I'm sorry, but I really get bugged by comments like Gray's. I am not a fan of the mentality that we are all enlisted as BYU soldiers and we need to show up to every game and cheer our guts out even when the chips are down. I can't stand it when players and former players and coaches and other fans make us feel guilty for not "giving our best." As if somehow the team's performance (or lack thereof) is our responsibility.

At best it's annoying, and at worst it's manipulative. Seriously--how many of you have purchased BYU football tickets out of guilt? The number is not zero.

As a student, and even as a guy in his 20s, I probably would have joined the BYU army, so to speak. Actually, there's no "probably" about it. I was that guy for sure.

But now that I'm in my mid-30s, I attend BYU sports events for one reason and one reason only: They bring me joy. They're entertaining. They make me happy. If they stop bringing me joy, entertaining me or making me happy, I stop going. BYU sports are there to make my life better, not the other way around.

Last year I intended on going to every home game. But then I sat in the stands miserable as we got slaughtered by Utah State. I was angry, upset and $100 poorer, and I decided I'm not doing this anymore. So I didn't go to another game. And I felt great.

BYU has a product, and it needs to stand on its own. We are not duty-bound to prop it up in good times and bad. If you want to do that, then do it. But don't make other fans feel bad for not wanting to be miserable.