skills are lacking (implementing, monitoring, measuring, and managing the plan). I see business plans on a daily basis and listen to presentations five times a week on how the business will succeed in today's economy and implementing their business plan. Obviously, most are nice to great people, but that doesn't prevent them from failing. Some fail because of their lack of management skills, others fail due to outside influences that they cannot control.

Kalani is a great guy - except I was disappointed when he threw people under the bus during the season. I enjoy being around him. That doesn't mean his business plan will work or his has the ability or people surrounding him that can make it work.

Best wishes to him and the Cougars, but it boils down to wins and losses (more wins than losses)! We need to get back to nine and ten wins every season, with wins over P5 schools.

ESPN CONTRACT AFTER 2019 IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM:

In 2018 we play five P5 schools - IMO, BYU needs to win three of the five between - @ UA, Cal, @ Wisconsin, @ Washington, @ uu (Arizona, Cal, and uu will give us the easiest odds for the three wins). They need to win three of those games due to the challenge facing them in 2019 (last year of the contract with ESPN).

In 2019, we play four P5 schools - IMO, BYU needs to win a minimum of two of those games - touch challenge with games @ Tennessee, USC, Washington and uu. I believe if BYU can pull off the above five of nine wins, ESPN will be likely to extend their contract with us. If BYU goes 4 of 9, the odds of ESPN keeping BYU will be very low. If BYU goes 3 of 9 or worse, the odds probably decline to nil, considering ESPN's financial management, as of late. Perhaps ESPN keeps us if we agree to play Monday - Wednesday against FCS schools - TIC.

My friend, William (many of you know of him as he was my source during the Big 12 talks). He feels BYU is in a very difficult situation with ESPN. With ESPN clipping the weaker conferences purse strings by half and taking a harder line on P5 schools increasing their SOS, he feels BYU is on the verge of losing its P5 status. BYU currently does not bring the same quality of product that would increase a P5's SOS. Schools can play regional schools and have the same bump in SOS without incurring the expense of traveling to Provo to play BYU.

This didn't surprise me despite following only one bad season. But it was the worst season forever with an untested coach and coaching staff. 2016, the coaches had great senior talent and leadership. In 2017, the inexperience was magnified, along with coaches' ability to coach and recruit at this level. Both skills sets takes time to develop. Coaching and recruiting at the DII level is not the same when competing against P5's and top FBS schools. DII usually recruit the scraps and find gems on occasion that slip through the cracks. Recruiting between Weber, SUU, UC Davis is vastly different than recruiting between BYU, uu, Washington, USC, Michigan...resources and prestige are just two factors.

William and others he knows are surprised of the lesser level of assistant coaches Kalani has brought in (in part three from the same DII school) when considering BYU's future. He asked, does Kalani have any contacts outside of Utah or BYU contacts? He did like the Grimes hire, but was again surprised Kalani didn't go after a seasoned coordinator after this last seasons record and making a change on the defensive side of the ball at coordinator, as schools caught on to what schemes BYU was running quickly. Perhaps this is why Kalani will be taking on a bigger role with the defense in 2018? But many realize the position BYU is now placed in, win or turn out the lights.

Before William coming out, I asked him his thoughts on BYU and its coaching situation. He picked the brain of his contacts to get their feelings. William mentioned some feel (contacts he has within the ACC, Big12 and SEC) BYU will become the "has been" of college football with no ability to recover due to the lack of future TV exposure - if they lose ESPN, ESPN stops brokering big names, and the lack of playoff monies.

I reminded William BYU has never competed when it comes to salary, hence the hires we see. He asked if I knew where the light switch was located. He is right, without a strong coaching staff, ESPN as a partner helping build a strong SOS, even going undefeated will mean nothing to the lucrative bowl and playoff committee members.

Many were amazed when BYU let Bronco go without a fight. They are not surprised at what he has accomplished in just two seasons at Virginia. But most expected it would take Bronco three to four years to reach their first bowl since like 2010. Again, best of luck to Kalani and the BYU team!!

Go Cougars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!