In my opinion, BYU has one of three decisions to make..I'm fine with any of them

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Oct 31, 2014
3:13:25pm

Downtown

Pull back from Football. Build a program closer to what the Academies achieve - Air Force, Navy, etc. Be a 6-6, 8-4 team, maybe sometimes 10 wins in those good years. They lose more recruits, but they set these expectations with the fans, and do the best they can.

I could seriously live with this. I could put the old BYU glory days back in my memories banks and just be a solid fan who supports the team.

HOWEVER, these expectations would need to be properly conveyed to the fans/boosters/supporters over the next couple seasons. Under this scenario, do not pay the Coach what Bronco gets paid. It wouldn't be required.

Pull out of Football. I do not this think will happen, at least not in the short-term. Too much investment made into it. Too much tradition, and in my mind, it would be a slap in the face to how much fans and players and coaches have given it for so many years including recent jersey retirement, etc. It would also pull away way too much $$$ out of the Athletic department. I just don't see this happening.

BUT if they were to pull out, I would support their decision to do so as hard as it would be. College Football isn't anywhere near the same product it use to be. If BYU dropped football, I'd like them to defer their focus to Hoops/Soccer/Track/Tennis/Swimming, etc.

Recommit to Football - If they stay committed, they need to go "all in." All in, means you can not keep Bronco as coach. In my opinion it doesn't mean a lot has to change as compared to today. You could still pay coaches similiarly as the present (as long as it's competitive for Utah living and Competitive compared to what's being paid up North). A lot of great people will take less to Coach BYU and live here. And the pay can be plenty good.

By "all in", the program could do a much better job, incorporating their fans into the program and if done correctly, really could turn Utah County into CougarTown possibly even winning back some of those that have left. They really could make the BYU gameday experience a "can't miss event" (no, it doesn't require fireworks), by embracing tailgaiting and using the 6-7 games at LES as an opportunity for the world (meaning those visiting teams) to see what Provo is, who the Mormons are. This was done during the 2002 Olympics, and if you've been to ND, I see no reason why BYU couldn't offer some of this. If you've been to ND, then you know some of what I'm talking about. BYU can offer so much on the campus, the Polynesian community could offer so much, as could the incredible valley. It just has to be embraced and planned. Saying "hello" to fans as they come into LES and the beauty of the Mountains, isn't enough for fans to go back bragging about "why you have to goto a game in Provo", but way more could be offered and it would require a paradigm shift in thinking. I could go on and on and on with ideas. There's tons of them, and it would make BYU some $$$.

This type of change would also make scheduling teams easier in my opinion. Teams play ND because of their tradition. Yes, their tradition is greater than ours and their campus oozes that football magic/tradition, but BYU could start somewhere and teams would be more interested in joining in on this can't miss experience. Some of this has been discussed by the way inside, but it requires a completely different mindset. I would be the first one to help, but BYU has to commit to an "all in" move first.
Make no decision at all - This is where I think BYU is currently. By not making a decision, fans are becoming apathetic and dropping like flies. It started before this season, but it will get much worse next season if there isn't some change.

The reason why I was against renewing Bronco's contract last year, is because of where we are now. That was definitely a time when TH had some leverage. I don't think he has as much now.

Also, I really don't think Independence or conference affiliatation matters as much in all of this. If BYU was winning, if they were 8-0 we would be pumped, highly ranked and not concerned about the rest of the marshmellows on the schedule. Granted, the current BYU brand is losing, the product is boring, and because of this, Independence looks much, much worse.