BYU-Miss St series 2016 (Provo) and 2017 (Starkville)

[Cougs_Rule]

Ah yes, because someone disagrees with you, they must be "irrational." It seems to me like a good home and home, with no pseudo-neutral games and that takes place in the near future, especially with us hosting first, is definitely something to celebrate. I don't see it as Holmoe selling us out or selling us short.

How many have complained that we haven't gotten "big wins" or beat teams that finished ranked? You know why some other schools have more of those wins? Because they play more of those games. If you have little faith that we can compete in a P5 conference, then I can see why you might be upset by playing a P5 schedule, but if you "irrationally" believe that we could compete in a P5 conference (not meaning that we'd go undefeated, but that we'll be competitive and take some games from big-name schools) then it seems like something to celebrate.

I have very little problem with people disagreeing. I have an issue with cowardice in down voting without having a debate. Actually I could care less about the weenie voting system on CC, particularly the negative votes. The more the better. The more that happen the closer CC is to seeing the silliness of this system.

Perhaps the system is in place to act as a red flag for those who can't tell for themselves how disagreeable their tone has become. Differing opinions are good, but bad attitudes can wear thin. We all suffer from that same problem from time to time, myself generously included. That's why we downvote posts, and not posters. We all have moods, and we can all change.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Don't worry, I know and could care less.

couldn't

Lol. That's awesome. I stand corrected.

[Cougs_Rule]

What this move to a "P5 schedule" means is an abandonment of the middle ground goal of making a NY6 bowl--if that weren't ambitious enough. Oh one could argue that it doesn't matte and this is just "preparation" for a P5 inclusion; and as there are few absolutes and dichotomies, let me state some probabilities.
If BYU with a G5 schedule had a 15-20% chance of making a NY6 bowl, BYU with P5 schedules will now have a about a 3% chance at best with team loaded with NFL caliber guys like a Taysom or a Kyle. In other words, kiss NY6 goodbye let alone the even more laughable Undefeated season and NC.
But hey good news: BYU will get to more regularly test itself against the best in the country, as if it didn't already know it is nothing more than a mid-major, P5 wannabe,3rd place team at best in the MWC. I mean seriously. People have lost their heads and any shred of perspective. BYU doesn't recruit team talent to compete in a P5 world and it never will. Oh to chase the fantasy that BYU is good enough and worthy to play in the P5 sandbox.
Well, I guess if the gamble pays off and BYU lands in the only remaining remotely viable option of the Big 12, maybe it's worth it. See you guys soon in a movie called "2015: 6-6" and its sequel, "2016: 5-7."

[Cougarfan87]

What this move to a "P5 schedule" means is an abandonment of the middle ground goal of making a NY6 bowl--if that weren't ambitious enough. Oh one could argue that it doesn't matte and this is just "preparation" for a P5 inclusion; and as there are few absolutes and dichotomies, let me state some probabilities.
If BYU with a G5 schedule had a 15-20% chance of making a NY6 bowl, BYU with P5 schedules will now have a about a 3% chance at best with team loaded with NFL caliber guys like a Taysom or a Kyle. In other words, kiss NY6 goodbye let alone the even more laughable Undefeated season and NC.
But hey good news: BYU will get to more regularly test itself against the best in the country, as if it didn't already know it is nothing more than a mid-major, P5 wannabe,3rd place team at best in the MWC. I mean seriously. People have lost their heads and any shred of perspective. BYU doesn't recruit team talent to compete in a P5 world and it never will. Oh to chase the fantasy that BYU is good enough and worthy to play in the P5 sandbox.
Well, I guess if the gamble pays off and BYU lands in the only remaining remotely viable option of the Big 12, maybe it's worth it. See you guys soon in a movie called "2015: 6-6" and its sequel, "2016: 5-7."

Nah. It will be 13-0 and 9-4 (in a growth year for Mangum). You just need to have a little more faith.

Seriously though, I agree with the other poster who said that BYU cannot complain about being dissed for a weak schedule and then avoid playing good teams. I think Holmoe is getting it right. Nebraska just fired its HC. It is not going to be a world beater in game one next year. Missippi State will lose its great QB, and then it is probably back to mediocrity for them. These are not world beater teams. These are teams BYU can beat if it plays well. Now, LSU...eh...I guess for that one I would have to say I didn't really think we would beat Oklahoma in 09 either, but we went bear hunting with a spear and slayed the beast. Who knows what is going to happen? Win or lose, I will still follow BYU and be excited about who we are playing next. I mean, if I made it through the Crowton years (losing seasons to MWC teams), and that was really, really difficult,I can certainly make it through any hard seasons ahead... even if you're predictions do come true. To those who can't, there's a team up North you can root for. It's full of bandwagon fans.

[Fido]

You're not gonna get ready to knock out Mike Tyson by boxing the neighborhood girl scout troop.

I know. Obviously the only way to get ready to knock out Iron Mike is to fight no one but Mike Tyson or his caliber of fighter. Last thing you would want to do is fight a series of lesser boxers to hone your skill and craft and tune yourself up to the big fight. You fight Mike Tyson or no one.



Possibly the worst analogy I've seen on this board since Cougarbib.

Isn't honing their craft against lesser talent what BYU has been doing for decades?

[snoscythe]

To be clear--I am not saying we should avoid playing powerhouses. I am looking for balance in the schedule. A cupcake or two, a few mid-majors we should beat, a few toss-up games, and a couple measuring-stick games against a powerhouse or two. That, and a balance between home-and-away games. Even teams that play in P5 conferences look for that balance.

My criticism is for seasons where we overschedule and for fans who only want to play the top-12 teams every season.

[mormonrasta]

What this move to a "P5 schedule" means is an abandonment of the middle ground goal of making a NY6 bowl--if that weren't ambitious enough. Oh one could argue that it doesn't matte and this is just "preparation" for a P5 inclusion; and as there are few absolutes and dichotomies, let me state some probabilities.
If BYU with a G5 schedule had a 15-20% chance of making a NY6 bowl, BYU with P5 schedules will now have a about a 3% chance at best with team loaded with NFL caliber guys like a Taysom or a Kyle. In other words, kiss NY6 goodbye let alone the even more laughable Undefeated season and NC.
But hey good news: BYU will get to more regularly test itself against the best in the country, as if it didn't already know it is nothing more than a mid-major, P5 wannabe,3rd place team at best in the MWC. I mean seriously. People have lost their heads and any shred of perspective. BYU doesn't recruit team talent to compete in a P5 world and it never will. Oh to chase the fantasy that BYU is good enough and worthy to play in the P5 sandbox.
Well, I guess if the gamble pays off and BYU lands in the only remaining remotely viable option of the Big 12, maybe it's worth it. See you guys soon in a movie called "2015: 6-6" and its sequel, "2016: 5-7."

Except we're not playing a P5 schedule. We are playing an "in between" P5 and G5 schedule.

P5 teams usually play 9-10 other P5 teams each year. In 2015 we're playing 4. In 2016 we're playing 6. In 2017 we've got 3. In 2018 we've got 5.

It's not like all these games are against elite programs either. Miss St., Arizona and Utah are all unquestionably middling to lower end P5 programs despite their collective success last year.

To me, our scheduling philosophy is perfect. We have enough good games to allow us national exposure and respect when we actually deserve it, but enough games against lesser teams that make winning seasons attainable every year.

[Cougarfan87]

What this move to a "P5 schedule" means is an abandonment of the middle ground goal of making a NY6 bowl--if that weren't ambitious enough. Oh one could argue that it doesn't matte and this is just "preparation" for a P5 inclusion; and as there are few absolutes and dichotomies, let me state some probabilities.
If BYU with a G5 schedule had a 15-20% chance of making a NY6 bowl, BYU with P5 schedules will now have a about a 3% chance at best with team loaded with NFL caliber guys like a Taysom or a Kyle. In other words, kiss NY6 goodbye let alone the even more laughable Undefeated season and NC.
But hey good news: BYU will get to more regularly test itself against the best in the country, as if it didn't already know it is nothing more than a mid-major, P5 wannabe,3rd place team at best in the MWC. I mean seriously. People have lost their heads and any shred of perspective. BYU doesn't recruit team talent to compete in a P5 world and it never will. Oh to chase the fantasy that BYU is good enough and worthy to play in the P5 sandbox.
Well, I guess if the gamble pays off and BYU lands in the only remaining remotely viable option of the Big 12, maybe it's worth it. See you guys soon in a movie called "2015: 6-6" and its sequel, "2016: 5-7."

Except we're not playing a P5 schedule. We are playing an "in between" P5 and G5 schedule.

P5 teams usually play 9-10 other P5 teams each year. In 2015 we're playing 4. In 2016 we're playing 6. In 2017 we've got 3. In 2018 we've got 5.

It's not like all these games are against elite programs either. Miss St., Arizona and Utah are all unquestionably middling to lower end P5 programs despite their collective success last year.

To me, our scheduling philosophy is perfect. We have enough good games to allow us national exposure and respect when we actually deserve it, but enough games against lesser teams that make winning seasons attainable every year.

You said it much more succintly and eloquently. I think we are right where we need to be now. The schedules are starting to shape up nicely in the future with good home and home deals.

[YNot]

Except we're not playing a P5 schedule. We are playing an "in between" P5 and G5 schedule.

P5 teams usually play 9-10 other P5 teams each year. In 2015 we're playing 4. In 2016 we're playing 6. In 2017 we've got 3. In 2018 we've got 5.

It's not like all these games are against elite programs either. Miss St., Arizona and Utah are all unquestionably middling to lower end P5 programs despite their collective success last year.

To me, our scheduling philosophy is perfect. We have enough good games to allow us national exposure and respect when we actually deserve it, but enough games against lesser teams that make winning seasons attainable every year.

Interestingly, BYU had the #38 schedule in 2013. We played SIX P5 opponents - Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Utah, Georgia Tech - PLUS Boise St., Houston and Utah St. didn't hurt. Our schedule was tougher than at least 27 P5 programs.

2012 and 2014 were true tweener schedules. #60 in 2012 and #69 in 2014. We had good top-end in 2012 (#2 Notre Dame!), but too many poor games (Weber St., Idaho, NMSU, Hawaii). In 2014, we lacked top-end competition (#16 was our toughest game) and that #251 Savannah St. matchup was just awful - about the worst FCS opponent available.

IMO, 2015 looks more like 2013 than it does 2012 or 2014. Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan, and UCLA will be good P5 matchups. Boise St., Cincinnati, and Utah St. will be good G5 opponents. Fresno St., ECU, and SJSU won't suck and should be at least top-100.

2016 and on, we should easily be in the top-50 schedules, and likely often in the top-30 or better. Those schedules still might be "tweener" in perception, but they will easily be P5-level in reality.

[scott715]

Maybe we only have 3-6 P5 games but they are good solid teams and the G5 teams are about as good as p5. That's how the schedule can get rated #38 and better than about half of the P5 teams. We are avoiding the lower tier P5 teams.

I do wish we could play a team like Kansas instead of a Savanna St. I don't want to play any cupcakes except for a P5 cupcake.

[YNot]

I don't mind cupcakes. But, why can't we get MAC or Sun Belt or C-USA cupcakes to come to Provo for payday games instead of FCS? We would much rather see Toledo or Kent St. or Texas State than Savannah St. or Wagner.

I'm also with scott715. I would like to see a series or two with Kansas or Purdue or Wake Forest on the schedule. Although, I'm sure it's pretty tough to get them to be willing to travel to Provo for a potential loss. Those P5 schools would rather play Toledo or Kent St. or Texas St. at home OOC.