After hearing a myriad of comments, complaints, and arguments about Pope interviewing for the Arizona job and what that means for BYU near-term (recruiting and building a good team for 2021/2022) and long-term (stability of team and coaching staff), I believe the angst many BYU fans are experiencing stems primarily from 1 thing.

Most BYU fans want to believe that BYU is not a stepping-stone job, but a destination job. Or, at the very least, they want to believe that even if BYU is not currently a destination job, the right coach (in this case, Pope) can make it a destination job--a place where coaches aspire to be long-term, and build a consistent, nationally relevant program.

Many of us believed that Pope was that guy. The guy that would make BYU a destination job, and that he'd be in Provo until he retires. In looking at many of the statements he's made in interviews, it seems like he believes that BYU can be another Gonzaga. And with the other benefits that BYU offers (Sundays off, a packed Marriott Center, a great place to raise a family, proximity to relatives, etc., etc.) it has just seemed to many of us like Pope would be in Provo for many years to come.

The fact the Pope interviewed (twice!) for the AZ job, and by all accounts was genuinely interested in the job, goes a long way toward shattering the belief that the BYU is a destination job.

This, in my opinion, is the crux of why the news of Pope interviewing and seriously considering the AZ job has cause such hysteria.

Now, there is still much we don't know. We still don't know whether Pope would have taken the job if it had been offered. We still don't know what Pope really believes as far as the ultimate potential of the BYU program. We still don't know whether Pope has any desire to stay at BYU long-term or if he has always been hankering for a HC job at one of the perceived blue-blood programs (UK, Duke, NCarolina, UCLA, etc., etc.). For sure the money would be a lot more than what he's currently making at BYU.

Which brings us to another point. Money. Most fans believe that even if BYU coaches aren't making as much as coaches at other schools, they are still handsomely compensated, so that making more money shouldn't be the primary consideration when considering career options. Can't you live just as well on $1 million as $2 million or more. When you're making $60,000 a year as a fan, it's difficult to relate to discussions about salaries in the millions. Many think money shouldn't matter, or at least shouldn't matter that much. But to someone making $1 million, the comparison to other coaches making much more while not doing as good of a job, has got to be galling.

Now having said all that, the last thing I want to do is speculate about Pope's thinking or motivation. He didn't get the job. He'll be back for next year, and I'm sure he'll do a great job. I'll support him whole-heartedly.

Bottom line, we'll see what the future brings.