BYU is usually a fairly risk averse institution. Hiring Mark Pope assumed risk that in many cases it might try to avoid. I don’t pretend to know how the hiring process went but I do believe BYU knew who and what Mark Pope was when they hired him.

I am not sure I would call the entire saga a swing and a hit-but it wasn’t far off. His winning percentages at BYU were better than the historical norm. He inherited some great talent in year 1 but was left with a rather large rebuilding project after that-I am of the opinion that he did admirably well but the hard data, wins and losses, isn’t overwhelming conclusive in his favor. I liked Pope while he was here and am not offended by his departure because he is what he is. But I am impressed that BYU went after a guy that they knew would rub folks the wrong way because of his insufferable competitive nature and when they knew that when a better offer came along he would take it and what he leaves in that wake is of no concern to him-his only focus will be on winning wherever home is.

My belief is the BYU administration had the same hope as most of us-before Pope moved along to do what Pope does there would be a bit more post season success. Perhaps he is the charleton that his critics want you to believe he is, or perhaps it is more BYU or what I believe-we just played poorly against Duquesne. But I do think it is an overall positive about BYU, as an institution, and its commitment to success that they were willing to take the risk of hiring a guy driven to succeed like Mark Pope knowing that is might not end well.

In an era of ever changing human culture, greater mobility and technology leading to a slow ebb of empowering younger folks (our own Lord of the Flies before our eyes) I am surprised, moderately impressed and not as pessimistic about BYU’s future as many because I viewed this saga as a risk I would not have expected BYU to take.

Things are likely not as bleak as many of you think.