I think most of us can still retain our fandom and realize that BYU will not be the most athletic team in the country. On that special year when recruiting booms and the stars align, we can compete on raw talent with a lot of very good teams, at least among the starters. But we won't be mistaken for Alabama or USC. I can live with that.

But discipline, maturity, playing to our strengths, and stepping up in big games--shouldn't be too much to ask for at BYU. It's not that we're completely incapable in those areas, but it's tough to see where we're really better these days either. We should be. We are older. We do ask (a lot) more in terms of off the field behavior and are selective in who we'll recruit. We have a culture that emphasizes the above behaviors, and the majority of our team has two years of mission experience to help develop those qualities.

I don't get the quantity of dumb penalties, costly gaffes and yewting ourselves in big moments at BYU lately. We've won big games in the past--in part by being that tough, smart, prepared, disciplined, overachieving squad. Nowadays, when I think of a team that exhibits those qualities, Boise St. immediately comes to mind. Hoping to see BYU "out-Boise" the Broncos this year in Provo and return the favor for the debacle on the blue that happened last year.