record I am in the latter camp and have been ever since the 4th straight loss to Utah in 2013, and even more so after the unforgivable loss at home last year to the Aggies on the night that Jim McMahon's jersey was hung above LES.
For me it all comes down to expectations. I think the pro-Bronco crowd, which includes the BOT unfortunately, are content with a clean program that doesn't embarrass the church and is competitive enough to make it to some lower tier bowl game most years. They are basically the same expectations that were in place during the MWC era, and, for the most part, Bronco has met those expectations.
But, as evidenced here on CB, there is a large segment of the fan base that is not content with this mediocrity. They believe BYU is capable of doing better and that the transition from the MWC to an Independent implied, if not required, an elevated vision and expectation for the program. Going 9-3 against a middle of the road schedule is not good enough if we go 1-3 in the games that are on the biggest stage. Going 10-2 against Utah State is not good enough if we are 3-9 against Utah during the same period. And going to a lower tier bowl game every year is not good enough if we lose half of them and our peers like Boise State are going to and winning NY6 bowls. BYU cannot afford to take a backseat to these teams if they want to stay relevant. And exposure goes hand in hand with being relevant. You cannot have one without the other.
Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that the BOT and a large segment of the fan base just don't share my expectations for the program and as long as Bronco is meeting their minimum expectations he is not going anywhere. So, in order to maintain my emotional wellbeing I have had to lower my expectations. I started doing that after the 2013 season and it has made being a fan a lot less traumatic and disappointing.