Then the forced modification of rules providing access opportunities (1996 & 2001) only to not pull the trigger ourselves enough to be one of the few to pass through the gates...

But honestly with out 1984 there likely would not have even been a Bowl Alliance/Coalition/Championship Series. Which then created a market sensation that people even cared about. Then without BYU pushing them in 96 & 01 no modifications would have been made to allow others in when they got in.

That isn't to say that if 96 & 01 hadn't happened that an undefeated Utah 2004 team wouldn't have had some of the impact the 96 or 01 BYU teams had on changing the rules on future opportunities but it certainly wouldn't have had the rules already in place in any way shape or form for them to be included and take advantage during that 2004 season. Instead they would have been the initial ones creating those talking points that then led to rule changes that others may have benefited from first/instead....