that they as a longtime fan likely have a much longer memory of BYU spring practices than the players saying this stuff.

When Mitch Matthews says this is the "best Spring he's seen", what that really means is that he, a 20-something year old kid who has only seen a few spring practices at BYU, thinks things are going swimmingly, not that he's making a declarative statement about every Spring practice ever held at BYU.

Further when players who are now upperclassmen and are getting interviewed speak of "better leadership", or being a more "tight knit" group, people need to realize that from that player's perspective there likely is better leadership (because he is now one of the leaders), they likely are more tight-knit (because he's had four years to make friends), and people probably seem to be in better shape (because he and his buddies, who are also likely upperclassmen, have had four years of conditioning).

In short, people need to stop getting their panties in a wad over a 22 year old kid thinking his team is in great shape in March. What would you rather him say? They look awful?

Finally, I never hear people talk about Bronco saying the defense has "a long way to go". Only when he praises his players do the whiners start whining about blue kool aid.