I'm TELLING you guys

[SpiffCoug]

Well, this thread has taken an interesting turn - it starts out with my declaration that this will be a special season for BYU football - and now it has disintegrated into an argument about whether Riley or Riley (as in..Nelson or Stephenson) are to blame for the loss at TCU last year, and whether or not the Utah State win last year was a good win or not.

Allow me to get us back on track:

I'm TELLING You guys - this is going to be a kick ASS year for BYU football.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - THIS IS OUR YEAR.

I'd say I'm already booking my ticket to Phoenix in January...but I already live here, so no need!

Agreed. I think we're going to have a very special year.

[hawkwing]

Well, this thread has taken an interesting turn - it starts out with my declaration that this will be a special season for BYU football - and now it has disintegrated into an argument about whether Riley or Riley (as in..Nelson or Stephenson) are to blame for the loss at TCU last year, and whether or not the Utah State win last year was a good win or not.

Allow me to get us back on track:

I'm TELLING You guys - this is going to be a kick ASS year for BYU football.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - THIS IS OUR YEAR.

I'd say I'm already booking my ticket to Phoenix in January...but I already live here, so no need!

Agreed. I think we're going to have a very special year.

I can really see this as being one of the years that Cougar fans look back on and talk about for years to come, ala '84, '85, '96, '01.

[byutx]

I won't dwell on the off the field stuff, suffice it to say I'll be happy when certain "leaders" graduate.

I think the off the field stuff has been hashed apart and no one really knows anything. Certainly lots of fiery opinions out there about how things have played out though. So when these "leaders" graduate and BYU goes back to wondering where to get leadership you'll be more excited?

As far as certainty, I just don't think it's the kind of year where anything can happen. I don't think we have much of a chance to bust the BCS. Furthermore, I think we go into all but 1 or 2 games knowing the outcome. The games I think we will win I don't think I have much doubt about and the same goes for the ones I think we will lose.

Not much different from any other year for BYU football, or anyU college team really. There are gimme games and games you should win and a couple that will be toss ups. It sounds like you've just tempered expectations a little.

I don't see us winning more than 9 regular season games. Could we win out? I admit it's possible. But I will believe we can beat Utah when I see it (mostly for psychological reasons and because our guys don't get up for it the way the yewts do) or a talented BCS program like ND on the road. My guess is we split GT/BSU.

I agree for the most part, but BYU definitely "got up" for the utah game last year. They were cleary the more determined team through the first half. It didn't help though.

Again, I think I'm not as excited because I don't feel like (RN should be qb)it's a year where anything can happen and our reward will be a bowl in SoCal against the #2 or #3 MWC team. I guess AFA or Nevada would be decent but certainly not ideal opponents.

Again, how is this year any different than any other BYU season? I know you dislike RN and you were fully invested in JH, but are you really going to let that ruin your excitement for BYU football?

For this year, yes my excitement has been damaged. For me it has been a perfect storm of football schedule, conference afiliation, off the field mess and also being very busy at work. I'm just not as excited about the season. It is what it is.

To answer your question, I can't think of a year where I felt more confident that I knew the outcome going into the season. For instance, going into the season last year, IIRC, I wasn't sure of the outcome of Ole Miss, Texas, Utah and UCF. I was farily certain we would lose to TCU but still had my hopes up we could pull it off. I think the newness of Indy was also exciting.

Joe Glenn salute or not - this season could be a blessing in disguise for you. Less of a roller coaster ride emotionally. Less of a crash from the steep fall. Just watch those two games. Surely none of the others will be close and interesting and full of drama. And surely there won't be any amazing plays to watch or personal achievements to follow.

Again - I expect 8-9 wins including the Bowl game - just like you do. Sucks to be you, because I expect to have a lot of fun watching it unfold and hoping for some miracle to give BYU that coveted 10 win season.

I hope Riley Nelson has a great season and makes you wallow in every minute of it - but I agree - something more ordinary is more likely.

No Heisman or anything resembling that. Just a guy from a small town playing his heart out for the Blue and White as the team continues to bounce back from 2010 and the first half of 2011.

I am shocked that you were more excited about that period in history - any student of the game not blinded by hype could have seen that coming and it was often not fun to watch.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

I'm interested to know why you think I wouldnt want to watch all 13 games. I will. Decked out all in blue with my game day themed tailgate food for every game. I will watch the prevalence show, listen to the call in show after the games just like every year. I will cheer the highs and be bummed at the lows. Just maybe not as bummed as I would've been in years past

And as for who is for blame at hype from the past, look no further than coach mendenhall who said last years team at the end Of camp was the most prepared team he had ever had at that juncture in the year. If you recall, they ended camp quite a bit early, including a couple extra days off. But perhaps you mean to say that bronco and Brandon doman aren't students of the game.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

They missed it. Based on workout no shows - should have seen leadership and timing issues coming. Doman was new and Bronco admits knowing little about offense. A Student of the game could have seen the new coaches having growing pains too - and Heaps had some new stuff to absorb, but had skipped workouts.

If you try to enjoy this season - you will. Doman said the offense is moving the ball much better than 2011. Maybe Doman has learned how to spot a problem.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

So you're sticking with the idea that Bronco and Doman are not students of the game? I've always said that I don't think that Bronco is by any means an overwhelmingly smart man-far from it, actually. But I have a hard time saying that Doman isn't a student of the game. But I guess you know more than them.

[jonnylingo]

I for one will take a win at Utah State and a 10 win season over a loss and a non-bowl eligible team.

I would to. Glad they made the switch.

So we agree that Riley Nelson has proved himself beyond what Jake Heaps did.

Yes, in that ONE game, I would agree, but not necessarily overall. Their records seem pretty equal to me. Beat up crappy teams, lose to good teams.

You are either blinded by Jake's Porential - even now - or by needing to be right.

Jake LOST to teams BYU was favored to beat. More than once, actually. Almost lost to some others. Besting a crippled UTEP team hardly compares to beating a Tulsa team that, had only list to 4 Top 15 or so teams.

Blinded. Simply Blinded.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Riley has not won a big game yet. He will have his chance in about three weeks.

[byutx]

I can really see this as being one of the years that Cougar fans look back on and talk about for years to come, ala '84, '85, '96, '01.

Man, I sure hope so. I think it will be more like a Kevin Feterik type year. A couple good wins, a couple heartbreaking losses, likely one big loss. I see a 1999 or a 2008 type year. Help thou mine unbelief.

[SpiffCoug]

I don't think it will be like 1999. In 1999, BYU started great, Staley got hurt and the season fell apart. BYU started 1999 8-1 (losing on a bogus holding call against Virginia at home) and finished 8-4.

If BYU does not have a special season, I don't think we'll have to wait until November to find out the team just isn't that good.

The two games in five days stretch of Utah and Boise St will tell us an awful lot. If BYU sweeps those games, I don't think we lose.

Beating Utah is going to be a ginormous task. Being able to follow up that kind of huge with, on a super short turn around will take more mental fortitude than BYU has demonstrated in nearly half a decade.

BYU starts 4-0, then we're an extremely mentally tough team that will be able to rise up to any challenge in 2012.

[Lawboy]

If BYU starts 3-0, it will be a special season. Will only be 2nd time Bronco has pulled that feat off. And if he does, worst case in my book from there is 10-2. WIth this schedule on the road, that is pretty special.

[jonnylingo]

10 and 2 would be a big accomplishment this year.

[SpiffCoug]

If BYU starts 3-0, it will be a special season. Will only be 2nd time Bronco has pulled that feat off. And if he does, worst case in my book from there is 10-2. WIth this schedule on the road, that is pretty special.

Agreed.

10 and 2 would be a big accomplishment this year.

And Agreed.

[tww]

Give me 4-0 and everything else is icing on the cake.