I understand fan is short for fanatic, but BYU fans in particular seem to immediately start foaming at the mouth in blind rage when aspects of the team (particularly QB) are criticized by other cougar fans.

It is as though by pointing out issues with the team (that any neutral party could see) you've taken the first step down the road to apostasy. How dare you question anything is wrong?! What's next, passing out anti-Mormon fliers in the neighborhood to children, naked? Okay, kidding aside

It's clear changes need to be made offensively with this team, and we all have opinions about how and what should take place, but I've never seen a fan base rip each other so harshly for questioning things like which quarterback should play and who's fault it is that wide receivers are dropping balls.

I wonder if part of this is due to BYU not just being another school for most of us (being owned by the Church) and so we see any question by fans (church members in this analogy) about how things are operating with the team (the Church) as blasphemy and grounds for excommunication from BYU fandom.

But this isn't about religion. This is sports.

A cougar-loving, blue-bleeding, zoob-tastic hardcore BYU fan can be critical and point out issues with the team, and still be a 100% real, true fan that loves the team! Thinking critically and being a "real BYU fan" are not mutually exclusive.

We root for a team that is a part of our Church's sponsored university. That's it. Using the same logic and belief structure we use on Sundays in regards to spiritual matters doesn't lend itself to the football field in not ever questioning a coach or QB (no matter how much weight he can front-squat).

I'm not less of a fan because I watch a game and see issues with players or coaching, then talk about it with other fans. And it's extremely childish when other fans who are above questioning anything look down their noses at us "fake" or "bandwagon" fans and say we should just leave if we don't like it.

We can't leave. We love BYU! We aren't going to leave, we're going to root for the team no matter what - it's part of who we are. We just want it to be the best it can be! So grow up, stop being so emotional, and let's all play nice together, alright? I'm sure we'll have opinions about it