Let me first state that Bronco isn't going anywhere. He likes his job. He likes the state. He values stability. And, the BOT simply won't ever get rid of him until you have back-to-back losing seasons or there is a series of off field issues. Thus, this discussion is largely academic. Bronco isn't going anywhere. So, how do you evaluate Bronco? Personally, I think he is among the largest coaching conundrums in America. We're the equivalent of an NBA team that isn't good enough to be a contender, but isn't bad enough to get a high draft pick. We're the Mavericks or Suns.

Why He Should Stay

- 70% winning pct. overall and 71% in regular season games. He averages just over 9 wins each year.

- He does just as well against P5 as LaVell: http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=14936781 - For over 40 years, BYU has generally beaten P5 teams that have 4 wins or fewer and lost against P5 teams that have 5 wins or more. That's just how we've rolled historically. Even in our 'special seasons' that has been the case. Bronco has not done worse than LaVell with P5. We just play more P5s than we used to. (Of course there are occasional exceptions, but those are the rules).

- Big wins, he's beaten Oklahoma, Texas x2, UCLA x2, Arizona, Nebraska, Oregon State, Oregon, Washington, Wazzu, Ole Miss, and other big names I'm not thinking of.

- He wins 9 games per year. That means he loses 3 a year. Once programs start firing coaches that lose 3 games per year, they set a very, very dangerous precedent (this is largely why LSU panicked at the last minute and decided to keep Les Miles). This is why Nebraska isn't going bowling. If we fire Bronco, you are telling your next coach that 3 losses will get you canned.

- The alternative could be much, much, much, much worse.

Why He Should Go

- 3-6 to Utah. Many/most coaches would lose their job with this record against their chief rival. They just would.

- The once each year head scratcher ( either get hammered OR lose a game in which we're favored). This happens to him every year. (Seriously, go back and look). The only year it didn't was 06. The BC and Arizona losses weren't head scratchers or games in which we were favored. Every other year he either gets drubbed once OR loses a game in which he is favored. Usually both happen.

- Hires - He has made some really, really, really bad hires. These aren't just hires that 'didn't work out.' Everyone who's ever hired someone makes those hires. Bronco's bad hires, on the other hand, are different. Bronco's bad hires are guys that were clearly in over their skis. Most coaches simply aren't allowed to make mistakes like this over and over and over again.

- Bad PR - He is awkward and he says dumb stuff. Les Miles was retained by LSU ( per Pat Forde ) largely because a) the administration feared the unknown and b) fans love him. He's great with media and the fans. Bronco is admittedly an introvert. He's the sort of guy that, if he were in your ward, you would think was kind of an oddball. His dumb comments about fans, NFL talents, recruiting stars, etc. make fans not want to like him.

- Nelson/Heaps - That was a freaking debacle. Defend him all you want, but it was a joke. I could have managed that situation better. You could have managed that situation better. Your 12 year old daughter could have managed that situation better. It was a 3 year waste of the best defenses BYU has ever had.

- Change is not always bad. Sometimes people just need a change of scenery.

Factors Outside of his Control

- Utah and Utah State are better than they were than at ANY time in LaVell's tenure. Period. That means that recruiting is harder and head-to-head records won't be as good. This is totally out of Bronco's control

- We are largely anxious because of the college football landscape and Utah's P5 status. This makes us nervous. But, again, Bronco has no control over these things. This isn't a reason he should stay, per se. But, rather, these are the things that make many BYU fans feel like we need a coach to step us up a notch.

- More difficult schedule. BYU will struggle to be bowl eligible next year. This is a P5 schedule in 2016. We'll lose 4 games or more. Fans will clamor for Bronco's head. And he may have done a great coaching job, but he will still lose several games with next year's schedule.

- Honor code.