In the MWC, he said the SOS as an independent/member of the MWC was stronger than in the WAC in 1980's.
People compare Bronco to LaVell only because LaVell is the only other successful football coach in BYU history and to provide context to how Bronco is doing now vs during the only other successful seasons at BYU, which happened under LaVell. This is why people bring up LaVell when discussing bronco's tenure.