I'm sure some will say I'm not a true fan and maybe they are right. I can say that I have only missed 3 BYU football games in the last 25 years (excusing 5 seasons where I was out of state). When I went to BYU (the only school I applied for and ever dreamed of attending), I sat on the front row for nearly every basketball game (and I have the grades to prove it for better or worse). When we moved back to Utah a few years ago, the first thing I did was purchase season basketball tickets to watch TJ and Nick and Mika. But the current trend of BYU football and basketball is burning me out.

During the Crowton era (generally agreed to be the worst era of BYU football in my lifetime), I always felt that things would get better and that they would improve. I believed that BYU could make a bowl game (we were planning a trip to Vegas before BYU lost to UNM in '04). I believed that they could compete with Utah and win conference championships. I believed that BYU could get back to where they were before. And they did. BYU brought in a great coach (not perfect) who strung together the greatest stretch of BYU football that I can remember ('06-'09). BYU was nationally ranked, won championships & bowl games, won the in-state games, and won at home (22-2). BYU football was fun and something I looked forward to each fall weekend. Ten years later BYU has followed the dream of independence, chased off their second best coach in school history (pick your version of what happened), and is now stuck in a world of irrelevance while Utah plays for Rose Bowls and Utah State is much closer to an NY6 game than BYU. I know that if BYU plays really, really well this fall they might get 7-8 wins but it is just as likely for the team to start 0-8. There will be no championships, no national rankings, no rivalry wins (I hope we can beat USU but that hardly counts), and no dreams of an NY6 game. The future as far as I can see is BYU battling to finish 6-6 so they can hopefully play in a meaningless bowl game.

BYU basketball was amazing in the early Dave Rose era - arguably as good as it had ever been. BYU made the NCAA tournament five straight times, the only time that has happened in school history (previous record was four from 1990-1993). BYU won NCAA tournament games in back to back years in 2010 & 2011 for the only time in school history. BYU made the sweet 16 for the second time in my life (I'm sure I was stocked watching Danny Ainge as a 1 year old with my dad). BYU basketball was great but it has steadily gone down hill. BYU went from a record number of consecutive tournament appearances to the second worst stretch of my life (only beating out the 1996-2001 stretch). I don't believe BYU is going to be any better next year (even if Yoeli stays) and Gonzaga and St Mary's aren't getting any worse. I fear that without changes, the 2020-21 team will likely be the worst team since the '96-97 debacle. Losing by 20+ after trailing by 40+ to USD when BYU was playing for their post-season lives is absolutely incredibly embarrassing. It's not fun.

From my viewpoint, BYU sports is dying. The olympic sports are still strong which tells me that BYU can still compete at some level, but the current situation for football and basketball aren't working for me. I need to believe that there is hope for something magical and I don't see it right now. Utah has the PAC 12 and is bringing back most of their football team to battle what looks to be another week southern division. Utah State has their best football coach back with tons of momentum from a good team (that killed BYU in Provo) and their basketball team looks to be great next year as well. I'm just hoping BYU football has won a game or two by conference weekend and that the basketball team doesn't see an all-league player leave for Europe for the 3rd straight year.

I love BYU and I've loved BYU sports but the fun is going away and I'm struggling to dream that something magical is even possible anymore. They may beat Wisconsin or Gonzaga in a crazy game but it will surrounded by losses to UMass and Utah State and USD and Weber and the end result is still the same.

Bring back the magic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCS1MnyYUWY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spnHl0bMtiM


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