College football is evolving right now. Only time will tell if this season is a blip on the radar or the beginning of irrelevance in Provo. It seems that the college football powers are willing to go on a spending spree right now, and no one knows where it will end. But sooner or later, it will end. It has to. The mission of every university involves creating professionals in something other than sports. Some do this by with research while others focus on teaching. As I read about Boise State's plans to provide stipends for the full cost of education, I wondered how they would pay for it. I quote this this paper.
"Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools spent more than $91,000 per athlete compared with just over $13,000 per student. Yet students across the country faced steep tuition hikes and increased fees."
This type of spending is not happening at BYU. According to this Department of Education website, BYU spends about 23,000 per football player. The total cost of education at BYU for football player would probably add significantly to this total, but BYU may still be the model of efficiency in college football. And, it is still considered a tuition bargain, even for non-LDS athletes. According to the site, in the 2012-2013 school year, BYU athletics earned five millions dollar profit. They have about 8,000 left for each student athlete. BYU may drop out of an arms race, if it comes to that, but most likely they can absorb the extra costs.
The real problems for BYU are on the field this year. They are not only mired in a 4-game losing streak, they are losing games in ways that are rare. BYU doesn't often give up 2nd half leads and lose, but that has happened twice this year. They are not often out-coached by Utah State or Boise State. I can't remember the last time BYU gave up 31 points in the 2nd quarter alone. It has indeed been surreal.
There are other cracks in the wall right now. Attendance is down this season, and sellouts against out-of-state teams are becoming rare.
This hasn't been the only disappointing season in Provo, recently. BYU exceeded expectations in 2006, when they won the conference championship and had a dominating win against Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. Things were looking up and fans knew that BYU would join rival Utah as a BCS buster. Every season since has seen disappointment in one degree or another. BYU has been good, and some-times, scary good. But they have failed to turn the corner to greatness.
The question real question is, what are the problems in Provo and why can't teams that are coached by Bronco turn the corner? There is no doubt that BYU, at best, has been in decline since 2009 and the debate is how steep has that decline been. This year, BYU has been plagued with injuries, and that has led to at least 2 of the 4 losses this season. The other 2 losses can clearly be blamed upon the coaching staff and a lack of preparation for those games.
Even when Mendenhall was winning 10 games per season, this was still an issue. Back to the 2009 season, BYU was well prepared for their opener and won a close game against Oklahoma on a neutral field. Then, later that same season, they were blown out by Florida State at home. Yes, it was Florida State, but it wasn't one of their better seasons once all was said and done. And even though BYU went 11-2 in 2009, finishing with an overtime win over Utah and a dominating Las Vegas Bowl victory over Oregon State, it wasn't all it promised to be after that afternoon was over in Arlington. TCU won the Mountain West Championship that year and then played in the Fiesta Bowl and lost to Boise State.
BYU fans have been waiting for that moment of their own for years, but it was always gone to someone else. It was Utah, at first, followed by Boise State then Hawaii, and then TCU. All rivals to some degree, but never BYU. They never busted the BCS and will have to wait another season or two to bust the new playoff. But it's not as if there has not been inconsistency in Provo. Every year begins with promise, and every season has it's degree of sadness.
If there is one thing that you can count on from a Bronco Mendenhall team, it is at least two unprepared, under-coached games every single season. It has happened at least twice every season, Bronco has stepped to his post-game podium and said, "sorry, that was my bad." As a results, it's always next year. And perhaps Cougar fans have had enough.
While this year's performance, or Brocno's history may not warrant dismissal, it is certainly not going to get the program to the level that many fans crave. You might be in the Big 12, but if you win the conference championship, you won't be playing for the national championship. Because your two losses will disqualify you. And if you can't get a national championship in the Big 12, you definitely won't get one as an independent. It won't work as member of the Mountain West and it won't work as a member of the AAC. It just won't work. A national champion has to be ready to play every single week without fail. No excuses. You have to win.
If you are satisfied with just conference championships, then BYU should join a conference. They will win one every once in a while with Mendenhall at the helm. Probably enough for fans to happy. If you want to win a national championship, then you need a coach that will have his team properly prepared every single Saturday without fail and without excuse. Conference affiliation or independent. Every Saturday means every single one from September to November.
This hasn't been the only disappointing season in Provo, recently. BYU exceeded expectations in 2006, when they won the conference championship and had a dominating win against Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. Things were looking up and fans knew that BYU would join rival Utah as a BCS buster. Every season since has seen disappointment in one degree or another. BYU has been good, and some-times, scary good. But they have failed to turn the corner to greatness.
The question real question is, what are the problems in Provo and why can't teams that are coached by Bronco turn the corner? There is no doubt that BYU, at best, has been in decline since 2009 and the debate is how steep has that decline been. This year, BYU has been plagued with injuries, and that has led to at least 2 of the 4 losses this season. The other 2 losses can clearly be blamed upon the coaching staff and a lack of preparation for those games.
Even when Mendenhall was winning 10 games per season, this was still an issue. Back to the 2009 season, BYU was well prepared for their opener and won a close game against Oklahoma on a neutral field. Then, later that same season, they were blown out by Florida State at home. Yes, it was Florida State, but it wasn't one of their better seasons once all was said and done. And even though BYU went 11-2 in 2009, finishing with an overtime win over Utah and a dominating Las Vegas Bowl victory over Oregon State, it wasn't all it promised to be after that afternoon was over in Arlington. TCU won the Mountain West Championship that year and then played in the Fiesta Bowl and lost to Boise State.
BYU fans have been waiting for that moment of their own for years, but it was always gone to someone else. It was Utah, at first, followed by Boise State then Hawaii, and then TCU. All rivals to some degree, but never BYU. They never busted the BCS and will have to wait another season or two to bust the new playoff. But it's not as if there has not been inconsistency in Provo. Every year begins with promise, and every season has it's degree of sadness.
If there is one thing that you can count on from a Bronco Mendenhall team, it is at least two unprepared, under-coached games every single season. It has happened at least twice every season, Bronco has stepped to his post-game podium and said, "sorry, that was my bad." As a results, it's always next year. And perhaps Cougar fans have had enough.
While this year's performance, or Brocno's history may not warrant dismissal, it is certainly not going to get the program to the level that many fans crave. You might be in the Big 12, but if you win the conference championship, you won't be playing for the national championship. Because your two losses will disqualify you. And if you can't get a national championship in the Big 12, you definitely won't get one as an independent. It won't work as member of the Mountain West and it won't work as a member of the AAC. It just won't work. A national champion has to be ready to play every single week without fail. No excuses. You have to win.
If you are satisfied with just conference championships, then BYU should join a conference. They will win one every once in a while with Mendenhall at the helm. Probably enough for fans to happy. If you want to win a national championship, then you need a coach that will have his team properly prepared every single Saturday without fail and without excuse. Conference affiliation or independent. Every Saturday means every single one from September to November.
Even BYU fans who are apologists for Bronco Mendenhall probably understand this principle. Either you learn to look past this, or you support your team whatever may come. For me, you don't need to win every game, but there is no excuse for not be ready to play every week. I think that fans should accept nothing less.
Is there someone who can have his team ready to play every week? Is there someone who can meet the standards of the LDS Church and have the Cougars ready every single Saturday without fail? There probably is. But if Bronco were to leave now, many fans may wish for Kalani Sitaki, but BYU may end up with Dave Campo (yes, the former Dallas Cowboy coach is an LDS church member who is currently the Defensive Coordinator at Kansas.). BYU may end up hiring someone you would not expect, someone who doesn't come from the traditional college path of being a coordinator before becoming a coach, but who understands that his team need to be ready and knows how to get them there.
BYU will have to open their pockets as well as the hearts to get the man they need. Are they prepared to do that? They have the money. Is now the time? If it is, don't be surprised that a mission call is found for Bronco. There are some high profile mission president openings coming this year. Hong Kong, London, Moscow, Chicago, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Oakland, Sydney. It would make one heck of a headline.
However, I expect Bronco to stay another year or two. And while he is here, expect more of the same. His teams will beat who they should, they just won't win enough games to win a championship. And yes, there will be a couple of stinkers every season where Bronco steps to the mike and falls on his sword.
Is there someone who can have his team ready to play every week? Is there someone who can meet the standards of the LDS Church and have the Cougars ready every single Saturday without fail? There probably is. But if Bronco were to leave now, many fans may wish for Kalani Sitaki, but BYU may end up with Dave Campo (yes, the former Dallas Cowboy coach is an LDS church member who is currently the Defensive Coordinator at Kansas.). BYU may end up hiring someone you would not expect, someone who doesn't come from the traditional college path of being a coordinator before becoming a coach, but who understands that his team need to be ready and knows how to get them there.
BYU will have to open their pockets as well as the hearts to get the man they need. Are they prepared to do that? They have the money. Is now the time? If it is, don't be surprised that a mission call is found for Bronco. There are some high profile mission president openings coming this year. Hong Kong, London, Moscow, Chicago, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Oakland, Sydney. It would make one heck of a headline.
However, I expect Bronco to stay another year or two. And while he is here, expect more of the same. His teams will beat who they should, they just won't win enough games to win a championship. And yes, there will be a couple of stinkers every season where Bronco steps to the mike and falls on his sword.
