1. Injuries: Yes BYU has been bitten this year. But no, I don't accept them as excuses for any of the losses. USU game was already turning into a disaster before Taysom went down. Yes, had he remained healthy, he had enough talent/ability on his own to get us back, but the game should have never been in that situation in the first place. As for the UCF and Nevada games, the players that we had were good enough to get us double digit leads, they should have still been good enough to finish it off. So what changed? It sure seems that one team adapted, made changes and adjustments. That's coaching, "scheming", play-calling.

2. Christian Stewart: I personally lay no blame on him for any of the losses. "But the fumbles!" Yes, he needs to learn better ball security. But, to me he has shown a great ability to learn and grow, week by week. Seriously, his exponential improvement is what gives me any hope for the remainder of the season. For instance, he made some mistake throws against USU and UCF. But against Nevada, in all of those pass attempts, 0 interceptions. He learned from those previous games! That's why I believe he will learn better ball security. It's also why I believe some of those deep incompletions will turn into catches and TDs sooner rather than latter. His chemistry with his receivers is growing noticeably, with Mathews and Mahina leading the way. And he's already made some beautiful tosses.

3. Complete Games/Teams: This is something that troubles me greatly. BYU under Bronco Mendenhall has yet to put together a complete team in a season, much like they haven't been able to put together a complete game lately. Yet "similar" schools have achieved complete seasons. For example, Boise State was able to have success with similar or even lesser talent than BYU. How? They installed a "tricky" offense that helped compensate for the lack of talent, depth, speed etc. while having a defense just good enough. TCU on the other hand utilized a dominating defense, with a QB capable of managing the offense, making plays when needed, and avoiding costly mistakes.

BYU had the defense to replicate TCU's success. Unfortunately, the offense was, at times, utterly incompetent. We all remember that 2012 Boise State game. Not often can you say that a team had a significantly greater chance of winning had they just punted on first down every possession. Being great, even exceedingly great, on one side of the ball can seldom overcome being dreadful on the other for an entire game, or more importantly, an entire season.

As for this year, Taysom Hill was the QB they needed to handle the offense, make enough plays, and put them in positions to win every game. That is, of course, had the same dominant defense we've come to expect at BYU had shown up. It is my personal belief now, that even with a healthy Taysom, BYU just wasn't good (complete) enough to go undefeated, and win a NY6 bowl. The cracks started showing way back against Houston, and continued into Virginia. Taysom was able to overcome those weaknesses. But it is the responsibility of the coaches to diagnose the disease/weakness, and do what is necessary to correct them, rather than just keep prescribing doses of Taysom to cover the symptoms.

4. So, based off of the above, it seems pretty clear that I place the blame on the coaches shoulders, not on injuries/inexperience. As head coach, that means I hold Bronco ultimately accountable for the whole program. It seems possible that we have seen the peak of Bronco's football success. And while the program isn't necessary falling (losing seasons), it seems to have stopped climbing, and is stuck at a plateau. Having seen those "similar" teams (Boise, TCU, Utah) reach a certain summit above us, is painful. And even though they've all had seasons where they fell below BYU, at least they've already seen the view from above. I mean, who wouldn't trade for Utah's past 10 year success, even knowing it means enduring some rough years (and I'm not even including Utah's domination of the rivalry!)

So the decision needs to be made if Bronco has any more climb in him. And the track record would say no. Sadly, I just don't see it happening. At least not the Bronco as we know him now. So from a purely football stand point, it might be time for a changing of the guard.

5. However: BYU is a different school than any other. It's just the way it is. There's no reason to try and fight it. Football is important to the school, no doubt. Anyone who says otherwise is just incompetent. But it isn't important enough to sacrifice everything else that BYU stands for. Once again, it's just the way it is. BYU isn't going to push the boundaries, explore the grey areas, or teeter on the edge of right and wrong when it comes to such things as recruiting, disciplining (both honor code as well as academics/team rules) fund raising etc. Does that put BYU at a "self imposed" disadvantage? Probably. But once again, it's just the way it is. Is it an excuse? No. It's just like having to deal with the missionaries coming and going. It's just another thing that BYU has to account for. Clearly, present day BYU is different animal than even Lavell's BYU. It's just the way it is.

Know that accepting BYU for what it is doesn't mean accepting the losses and failures of the team. I hate losing. Hate hate hate it. I want to win every game. Have that magical season. Reach the next summit. And I believe, that even with all of the unique "challenges" that BYU has to deal with, they can still achieve the same success as the aforementioned similar programs. They might have to work harder for it, but so be it.

No doubt, BYU (and the Board of Trustees) are happy with the way Bronco handles the unique BYU program/requirements. And honestly, he has some of the qualities/characteristics needed to thrive in this environment when it comes to the off the field stuff, and how it reflects on the field. If that is all BYU worried about, then Bronco would be employed indefinitely. I mean, he hasn't tanked the program into losing seasons. He's had enough on the field success, while running a clean program, to avoid the pink slip. If that's all BYU was worried about. (This is the big question IMO)

Should BYU decide to make a change, they aren't going to throw out tons of money at a new coach. It's just the way it is! (I know I've used that phrase a lot, but its true!)
And more than likely, most certainly, BYU will look for an active LDS coach that they deem can handle the unique LDS/off the field side of the program. (insert that phrase here again). We as fans and alums can't expect to change what BYU is. If that is a deal-breaker for you, you're better off finding a new team.

Also, the argument "who else is out there" isn't valid. If a change is needed, you make the change. That's why you have an Athletic Director/Department, to research and find those candidates, whoever they might be. Bronco was an unproven head coach once. Same with Lavell.

Should BYU decide to keep Bronco... Let's be honest, there is no way they fire him after this year, barring some huge scandal. Like many have stated, his contract just wouldn't be renewed next year. And there is the possibility that Bronco himself might not pursue a renewal. I could see him hanging it up, for a number of reasons he might choose...

6. If I could have a wish, it would be for a more humble Bronco. Not in the same sense that same of you want. I'm just fine with his interactions with the media, and the fans. What I mean by humble is willing to learn from others. (And in all honestly, I don't know Bronco personally, so this is just from my outside observations.) I would like him to learn from the strength/successes of some of his peers, and incorporate it with his own strengths. Analyze his weaknesses, and find out what others do better.
Examples:
The roles of and hiring of coordinators/position coaches.
Making in-game adjustments and taking in-game risks
Executing your own system while still game-planning against opponents
Handling rivalry games
Creativity

If I were Tom Holmoe, those are the things I would express and discuss with Bronco. Actually, I'd first ask Bronco to list what he thinks his weaknesses are. I'd talk about maybe looking for a more creative offense/coordinator to go with his usually stout defense.

7. About that defense: I'm not 100% sure the problem is Howell. Hear me out. My reasoning is this: Everyone points to his lack of experience. But he has spent years learning under Bronco himself. Bronco gave him the DC position last year for a reason. And the play calling this year. Sure Bronco might not know offense, but he sure knows what it takes to be a DC. He must see something that we don't. My point is, only Bronco knows if, had he been calling the plays, the defense would be different. Maybe the players this year just aren't good enough to run the system, which wouldn't be all Howell's fault. (Let's be honest, Howell isn't running his own scheme or system, just what he's learned of Bronco's, with some of his own wrinkles possibly) Once again, the responsibility/accountability falls back on Bronco, both as a head coach, and as the defensive guru.

Then again, maybe Howell is the problem. Maybe Bronco took a risk on him, and it backfired. I understand why the risk was taken. Ideally, if Howell was really a clone of Bronco like he'd been described, it would mean an equal defense, with Bronco being able to have more influence on offense and special teams. That would lead to a complete team that we so want and need! But if the problem is Howell, then Bronco needed to be on top of it as soon as the cracks started showing weeks ago. This was a chance at a special season, and you have to do everything you can to achieve it and take advantage of it. So the blame ultimately lies on Bronco again.

8. So the answer is...: Well, its complicated! Clearly, there are valid reasons both for keeping and replacing Bronco. But there are also valid concerns with each of those as well. Taking into account all of the above, I'm just glad I'm not the one making the decision. After all, I'm just a fan. A passionate fan. A fan who wants to win, as well as accepts BYU for what it is. At the end of the day, I will go with whatever the AD/school decides. They are privy to the inside information that I just don't have. That's why I can't definitively state either way whether to keep of fire Bronco. If they make a change, I'll be nervous about the worse that could happen, while being anxiously excited as to what the best case might be. If Bronco stays, I'll just hope that some of the things in #6 take effect, or that the talent level just increases so much as to compensate for even those weaknesses

Whatever the case, I'd still rather watch a perpetual 9-4 BYU team (~Bronco's average), than hop on some other bandwagon, or hope that BYU abandons the program altogether. (Honestly, the latter completely boggles my mind). I am a BYU fan. It's who I am. I haven't seen the highest level of success out of my two main teams (Dodgers duh) yet I watch each and every game regardless of the current season's successes/failures. For me, the hope of eventually reaching the mountaintop keeps me coming back, after every year's heartbreak. And for me, BYU's next mountaintop is an undefeated season/NY6 bowl, just like similar schools have experienced (so it's not like I'm just expecting National Championships, or even playoff appearances) And BYU can reach that, I firmly believe it... But first, either Bronco, or the AD, has to make changes...

9. Congratulations: If you made it all the way through this, thanks for lending me your ear for a bit. The real point of this post is to show that there are valid reasons on both sides of Camp Bronco. If you want him fired... fine. If you don't... fine. But let's remember what BYU is, and what we are. I believe that the best thing we can do as fans, is to still support the team and the players. For the sake of our past, current, and future players. And past, current, and future BYU fans. That's what I'll be doing at least.