than it is today if Heaps came in a played well for his entire BYU career. Its plausible that if those years go really well that maybe Mendenhall stays longer or maybe even becomes so attractive to a big program that he leaves even leaves earlier. Maybe Kalani goes another 2 years failing at Oregon State and loses more luster and BYU goes with someone else thats available to replace Mendenhall. I think Heaps was the beginning of the end for Mendenhalls desire to stay at BYU. It believe those years sowed some of the seeds of his discontent with staying at BYU. Its entirely possible that our coach could still be Bronco Mendenhall or Ken N. or maybe Robert Anae if the Heaps years go differently.

But you come up with a good point. Was BYU in good enough shape to recover from a failed #1 QB? I saw flashes from his backup. But he had his limitations. Nelson also didn't become what he could have-in his case it was injury as it ever was for the QB after him. Tanner Mangum is another Heaps like figure to me. But I don't fault Tanner as much as Heaps. But their stories are somewhat similar. And coaching has a lot to do with what happened to them. But Tanner failing to live up to his potential also hurt BYU. But i think Heaps is a victim of a few things including his timing. He followed up some byu greats who could beat Utah and he came in with so much hype. He had a lot to live up to. I wish it went differently.