Last week was one of controversy for head coach Bronco Mendenhall and the BYU football team, stemming from the coach’s comments concerning fans earlier in the week, followed by the dismissal of backup safety Shiloah Te’o.
By now everyone who has any interest in the football team has heard Mendenhall’s comments concerning fan criticism, saying the level of “criticism usually matches the level of education” of the person it comes from.
This comment sparked anger in the hearts of self-proclaimed “educated” Cougar fans everywhere. These fans were outraged that Mendenhall once again confirmed his feelings for the BYU fan base.
How dare this pretentious coach discount the very group of people the athletic department relies on to patronize the team with donations, ticket sales, concessions, etc.?
A local journalist even called Mendenhall out, claiming the coach owed BYU fans an apology. This is getting a little out of hand. Did any of you ever stop to think that he was right? Put yourselves in his shoes. You are hired to save the program after the Gary Crowton debacle, and immediately take the team to a bowl game the next year, followed by three — possibly four — 10-win seasons in a row.
During this phenomenal resurrection of a storied tradition, many fans still find fault in nearly every facet of the program. Perfection is the only acceptable outcome for these fans, and anything short of it means the sky is falling.
How’s that for a thank you? Is it any wonder why this guy is tired of hearing how to do his job from hosts of people who have never set foot on a football field? I’d venture to say that claiming to be able to do a coach’s job better than he can is an even larger form of arrogance than what Mendenhall showed with his comments.
Plus, from a logical perspective, he is right. How many fans know which way a receiver was supposed to cut when Max Hall threw an interception? How many actually know what is supposed to happen in Jaime Hill’s defensive scheme?
By now we all know what we’re going to get with Mendenhall — an excellent coach and motivator whose players would run through walls. The man can give a lecture with one stare, and without saying a word. A coach who expects to be recruited, and not the other way around.
And he’s going to do things his way. He has since he came to BYU. Why are any fans still surprised when he doesn’t try to win a popularity contest? All the guy cares about is building a successful program while building solid young men. My apologies to those fans who want to feel like Mendenhall needs them, but it’s time for them to realize they need him more.
This guy’s going to maintain a successful football program his way, whether you’re on board or not. The only thing a coach owes his fans is a successful, winning program. Anything beyond that is gravy.
An apology? It’s probably warranted. But this apology needs to come from the fans, not from the coach.