the Bronco-version of BYU, then I am sure he can't relate. If he views Kalani as the next Lavell-version of BYU, maybe he will come around.

I am sure for a lot of these guys, they view their time at BYU favorably, but get uncomfortable with its overt LDS-ness. For guys like that, the less BYU has national spotlight from winning, the more the LDS issue becomes more prominent and maybe makes them think they can can't relate.

For a lot of guys, the main justification for following their alma mater (BYU) is the non religious factors related to national prominence. It provides the "well, obviously that's why I went to BYU" style justification. When national prominence goes away, so do they.

Hopefully Kalani widens the tent enough so BYU is more palatable for these guys even in a 9-3 year with a marginal bowl win. For all Bronco's lip service to widening the tent, I think the net effect of his tenure was to shrink it considerably.