Bronco did not go on a mission. I know from personal experience the kind of guilt that ensues when one does not go on a mission. (I ended up going, but not until I was almost 21.) Bronco sees the head coaching job as a way of making up for not going on a mission. Meeting with a General Authority as part of the interview process would just cement that idea. That is why he puts football far down on his list of priorities, and why he has firesides, etc. It is just as or even more important to Bronco to teach spiritual lessons to his players than to win.

I’m afraid that he now sees the head coach role as something akin to a mission president, who lets guys like Howell make mistakes as they grow and develop. (Side note: A big-time program like BYU should not be hiring coaches who need development. BYU should be hiring proven coaches from lesser schools, just like Utah hired Urban Meyer.)

Bronco’s loyalty to Riley Nelson may also stem from a misguided spiritual approach to football.

It should be obvious to everyone that Bronco is a good defensive coach. When he was the DC, BYU had defenses that I could never imagine. I wish there was a way that he could just go back to being the DC only, and stop being a mission president.