...had he made it and BYU beat a ranked Boise St team in Boise, Crowton wins 6 games that season playing the toughest schedule in BYU history (#11 SoS according to Sagarin), BYU goes bowling and Crowton saves his job. I've read that new BYU Pres Cecil O Samuelson had given Crowton an ultimatum at the beginning of the season that he needed to win at least 6 games to save his job.

The next season in 2005 BYU played a much MUCH easier schedule (ranked in the 70's iirc) and Bronco managed to win only 6 games despite inheriting a nearly 2 yr starter at QB (future NFL 2nd rounder), a veteran OL (with NFL talent), a loaded backfield (with NFL talent), etc. Had Crowton saved his job in 2004, he likely wins at least 6 games again in 2005 and reaps the benefits of all the hard work, recruiting, depth of NFL talent, returning veterans, etc that he had built up going forward.

Knowing Crowton it's hard to say if he finds another way to shoot himself in the foot or not (he never seems to stay at one place very long) but things certainly were set up for him at that point much like they were for Bronco (who had his greatest success using Crowton's recruits through 2009). I've often wondered: "How much longer would he have been the HC at BYU?"