On the Road with Cruiser: Cruiser’s Last Ride
Late last week Jeff Reynolds, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, made a request to Cougar Legion that I cease posting. I have no wish to continue doing something which runs counter to the desires and interests of the BYU football program. As a result, this will be my last article.
I have greatly enjoyed my time here and the associations I have been able to make with so many of you. Through the hours of research for my articles, I have learned more about the team than I ever thought possible and have grown in admiration and respect for the players and many of the coaches. BYU has a truly unique program, one which, I am convinced, is about to burst onto the national scene in a major and permanent way.
I wish to offer my thanks to Peter and Josh, the owners and caretakers of Cougar Legion, for their trust, patience, and constant professionalism. The more I work with these gentlemen, the more I am impressed with them. I believe they have created a site where BYU fans can share ideas and air differences with both respect and enthusiasm. Much of the credit for the positive tone of this site is attributable to their efforts, as well as to the respectful writing of those who have taken time to share their own thoughts and feelings.
Thanks to all of you for making my time here rewarding and enjoyable. I will always remember the past year as a bright moment in my own life and in the reascendancy of BYU football. Sharing this time with you has made BYU’s success even that much sweeter to me. I’ll continue to read your words, hear your voices, and, of course, join with you in rising and shouting at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Go Cougars!
April 1st, 2008 at 9:18 am
Thank you Cruiser for your posts. We as fans appreciated the insight and tidbits that were passed on. We will miss you but I can understand where the Athletic Department is coming from. Thank you again for all of the information that you have shared.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:22 am
Too bad. I mean you were obviously giving away the innermost secrets of the program to include game plans and injury reports. Not only that, but you were forwarding this information to opposing coaches. I understand the SID’s position, but it really is asinine to believe your posting is somehow detrimental to the program. The BYU football team is larger than one Internet blog.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:29 am
Wish it weren’t so! I’m not sure what was said, but I don’t see how you were giving away the family secrets.
Hope you keep writing one way or another!
April 1st, 2008 at 9:53 am
Thanks, Cruiser, for your insights, terrific writing, and enthusiasm that you’ve shared with us. You’ve enhanced the experience of being a Cougar fan for all of us.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:06 am
Thanks for all you’ve done Cruiser! Please continue to share your insights through responses. It’s sad to see you go, but wish you all the best. Go Cougars!
April 1st, 2008 at 10:13 am
The point has been raised that this may be an April Fool’s joke. I hope so, but what of it, Cruiser?
April 1st, 2008 at 10:15 am
It’s about time. Goodbye
April 1st, 2008 at 10:16 am
I think BYU is being very smart, I know for a fact that one of your entries was read in front of the whole team and Bronco was very upset that people were leaking information, it was also very upsetting to Max Hall when you posted about his arrogance and how you hope the O-line blocks for him.
So I agree with BYUs decision.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:17 am
Happy April Fools Day.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am
Say it ain’t so Cruiser, or you are playing a terrific April Fool’s day stunt.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:24 am
We only wish it was an April Fool’s joke. USC lets fans attend EVERY spring practice, and we know how all that has leaked out and hurt them…
I just want to make it very clear that we were not “forced” to stop. Jeff Reynolds asked us to and we let Cruiser decide. No one is a bigger fan than Cruiser, Josh and myself and we want what is best for the program. Not to say we are overly happy about it (or at all) but it was Cruiser’s decision in the end and we are very grateful for our association with him.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am
Just make sure I get added to your private friend email list that you are going to create for die-hard fans like me that still want to read your stuff.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:08 am
This is pure crap.
I officially don’t like Jeff Reynolds now. I was on the fence previously, but this gag order is ridiculous.
I love BYU but sometimes the administrative staff just seem to be in need of a large, collective enema.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:21 am
April Fool’s biatches
April 1st, 2008 at 11:27 am
We may or may not address this issue in more detail later, but I’d like to voice my [subdued] opinion on the matter.
First, let me echo Peter’s gratitude to Cruiser. We’ve been extremely fortunate as fans to have his insight into the program. Cruiser is a class act all the way and would never do anything to intentionally hurt BYU football. If you ask me, he never did and his departure is a loss for BYU football.
I love BYU football and the university itself. I’m not exaggerating when I say that BYU football is the only thing keeping me tied to living in Utah. With that said, it’s a shame that such a culture of hand-wringing and overreaction exists in the BYU community. It defies logic that those responsible for promoting BYU football would try to silence someone who consistently sings the praises of the football program and its positive impact for the school and Church which it represents.
Yes, Cruiser has posted a few details from time to time that only proved the obvious–that it’s not always rainbows and sunshine amongst the players–but is that earth-shattering news? Is it at all damaging to the program? The only people who even batted an eye to it were the coaches and Mr. Reynolds, who obviously went way beyond batting an eye. I’d call it “tripping over mouse turds.”
Thanks again, Cruiser. You will be missed. Dang, I wish this was an April Fool’s joke, you guys.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
First of all it was not just the coaches and JR that batted an eye to it. What Cruiser posted really hurt Max Hall, he was very down for several days after Bronco read the post in front of the time. So down in fact that two days later Brandon Doman came out ot the media and fluffed Hall up talking about how he is better than Beck. This was completely intentional on Domans behalf because he knew how much the posts had hurt Hall. Several members of the team said that for a few days Hall had lost that fire.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
If Hall is getting depressed because of some poster saying stuff about him…umm I am a little concerned about him. You are going to have a long and tough career Max if you let fans dictate your emotions.
furthermore, I somewhat agree with the gag order on cruiser but I can see the backlash from fans, in reality there is no way to police leaks it is going to happen. As for Jeff R. I happen to be a good friend of his and I know that this was not a decision he made.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
Thanks for the insights, but do the posts have to stop or do they just need to be less detailed? If you stop you will be missed and for those unable to be “close” to the program it is the next thing to being involved. I know they have influenced me to the point that I keep my eyes open for young men that might be a fit for recruitment out here in Ohio. I have given four names to coaches at BYU of possible athletes. And it was because of being involved in these boards.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I’m depressed. It bothers me that we can’t stand the truth. I loved Cruzer’s information. I’m a BYU Football junkie and this information was very helpful and enjoyable. Still, I am aware that this good information can be of help to our opponents. I am reading “At Dawn We Slept” about Pearl Harbor. It is amazing how much information our press gave to the Japanese, to include fleet schedules. Still I will truly miss Cruzer!
April 1st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Cruiser- I am sad to see you end your assiciation with this blog as part of the trifecta. Your insight was great, your writing style even better. I for one am not going to cross the line by bashing Jeff Reynolds, the coaches, staff or anyone else at BYU. It is a very unique university and there are some things we all just have to live with. How does the saying go? “Bless me with the courage to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I cannot…” I believe completely in what Coach Mendenhall is trying to do and, therefore, I am going to be “Fully Invested” and do what they ask. Your the greatest Cruiser in every way. Good luck, God’s speed & que Dios te acompañe!
April 1st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Count me among those who feel BYU is “cutting off its nose to spite its face” by limiting information about the program to fans. Hopefully, someone in the program will “eventually” see the big picture and realize that whatever downside is perceived to exist by websites such as this one, is hugely overshadowed by the interest and “investment” they create. Personally, I would prefer you had taken a different approach to Mr. Reynolds’ request. I hope that Cruiser will not completely disappear from the BYU football landscape and here’s hoping the BYU information system will some day outgrow its colloquial response to fandom.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I am agreed with Jer…If Max Hall is that emotionally distraught over an anonymous poster on that vastly large internet media…we are in for some troubles.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I know that to some people, criticizing Coach Mendenhall is like criticizing Jesus, but reading that post in front of the whole team was the mistake. It’s no secret that Max Hall is quite the cocky fellow, and the only reason Max would’ve been down about it was the fact that he was embarrassed by his coach in front of his mates. You can’t blame Cruiser for regurgitating what we all already knew.
April 1st, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Wow…this sucks. It’s getting harder and harder to be a BYU fan. It’s tough for me to respect an organization that strong arms people like this. I wish you had told Mr. Reynolds to cram it. If it’s any consolation, I sent a pretty scathing email to him on your behalf.
What a joke.
Sterling Howell
April 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Uhmm, I think the one April fools joke present is the one about Coach Mendenhall reading Cruiser’s post to the team…
Remember, on the internet you can’t see the smile on the guy posting his comments.
April 1st, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Well, if our sports information department were doing its job, we wouldn’t have need of an insider posting on a blog to get information about our team. This is just incredibly irritating. This has been an ongoing problem. Its the reason that even though we haven’t lost a game in conference in two years we have less people on the all conference teams than New Mexico, and the same amount of people drafted in the NFL over the last 2 years as Weber State.
Oh, and if Max Hall can’t take a little critisism over being cocky, how confident is he really? I’m really starting to worry about the stability of this team. They have enough talent to be great, but the intangibles are really starting to worry me.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
This really ticks me off and here’s why.
As much as BYU fans like to think that the BYU football team is infallible or the athletic equivalent of the 2000 Stripling Warriors, they’re not. They are surely trying harder to be good and do the right thing than any program in the country, but if you think they’re perfect, think again. They do great things in the community, their “Thursday Hero” program is a fantastic display of charity, their firesides are truly inspirational, but they still flawed humans. A small example of minor imperfections is that more than a few staff and players from Bronco down to the lowliest walk-on have been known to let loose with the profanity. No big deal, especially when compared to other what you’d hear from other football programs, but it’s not totally in alignment with the standards that Brigham Young University puts forward and therefore not something that BYU wants publicized. Also when it comes to playing by the NCAA rules, every school has their indiscretions and BYU is no different. That’s something that BYU definitely does want people taking a close look at much less discussing publicly
So what’s the point of bringing this up? Is it a self-righteous finger-pointing session? Is it a case of Peter Priesthood dwelling on someone else’s mote despite his own beam? No and no. It’s an attempt to explain why BYU would want to silence someone who shows some of the unflattering aspects of BYU football. Here’s my reasoning: BYU is trying to set itself forward as flag bearers and it stresses “discipleship” right? So given its imperfections, the team can best maintain that public persona if public scrutiny is limited. Case in point is Bronco’s frustration when it leaked that he showed his team “300” albeit an edited version. When someone starts reporting things that tarnish the public persona (deserved or not), BYU football staff and media relations get uncomfortable. Especially when the source is a fansite that has no press credential and is therefore TOTALLY uncontrollable by Jeff Reynolds and BYU media relations.
That’s my theory on what is happening here. Incidentally, I agree with the people who say that if BYU intends to be counted among the big buys, they better get used to increased scrutiny and do what the big boys do: accept the fact that people are going to say things (accurate, positive or otherwise) and then ignore it and get on with the business of winning.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Wow, that is really lame of Reynolds and BYU to do that.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I don’t like this. Perhaps the athletic department felt Cruiser’s posts were abusing the insider access they had given him, or were uncomfortable with anonymous insider reporting. However…
Bronco has made a point before that he doesn’t read stuff about the team in the papers or on the net. So much for that.
And it seems the logical conclusion to this would be to ban attendance and live coverage of our games. Only a few reporters, vetted by the university, would be able to actually view the games and report what happened. And only if BYU won. Views of selected plays would be available for sale within 10 days of each victory. Thus we would spare injury to fragile egos and unwarranted coverage of plays that don’t meet the Quest for Perfection standard.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Oh, one last question, Cruiser. Is there any truth to the rumor that this request came in part because you used ’shone’ instead of ’shined’?
April 1st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
OK guys, let’s all lighten this up a bit. Any read in the Deseret News an article by Dick Harmon reporting that Adam Timo, a 2009 Jr RB commit from Snow Canyon) just broke a 29 yr high jump record by clearing 7′2″ (that’s No. 2 in the country)…& it’s still early in the season! Also, in the long jump he is just 4″ short at 23″6″ of the state 4A record. Can you invision him jumping over the line on a goal line stand? It’s sad that Cruiser will not be the author of any more posts, but what an example! Would any of us have turned the other cheek and reacted in the same way? Let’s all take a deep breathe, realize that we are still five months away from opening day (only 9 days to the Blue & White game) and focus on the positives and how great it is to be associated with such a great program.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
LOL! Comment of the day right there, Mark.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I can’t understand why people are losing their love of BYU football over this … I mean, seriously, are you going to stop going to the games because you don’t know who’s doing what in practice? Isn’t that what this is all about? Winning the games in the fall? If Bronco and co. think this’ll help, then so be it.
A thing about Max Hall, how often do you read on ESPN about a player being an arrogant guy that his team dislikes? Anyone ever served in the military? Football isn’t much different. You count on the guys next to you, in front of you, behind you. What if the press had come out and said Tim Tebow was hated by half of his team? Think it would have gotten to him? I do.
Put yourselves in other people’s position first before you whine about not being able to know every last thing that goes on in practice. I admit that I like Cruiser’s stuff, but my life goes on without it. If we’re all about the program, support the program and quit complaining about what you, the outsider, think is best.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Mark, you said this:
“Bronco has made a point before that he doesn’t read stuff about the team in the papers or on the net. So much for that.”
Ever consider that someone told him about it? Especially considering it affects the guy that runs his offense on the field?
April 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I’ve had it confirmed “it” was read to the team. What on earth “it” is, no idea. But I have had multiple sources confirm it was read to the team.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
there are so many things wrong with this event. why was the blog read to the entire team, and not addresses in private? why wasn’t the coaching staff aware of the conflict bwt o-line, and qb? why would the sid get involved? why wouldn’t they muzzel the players, and leave the blogger alone? why would max hall care what was written, unless there was a real problem? why would he pout, as opposed to repairing the relationship?
the coaches should be thanking cruiser for brining to light a conflict that needed to be resolved, not shooting the messenger. every team has conflicts, they are only a problem if they are not addressed.
i realize that the football program is still re-establishing it’s national image and reputation. because of that they are concerened about what is being written, and said. i also understand that there are things that need to be kept in-house. still how could anyone put the tidbits and insights from cruiser’s posts in that catitgory?
cruiser is an asset to the program, and provided fans with insight, and encouraged passion (look at the responces to the most receint blog post if you doubt that). to stop that is short sighted, and is a sign of weakness.
i always felt like john wooden (ucla bball coach) had the correct attitude about it: (paraphrased) it doesn’t matter if the other team knows what we are going to do, they still have to stop us. that is greatness, that has to be where the byu program should be heading if they truly want to be great. this over-reaction to a blog tells me that they are further away from the goal then i had originally thought. shame.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I can understand the AD and coaches protecting information that could be detrimental to the team but I just don’t see that anything Cruiser has posted is secret, specific information. It seems most of it is factual with some color added to it from a fan perspective. To say “the wide receivers are looking solid and making plays”…what is so bad about a statement like that? First of all it is opinion and perspective. Secondly, any fan or person tied to a program will tend to inflate or “sugar coat” what they see because they are emotionally tied to it. I also highly doubt that Bronco is reading an internet blog in front of the whole team, there is no point to it and something he says he does not care to do. And why would a competitor like Max Hall be so disturbed by this? In my mind he should be fired up, if anything, but fan comments and possible doubt if it is regarding his character or ability. I simply have not found anything in Cruiser’s posts that caused me to say “hmm, probably shouldn’t have said that”. I am a huge BYU football fan and supporter but I think sometimes they get a little over-exuberant with enforcing policies and rules. Thanks Cruisier, for your words and insight. After all, it is as much the fans’ team as it is the university’s team…because without the fans there would not be a team…and revenue for the school.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
byujake: I understand your point about being read to, and that’s probably what happened in this case. But my opinion is that if you consciously don’t read something, you also shouldn’t have other people read it and report to you what it says, or you end up with the same problem.
walt: seriously, a 7′2″ high jumper? In my day, that great a high jumper would have been too tall and skinny (and weird, to be doing track) to play football. I did high jump in hs (lame, with a personal best of 5′10″), and know. Think Dick Fosbury putting on football pads.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I do believe Bronco read the blog to the team, but only to illustrate that inside team information had leaked to the outside and to try to stop that flow of information. Of course he doesn’t have a problem with anything football related, but it’s like a husband and wife who fight-you deal with it internally and move on, you don’t want everyone else knowing about it.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I really enjoyed Cruiser’s posts, and his info and engaging writing style will be missed. While I don’t support the decision of BYU’s AD, what’s done it’s done. If Coach Mendenhall thinks shutting down The Cruiser Times it’s in the bet interest of the team, then I respect that even if I don’t agree with it.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:52 pm
miguel, i disagree with you’re position here. bronco/ath-dept got this one wrong. they have done so much right that it is easy to give them a pass, but i’m not going to here.
i will still support the team, and i am not turning in my fan card, but i don’t think it is blasphomy to point out a bad decision. we all make them, the goal is to learn from them, and hope not to repeat them.
bronco, since we now know you are a loyal cl reader, learn from this mis-step, and don’t do it again. plus have your lap dogs call cruiser and beg him to keep writting.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
barf. Does everyone in the world always fall for April Fool’s Day or is it just the fools?
April 1st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
What Cruiser was doing was selling season tickets….literally. The excitement generated over his articles outweigh any negative effect!!
I really think the best thing for BYU football is to keep posting, but I would probably stop too if asked.
Eddie, I’m calling you out. I say you’re lying. Also, what you wrote about him getting emotional is the ONLY thing that I’ve read on this site that opposing teams could use against Hall. So maybe YOU should stop posting.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:54 pm
You would think Cruiser had revealed the location of the 3 nephites or had written a book on the temple ceremony. Lighten up BYU this is football. We are talking about practice. Practice! PRACTICE! NOT A GAME, Practice! Practice. Practice! Practice?
April 1st, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Change your name and tone it down a little…. please.
April 1st, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Cruiser – Now, you ought to be able to to tell us who you are? And, if this request was truly made by BYU, I understand why they just went one and done. Obviously they (BYU) is concentrating and emphasizing the wrong things. This ranks up there with Taylor having permission to attend BYU withdrawn from his bishop. Come on. . . Let’s get serious and start playing ball!
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 am
Lame.
Bronco and BYU’s desire to control everything that is said about BYU football is probably well-intentioned. It’s also unrealistic and in this case, counterproductive.
If Max Hall truly was deflated (not sure I buy that story), it would seem to be more of a function of his coach reading something in front of the entire team vs. that something being written in the first place. Chalk that up to Bronco, not Cruiser.
What Bronco, Reynolds, or whoever accomplished was to silence one of the most popular voices that was reporting on BYU football–a guy who was overwhelmingly positive and complementary, though perhaps imperfect, in what he reported.
Congrats.
Now that JReynolds has been pulled off of Bronco’s CSI squad and has dealt with the Cruiser “problem,” perhaps he’ll have time to build the program’s sorry excuse for a spring game into something that’s in the same stratosphere as the programs we’re looking to join in the top echelon of college football.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
Dear Cruiser-
Hate to lose you. You, and your optimistic take on the program were, were a light and a source of pleasure to Cougar fans far and wide.
Jeff Reynolds? You gotta be kidding me. His bumbling incompetence hurt the Cougars far more than your blog ever could.
Woodstrider
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Cruiser – looks like you will be missed!
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:06 am
As good as BYU’s sports teams are, their administration is usually equally as bad. No throwing tortillas. Elaine Elliot thrown out on her rear. Going after blogging fans. Next they’ll get their lawyers out there shutting down the highlight video websites. This is sad, and for more than one reason. I call B.S.
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I am a member of the church, a UCLA alumni/fan, and a California resident. My connections with BYU football were non-existent after the Crowton years, primarily because I was a UCLA fan, but also because, like Notre Dame, BYU had fallen from grace because it had lost focus on its ultimate purpose — being ambassadors for the church. My lack of respect for BYU football remained until I began reading Cruiser’s articles last year.
In Cruiser’s articles I found reason to believe that BYU football was re-building into a gridiron force and, more imortantly, a tool in the Lord’s hands to spread the gospel. Specifically, Cruiser’s articles converted me by repeatedly praising Bronco Mendenhall.
Cruiser often wrote about Coach Mendenhall’s and Omer’s strenuous conditioning marathons, and the increased physical power the players were developing. Based on Cruiser’s reporting of Mendenhall’s emphasis on strength, speed, and quickness, I began believing that BYU’s on the field performance was going to improve by leaps and bounds. I didn’t read any other journalist/reporter/blogger writing about BYU’s “gassers”, or weightlifting program. In fact, Cruiser was probably the only person writing about those details. Perhaps BYU football doesn’t want that information spread. If so, then I say change your thinking! This information does not benefit your opponents or hurt your players. It only inspires BYU fans and non-fans, like myself, to believe something special is happening at BYU.
Cruiser also wrote about the temporal and spiritual service rendered by the coaches and players. Cruiser wrote about the team’s service days, and firesides. In an article the week before the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl, Cruiser didn’t write about the injury report, X’s and O’s, or even how BYU was going to crush UCLA. Instead, Cruiser wrote about attending the fireside presented by Coach Mendenhall and his team. I read that article with my heart swelling, my eyes watering, and my respect for BYU football and Coach Mendenhall at a fever pitch. Never before had I been so proud of BYU football, and I would have never felt that way if I hadn’t read Cruiser’s article.
As many comments have illustrated, Cruiser’s articles did not hurt the team or benefit the opposition in any way (Bronco read the article about Hall to the team, not to say stop talking to Cruiser, but to communicate to Hall. Bronco could have simply held up the article and say don’t talk to Cruiser). In fact, Cruiser’s articles took a holistic approach to BYU football, that inspired fans, and non-fans (like myself), making them believers again or for the first time. No other BYU beat writer is accomplishing this feat! The BYU Sport Information Department certainly isn’t! If you ask me, any of the newspapers, the BYU SID, or somebody with proper authority, would be wise to offer Cruiser a position writing about BYU football, or a biography about Coach Mendenhall.
Best of luck to you Cruiser! I will miss your colorful writing, eternal enthusiasm, and your understanding that football is just one part of BYU football’s mission. Furthermore, thank you demonstrating such class in being dismissed by the powers that be.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
NorCal Bruin- Thanks also for your posts on Cougar Legion. I began reading them last year and as a result started visiting Bruins Nation because I had heard from many BYU fans who had gone to the Rose Bowl to see the game that they had never met such loyal but also gracious fans as UCLA’s. I made many posts on their site off and on throughout the fall between our two games and after the LV Bowl. I can say that the overall brotherhood, goodwill and camaraderie I felt on Bruins Nation was incredible and an example that we should be following here in Utah, especially between BYU & Utah fans. After all, even though inter-collegiate sports has grown to become the number 1 way to, “attract people to (an) institution in a way that few things can today” the real purpose of sports is supposed to be the character development of student-athletes. They, the sports performed by student-athletes, are then entertainment for us, the fans, but I think the character development should apply to us also. Unfortunately, it many times, with the exception of Bruins Nation, turns out to be character deterioration instead of development, if you know what I mean. That goes for me or anyone else who goes beyond the mark and begins to belittle and degrade the opposing team and its fans. So thanks to you also, NorCal Bruin for the spirit of the posts that you have made. Yes, Josh, Peter and Cruiser have developed a great site over the past almost eight months and hopefully Cruiser can meet with Jeff Reynolds and the powers that be at BYU and get this all sorted out. However, if they cannot, let us follow Cruiser’s example and “Let It Be”.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
If Cruiser is not contributing, then what is Cougar Legion going to be? Cruiser was Legion. I hope you guys got a plan. From my part I am going to email Jeff Reynolds and tell him that I don;t necessarily disagree with the Administration’s decision but he had better seize the moment and improve his reporting. His lack of timely and accurate reporting is what is feeding the need for these non-affiliated websites. All of the major football programs have better publicists than BYU.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Well Well Well…if this is NOT an April Fools Joke, then once again, shame on BYU.
Lied to Roger Reid.
Lied to the public about discontinuing bringing food in. It NEVER was about us not bringing in our own food, it was the “lie” that it was all about security! It had NOTHING to do with security, I know this as FACT from a BYU Police source.
Charge more for a little cup of ice cream than the creamery up the hill charges for a half gallon of the same!
Kicking out a great baseball player, then backtracking.
Not supporting volleyball coaches. What? The department had NO IDEA what was going on? They were unaware? Then dump the coach and let the coach take all the blame?
This is just a game. I matters little. But I’d like to think the church, and the #1 seen Organization that represents that church is above lying, above deceit, and above stretching the truth.
Lack of judgement, lack of faith, lack of courage all describe BYU in many ways. Describe BYU sports in many ways.
I’m saddened by the low standards that the University adheres to, when demanding so much from others!
Jeff Reynolds, he is a stinker. He fits right in with the rest of the suits that know little of reality and much of micromanagement!
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Crusier,
Thanks for all the great reads. I’m going to miss your enthusiastic articles, and insights into BYU football. You have a great ability to express yourself through the printed word.
I’m glad that Peter and Josh are still around. They are both quality writers, and are capable of moving cougar legion forward.
Experience has taught me this, there is always more to the story than meets the eye. Its easy to make judgments in situations like this. Taking the high road, always leads to a better place.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I’m so disappointed that the best link to BYU football has been closed.
Cruiser, whoever you are, your BYU columns were the most feeling and and most informative.
Now we are stuck with avaricious TBS(total blue sports) and the ministry of no information, byucougars.com.
my topsoil research found that a knucklehead who doesn’t do his job (BYU’s sports infromation director) was able to silence someone who did.
Well hats off to the mind control boys who worry more about what is said than done.
Compare the following tidbit from the daily bruin to the pap and nonsense we get from BYU’s official organ:
“As they shuffle through the locker room after their first spring practice under coach Rick Neuheisel today at Spaulding Field, the UCLA football players will see a board they have never seen before.
“The board will show who won which drills that day of practice, and every player will see it when he leaves the locker room.
“I want to know which personalities are going to carry the day, which guys are going to lead in those situations,” Neuheisel said. “This brings leaders to the fore.”
“It may be the smallest change the players face in spring ball, which starts today and concludes with an April 26 scrimmage at the Rose Bowl. The team has a new head coach in Neuheisel, a new offensive coordinator in Norm Chow, and several new position coaches.
“But the board is a part of what Neuheisel believes is the key thing for UCLA this spring: making the huge transition that he hopes will create a faster tempo and more competitive culture in the program.
“In the long run, that transition may be more important than the individual position battles, Neuheisel said.”
end excerpt—
—
Compare that to the stuff that the SID passes for news.
Alas.
So long cruiser. I really think Herrgrupenfuhrer Reynolds (SID) was feeling insecure because your posts were better read than his drivel.
Maybe someone with a conscience will overrule this mistake.
Alas.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:15 am
One last belabored point:
For a program that cries for more attention, this is counter-productive.
BYU just got the shaft again on TV, probably as a lesson for hiring a lawyer last year, and at the same time the team or its lackey shut down a voice that reached the fans.
Since when does a program that wants people to look at it and notice complain about the lens people use to examine.
Everyone in Division 1 wants more notice, not less and the good little Germans who follow BYU make a writer the scapegoat.
How can Bronco show such common sense and courage that he stands up for a baseball player targeted by overzealous ecclesiastical leaders and then act like those same leaders in throwing a writer under the bus.
If BYU had the microscope on it that honest and open writers apply to other teams, Anae and his horse and buggy playcalling would already be history.
If Cruiser is history, we deserve the MTN. or less. And thank Bronco.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Peter and Josh,
You guys had a great web site even before Cruiser starting writing for it. Are your lives in condition for picking up the slack going forward? Illness, jobs, callings, and other circumstances can change the amount of time we devote to blogs and other ’side’ stuff. Hopefully you can fill in the blanks on CougarLegion.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Greg- Amen, brother! You said it perfectly and that is the road that Josh and Peter should take. With the proper amount of apologizing, they can learn from this and take this blog to another plateau.