I’d take that bet!
to by clear, You are taking ASU over BYU?
Nope, BYU over ASU this week. But, ASU over Alabama…
A lockdown defense will put you in a position to win more than a high octane offense. How many frustrating shootout games did we lose in the 90s b cause of defense (the A&M bowl game with Detmer being one of the worst)?
I also like the parity in this conference. Utah fans hate the “truck stop” colleges, and feel like they deserve to be Big 10 (or even SEC). I don’t think this is a fluke year. I think bottom teams can be dangerous and beat top teams, even when fortunes change.
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So much truth. Thank you for clearly explaining this position to which I concur wholeheartedly!
And here I thought nothing could make me laugh after watching our offense embarrass itself.
I imagine I hear THawk whispering to the universe “Larimer don’t take the bait.”
What does our offense have to do with ASU and Alabama?
I am okay with your take Aro because I respect your opinions that are always level headed and based in sound evidence. Like I said, I will digress after the ASU game and win or lose, I will try to see the big picture for how the game is called offensively, how the offense executes, whether or not they can sustain drives, play with poise and win a game convincingly.
I think I have seen that once or twice this year in the 9 wins so far. The KSU game was weird and mostly defense. I think the UCF game is one where I thought BYU played the way I described above but even that game had some head scratching moments. SMU was a defensive win for sure.
That is the problem I have with this team and you described it perfectly.
This is my biggest concern and why I have a hard time with them being a top 20 team. Fortunately I see some other top 20 teams who do the same so like I said, I will digress until I see how the ASU game goes.
Interesting. That isn’t what you text to me during games when obvious bad offensive play calls are made. Well I guess it’s okay. I am not in the extreme camp of thawk but I’m real close. Last year end of season was enough for me. Yes, I am really happy that BYU has a 9-1 record and made it into the top 10 but it has been the defense 90% of the time that did it.
How many texts, during the game, have you said “we need a turnover” or “the defense needs to make a play” because we both knew that was BYU’s only hope to get a win. The geat thing is that it happened… A LOT! BYU has 17 interceptions, numerous stops on third and fourth down, fumble recoveries, sacks, etc. Holding teams to field goals (SMU) when the offense has created so many opportunities for the opposing offense to score and wastes time outs, etc. because they have no rhythm and can’t call plays in a timely manner 10 games into the season. It’s maddening!
You know I am right on this. It’s okay to acknowledge at the same time acknowledging that BYU is also 9-1. I am happy for 9-1 but I am frustrated because it will certainly mean more years of the same nonsense from an offense with great athletes and players but no cohesion and consistency at all and an OC who isn’t sure about what he is doing.
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This is true. The only difference between the 9 wins and the 1 loss was the fact that the defense created enough opportunities for the offense, which overcame the bad play calls and bad turnovers enough times to come away with wins instead of losses. The offense STILL has no rhythm or flow to it. It is erratic and inconsistent. As likely to go 3 and out vs a bad team as they are to drive and score on a good team, which seems a rare occurence.
If I am the only one who is frustrated with the play of our offense and the inexplicable play calling, then I guess I will sit in the bleachers by myself and continue to scratch my head… alone.
This just is simply not true Aro. I agree with 99% of what you post but this statement, unless I am misunderstanding it, is simply not true.
Why is it not true?
I point out the end of last season as proof. There was a total collapse in the last 5 games of last season and nothing changed. I don’t have a problem losing to Texas 35-6 but West Virginia 37-7 and Iowa State 45-13 were BAD losses, only to be cherried on the top with the two giveaway games to Oklahoma 31-24 and Oklahoma State 40-34 that left BYU bowl INELIGIBLE. The hot fudge sundae of total end of season collapse was complete.
No other way to paint the complete collapse from last season… it was about as bad as it could be and nothing changed.
You may be right that nobody will be fired even if there is an epic collapse the last three games. It would probably require that and a poor season next year before that happens.
Having said that I don’t believe there will be a collapse. I think this team has the players and the character to overcome mediocre play calling and a couple bad mistakes in their only loss. After all they have done it more often than not so far.
It is telling when one of your best offensive players is defending the OC multiple times in interviews. That bodes well for the character I speak of but not so well for the offense in general.
There you go again questioning a player’s integrity. Why? Especially when others back him up.
Simply put, some posters of negativity, are a reflection of their personal negativity. Others generally reflect positively, again a reflection of their personality perspectives. Doesn’t really matter, they are whom they are. As is generally true in life, the answers often lie in the middle. Any loss by ANY team is going to draw detractors, calling for actions to be taken. Hill was a good addition to this team, and it probably took too long to make the change. That, however, is pretty consistent with BYU. They really don’t like to fire people. They probably will not fire ARod, but if BYU’s offense declines to a poor showing next year, they probably will consider it, especially if the power wielding alumni are screaming for it. One fact sticks in my mind though-Who was the last OC in thirty years that BYU fans were thrilled with? Maybe Grimes, but we know how long he stayed, and Grimes has not fared great in this conference.
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The truth you say is real. Someone once said, take Mario Andrette out of a formula one car race and he would be like a fish out of water. As much as some don’t like it, Arod fits with everything BYU. Hill does too. Had the last DC coach been fired years before, would we have Hill or someone like him. Don’t know. The players like Arod as they do Hill. They go to bat for him. If we fire Arod, will the next guy be better in all ways? That’s why I don’t agree with the Twacks of the world who are so quick to react and throw around their weight with their money.
Well BYU is different than almost every other college or University. You don’t have to go any farther than “ What are the requirements for being a head coach in football at BYU”. This says a lot about the institution. There are other aspects that go along with winning that are mandatory with BYU. I know people that follow BYU sports, that were far removed from athletics in their lives that follow BYU almost religiously. It’s different and in a lot of people’s minds-special. If BYU conducted themselves like some other universities did, BYU wouldn’t have a football 
program. I’m sold on the BYU mentality-it’s different and consequently more difficult to compete with the win-at-all costs dogma of some institutions. But that’s ok-it’s unique
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Bravo, great post. Very succinct and true.
Explaining BYU’s placement, CFP spokesmen Warde Manuel said on ESPN: “We watch the games and see how teams are playing each week. When we saw a team (like BYU) that has close wins, struggles and comes back and wins the game. Those are great wins, but it also tells us about where that team is playing.
I think that pretty much reflects what I have said and while I appreciate the comments from Burton and aro, they feel a little empty in that because of who BYU is, we can accept the shortcomings and problems, even if they could be changed without compromising standards. That is what it sounds like to me and if everyone is content with that perspective I guess there is nothing we can do about it.
I disagree with Hopper that I am questioning Roberts integrity. He said what he said because he is looking out for the rest of his team (including the OC) and at this point in the season there aren’t many options anyway. I applaud his integrity for doing what he thinks is right and best and am not judging him at all. I have a feeling that if he were pulled aside, off the record, he would acknowledge that there have been issues during the course of the season with play calling and decisions. Nothing wrong with that and the fact that he doesn’t say anything about it now does not mean he has no integrity. Stop with the accusations Hopper, it’s unnecessary.
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Our defense has FAR exceeded expectations–both statistically and per the “eye test.”
Our offense has generally failed to reach expectations. We are terrible (again) on third down, too conservative (interesting takes from Scott Phillips and Austin Collie this week-two guys who know how to work a passing offense), and criminally negligent in not riding Roberts like a rented mule. He’s probably the best receiver at BYU SINCE Austin Collie and in a critical game he had three–THREE–targets in 3.75 quarters against Kansas (two catches and one thrown into the ground a solid 2 feet behind him). He did his best to save us on the last drive but alas, ARod forgot he was on the team on 3 straight plays from the KU 15. IMHO it was a case of the OC freezing under pressure (see Oklahoma, end of first half vs Utah, calling a SPIKE for no reason vs KU, and last play of 1st half vs KU among many other examples). Gotta think fast if you are gonna make that kind of money calling plays.
This is not just me beating the drum when you hear Kalani finally say things like “that was a stupid, stupid, stupid” call and former BYU greats calling our offense everything but awesome. I’m in the ONE THOUSAND PERCENT FIRE AROD camp, but anyone paying attention knows that our offense is generally boring and certainly far outpaced by our defense.
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