Mar 26 2008
On the Road with Cruiser: Looking Good
Yesterday, Andrew Rich was quoted as saying that the transition from junior college to D-1 football is like “drinking from a fire hose.”
Memo to Andrew Rich: It’s like that for everyone on the team this spring.
During the winter the team pushed more weights and ran more sprints than ever before, and this spring it is learning nuances and developing position mastery faster and with more assurance than ever. According to Max Hall, the team is “far ahead of last year.” The offense is still ahead of the defense, but the defense shows an aggression and team speed that will serve them well. Although the team has not gone live yet, they are hitting with a menace that would have probably won some games when I was playing. Make no mistake, this team is focused. It means business.
On the offensive side, Hall is making reads that went undetected last year. And although he seems sharper, I sense that he is throttling things back a bit, not forcing the ball down field so much. He seems more content with short passes and is showing a willingness to utilize his running backs more in the passing game. Also, he looks a little leaner, in better shape, and though I don’t know his weight or bench-lifting marks, I sense he found renewed zeal in the weight room this winter. I believe all of this will combine to make Max Hall one of the best quarterbacks at BYU in many years, rivaling John Beck. If he stays healthy, watch for some potentially spectacular numbers this fall. But more importantly, watch for some spectacular wins, especially early in the season. I predict that if the PAC-10 teams are expecting the same quarterback they saw last year, they will get blown up by the man from Mesa. Not only do I believe we will win both games, I believe that at least one of them will be a lopsided affair. Max Hall’s precision this year, combined with a fully integrated team around him, will cause the Cougars to equal far more than the sum of their parts.
Last year we fielded some great athletes and let them work into a groove as the season progressed. This year, if spring practices are any indication, we will unleash a machine, a high-octane juggernaut that will shock and awe unprepared defenses. Bruin and Husky message boards are already crying at the prospect of facing a Cougar offense that returns basically everybody. But they have no idea. Hall is already better than he was last year. Dennis Pitta has lost ten pounds and is running routes like a wide-out. And his hands are like vises. When he fights linebackers and safeties for a jump ball, there is only one possible outcome: he comes down with it every time.
When Austin Collie goes one-on-one with anybody, he wins. UCLA likes to go man. Watch them change that for Collie this year—or suffer serious consequences. He was great last year, but he is already better this spring. Omer simply forced these players to get faster and stronger, and a stronger and faster Collie is a nightmare for any cornerback. Sometimes he is nothing less than amazing. Potkey says his 14-year-old brother, Dylan, “is the best of the bunch.” I’ll have to see that to believe it, because I’m not sure that anybody is better than Austin, who has NFL written all over him.
Coach Omer also made our line stronger. As I mentioned before, records have been broken in the weight room this year. Big time. And as result, our 300-pound linemen are no longer “hog-wallies.” They look both stronger and more mobile. UCLA’s thrashing of our line on both sides of the ball in the LV Bowl cut deep, and Coaches Omer and Mendenhall appear to have said NEVER AGAIN. Thus, the big boys are working harder than ever this spring, not just on the field, where they are running through their skill sets, but in the weight room, where they continue to add bulk and muscle. If you have not seen Ray Feinga lately, or even Travis Bright, who is still favoring his leg, you have not seen the true monsters of the Mountain West. These men are enormous, but they know that being big isn’t enough, so they are doing everything possible to maximize their skills, subtle things, small but important things. How often have you read of a sack against the first team this spring? Yes, So’oto and others have gotten sacks, but most have come against the second team. (And don’t forget, So’oto knows the plays as soon as Hall calls them out at the line.) Our big guys have renewed their commitment to protecting one of the best quarterbacks in college football, and it is showing. I look to their rematch against the Bruins with great anticipation.
And I haven’t even mentioned the offensive MVP from last year. Harvey Unga worked like a mad man this winter and comes into spring ball slightly leaner and quite a bit stronger. This is his first spring as the first-string tailback, and he is taking advantage of it, running fast, cutting hard, snagging tricky passes, intimidating would-be tacklers. (Though they have only worked out in thud pads and shells so far, the hitting is sometimes hard enough to make you wince.) In front of Unga is Manase Tonga, perhaps the best fullback in the conference. And behind them both is a rejuvenated Fui Vakapuna. It is a threesome that would make any defensive coordinator squirm (not to mention cornerbacks, who occasionally have the responsibility of trying to stop them). Can you imagine what will happen when All-American Ray Feinga (6-5, 330) pulls and leads the way for Manase Tonga, who is leading the way for Harvey Unga? Carnage and destruction will follow in their wake. Linebackers will forget any dreams of playing in the NFL and will suddenly look for help. Safeties will conveniently trip before impact. And the unfortunate cornerbacks will have to be vacuumed off the turf before play can be resumed. That’s 820 pounds of Polynesian coming at you! Heaven help the unprepared and unclean, for their transgressions of pride and false boasts against the Cougars will be avenged.
As for the defense, I would ask you to consider the plight of Andrew Rich (yes, he of the fire hose metaphor). He came to the team as a heralded All-American, the best safety on the best junior college team in the nation. He is a great athlete, incredibly talented, smart, strong, and confident. But is he starting? No. A redshirt freshman has exploded onto the scene and is doing all in his considerable power to dash the hopes of all contenders at safety. Jordan Pendleton is a force of nature, a 6-2, 220-pound pseudo-linebacker who can run with most receivers and can hit like the old Southern Pacific that used to run behind my house. He has arms that would send most thighs scurrying for cover and knows how to use them to throw off blockers and lock up ball-carriers. This athlete has the potential to set new standards for safety at BYU. He is the real deal. But, my point is that even some All-Americans can’t start on this defense (though the competition is far from over). The defense is absolutely flying around this spring, creating mayhem, and the only reason Hall and company are doing well against it is because they are exploiting the tiniest of seams, and, increasingly, they aren’t even doing that. If you have been following the scorecards of those who report on practices (TBS and Potkey), you’ll notice that the offense is having a harder time moving the ball lately. And that’s not because they have gotten soft or over-confident. This defense can play and, in my opinion, they will distinguish themselves well this year. Very well.
The bottom line is that we are so far ahead of last year that the coaches are accelerating practices. Will they also use this opportunity to implement new schemes? Will Coach Anae add screens and bootlegs? Will the option get a look? Will Coach Webber experiment with different spacings? Will Coach Mendenhall decide to let the team suit up in full gear and go live more often to see what this machine can really do?
I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I can promise you this: there will be times this fall as you watch the Cougars dismantle their opponent when you will put your hand to your head in disbelief and say, “It isn’t suppose to be this easy! We can’t possibly get any better.” And that, folks, is when you really need to hang onto your hats, because 2009 will be just around the corner.
54 Responses to “On the Road with Cruiser: Looking Good”
Dang it, I have goose bumps and the first game is still 5 months away. The anticipation is going to kill me.
I have a question about the o linemen. Every where I read everybody is complaining about the weight of the big guys. Do the guys look trimmer this year? Did they replace some of the fat with muscle. It sounds like from you blog that they did. What is your opinion on the big guys? Could or should they lose more weight, and would that make them any better?
Great blog. You know how to get us going.
Great post.
Need some help however, locating the scriptural reference to this portion:
Heaven help the unprepared and unclean, for their transgressions of pride and false boasts against the Cougars will be avenged.
Sounds like Old Testament wording but can’t find it in the King James version. Could it be from the Quoran?
Keep the info coming!
I am SO glad I’m going to be able to see all of these games… I’ll even get to attend the UW game in person!
Great post, Cruiser. You’ve got me excited. This team needs to be prepared… expectations are through the roof.
I can’t wait!
Rod, I don’t know the big men’s weights, but it does seem as though they are running more and working harder in the weight room. They are definitely getting stronger. Whether or not they are getting nimble enough to stop Bruce-Davis type defensive ends is another matter. I think the starting five plus Matt Reynolds will be nearly unbreachable this fall. A few others may help as well. Junior college transfer Jesse Taufi (6-5, 320) comes highly heralded from Southern California (recruited by USC), but he hasn’t suited up with our big men yet, so it’s hard to know how good he’ll be his first year. Also, Terrance Brown will be back from his mission. Three years ago he was one of the better freshmen linemen we’ve had in years, but he is likely to be rusty.
Like many other fans, I think our team will be about as good as our offensive line allows us to be. We have all the other components. The question will be our line and injuries. I sense a renewed sense of purpose and dedication among the big guys, and I sincerely hope that translates into better performances. Personally, I think it can and probably will.
I love your blog! Victory is won in the trenches. I am excited about the current status. What about R. J. Willing, Levi Mack, Garrett Redden, and Jason Speredon? Who is the #2 center?Also, how is the D-Line doing?
Great report!
WHOOOOOOOHH!!
Now, once more with enthusiasm!
Seriously, I appreciate your sharing your impressions.
About the o-line, how is Garrett Reden doing? As a RS-freshman, he was in the rotation last year and started twice before he was injured half way through the season. Is he still rehabilitating?
Wyomin, the first-team O-line is doing great this spring. The second-team seems to be struggling a little. If you sort through the various reports this spring, you’ll find that most of the offensive struggles have been with the two’s and three’s. The second- and third-string quarterbacks have struggled. The second- and third-string running backs have struggled. They have not moved the ball as well. First downs have been hard to come by. This leads to one of two conclusions, that either everybody on the second team is doing poorly, or the line is malfunctioning. It’s true that Gaskins isn’t Hall, and DiLuigi isn’t Unga, but they’re both better than what they are able to show. The conclusion is obvious; the second-team line is struggling.
Players have been moved around to various positions, and both Alletto and Willing have been tried at center. Vaitai has also worked there. I don’t know who will end up there. All I do know is that the entire second team will have to pick it up if they hope to see much time this fall. We do a lot of subbing during the games, but that may change if these guys don’t improve. Thus, injuries to our starting O-line may determine in large part how well we do this year. As I said before, I think we’ll be about as good as they let us be.
I’m as excited for 2008 as anyone, but lets hope that our team is h & h–humble and hungry. It’s great to hear that our Oline is hitting the weights, but equally important is if they are running, working on their mobility as to improve their blocking (we will have to effectively run on UW and UCLA).
We need to have our players hitting the stadium stairs at LES to work on their lower body power.
And finally, we need Anae to open the play book and give the defenses an little unpredictibility.
BTW, I’m intrigued by Jordan Pendleton, I hope he turns out to be anywhere close to the safety that LaRon Landry was. His size and speed excites me as well.
What a great post!!! This certainly has me excited for this coming season! Cruiser, what more can you tell us about JJ Diluigi’s progress? He could be a great change of pace back for us-your thoughts? Also, what are your thoughts so far on the cornerback competition? Who do you think will ultimately win out at those positions. Thanks again for the insight and the great post!!!
Cruiser- great post! Maybe you should try your hand writing a fictional story (not saying that this is fiction at all). Just a few questions and thank you for answering most of our questions every time you make a post: 1) We have never known your identity (either Peter or Josh or maybe both have said earlier that they cannot declare your identity) but you slipped by saying this team would have won some games in your time; when was your time (81-85, 89-92, 95-96 or 2000)? 2) who is faster and quicker, Unga or DiLuigi 3) the most gifted RB I ever saw with a combination of speed & power was Jim Brown who was 6′2″ 232 lbs and would be the all time NFL rushing leader had he not retired after 9 seasons; he was also widely considered to be the greatest lacrosse player ever; I don’t know how fast he was, I’m getting to my question, because they did not do 40’s in the 50’s & 60’s but he was chiseled like a body builder; I have been up close to both Unga & Tonga and neither of them are as lean and mean as Brown; so finally my question is are either of these two (and Fui for that matter) too heavy and could Unga lean down to get faster? 4) Where did Jordan Pendleton come from & what is his background? 5) Same question as Rod, sometimes lighter OL men is better a la the Broncos OL (Shanahan learned this from Bill Walsh). I believe our OL is as big as any in the NFL…any opinion about continuing the lifting and losing 10 - 15 lbs? Thanks for your post and answers and just remember (all of us) our opponents’ fans can and will read this blog (I read UCLA’s Bruin Nation last year) so let’s be very careful about how confident we are. The proof will be getting into the season w/o major injuries and then playing up to our potential!
Cruiser- just a few more things: UCLA interim head coach & then & still the defensive coordinator, DeWayne Walker, absolutely shut down our running game by run/pass blitzing (Buddy Ryan 46 type) on every play and you can bet that they are going to do that again. UCLA has bigger, faster and stronger players across the whole spectrum than we have. They also have Rick Neuheisel - Head Coach & Norm Chow - Offensive Coordinator in addition to DeWayne Walker; I do not want to rain on your parade (post) but do want to bring it into perspective. If you go to the UCLA spring practices, they are open to the public and start tomorrow, and then come back and tell us we should steam roll that team (I think you were talking about UW) then we will believe you!
We were shut down by UCLA/Bruce Davis blitz because of repetitve playcalling–we never made ucla pay for crashing their ends with a trap or screen.
BYU’s playcalling last year was abysmal–ie Tulsa. We scored at will after falling two touchdowns behind. We should be running the offense to score, not move the sticks.
The holes for Unga and company would be twice as big.
Our offense, especially against UCLA, reminds me of someone using a high speed computer to send Morse Code. Alas.
Keep up the good work cruiser.
If we’re guessing secret identities, I’d say you were post National title. Us older folks don’t have the esoteric sources still connected to the program.
Keep up the good work.
Reshusa, I agree that we could have done more to keep Davis honest last year. An occasional screen or trap to his side would have at least caused him to hesitate before crashing on Hall. Also, it was hard to miss the difference in Anae’s play-calling when we got behind against Tulsa versus his play-calling when we got ahead of UCLA. Like you, I would love to see more of the former, whether we’re ahead or behind. That would keep anybody honest.
Moodswing, J.J. obviously worked hard in the weight room while on muscle beach. He is definitely heavier and appears to be stronger. A recent report has him squatting 500. Not bad for perhaps the shortest guy on the team. Like you, I am waiting to see him run against live competition this year. Nobody has seen him go live since last August. The coaches are high on him, but until he honestly proves himself against the big boys at this level, nobody will really know.
The cornerback competition seems to be completely wide open. Just between you and me, though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bradley and Pittman eventually win out. Regardless of who starts, though, we’re in good shape there. All of those working out with the ones are capable, and they will all be rotated in during games.
Walt, I can’t answer all of your questions, but I’ll take a stab at a few of them. Between Unga and DiLuigi, it would probably be a pretty close race, but I would put my money on Unga. People think DiLuigi is great because of his speed. That’s not necessarily so. He has decent speed (I would guess about 4.6, though he claims 4.5), but his effectiveness comes from his vision and his ability to stop and accelerate quickly. He has very good feet and great body control. When he gets comfortable with the offense, I predict you will see a lot of would-be tacklers flying in front of him. His ability to stop suddenly then accelerate will torment linemen and linebackers for years. Safeties and corners, though, will probably be able to run him down. (By the way, neither Unga or DiLuigi is the fastest running back on the team, probably not even in the top two.)
Concerning Unga, Fui, and Tonga losing weight—yes, I believe they would all benefit from it. Unga has done the most in this regard and will show improved quickness this fall. Both Manase and Fui look like they’re tipping the scales at close to 250. They’re incredibly gifted, but if they want to perform at their sophomore levels, they will need to trim down. (I thought both men had off-years last year.)
Regarding Jordan Pendleton, here’s BYU’s profile on him. To see his picture, shaved head and all, click here: http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=3034
Jordan Pendleton
DB
6-2, 218, Fr.
South Jordan, UT / Bingham HS
At BYU
REDSHIRT - (2007): Redshirted as a true freshman.
Before BYU
Under the direction of head coach Dave Peck, helped lead Bingham HS to its first state championship in 60 years … a three-year starter … Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News 5-A Most Valuable Player … named the best overall athlete in the state by the Deseret Morning News … credited with 40 receptions for 699 yards and 11 touchdowns … on defense, tallied 89 tackles, five interceptions and eight pass deflections.
Personal
Parents are Kirk and Brenda Pendleton … born in Provo, Utah … recruited by Oregon, California, Colorado, Washington, UNLV and Utah.
Cruiser,
Can you give us any info on how Fui has been performing? Will he regain any of his sophomore year form? Has he improved his vision and technique?
this makes me want to postpone my mission until after this season… haha
Jackapuna, this is just my opinion, but until Fui gets down to 235 or so, he will not be able to produce like he did as a sophomore. He is very strong but still a little sluggish. Same for Manase. 250 is too heavy for both of them.
Dude can you change your font I can barely read your text its like a size 4 grey font.
Cruiser,
We’ve never had a good defensive scheme that could play bump coverage at the line of scrimage. Instead, we play off the receivers - and use schemes and zones to help contain the plays. Is this year any different? I’ll be convinced the defense is able to play with BCS teams when we can man up and still cover. There are times when we need to change things up - but it seems we’re always to slow, to small, and not physical enough to get the job done with our corners and defensive backs. Your thoughts?
Go Cougars.
mike price reads the stance, the center misses a difficult reach block, mike follows Rey into the backfield, tackles Harvey in the backfield and Harvey fumbles. It’s happened before, and we all need a little balance in order to live productive lives.
Cruiser- Thanks for all of your answers. You would think that between Coach Mendenhall, Coach Reynolds, the RB’s coach and Coach Omer, they would see what you see and give the same advice to Tonga & Vacapuna. I remember at the start of last season hearing Coach Mendenhall say that Fui was up around 250 & needed to get his weight down and into shape before he would be totally effective. Thanks again for your insight!
Walt - a quick note on the above where you suggest that UCLA has “bigger, faster, stronger” players across the spectrum. Only one of those three things is true, which you probably realize. UCLA is not bigger, stronger or more physical than BYU. They do have more speed.
Chris-
The problem is with your browser, not the site. If it’s too small, increase the font size.
Select “View” and “Text Size” and select something you can read more easily.
Stuart- I should have said that they have a PAC10/BCS roster. Cruiser did say in his original post that, “Coach Omer also made our line stronger. As I mentioned before, records have been broken in the weight room this year. Big time. And as result, our 300-pound linemen are no longer “hog-wallies.” They look both stronger and more mobile. UCLA’s thrashing of our line on both sides of the ball in the LV Bowl cut deep, and Coaches Omer and Mendenhall appear to have said NEVER AGAIN.”
Walt, I remember reading that Jim Brown ran a 10 sec. 100 yard dash. That’s roughly equivalent to 10.9 - 11 sec. 100 meters. In those days that was the speed standard. I also read that he lost a race to Lamar Lundy at the pro bowl. Lundy started his career as a 6′ 7″ 235 lb. offensive end but ended up playing defensive end on the line Merlin Olsen played on. Brown had a lot of power to go along with his speed.
Cruiser, I want to add my thanks for this report. Could I ask you if the Chronister kid is related to the wide out of several years ago.
i keep reading about the bad play calling at the vegas bowl, and i agree with some of it. i do wonder though how much of that was due to the sholder issues (ac sprain) m. hall was dealing with. it seems that if i were the def-coach, and i knew a qb couldn’t throw deep, that would eliminate potential threats, and make my d-play calling easier. the obvious strategy would be to stack the box, which ucla did.
given a healthy shoulder, i don’t think that strategy will work again. am i wrong?
Max, according to BYU’s athlete profile, Jordan is Mike’s son, but it doesn’t say if this is the same Mike Chronister who played for BYU in the 70s. However, according to a post on TBS, these two are indeed father and son. Here’s the link: http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=338&f=2511&p=2&sto=pagestart#s=338&f=2511&t=2169484
Interesting bit of trivia about Mike Chronister: He scored the first touchdown in Holiday Bowl history, in the second quarter against Navy, on December 22, 1978. He’s also high on BYU’s list of career 100-yard games as a receiver. Truly one of the great ones.
As a Cougar Legion newb, let me congratulate on a post well-written. Exaggerated? Maybe a little. Exciting? Incredibly.
I love Spring ball, and I can’t wait until the Blue and White game. We’ve got some exciting players on the 2008 squad, and I can’t wait to see this offense get moving.
John, you make an interesting point about our corners always playing off the receivers. But, personally, I’m not sure that a secondary has to “man up” in order to stop an opponent’s passing game. With the success Jaime Hill has had with his complex zone coverages, I’m not inclined to second guess him. Last year UCLA tried to jam our receivers off the line, and Collie made them pay in both games, beating them deep for long gains and touchdowns. Hill’s bend-but-don’t-break philosophy seems to fit our athletes well and, with one exception, has been very effective (Tulsa). Remember, even with the Tulsa debacle, our defense was in the top ten last year in scoring defense nationally.
Now, all that said, I would defy most wide receivers to out-muscle Brandon Bradley off the line. With more corners like him coming in, we just might try to man-up a little. We’ll have to wait and see what Hill has up his sleeve this year.
Guys, I expect that Jamie Hill knows his players capability and will maximize them in the best way he can. So far he has shown himself to be more than equal to the task!
Wow I am excited. But didn’t we have a large O-line last year with Tonga at Fullback and Harvey behind him??? So why should they actually run like they should this year but couldn’t last year? Any defense with a pulse stopped our running game last year. Are our corners as crappy as ever??? Also I am sure the rest of us would like to see some new plays. The predictable ones will not win us Bowls. Oh looking at your answer above about our D being top ten. Well what were are stats against a real O??? Anyone can look good against the MWC.
OH BROTHER!
“I predict that if the PAC-10 teams are expecting the same quarterback they saw last year, they will get blown up by the man from Mesa. Not only do I believe we will win both games, I believe that at least one of them will be a lopsided affair”
and
“UCLA’s thrashing of our line on both sides of the ball in the LV Bowl cut deep, and Coaches Omer and Mendenhall appear to have said NEVER AGAIN”
At least try to be objective. BYU football is still just a big fish in a small pond. In a major conference, they would be an average team. BYU, as always, will lose on the road to a Pac 10 team (washington) and will squeeze by UCLA at home.
The Truth I agree with you. Everyone loves to label me as a BYU hater but the truth hurts. BYU cannot win the big games. they simply CHOKE! That is BYU athletics in a nutshell. If BYU were real champions and as good as everyone says or thinks they are, then why do we not crush the crap called the MWC??? We struggle in our own crappy conference. If we were really that good we would be crushing everyone in the MWC and beating Pac 10 teams without miracles. Until then I remain with my view that BYU is a great team but not a force to be reckoned with. They couldn’t even compete with the big dogs, not now nor last year. But hey here’s to a loophole in the BS system. I hope we get there!!!
DoctorDoctor:
If winning every single conference game two years running is “struggling,” I have trouble understanding your perspective…
Winning by the skin of your teeth against mediocre (at best) teams is nothing to brag about. Yes a win is a win, however I think style points are important. I don’t know what I can do to enlighten you on my perspective. What I see is BYU barely beating teams in the MWC. The MWC is pathetic and has only 3 OKAY teams BYU, TCU and Airforce. Utah can be good on occasion. However I assume that you consider losing to Tulsa and UCLA as acceptable. I don’t. So when I say struggling I mean it is disheartening to see BYU who should be a well rounded team and who is one of the best teams ever in most BYU fans eyes, struggle LITERALLY against crap. Basically my point is the MWC is a joke and winning the conference means little when we can’t beat mediocre teams from the Pac 10, or C-USA. Also throw in BC and Arizona 2 years ago.
However I hope they prove me wrong this year by winning all of their OOC games and the league again. (BYU should run the table every year considering the competition.)
maybe this helps you with MY perspective. when I wrote a comment here the first time I figured it would be met with disagreement. But it is what I see. Like it or not.
Why not ask THE TRUTH about his perspective??? It would only be fair to do so Joel B.
doctordoctor,
I respectfully disagree with your thoughts.
Equation = On any given day, any team can beat another.
If you agree with this then stating that BYU should pound and always beat MWC teams is simply wrong.
The same goes for BCS caliber conference teams. Michigan actually won a few games last year (good teams) after losing to App St. The reason is not that Ap St is better than Michigan.
It’s all about the numbers. Example: put 2 fighters in a ring. One is much better than the other. Lets say that if he were to fight this other boxer 75 times out of 100 he’s win. That doesn’t mean he’ll always win. It’s not about absolutes. It’s about strategy, discipline, execution, and all the beautiful reasons we love football (not to mention a nice lucky bounce).
I think to go undefeated in MWC play is amazing. Any team in the MWC has teh chance (maybe 1 in 10, but still has the chance) of beating any other team in the nation any given day. That’s why we play the game. Not about absolutes…
doctordoctor- if what you say is true, it is not, then the great tradition at BYU dating back to the early 80’s is worthless also because the WAC was not any stronger than the MWC. All any team can ever do is win as many games as it can, win its conference and win a bowl game and Joel B. & others have said it perfectly…to go 11-2 the last two seasons, go undefeated in conference games and win it’s bowl games, be ranked 15th & 14th respectively (the NCAA coaches & AP sports writers ho vote seem to have a different opinion than you do)…not much left to do except go undefeated. But wait, according to your philosophy, that would not be enough either. Also, based on thought process, the Utes season in 04 & Boise State in 06 were also nothing to brag about. I think you better turn in your BYU colors, move to a city where a BCS team resides and start rooting for them. Bash the mighty Cougars all you want, but the rest of us are staying the course and supporting a program that on & off the field is one of the best, if not the best in the country.
Rise & Shout mighty Cougar fans, because this year we are going for a Threepeat. I asked if anyone could tell me when was the last time that we or any WAC/MWC team has gone undefeated in conference play back-to-back and then when has someone done it three years in a row and I am waiting to hear. No matter what the sport is, and at what level, it is very difficult to undefeated no matter what doctordoctor says!
Doctordoctor:
Your comments are amazing! Name one team in America that has went undefeated in it’s conference two years in a row. This hasn’t happened in the last few years. Even the vaunted USC with the best talent in the nation hasn’t done it! The Mountain West isn’t BCS, but they did reasonably well in their bowl games.
Last year BYU broke in a total new offense and still went 11-2. Not a bad accomplishment for any team.
Not only does the total offense come back, but there is more talent to add to it, in all positions except maybe Tight Ends (since Pita and George are both All American/ NFL caliber this doesn’t really present a problem, in my book). The Oline will be deeper and stronger, the running backs will be deeper and better, and the new talent for the wide receivers appears scary. Even UCLA will be impressed. By the way, Washington did not have a great year and will start from scratch this year. It may be better, but I don’t think so, so will it shine on the second game of the season? Ty Willingham is a great coach, but Washington is still suffering from Neuheisel!
BYU’s defense has a lot of retooling to do, but we know that the talent level at DB is an upgrade, and Coach Hill is good.
Given BYU will meet UCLA and Washington at the beginning of the year, a veteran offense should rule!
By the way, every blog in the nation admits that BYU’s recruiting the last two years has been great. The talent gap between BYU and the BCS will continue to shink!
Classic BYU fans. It is no different here than it is at the games. BOOO even when the penalty is obvious. I am a Cougar Fan but obviously I have a larger vision than you. I expect BYU to be as good as they can which means winning the MWC year in and year out. Winning bowl games and gainning the national attention it once had. (but now never will because of the TV debachle) I am a fan of other teams. USC is one of them. I am glad I live in Sunny California and not in the cold of Utah. Sure I don’t mind Utah I visit there often when I go to my cabin in PC. anyhow I respect your opinions, but not those who challenge my fanhood. I hope for a threepeat and a real bowl. I don’t know about you but I am tired of the crap LV bowl. I long for the Holiday bowl seeing we are the ones who made it great. As far as the diss on USC, there is no comparing USC and its schedule and conference to BYU and it’s conference and schedule. I think any fan with a brain knows not to do that. Stick to apples and apples not Apples and oranges. sorry perspective but Michigan is a joke as well. I would put our conference up against the Lame 10 anyday. They like the MWC are top heavy.
doctordoctor- Now all you are doing is throwing insults. There is not one BYU fan who would compare BYU to USC, not one! We know we are not there and never will be. However, we do know we can return to dominating the MWC, getting to a bowl game (and having a winning record versus a losing record in the Edwards’ years when they could not prepare as well) every year and regaining some national recognition. You can be both an SC and Y fan at the same time and yes, we realize that BCS teams like SC will come after LDS athletes and win them sometimes. In addition, yes, it is great for those other programs to have these top LDS athletes on their teams and great for the athlete also. I predict that Coach Mendenhall will begin to attract some very good non-LDS athletes also to balance everything out so that it is just as beneficial for a non-LDS athlete to come here as it is for an LDS athlete to go somewhere else. Let’s see if we can be cordial and not turn this into personal attacks on each other’s comments.
dr
To address your assertions
First the MWC is “crap”. It just so happened that the top 6 went 9-4 vs BCS teams last year and 20-8 vs OOC teams.
Second, BYU’s “D” held both AZ (130) and UCLA (80) below their season averages. If the BCS defenses were so much better than wouldn’t you have expected BYU to be one of the high water marks for both teams? Or at least at or above their season averages?
Third, concerning the “choke”, has BYU not won the last two bowl games, beat TCU two years ago at TCU, beat Utah at home and away, and destroyed WY when they were expected to be the best defense faced that year? But I guess you can argue they lost at BC, at UCLA, at Tulsa, at AZ, and consider those games as the “choke” games. But that would mean ANY loss would be a choke and that BYU should NEVER lose again.
As for the MWC and this “crap” theory. The Big 10, Big East, ACC, and Big 12 are not very strong top to bottom. BYU could compete with the top teams in each of those conferences. WV (until White leaves), Texas, and OK would be the toughest teams they would face. TCU and Utah would also do well in all those conferences.
In summary, lighten up and enjoy because they are going to take us on a nice ride for the next few/many years.
PS (I don’t think anybody is going to invite BYU to join their conference so we just have to play and win the schedule we have).
Crusier, I love your articles. They are always upbeat, and positive. As a fan, I want to hear about the upside of the team.
When I go to the movies, I want to be entertained, and leave uplifted, rather than see a movie that, in an attempt to be realistic, makes me sorry that I saw it. There is enough negative reality in our world. I want an escape. I want a happy ending.
We live in a very negative world, where many love to argue. Isaiah foretold that many in our day would “make a man an offender for a word” (Isa 29:21). I don’t like reading the comment sections in the newspapers, because they have become so mean spirited. I hope that this site will not become just another mud fight.
Guys
I know that this will just seem like some misguided, over zealous, and very naïve BYU football fan, but I disagree with most of you.
Times have changed. When Lavel and BYU became a national player, the Church was 2,000,000 and no black people. The Church is now 13,000,000 (and growing) and includes all races. As we have noted, there are a lot of high quality young Church member athletes. BYU is not getting them all, but what would happen if BYU did? As Bronco builds the program, more of the top players will come here; not just the member players. Chambers and D.J. Lougie are good examples. How many parents will want their sons to a school where they will not spend all of their time parting?
I believe that if Bronco will stay for 10 years, BYU will become a program that can compete with USC. USC is where they are because of their coach, not USC. Ergo, BYU and Bronco.
Last Note, at least for today.
BYU did not lose the Tulsa Game and get manhandled by UCLA on the line because of a lack of talent. We were out Coached. Tulsa identified BYU’s defensive weaknesses and exploited it to the max. Tulsa realized that Bronco used his outside linebackers for pass defense and targeted Nixon, who was not fast enough to cover the Tulsa WRs. They never tested Kiel, because of his speed. Bronco was unable to adjust and we got burned! Or Oline was killing Tulsa, we could have held the ball and pounded Tulsa into the turf, but we didn’t do it!
UCLA was much quicker than our OLine. We didn’t adjust and use our size and strength correctly. It almost cost us that game. BYU had enough talent to beat UCLA in LV. They have the talent to beat both Washington and UCLA if applied correctly. Both Washington and UCLA will be very young teams when we play them. If we lose, it will not be because of the talent. It will be because of the Coaching!
Walt I am not throwing insults. Rather insights. If my eyes are deceiving me I read that YOU choose to insult. I look forward to BYU domination. It is about time!!!
Just jumped in on the thread and noticed how cute “doctordoctor” is. I especially enjoyed that he’s so intent on the readers of this thread knowing that he (or at least someone he knows) has a cabin in Park City. What an exceptionally successful man he must be!
Even better is the “I have a larger vision than you” line and then goes on to explain that he’s sick of the LV Bowl and that this is the substance of his “larger vision.” Mate, have you paid any attention to the non-stop chatter about the BCS? EVERY Cougar fan I talk to wants more. Not one that I’m aware of is satisfied with right now.
But you might consider - we are two seasons removed from getting back to .500. Four seasons removed from hopeless chaos. To have had consecutive Top 20 finishes, consecutive 11 win seasons and consecutive bowl victories over PAC 10 programs (after a DECADE w/o a single bowl win) isn’t a small set of achievements. As BYU “always choking” - hmmmm. You might want to check with Utah on that. What’s your data for that claim? UCLA early this year? With a sophomore quarterback in his second start?
As a lifetime Californian, Doctor, I have to say you don’t do our kind any favors. I’m sure you’re a fine human being though. Oh, and as cool as your cabin in PC must be (I bet it’s AWESOME!) no one aside from you is either concerned or impressed.
Sure Stuart jump on like the rest have. The country needs some more SHEEPLE from Utah. sure, Take the PC comment out of context. Suit yourself. Excuse me for not finding it a huge thing to beat the likes of UNLV, SDSU, CSU, NM, AFA, UTAH,WYOMING, and teams like Utah State. TCU is the only team worth mentioning that we actually play year in and year out.
As far as the choke goes. Ask the BB team, the women’s soccer team, BYU against UCLA and Tulsa. Or other games in the past where it seems a few plays where they CHOKED made the difference between a W or a L. Ask the V-Ball team. etc.
Stuart you are the one that is cute. Please try to remain decent and cordial here. I guess you would prefer to stick to drinking Kool-Aid all day. Fine with me. I and many others disagree with you and think like I do, the MWC is top heavy and not that great. Would you not like to see BYU join another conference that is stronger??? As of now it has proven no advantage to remain in the MWC, unless we go undefeated which BYU has proven they can’t. However it would be a great thing to stay in a conference where you have no real competition if the BS finally gets a brain and institutes a playoff system. But of course if that were to occur BYU would get a low seed and we would always have to play a USC, OSU or Florida berth. So BYU would get shafted again for remaining in a “weak” conference.
I think that this year is a very key year for the program. If they pull it off then yes they will get attention and some more respect. I hope they do. It will only open doors for them.
As far as their achievements go, wow want a cookie??? it is about time!!! I thought the win over Oregon was great, but UCLA last year well lets leave that game behind us we got lucky!!!
Stuart I don’t do whom any favors??? You and the other Blue Kool-Aid drinkers??? Ouch geez I am hurt! Please. What could I do for you Stu? I want to do you a favor. I am sorry, Stu I am wrong. BYU is the greatest team to have blessed this nation. The MWC is legit and has teams that no one wants to play. If I were in any other conference I would be longing to get into the MWC.
Again interesting the bandwagon likes me more than THETRUTH. He said nothing different than what I said. He just so happened to sum it up beautifully:
“BYU football is still just a big fish in a small pond. In a major conference, they would be an average team. BYU, as always, will lose on the road to a Pac 10 team (washington) and will squeeze by UCLA at home.”
This one also goes out to doctordoctor and thetruth and anyone else out there who thinks their scope of vision is somehow greater than everyone else’s. What fan doesn’t want to see their team get better every year? What fan doesn’t boo the refs when a call goes against their team (even if the call was right)? What fan (in a mid-major) doesn’t dream and hope that we can’t make better of our situation and win a NC that Disney will make a stupid movie out of? On the other side, what fan goes to fansites and tells other fans to not get excited? This is sports. Not cancer medicine.
I’m tired of people telling BYU fans that we’re no good because we support a mid-major conference team. I’ve lived in Nebraska, Michigan, Louisiana, California, and Ohio, and there are some great teams to support in all these states, but I chose to support the Y. And even though I’m only 25, I can see that the only reason some conferences are called BCS and others aren’t is because they’ve been around longer and are more “prestigious.” Whatever that means.
USC loses to Stanford, Michigan loses to App., it goes on and on but MWC teams have to be perfect. Any school in any state in the country could be great if they were given equal chance to compete for the crowns. It’s a sham, and there’s no shame in supporting a mid-major school. Big 10, Big East, ACC, it’s all a joke and I’m not going to buy it that BYU couldn’t compete. As soon as the system lets our schools have an equal chance at the “prestige,” we’ll show them.
Doctordoctor, where were you in 1984? Were you saying it was a fluke we won the title? What did you see with your greater vision? I know there are fans out there for other teams who say, let’s just get a winning season, and I’ll be happy. But BYU has proven themselves capable of more than that. 2008 National Champs!
here here
Thanks for the insight Cruiser. Articles like this help build the anticipation for the new season. Undefeated or not I love BYU football and will enjoy supporting them through thick and thin. As for the glass half empty fans, good luck on finding that perfect team that never loses and pays you to eat their hot dogs.
Second, BYU’s “D” held both AZ (130) and UCLA (80) below their season averages. If the BCS defenses were so much better than wouldn’t you have expected BYU to be one of the high water marks for both teams? Or at least at or above their season averages?
Third, concerning the “choke”, has BYU not won the last two bowl games, beat TCU two years ago at TCU, beat Utah at home and away, and destroyed WY when they were expected to be the best defense faced that year? But I guess you can argue they lost at BC, at UCLA, at Tulsa, at AZ, and consider those games as the “choke” games. But that would mean ANY loss would be a choke and that BYU should NEVER lose again.
http://www.accident–attorneys.com
But you might consider - we are two seasons removed from getting back to .500. Four seasons removed from hopeless chaos. To have had consecutive Top 20 finishes, consecutive 11 win seasons and consecutive bowl victories over PAC 10 programs (after a DECADE w/o a single bowl win) isn’t a small set of achievements. As BYU “always choking” - hmmmm. You might want to check with Utah on that. What’s your data for that claim? UCLA early this year? With a sophomore quarterback in his second start?