In my opinion, the biggest challenge BYU faces going forward is the higher standard to get in to BYU, academically and ecclesiastically. I played a sport at BYU and knew many of the athletes, not just football, but track, baseball, wrestling (yes I am that old) and more.
Many of these people I knew would not get into BYU today. I was recently trying to count how many athletes I knew who ended up joining the church and I can't count them all, it is too many. None and I repeat none of these currently active, great church members would get into BYU today, therefoe maybe never even joined the church.
Do you think Bronco would have recruited non-mormon Ty Detmer? Non-mormon Robbie Bosco? Non-mormon Steve Sarkisian????
I am not blaming Bronco, I am just saying that I think BYU has become too narrow minded in who they think is a good fit.
I always believed the gospel was supposed to be for anyone and everyone, but BYU has taken the approach that they don't want to risk embarrassing themselves by admitting someone who may make a mistake.

As the Desnews article indicated, Bronco cut back the list of potential recruits from 1,000 to 125 one year because they didn't think those other 825 would fit. My question is this: Were any of those other 825 possibly another Detmer or Boscoe that would join the church and have made the football team better?