ago, BYU was having an identity crisis. Clearly not happy with the new direction of "state of the art" uniforms, losing seasons and an apparent stray from tradition, Gary Crowton was asked to step down so that BYU could take their program in a new direction. After talk (which was more of a pipedream) to bring in Coaches such as Andy Reid or Steve Young, BYU narrowed the search to one. And no, it wasn't Bronco. We narrowed our search to Kyle Whittingham. When BYU wouldn't pony up and pay Whittingham what he thought he was worth, he straight-lined to the common foe (Utah) and we got stuck scrambling for anybody to fill the Head Coach job at BYU. Fast forward five years.

Utah has had two undefeated seasons including BCS victories. BYU has conquered the Vegas Bowl. Utah has an invitation to the PAC 10. BYU is going independent. The first year of Whittingham's "pure recruits" is off to an undefeated season. Bronco's "pure recruits" are scratching their heads with a 1-4 season, including 2 losses to the WAC, one of which hasn't happened in 17 years (Utah State). Sorry folks, but it is time for Bronco, Anae, and Holmoe to get bucked out of BYU.

Can BYU do Better Than 7-5 this Season?

I had to hide my face for a few days after the pathetic performance vs. Air Force this last week. I thought BYU has a great shot at starting the season 2-1 with a victory over Washington to open the season. After the game Saturday, I honestly wonder how likely it is that BYU will end the season over .500. Seriously, does anybody think BYU stands a chance against FSU? Me either. Then the Cougs play a decent Nevada team and a Utah State team that hung with Oklahoma. I think best case, BYU ends the season as a 7-5 team and the Armed Force Bowl. Fantastic momentum leading into the new adventure of going Independent . . .

Who Should it Be?

My expectations were well exceeded in the home-opener of BYU vs. Washington. With three difficult games to start the season, I figured the Cougs would be lucky to win one game (which would most likely come against Air Force). With questions about their offensive line, their defense, and of course their quarterbacks, I thought BYU would look a lot more sloppy than they did. I was pleasantly surprised. Here's my brief synopsis of the game:

• Defense was a B- at best. Yes, they managed to make a few key stops, but Jake Locker is not the Heisman hopeful that everybody projected he would be. Washington's lack of offense was more a product of the lousy play calling than the Cougar defense. The defense missed several tackles and the secondary played the same as they always do . . . 10 yards off the receiver and hope to tackle him after he catches the ball.


• DiLuigi was the hero. He filled in for Harvey Unga nicely and brings a solid dual threat on the ground and through the air. He showed some nice bursts of speed and found the holes. I have to also credit the offensive line for opening holes and giving the QBs some time.


• WRs looked lousy. 6-8 dropped balls that should have been caught. O'Neal Chambers looks a lot more athletic this year, but he still needs to figure out how to hold on to the ball or we can start calling him Steve Slaton soon.


• QBs looked solid. I'm the biggest antagonist of all when it comes to starting 2 QBs, but I have to admit that I enjoyed watching both play. Riley Nelson showed moments of brilliance and reminded me of a poor man's Tim Tebow in many ways. On paper he looked a lot better than Heaps, but we'll talk about that in a second. Nelson showed leadership and scored the game winning TD. Props for that. Heaps looked nervous but is clearly the better QB. Unbelievable arm strength and accuracy for a freshmen. Though he didn't throw for any TDs, he would have had at least one (and possibly two) if his receivers could catch the bullets he was throwing. I like his potential and think he has a 100% better chance of winning the Heisman in his career than Jake Locker has in his.

I hated the rhythm of the game with the dual QB system. I'm fine with a different QB in a couple of series but definitely not alternating every series like they did. So the million dollar question: Who would you start for the rest of the season?

Basketball Season

I usually don't even pay any attention to BYU sports until the middle of March when BYU plays in the MWC basketball tourney in Vegas. However, this year BYU basketball is worth blogging about. Being ranked in the top 25 for the last two months is something I am not used to in BYU basketball, and let's be honest, they have Jimmer Fredette to thank for that.

The real question is: Will BYU get past the first round in the NCAA tourney this year? Although they have had some domineering wins this season, I'm a little worried considering they are 2-3 against teams in the top 50. The only game I attended this season was against Eastern Washington. I showed up 5 minutes late for the game and BYU was up 25-2. With a strength of schedule ranking at 129 in the nation, BYU needs to muscle up and actually play some decent teams out of conference. However, with all this said, I'm hoping for a 5-6 seed in the tournament and a BYU win in the first round.