Anyone else a little uncomfortable - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Goatnapper'96 · 03-26-2007, 06:03 PM

"confidence" coming from the Cougar coaching staff? Not like footlong hotdogs made Flanders uncomfortable, but a real manly uncomfortable. I posted this on Cougarboard, but my 3/4 Santos ankle bracelett is stifling my contributions there. In between learning that Black Diamond Bay drags queers to dinner dates and Aussie Coug throwdowns with skinny Aussie boys with bad teethe and criminal geneology, you might have missed it. I miss the days the only concern with womenfolk was fingernail length on blessed consummation evenings...I digress.

This is just my preference, but I don't like to see coaches subtlely fanning the flames of expectations, hades hath no fury like a college sports fan spurned.

Part of the fanning of flames is the BYU homer media gang, but the coaches are adding to it. I did not like the article where the media reporter/columnist/beat writer or whatever his journalistic duties are referenced as, specifically made reference to Anae hearkening back to 1984 in a comparison of what BYU lost from 1983 to what BYU lost from 2006. I don't think it is wise for the HC to publically say that this squad is "reloading rather than rebuilding."

In private he should build up his team, but I think there is wisdom in the oft repeated "we have a chance to be a good football team." In fact I enjoy hearing the personal or private evaluations years after, such as Lavell's comments about his undisputed National Championship team, that without question accomplished the greatest single team athletic achievement in the history of any University presently situated in the state of Utah, where Lavell said that he really knew he had something special when he came home from a Spring scrimmage where the offense and defense had really gotten after each other and said to Patty that he did not know how many games they would win but they would have a great football team.

I hearken back to the fact that this is not the WAC of the early 1980s. BYU has not had back to back double digit winning seasons since Ty Detmer. Good years in Provo are not like good years in Vegas. If fans hear constant chatter about re-loading there will be significant stringpulling from the fanbase if BYU's offense does not look like it did against Oregon when the Y plays Arizona in Provo.

It was dumb when Crowton fanned the flames with not real thought out comments about "homeruns waiting to happen." History has proven me right, and IndyCoug wrong, with respect to Crowton. Really the last two sentences had nothing to do with this post other than a gratuitous shot at Indy.

Perhaps I am stringpulling over nothing, we shall see. I am just wondering if I am the only one scratching his head not totally convinced that this squad is likely to reload. Perhaps, it is all just semantics. I don't expect this squad to fall of the face of the earth but there is no way I do not forsee a drop in ability next year that is likely to result in one-three more losses than last season. I don't forsee another undefeated conference season. I expect BYU to be competitive, but I hearken back to BYU's more recent history of how well they play when coming off a great year like last year.

I just think some tempering of expectations from the coaching staff instead of fanning them might be prudent.

Archaea · 03-26-2007, 06:07 PM

Discretion is the better part of valor.

MikeWaters · 03-26-2007, 06:09 PM

Lou Holtz probably had it right when it comes to psychology.

And if Indy had his way, Crowton would still be presiding over a 2 win season. (there is nothing wrong with gratuitous shots at Indy).

Surfah · 03-26-2007, 06:11 PM

Goat you kill me.

I agree though. You lose your two tight ends, your tailback, your quarterback, some key offensive linemen and that's just on the offensive side of the ball. And I am supposed to believe that we're reloading at those positions? I am with you brother.

myboynoah · 03-26-2007, 06:43 PM

I agree with you Goat. Keep young, impressionable minds hungry.

Venkman · 03-26-2007, 07:45 PM

Nice post Goat. I'm pretty optimistic about this season, and I'm glad the coaches are as well, but when it comes to managing expectations, I tend to think a little sandbagging isn't a bad thing.

RockyBalboa · 03-26-2007, 08:29 PM

I'm being cautiously optimisitc, but am not really sure what to expect.

My expectations are tempered because bringing on a new QB who hasn't taken a snap in live action for 4 years...there's going to be a steep learning curve that will likely take a good half season or more.

I think there is plenty of talent and depth at most positions, a lot of it young talent, but I like the direction Bronco is taking the program.

I think 8 wins after losing so many Seniors and leaders would be a very successful season and set up BYU for a potential BCS run in 08' and 09'.

il Padrino Ute · 03-26-2007, 10:34 PM

I hadn't heard that Mendenhall was doing this. Not a smart idea. As you pointed out, college sports fans tend to expect talk to equate to reality.

kccougar · 03-27-2007, 01:39 PM

Who let exUte on Couguard?

Over the past several years Bronco has shown himself to be completely honest in his assessment of both the team and his performance as a coach. In my mind, he has earned credibility, in that if he says he is reloading, I will believe him. Sure, that might be construed as raising expectations, but expectations have already been raised by the team's performance on the field.

I also think the effect is two-fold. Fans expectations may be raised, but I believe Bronco's intent is to set clear expectations for the players. He does not want them complacent - satisfied with the current level of performance. He is now making clear, during the spring, where he wants the team to be come fall.

hyrum · 03-27-2007, 02:36 PM

At this point optimism might be expected to help boost season ticket sales.

03-26-2007, 06:03 PM	#1
Goatnapper'96 Recruiting Coordinator/Bosom Inspector Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,412	Anyone else a little uncomfortable "confidence" coming from the Cougar coaching staff? Not like footlong hotdogs made Flanders uncomfortable, but a real manly uncomfortable. I posted this on Cougarboard, but my 3/4 Santos ankle bracelett is stifling my contributions there. In between learning that Black Diamond Bay drags queers to dinner dates and Aussie Coug throwdowns with skinny Aussie boys with bad teethe and criminal geneology, you might have missed it. I miss the days the only concern with womenfolk was fingernail length on blessed consummation evenings...I digress. This is just my preference, but I don't like to see coaches subtlely fanning the flames of expectations, hades hath no fury like a college sports fan spurned. Part of the fanning of flames is the BYU homer media gang, but the coaches are adding to it. I did not like the article where the media reporter/columnist/beat writer or whatever his journalistic duties are referenced as, specifically made reference to Anae hearkening back to 1984 in a comparison of what BYU lost from 1983 to what BYU lost from 2006. I don't think it is wise for the HC to publically say that this squad is "reloading rather than rebuilding." In private he should build up his team, but I think there is wisdom in the oft repeated "we have a chance to be a good football team." In fact I enjoy hearing the personal or private evaluations years after, such as Lavell's comments about his undisputed National Championship team, that without question accomplished the greatest single team athletic achievement in the history of any University presently situated in the state of Utah, where Lavell said that he really knew he had something special when he came home from a Spring scrimmage where the offense and defense had really gotten after each other and said to Patty that he did not know how many games they would win but they would have a great football team. I hearken back to the fact that this is not the WAC of the early 1980s. BYU has not had back to back double digit winning seasons since Ty Detmer. Good years in Provo are not like good years in Vegas. If fans hear constant chatter about re-loading there will be significant stringpulling from the fanbase if BYU's offense does not look like it did against Oregon when the Y plays Arizona in Provo. It was dumb when Crowton fanned the flames with not real thought out comments about "homeruns waiting to happen." History has proven me right, and IndyCoug wrong, with respect to Crowton. Really the last two sentences had nothing to do with this post other than a gratuitous shot at Indy. Perhaps I am stringpulling over nothing, we shall see. I am just wondering if I am the only one scratching his head not totally convinced that this squad is likely to reload. Perhaps, it is all just semantics. I don't expect this squad to fall of the face of the earth but there is no way I do not forsee a drop in ability next year that is likely to result in one-three more losses than last season. I don't forsee another undefeated conference season. I expect BYU to be competitive, but I hearken back to BYU's more recent history of how well they play when coming off a great year like last year. I just think some tempering of expectations from the coaching staff instead of fanning them might be prudent. __________________ She had a psychiatrist who said because I didn't trust the water system, the school system, the government, I was paranoid," he said. "I had a psychiatrist who said her psychiatrist was stupid."

03-26-2007, 06:07 PM	#2
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	Discretion is the better part of valor. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

03-26-2007, 06:11 PM	#4
Surfah Master Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: F'burg, VA Posts: 3,211	Goat you kill me. I agree though. You lose your two tight ends, your tailback, your quarterback, some key offensive linemen and that's just on the offensive side of the ball. And I am supposed to believe that we're reloading at those positions? I am with you brother. __________________ Ernie Johnson: "Auburn is a pretty good school. To graduate from there I suppose you really need to work hard and put forth maximum effort." Charles Barkley: "20 pts and 10 rebounds will get you through also!"

03-26-2007, 06:43 PM	#5
myboynoah Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Memphis freakin' Tennessee!!!!! Posts: 4,530	I agree with you Goat. Keep young, impressionable minds hungry. __________________ Give 'em Hell, Cougars!!! Religion rises inevitably from our apprehension of our own death. To give meaning to meaninglessness is the endless quest of all religion. When death becomes the center of our consciousness, then religion authentically begins. Of all religions that I know, the one that most vehemently and persuasively defies and denies the reality of death is the original Mormonism of the Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Joseph Smith.

03-26-2007, 08:29 PM	#7
RockyBalboa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 7,297	I'm being cautiously optimisitc, but am not really sure what to expect. My expectations are tempered because bringing on a new QB who hasn't taken a snap in live action for 4 years...there's going to be a steep learning curve that will likely take a good half season or more. I think there is plenty of talent and depth at most positions, a lot of it young talent, but I like the direction Bronco is taking the program. I think 8 wins after losing so many Seniors and leaders would be a very successful season and set up BYU for a potential BCS run in 08' and 09'. __________________ Masquerading as Cougarguards very own genius dumbass since 05'.

03-26-2007, 06:09 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Lou Holtz probably had it right when it comes to psychology. And if Indy had his way, Crowton would still be presiding over a 2 win season. (there is nothing wrong with gratuitous shots at Indy).

03-26-2007, 07:45 PM	#6
Venkman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Jordan, UT Posts: 1,799	Nice post Goat. I'm pretty optimistic about this season, and I'm glad the coaches are as well, but when it comes to managing expectations, I tend to think a little sandbagging isn't a bad thing.

03-26-2007, 10:34 PM	#8
il Padrino Ute Board Pinhead Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement of my house, Murray, Utah. Posts: 15,941	I hadn't heard that Mendenhall was doing this. Not a smart idea. As you pointed out, college sports fans tend to expect talk to equate to reality. __________________ "The beauty of baseball is not having to explain it." - Chuck Shriver "This is now the joke that stupid people laugh at." - Christopher Hitchens on IQ jokes about GWB.

03-27-2007, 01:39 PM	#9
kccougar Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4	I am not so concerned Who let exUte on Couguard? Over the past several years Bronco has shown himself to be completely honest in his assessment of both the team and his performance as a coach. In my mind, he has earned credibility, in that if he says he is reloading, I will believe him. Sure, that might be construed as raising expectations, but expectations have already been raised by the team's performance on the field. I also think the effect is two-fold. Fans expectations may be raised, but I believe Bronco's intent is to set clear expectations for the players. He does not want them complacent - satisfied with the current level of performance. He is now making clear, during the spring, where he wants the team to be come fall.

03-27-2007, 02:36 PM	#10
hyrum Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 860	At this point optimism might be expected to help boost season ticket sales.