BYU-Air Force Post-Game Wrap-Up

After taking some time to think about Saturday’s game, I was able to look at the game objectively.  While our team’s performance was adequate, it left me anxious. Yet at the same time, I was encouraged by our team’s resilience and ability to limit big play opportunities and leave Colorado Springs with a win.

With regards to improving each week, I think the Cougars set themselves up for a great game next week.

I pinned this game as one of the most important games of the year.  Both teams needed a win, both teams were capable of winning, and both teams play with phenomenal effort and execution.

As a fan, the game offered every emotion.  I was frustrated that the AFA’s fullback was able to rush for so many yards, but I was ecstatic that the Falcons couldn’t complete any long play action passes.

I was frustrated by the penalties throughout the game, but I was all smiles as the Cougars marched up and down the field when they needed to.

I was mad that Air Force was running their mouths during the game, but I was encouraged by the amount of emotion the coaching staff and team displayed throughout the game.

I believe that our team improved against Air Force and gave Utah enough to worry about.  Radio keeps talking about the Utes defense and how Sakoda is going to be translated after this season.  Everyone keeps talking about how on paper BYU just doesn’t have the defensive abilities to stop Brian Johnson’s lead attack.

You would think after the past four years of the Rivalry, people would stop paying attention to box scores, statistics, and paperweight advantages. This year’s rivalry will come down to one thing: Does BYU want to disrupt Utah’s BCS dreams bad enough to play a complete game?

Against Air Force we showed flashes of composure, but we haven’t shown the consistency needed to silence the Utes since we played UCLA.  I am talking about big hits, high fives, chest bumps, great field position, physical tackling, and the capability to finish a team in the fourth quarter.

Our defense was close against Air Force, but AFA’s seven-play, 85-yard drive in the fourth quarter didn’t sit well with me after the game was over.  If there was a time when we needed our defense to dig deep, it was then, and they just didn’t make the plays needed in that particular situation.

A team has to be able to rely on their individual confidence in late game situations.  Each side of the ball has to feel as if they could win the game, but I don’t know if both sides of the ball have that confidence in each other.

I am encouraged by our team's overall attitude. Both sides of the ball, and special teams, demonstrated the emotion needed to win against Air Force.  Against Utah the emotion will automatically be there, but the team that can harness that raw emotion and make it work for them is the team that will end up piled in the Northern end zone.

Air Force is a good football team—good enough to take Utah to the last play, and good enough to lose to BYU by 14. How can BYU be ready for Utah?

That’s a great question, but I would start Monday’s meeting with two video clips: one, the final drive from 2006, and two, last year's final drive for the win. Then I would proceed to tell the players about all the tough games they have won this year, turning their minds to their personal, on field performances.

I would end by asking them to deposit the toughest week of practice of their lives so that on Saturday they could take a giant withdrawal and leave their final game this season with a smile on their face and a fist in the air.

Until The End.