I know the transfer portal is a huge thing now and Pope aggressively goes after portal kids every year. The problem with that is he doesn't develop anybody. He seems to think high schoolers coming in should be finished products and when they aren't he sends them packing after a year. That's no way to build a program. It's hard enough as it is to recruit to BYU to be giving up on players that fast and hoping every year you can get the right guys in the portal. His teams seem to be getting worse every year and not better.

I have heard the same about locker room issues. I know this is anecdotal and most will think this is sour grapes but an older guy in my ward that I know well has a grandson that played for Pope at UVU and didn't like him at all. His grandson said Pope played favorites, he hounded players for little mistakes but that his favorites could do no wrong. He also said he never knew where he stood with Pope and that Pope regularly made comments in practice about replacing guys with portal players.

Let's just hope he fixes the problems and does well because as you said, he'll take a bigger job if offered and that might be the best long term thing for BYU.