BYU Cougars Football: 5 Best and Worst Offseason Developments
This has been, without a doubt, the most interesting, intriguing, exciting and change-filled offseason ever in the history of BYU football.
And there are still two months left. So let's take a look at the highs and lows, shall we? In no particular order, by the way.
Obligatory shots at Wyoming, Utah and Craig Thompson included.
As always, follow me for thoughts, updates and shots at the ol' MWC at twitter.com/SportsGuyUtah
No. 5 Best Development: Cougars and Frogs to Fight in Texas
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BYU had a pretty meaty schedule lined up in February when the news came down that the Cougars and Horned Frogs had worked out a meeting for October 28 at luxurious Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.
This was a great development for two reasons:
- The schedule was good but, like fish tacos without a spritz of lime, was missing something. That something was a game in that venue.
- TCU head coach Gary Patterson made some headlines in August last year when his comments about BYU’s move to independence included some jabs at never playing the Frogs again.
No. 4 Best Development: ESPN and BYU Head out on the Honeymoon
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Not only did the Coug’s new relationship with the leader in sports broadcasting bring a slate of games to a national football audience for 2011, but it brought a slew of future high-profile games for the footballers from Provo.
BYU, at this writing, has games lined up with West Virginia, Notre Dame, Texas, Georgia Tech and Boise State, with rumored meetings with Wisconsin, Nebraska and the entire Pac-12 in the works.
Sure beats Wyoming, New Mexico and UNLV.
No. 3 Best Development: West Coast Conference TV Deal Announced
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I know, I know. I always seem to slip something off-topic in the list, but this was too good to be ignored. Jimmer may be gone, but we learned in the last couple weeks that, in addition to the seven BYU football games scheduled for ESPN broadcast this season, the 2011-2012 West Coast Conference basketball slate, which now features the Cougars, will feature BYU 12-15 times on "The Sports Leader."
So, while Jake Heaps and Co. will be in front of millions on Saturdays, the Cougar hoopsters will be in the same boat Tuesdays and Saturdays.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 2 Best Development: Ben Cahoon Is Brought in as Receivers Coach
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I’ve written about this at length so, to avoid being repetitive, I’ll make this one simple. Cahoon brings a philosophy of great hands, great routes and hard work to a receiving corps that might just be BYU’s most talented ever with Cody Hoffman, Ross Apo and McKay Jacobson.
Not to mention, 1+2=300 yards per game for Jake Heaps.
No. 1 Best Development: Brandon Doman Gets the O-Coordinator Job
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It was a drama made for BYUtv.
Former offensive coordinator Robert Anae is now at Arizona.
The program’s most hyped quarterback ever is coming off an impressive second half to his rookie season.
And the man leading the offense is former Cougar QB and former quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman.
This is almost universally seen as a great move by Cougar nation for a myriad of reasons. Most important is the level of engagement, intensity and accountability Doman brings to a unit that had become sloppy and was led by a stoic figure in Anae.
Doman is in a prime position to succeed, as he inherits a squad with experience winning, and one that will be intact at the skill positions for up to three years.
Not-so-Good Developments in No Particular Order Starting with 2011 Home Games
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BYU fans are downright giddy at the prospects that future schedule slates offer in terms of home opponents. But not in 2011.
While the Cougars will face Texas, TCU, Oregon State, Ole Miss and Hawaii, those games are all away from the comfort of Lavell Edwards Stadium.
The home slate is highlighted by visits from Utah and Central Florida (who should actually be pretty good this year). But after that, it’s a who’s who of middling-to-poor FBS programs mostly from rural and austere outposts.
San Jose State, New Mexico State, Utah State, Idaho State and Idaho aren’t impressing any season ticket holders (or pollsters, for that matter).
But at least fans will see wins—and really, it’s not much worse than New Mexico, UNLV and Wyoming. At least the team doesn’t have to make return trips to Las Cruxes, Moscow and Pocatello.
An Average Recruiting Class
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BYU can't match the pay schools like Auburn can offer recruits like Cam Newton.
And the class isn’t necessarily unimpressive in terms of quality, but it lacked two key things that make for great classes: quantity and headliners.
The class is led by Ryker Mathews, who is certainly a great get and should make an immediate impact, but there isn’t the Jake Heaps-like headliner Cougar fans wish to get perennially.
With just 15 signees, it’s one of the smallest classes in the program’s recent history.
However, it’s important to note that there wasn’t a tremendous need for new players in the program as the mission program shuffle will bring a ton of players back in the next couple years.
Changing Rivalries
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I know this is going to read like an about-face for those of you who have read my articles in the past.
After all, I riled up a bunch of trailer park residents in The Land of Enchantment with this effort:
And I made a poor Wyoming fan cry when I argued why BYU is better of without the MWC in this article:
BYU Football: Dispelling the Myths Against Independence
But, after a little reflection, one of the things Cougar fans will miss, whether they like it or not, is the way traditional rivalries will change.
BYU players hated the week, but the Air Force rivalry was a good one. San Diego State and BYU played tight ones in both the recent, and distant past. And Cougar fans will certainly miss beating up on Wyoming and poking (pun intended) fun at the Cowboy’s uniforms, cheerleaders and home on the range.
But more than anything, the downside to independence is the change in nature of the rivalry with Utah.
Holding the game early in the season will dilute the impact of the rivalry. Argue against it all you want, but the annual tilt with the Utes won’t hold the same water without conference implications and the backdrop of Rivalry Week at the end of the season.
However, magic will still happen.
No Conference Affiliation
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While it’s not as big a deal as the media likes to make it out to be, there’s still something lost in not having the chance to win a conference title, earn conference honors and hang a banner in the stadium.
Some argue players will have trouble getting motivated to finish out seasons with nothing to play for, but I’ve never seen Notre Dame have issues.
To be fair, there is something there and there’s a certain luster lost in not being able to tell your rival you dominated them in conference domination and the stats don't lie.
Chase Hansen Chooses Utah over BYU
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Sure, the local media and Utah fans are making a bigger deal about this than it should be. But the incident is still worth noting, as local player (and son of a BYU player) Chase Hansen picked Utah over BYU.
The rub with Cougar fans was his citing of PAC-12 affiliation being a factor, as well as the fact that he’s the prototypical BYU recruit.
But it’s also likely Hansen, who plays QB in high school, hopes to play that position at the next level and sees a better shot at doing so against less fierce competition on The Hill.
Either way, it’s a loss that stings, but one that will be short-lived. After all, he can always change his mind on his mission, right?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
