First, it starts with who you get, right? You have to have talent to develop, and we haven’t had it. BYU’s mandate to Bronco was clean this legal and honor code violation mess up or else. And I think most say Bronco has done that. But at what expense? Perhaps at the expense of a larger pool of top-level talent that would be better for football, but more risky for, ya know… typical college life…. So, BYU has sacrificed raw talent (that was the pan under Crowten) for better matches with conservative values.

Second, the offensive line tanked under Doman. Now, Doman was Bronco’s responsibility, so… it was really a major Bronco error. But, anyway, we’ll be digging out of that mistake for at least a couple more years (obviously, Bolles would speed that up). Short story, you have to bring in talent to develop it – we did not bring it in; developing second-rate talent is like pushing water uphill. And, if you have mostly slow old white guys on your team, you better be sending OL’s to the NFL… like Edwards did…

Third, Bob and 2J are fixing the OL line talent AND development, IMO. I think they will get there, but… it’s still a bit of a gamble for a recruit: if you are transferring as a Jr (like Bolles), you can take a gamble on playing with these BYU dudes that are making progress, but haven’t put anyone in the NFL yet, or you could go to… say… Bama…. Here’s my hope, he chooses BYU on faith and we kill it while he’s here, and he goes pro and has his cake and eats it too!

Finally, Bronco has proven he can run a clean program; he says he wants P5, etc.; the administration has changed; new and more staff has been hired to help with both NFL type training and non-LDS or non-mission athletes adjust to the unusually difficult demands a virtually all-white, highly conservative, extreme academics, and semi-rural demands BYU places on anyone other than slow white conservative guys. Also, Bronco has changed: pro scouts said BYU’s pro-day was set up better than their own combine; he hired a coach just for training in these pro combine drills; he hired staff that can relate to being something other than slow white RM’s….

It’s happening. The program is changing before our eyes. I hope Bolles comes, but it will take a leap of faith on his part. But if he does come, he will go to the NFL, and he will help bridge the old BYU with the new, I hope.