And what I'm blaming Holmoe for is piloting BYU to independence (and not the one in Missouri) which I've said from the very beginning and is now bearing full fruit.  Why do I think independence is a bad idea (and so did Bronco so he left)?

1. Front loaded seasons, which after a loss or two against some potential heavyweights means the rest of the season is pointless. 

2. Being relegated to playing awful games in the latter half of the season as all the other schools are playing for conference championships.

3. Horrible bowl options and selection for BYU

4. Harder to recruit, players want to play for something - and while ALL football players want a national championship, most realize that isn't reality.  What does BYU play for anyway?  Crummy bowl selection?

5. As painful as it was to watch Utah go to a P5 program and I get the urge to respond, what has happened in the meantime?  In G5 schools teams like Boise St still sit on the national stage and threaten to break into the NY6 bowls regularly.  We do... what?

6. Yes I get that programs rise and fall, but the deck is sorely loaded against us.  The Sitake hire was a whiff, and basically anybody anywhere in the know about Sitake could have predicted that one.  Solid coordinator, not HC material.

7. Also, we've had a few embarrassing issues with athletics including Nick Emery and having to vacate a whole bunch of wins.  Whisperings of other issues during his tenure have also plagued the program.  The buck stops there.

8. Whiffing negotiations with the Big12 conference and over-demanding things to enter, when really we had no demands.  Utah at least figured that part out, "Hey let us in, we'll play for free for a few years."  

I could go on and on - but one thing I've never understood is his perpetual defense.  Talk to anyone outside of the cougarboard bubble and they are all equally puzzled how he has a job.  I guess who else do you hire?