I am a Bronco supporter, I was a Crowton supporter (until rapegate), I was a Lavell supporter even as college football caught up with him and his success wasn't what it was in the 80's. I am a BYU fan, I arrive at the games 2 hours early (even against Idaho St. with a foot of snow on my seat) and I have never left a game early and I have sat through some doosies (Texas A&M 1990, Utah 2004, and many others).

I find there are plenty of things I wish Bronco would do differently. He is far from untouchable, but he has a great responsibility as the coach of BYU. I have coached a few of my children as they have played flag football, soccer and basketball, and I can tell you the stress from those experiences has shown me that I don't want anything to do with coaching on any kind of major stage. I do firmly believe that Bronco is far more competitive than I will ever be and wants to win football games 100x's more than I want BYU to win football games.

My problem with what goes on with Cougarboard is the criticism is so far over the top that I find myself hyperbole-ing the other way because I get worked up over some of the amazingly stupid things people decide to be critical of. For example all of the hullabaloo over Bronco being critical of the fans who left the game early on Saturday. I bet 80% of the people who are using that as "proof" that Bronco hates you all didn't even read or hear the quote, but they are willing to pile on when all he did was thank the fans who did stay for staying and being loud, if you left early you don't qualify for that "thank you" if that offends you... don't leave early. People on this board are constantly critical of anything he has ever said about the fans and use it as proof that he hates the fans, then in the next breath they gripe about how distracting the firesides are, they don't mention the weekly shows where he invites fans to the President's loge at LES and sits and talks with them on a very personal level. He does those things for the FANS.. its an added bonus you get for being a BYU fan he doesn't have to do them, but he feels it is good for the team and it is a great benefit for the FANS.

If the people who are critical of Bronco ever gave him credit for what he has done I would pay more attention to what they are saying. Bronco has done amazing things while he has been here. He has had the team ranked through multiple seasons, his teams and players have broken school records that have been around for a long time. His win/loss record is very comparable to the last 10 years of Lavell's and has played harder schedules than Lavell did (in my opinion the MWC was much more competitive than the 90's WAC/MWC). His big wins along with his big losses are very comparable to what Lavell did during that time. My point there is maybe with the honor code/ limitations that BYU has a special season every 10 years or so is all we can expect. BYU will never have the athletes to compete with the big boys day in and day out.

As far as the last few games, there has been very few of the "firebronco" boys who are willing to admit that losing Taysom, Jamaal, Fua, Bills, Hine, and all of the other bangs and bruises we have received over the past few games have been the major contributing factor to the losses. I don't care who your team is, if you lose your team captains, leaders, and by far your best athletes it is going to impact your play in a negative manner. BYU is having to completely re-invent themselves halfway through the season, that is a huge deal. BYU is having to rely on people who are playing in their first games at this level and the "firebronco" folks can't seem to see that there might be some growing pains in execution from inexperienced players. EVERYTHING is Bronco's fault and if anyone suggests that there might be some other reasons they are labeled and told they have their heads in the sand.

Bronco is far from perfect, and if you want him gone, that is great to have that opinion, but please at least acknowledge that he is a good coach. He IS a good coach. If you can't see that then maybe you are so full of hate you don't want to see it. With the limitations he has he places a competitive team on the field, he has beaten some of the most storied teams in college football, he has laid some eggs also. But go back and look at Lavell's record and maybe... just maybe you might see that he isn't as horrible as you think.

Please also realize that if you fire him for his "mediocre" 8-10 win seasons you are telling the next guy he better be Nick Saban... but we are going to pay you like its a calling, oh yeah, and you get to be a responsible for all 100+ 20-ish year olds personal actions, and you better be nice to the fans, and you need to by dynamic and funny with the press.

Sorry this is so long, but that is how I feel. I will support him as long he is the coach at BYU, and quite frankly I don't want another coach at this point in time. Everyone before the season said it could be a special year unless Taysom went down... well Taysom went down and we have had a few losses... honestly it doesn't surprise me at all.