The opening sentence of this classic states "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

Doesn't that seem familiar when thinking about BYU sports? BYU is having a great deal of success in soccer, volleyball, cross country, track, and perhaps other sports that I'm not thinking of. And BYU finishes pretty well every year in sports program rankings like the Directors Cup. I can't remember a year when the University of Utah finished higher.

Yet, in the two sports that matter the most, BYU is very mediocre. I'm not willing to say BYU has a bad football or basketball program. They win too much to be labeled "bad". But they never make any national noise. They are not in the national conversation and have not been for years and years. The football team never finishes a season ranked anymore and the basketball team never wins an NCAA Tournament game anymore.

So each fan will have to decide whether or not he or she considers the program (and Tom Holmoe) to be successful. My own opinion is that I really enjoy the fact that BYU is a top 30-40 athletic program. But I can't seem to get over the fact that the two big sports are largely invisible outside of the state of Utah. It seems to me that it doesn't have to be this way andthat BYU imposes constraints on itself (Honor Code, LDS coaching requirement, underfunding). Just my opinion. But that's why I'm frustrated.

I've backed away from BYU sports in recent years and gravitated to my other alma matter because I don't feel like BYU is committed to winning. And if BYU isn't committed to winning, why should I be committed to BYU? That's just MY thought process and I'm not saying others should agree or disagree. I don't choose to feel how I feel. It is what it is and what it is is frustration.