certainly they deserve special attention and focus because they individually give large dollar amounts to the program. But it is the rank and file that make up the vast majority of the fan base. It is the average CBer or the average guy that lives in Layton or Wichita and watches every game on tv (TV ratings matter) and attends the games road or home (attendance really matters) and buys a BYU hat and hoodie every year (selling team gear matters) and raises his kids to be BYU fan (adding to the fan base generationally matters) that really drives the existence of the program.

The program would not exist if it just depended on the Presidents circle or the top level of the cougar club. There aren’t enough of those people to keep a program alive. They need fans in large numbers. They need all the “average Joe’s” that is what makes up a fan base for the most part and that is what keeps a program alive and thriving.

And I think BYU institutionally takes that group for granted which is a mistake because it is by far the backbone of the program.