This is Matt Allen and I really miss playing BYU football on Saturdays (and sometimes Thursdays). I miss doing the Haka before the game. I miss calling the coin toss and seeing Nate Meikle out there with his microphone and head set doing KSL’s dirty work. I miss the green grass, the blue stands, the yellow flags and the red-faced opposing coaches. I miss the BBBBBBB – YYYYYYY – UUUUUUU – COUGARS late in the second half. I miss signing autographs (although I did sign someone’s scriptures and a pass-along card the other day at church). I miss Coach Mendenhall coming into the locker room jumping up and down after a big win! I miss the players most of all, but its fun to see their names and comments pop up on this website every once in a while.

I am now removed, physically, from Provo. My family and I are living in South Pasadena, California while I am attending Physical Therapy school at USC. Every time I tell people that I go to USC they ask me if I’m a Trojan fan now. I tell them that it’s hard to convert when the program that I put so much energy into over the past 5 years has an identical record as this perennial powerhouse. Needless to say, I’ve made a lot of BYU fans out of my classmates. That being said, I regretfully have only been able to watch a few BYU games this year as Time-Warner Cable doesn’t carry the MTN. Thank goodness for Greg Wrubell on KSL.com. Here in California we have learned to live with the smog and the traffic, and ignore all the “No on Prop. 8″ protests. We actually really love it here.

This is a very important week for all of us, and while I have so many great memories of my playing days that I would love to reflect on right now, it would be inappropriate to mention anything other than the BYU/Utah rivalry past and present. Above I mentioned things that I really miss about donning the Y on my chest on the weekends. However, there are also some things that I do NOT miss, and most of them revolve around this week. For instance: I do not miss trying to ignore all the hype created by the fans and media. You hear it said all the time and I know it is annoying, but as a player it really is just another game. So much is made of this rivalry by the outside that the minute you give into hype, your focus is gone and it’s difficult to not get distracted. However, now that I’m on the other side, it is easy to see what the fuss is all about. All I want to do now is read more about what this coach may have said or what ward these two opposing players grew up in together. As a fan it’s awesome!

I also do not miss the irritating phone calls, text messages, and emails I received from cowardly, anonymous Ute fans (not players) telling me – in their own derogatory descriptive words – how BYU was going to lose. Many of our players started receiving these gestures immediately following our game the previous week (we literally had not boarded the airplane to come back to Provo before our phones started ringing) and continued to receive them right up until game time the next week. Yeah, I don’t miss that at all – GET A LIFE!

I will never miss playing games at Rice-Eccles Stadium. In fact, if I never make it back there again, it’ll be just fine with me. Aside from how they treat our fans (many of you will know more about that than myself), the Ute faithful have a definite impact on the game. Some players will tell you that they can completely ignore the crowd while they play. That is impossible up there. First of all their “fight” song is annoying! All of their fans are in red which color has been proven to elevate one’s heart rate by just looking at it. And just when your heart starts pounding, your ears begin ringing from the deafening crowd noise. The loudest opposing stadium I have ever played in (the only time I’ve ever heard anything louder was the earthquake that erupted after we converted on 4th and 18 last season). I have never felt like fans were able to impact our players’ execution on the field. But not being able to hear your own voice clearly as you yell at the top of your lungs to the player lined up next to you, wears on you after a while.

One of the best moments of my life was when that noise was silenced! Johnny on his knees with a ball in his hands. For just a fraction of a second there was no sound at all. I still remember that moment as if time were standing still. The silence was broken by the overjoyed celebrations of the Cougar faithful in that stadium. A vast minority in that venue, but their voices were proud representations of cheers being hollered in unison all across the nation.

I’d give just about anything to be back on the field listening to those cheers again this Saturday.

Go Cougars!

AP Photo Douglas Pizac

First and foremost, Quinn, you are doing a marvelous job of giving priceless insight to Cougar Nation.  With all the catchpenny rubbish and hearsay that I’ve read on all the other sites, it’s quite refreshing to come onto your blog and read an intricate, even “doctrinal” analysis of the game from a intelligent and articulate player’s point of view.
To all you cougar fans out there, if you wish to satiate that thirst for true knowledge of the game of football, and how the Cougs play it, don’t be an ignoramus, read Quinn’s blog and tell your friends.

At any rate, this is Ben Criddle the washed up walk-on #21.  How time flies, just two years ago I was in Colorado Springs handing out a thrashing to the Cadets of Air Force Academy.  Nostalgia plagues each and every one of the former Cougs, and I’ve cried a few times as I’ve watched my team run out of the tunnel without me.  But, on to bigger and better things right?  At this moment I am living in the infamous Ute country, a few blocks away from Rice Eccles stadium preaching the word to my lost brethren.  Nah, but I am working at the UofU Orthopedic Center doing orthopedic sales, specifically bracing hoping to open up a CPM line soon.  I work with all of the team docs for the Utes, and we have a weekly meeting to discuss games, stats, and predictions for the upcoming games.  We also find time to talk trash about each others teams, which is quite entertaining.  Medical sales has been a great fit for me thus far.  I love working with the patients, doctors, and the pay isn’t too bad either.  One of these days when I find an eternal companion, hopefully I’ll be able to support her in her spending habits.  If any of you bloggers know of any cute, spiritual, funny, athletic and ambitious girls, send them my way.=)

My other extra curricular activities include, coaching a flag football team of 7yr olds, writing a book, and working on my musical talents.  My 7yr olds went 8-0 this year!  I implemented an intricate offense with 7 different formations and over 45 plays.  I had some amazing athletes; the only downer to the whole season came at the conception of our season when I asked them “if they wanted to be called the Cougars or Utes?”  It was an 9 to 2 vote in favor of the Utes……heartbreaking indeed.  The book I am writing is called “Walk On” -Living the Dream-.  The book’s main purpose is to instill in the young men of the church, the desire to build a stronger mutually beneficial relationship with the Lord.  I also plan to share insights about the life of a walk-on and the singular experiences that come with being a walk-on.  My musical endeavors will also be intertwined hopefully with the book.  I’ve been working on classical voice for 7 years now, and have finally built up enough confidence to consider making an album.  I’ll also be posting on Quinn’s blog a song by Troy Sheide and myself called, “The Ode To The Scout Team” soon.  It’s a comical number expressing the life of a walk-on/scout team player.  Troy and I hope that we can set up a downloadable version for your Ipods, I know you will enjoy it.  The two times we performed it live, we received standing ovations. =)

My current connection with the program is not as strong as I wish it could be.  I’m still an avid fan, attending some games in person and watching others on TV.  I miss the game dearly and I’m looking for ways to stay involved with the program.  I believe my book will help in the recruiting process for the football program though and build a stronger connection with program.  You can only give out so many scholarships as an DIV I team, but I’m hoping to persuade those in-betweeners (like i was), who had small school schollie offers, to walk-on instead.  I have strong opinions about the choice I made, and I’ve weighed out the positives and negatives to each scenario for the future prospects.  My dream (although unfeasible to some) is to have every worthy LDS football prospect coming to BYU, with or without a scholarship.  Thus, I’m not as connected as I want to be, but I’m looking for ways to stay involved, just like Quinn has done with this beautiful blog.

I have so many favorite memories as a BYU football player it’s ridiculous. The walk-on tryout and making the team. Singing in the walk-on locker room with all the other scrubs. Breaking up a pass the first day of practice against Todd Watkins and accidentally tackling him, then subsequently getting yelled and cursed at by John Beck for possibly hurting our star WR.  Talks with Bronco Mendenhall, Ode To The Scout Team, Locker room ping pong matches, Starting in my first DIV I football game, breaking up a number of passes, making plays and realizing my potential.  “Caught for the Touchdown! Caught for the Touchdown!” 4th and 18.  And of course Vegas Bowl 2007, the blocked field goal. I loved it all!  I lived a dream indeed.

I arrived on campus just before Coach Mendenahall started his first season as head coach.  When I got there, the “weeding out” was almost complete.  Yeah, there will be transfers here and there, but most of it had already taken place.  I witnessed a mediocre season in 2005 from the stands.  I chose to red-shirt that season because I didn’t want to waste a year of eligibility just playing special teams.  I then saw how the players rallied together, taking the counsel of our coaches, applying it and then reaping the fruits of our labor for two years.  Our coaching staff is amazing, and we should be grateful, and be hoping that we don’t lose any of them.

My expectations for the rest of the season are these.

If our defense does not put in the extra time to watch film and to be assignment sound Utah will beat us.  Individually they are not watching enough film and visualizing themselves making plays as they come to them.  It shows on film, there’s no hiding it.  They are not doing their homework.  Our secondary and linebackers should watch at least 8 hours of film individually this week.  I’m begging you to.  If you want.. call me .. I’ll watch it with you!  If that happens, we beat Utah, take a piece of the MWC title, have a minute chance of BCS (doubtful) but we go bowling a beat a Pac 10 team.

If everyone sticks around for their senior seasons (which i think they will) we go into next season nationally ranked again with a chance to bust the BCS.  We don’t have enough experience on the O-line to protect max like we have in the past, but the talent is there, but it depends on their work ethic.  We will need a QB in the near future though.  I haven’t seen anything promising in the ranks thus far, and I know a good QB when I see one.. trust me.  There’s talent, but a lack of ambition, drive and competitive nature is festering amongst our younger QB’s.  They don’t realize the hours both John and Max have put in tossing the football and watching film in the off-season.

If you got any questions feel free to shoot me a line.  Keep up the good work Quinn!

Ben Criddle

Well a little about myself since, BYU. After the draft and attending Camp,-with the New York Jets- I was able to continue playing this great game and get paid to do it. Because I was drafted my Junior year in college in the CFL draft, to the Toronto Argonauts. I was able to pursue my dream to play professional football, and I signed a 4 year deal up North. It has been a great experience. My family and I have been able to spend 5 months of the year in Toronto and then we were able to buy a home in Cedar Hills, Utah. So it has been really a great life for us.

Last season, my wife gave birth to our little girl Saydie Ann, and next week she turns 1 years old. She was born up here in Canada, so she is a dual citizen. After the season last year, we came home bought our home and spent a lot of time decorating and moving in, and getting comfortable. I also spent a lot of time and effort, building my Real Estate business. I got licensed as a Realtor and really worked hard getting connected with top real estate Investors in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. I was able to not only learn the business and develop some great networks, but also expand my personal portfolio, by purchasing more rental properties in Provo and developmental property in Canada.

Last season my team had a very disappointing ending, as we were divisional champs and lost our playoff game that would have sent us to the Grey Cup Game -Canada’s Super Bowl. This season has been pretty tough as our team has really struggled losing more games than we have won. Our coach has been fired and management has been juggling player personnel like musical chairs. This has been one of the toughest parts of playing Pro football. You spend time making good friends with teammates, just to show up the next day at work and have their lockers cleaned out. It’s a pretty “cut throat” business, very little to no loyalties. This is definitely a performance based business and even more a, “what have you done for me lately?” business. There are the constant threats of, if you don’t get it done its “ding ding” “DOD” -Dinner on Delta. But aside from the pressures of the game it’s still football, and I love it. We will finish up our season at the end of the month and then it’s back to Utah, where I will continue building a business in this tough economy. I am hoping that my business ventures will allow me to walk away from the game and be financially independent, before I can’t walk anymore altogether.

I have been so excited to watch BYU this season. Unfortunately I have not been able to see the games up here, since I don’t have satellite. But I have been able to listen on the Radio, and it has been great. In the Pro’s all the guys still have a ton of pride for their college teams and often there is a lot of betting and trash talking about college football in the locker room. BYU has made it easy for me the last two years, and I’m able to rub in wins over UW to former QB Cody Pickett, and the win over UCLA, was great to rub in the face of former RB Tyler Ebell.

Anyway I have so many great memories at BYU. I remember clearly the transition from Coach Crowton to Mendenhall. I remember the secret meeting with AD Tom Holmoe, I remember a large number of players, very scared that Bronco would get the job and that they would have to do pursuits. I remember a lot of players wanting to transfer and I remember the off-season conditioning that year. It was crazy! Everyday literally, at least 1 or two people would just quit the team and not just walk-ons, but scholarhip players also. There was definitely a weeding out process. As Bronco put it, “getting the right people on the bus, and wrong one ‘s off”.

One memory that will always stand out to me was a specific meeting with Coach Mendenhall after the coaching change. I knew about the offer to Whittingham and Cameron Jensen and myself, went into Broncos office to talk with him. I remember seeing Coach in a way that I had never seen him before. He was not his confident, composed self. He looked nervous, almost scared and as we spoke it was confirmed that there was some uncertainty -as would be expected. I remember this moment clearly as it really changed the way I viewed Coach Mendenhall -and ultimately really changed my relationship with him.

After that meeting and through the remainder of my career Bronco was a support that I couldn’t find in anyone else. He felt like a father figure and really helped me through some tough personal times.

Before that meeting I thought Bronco was cold, unsympathetic or even a hard &%$# But he is as good as they come. I always thought he was a good coach, but I finally understood he is an even better man! This BYU program will win many more games for many more years because of his leadership!

I feel like this years team has huge potential. I haven’t been able to see them play and I won’t make bold predictions, but I will say this……In football, anyone can win on any given day! I believe that BYU is prepared so well, and are talented enough to win every game they play in.

One of the perks to my team not making the playoffs, is that I should be able to catch a few of the last BYU games, so I’m excited to see some history in the making. Well it was good to be able to share some thoughts and updates with everyone….. See ya at the games, Cougar Fans!!”

To answer this question John shared with me the advice he got from Chad Lewis when John was a sophomore.  Chad told John, “No matter what your goals are, no matter what mountain you want to climb, as long as you keep stepping you will reach the top.”  That is what John is doing in Miami. He is approaching each day as another opportunity to keep climbing the mountain.

Another nugget from Chad is something he told John his Junior year: “I guarantee you that what you are going through right now is the best preparation you can have for the NFL.”  This has given John a great perspective on his situation in Miami and an opportunity to reflect on his time at BYU.

Lesson #1:
John’s first 2 years at BYU were nothing like he dreamed.  He was thrown in as the starting QB before he was ready – fresh off his mission – and before he knew a lot about the college game.  His rookie year in Miami followed the same story line.  Playing on the worst team in the NFL, forced into the starting role before he really understand the game at that level.

Application:
John is excited about the opportunity to learn from Chad Pennington this year.  John and Chad stay late at the facility studying together every week.  John feels like this is a great opportunity to learn from someone who has a lot of NFL experience and is someone who is a lot like John.  Both pride themselves on being Smart, Accurate, Hard Working, and being a Leader.  The best thing about it for John is that Chad is playing well, which shows John that the way Chad prepares shows on Sunday.  John is taking advantage of Chad and trying to learn all he can so that when his opportunity comes, he will be prepared.

Lesson #2:
Early in his career at BYU John found himself in a lot of situations that he did not know how to handle on the field.  Coming out of high school, John had only lost one game.  Everything had always gone his way.  At BYU the ball was bouncing the other way.  John learned to take a look at what went wrong, and why the team got in that situation.  He then studied until he found ways to not put the team in those situations.

Application:
After losing to Utah in overtime in 2005 John went back and studied all the plays in the game, especially the last one to find multiple options of things he could have done to make the plays we needed.  He said he found 6 options of things he could do if he was in that situation again.  So when we were at Utah in 2006 and there was one last play to be run, John said he has completely confident in what he had to do.  He was not nervous.  “That play was a bit backyard-ish, but that is what I knew it had to be.  I knew I had to hold the ball as long as I could, I knew I had to run around and throw it at the last second.  When I saw the first LB rush, I knew the O- Line would pick him up.  When I saw the second LB come I knew I had to run and I would throw it right when he got close.”

Right now John is really positive in his situation.  Like his start at BYU it is not what he had invisioned.  As John puts it,

“I am a second year QB who had an opportunity to get some experience as a starter.  I know what it is like to prepare as the starter.  I know how the coach’s treat you and what they expect out of you as a starter.  I played my first two games against two of the toughest defesnses on the road in two of the toughest stadiums, so I have experienced that.  I also know what it is like to come off the bench in the middle of the game, I did that last year too.  So I fell like there are not too many things that will be new anymore.”

WHEN PREPERATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY IT EQUALS SUCCESS

John has always been a hard worker and one who won’t settle for anything less than his personal best.  He approaches each game and each day as if he is the starting QB for the Miami Dolphins.  “I study the film and I have found what type of level I need to be at, I am getting to that level.”

John is preparing for his opportunity.  He knows it will come.  He doesn’t know what the situation will be, or when it will come, but when it does he knows he will be ready!

I -Quinn- would like to thank both Markell and John for taking the time to put this together. I wish John all the best. When John and I lived together I knew he would one day be in the NFL. I don’t know anyone that loved football and competing more then John. I wish him the best. Thanks John!!

So you’re telling me I can make a little money watching my friends play football?  Not to mention the free vacations with my wife every fall?  It’s not all gravy though.  Try and interview Coach Mendenhall at half time of TCU when we are losing 23-0.

Aside from my one day a week KSL gig, I am working with a real estate development company in Utah County.  Anyone in need of the best Class A office space in Ut County, with freeway frontage, give me a call☺

Reading Markell’s post inspired me to write about one subject that many fans don’t know a whole lot about – Coach Anae.

Having played slot receiver at BYU, I spent the better part of two years with Coach Anae as he was my position coach.  I had more contact with Coach Anae over my career than any other coach.  All the defensive sissies (Quinn, Markell, the General☺) talk about how hard it was to play for Coach Mendenhall running pursuits, but they never had to sit in meetings with Coach Anae and take a mental beating like only he could dish out.  Only when you deserved it though which I can respect (some coaches have bad days and they take it out on everyone).   Nothing inappropriate, nothing I can’t repeat, just the most demanding coach I have ever played for – and one of my all-time favorites.

Some coaches tell you, “If you get your hands on the ball, you better catch it” all the while recognizing that if the ball’s a little high, or a db’s on your back, you’re probably not going to.  Not so with Coach Anae, he means what he says – and keep dropping balls and you’ve just wasted the last three years of your life cause you’ll never see the field again.  The effect is that you expect more of yourself and play at a ‘higher level’ than you ever have before.  That is unless he breaks you down first. But if Coach Anae can break you down in meetings, how do you expect to deal with the pressure of game day? (That being said, some guys get injured which is different than getting broken down.)  Lots of coaches say lots of things.  When Coach Anae says something, he means it.  I don’t know if I’ve ever met a tougher person in my life.  I’ve seen coaches throughout all my years of athletics get nervous and intimidated by other teams.  Coach Anae has never been intimidated by anything or anyone in his life.  If Coach Mendenhall is Moroni, Coach Anae is Teancum – at least I thought so the night we played SDSU in 2005 when he just about took that javelin the SDSU coach was throwing around and shoved it into his heart.

I’d be living in a high rise in Dubai if I had dollar for every time I heard someone criticize Coach Anae.  Is he a perfect O Coordinator?  No.  Is he one of the best in the country? A resounding yes – especially considering he’s only been at it for 3.5 years.  The critics say “He’s too predictable, he’s not creative enough.”  I say ask the D Coordinators he’s faced the last three years and they’ll tell you differently.  I’m not saying he’s flawless, but I am saying lets not pull another Norm Chow.  He understands that creativity comes at the cost of inconsistency – that he must strike a fine balance.  As Coach Mendenhall said last week, “The easy thing to do (when you’re struggling) is go out and create a new play.”  The numbers from the last three years speak for themselves:

BYU National Rankings
2005: 13th Total Offense, 24th Scoring Offense
2006:  4th Total Offense, 5th Scoring Offense
2007: 25th Total Offense, 47th Scoring Offense
Avg:  14th Total Offense 25th Scoring Offense

Southern Cal National Rankings
2005: 1st Total Offense, 2nd Scoring Offense
2006: 21st Total Offense, 18th Scoring Offense
2007: 29th Total Offense 34th Scoring Offense
Avg: 17th Total Offense 18th Scoring Offense

Some of you are saying Southern Cal plays tougher teams.  I’m saying Southern Cal has better athletes.

Coach is also Smart (that’s right a capital S).  His Ph.D. suggests it and getting to know him over two years confirmed it.  And the guy has an imagination like you wouldn’t believe.  One of my favorite activities each day was telling Cam, Kayle, and Dustin the daily metaphor Coach used to get his point across.  I’m not saying they were dirty or inappropriate.  I am saying they were effective and hilarious.

In closing here’s hoping that the 2008 BYU team does something that no BYU team has done in over a decade – lose only one game.  Let’s not forget we still have the best WR in BYU history, one of the grittiest QB’s to ever play the position, one of the most athletic TE’s in a long line of great TE’s, and one of the most physical, talented RB’s we’ve ever had the pleasure of watching – just ask Steve Tate.

AP Photo by Douglas Pizac

This man has been a force in the comments section of the blog and continues to provide insightful and emotional comments. Thanks Markell, and keep it up!!!

“Who Am I and What Am I Doing:

My name is Markell Staffieri, formerly #36.  Right now I am living in San Diego, CA working as a partner with my father as a financial planner, managing small pension plans and investments, as well as doing life insurance for our clients.  It is a job that I never knew I would love this much.  It is just the two of us so it is easy to schedule time with my family.  Plus I am within 30 minutes of both my brothers, so Saturday football parties are fairly common.

Most notably is my recent induction into the Father Club.  My first child, and son was born on Sept 30^th, 2008.  He was 6 weeks early, but like a cougar he is a fighter and is doing great!

My Current Connection to the Program:

My current connection to the program is trying to find games on TV.  I never realized what all the fuss was about.  Now I am on the other side trying to find a way to see the games, I have more than a few opinions to share with Craig Thompson these days.

I have tried to stay away from calling a lot of the guys on the team this year, because I feel like I have had my time in the sun and they don’t need me being just another guy asking all the same standard questions.  I have stayed in touch with some guys I consider close friends, Jan Jorgensen, Terrance Hooks, Matt Bauman and Harvey Unga.  However, most of my connections to the program are through players I played with, John Beck, Judd Anderton, Kelly Poppinga and through this blog, Quinn Gooch.  I much prefer talking with comrades that chat rooms because these guys have a different perspective and I trust that they are speaking from experience, not from the arm chair.  I like the fact that I can have intelligent conversations on the blog.  Plus having had Quinn call the coverages behind me for two years I know he is on top of things and has a great feel for and knowledge of the game.

My Favorite Moments at BYU:

SUPER GAMES!  (At least the fun ones, like water polo and soccer)  I miss the locker room.  I loved showing up at 1:00 and just hanging out with the guys before practice.  I had 2 plays that really stick out in my mind as memorable.  The first is my fumble recovery at New Mexico Coach Mendenhall’s first year as HC.  We were in a tough one and they were driving.  The QB ran the ball and it just kind of came out after he slipped out of a Justin Carlson Maddux tackle.  I had spun off a block and when I turned around I saw the ball just laying there with no one around about 5-10 yards from me…it seemed like a mile.  I dove on it and then some more Cougars joined me.  I love watching the film clip and seeing Justin in the background doing some kind of marching man celebration.  Then it was the great effort by Matt Allen on my favorite BYU play of all time, Beck to Allen on the 10 yard out/comeback.  The 2^nd play was on a 4^th and inches against Wyoming, Cameron Jensen and I went over the top and stuffed the QB on a sneak.  It did not impact the game in any way, shape or form, but it is my favorite play at BYU for two reasons.  1) I loved playing with Cameron and my junior year we were supposed to be the dup in the middle, but I ripped my hamstring of the bone before the season started.  To make that play with him meant the world to me.  2) It was a perfect demonstration of how Cameron and I liked to play in any sport at any time and that is to not let the opponent succeed no matter what the situation.  I don’t like conceding anything to my opponent whether it matters or not.  There is a great picture of this stop that was in the paper and hangs in my son’s room.  Cameron will point out that his vertical was higher (which it was on that play) but I like to point out that it is my helmet who is hitting the QB’s helmet, stopping his momentum.  Wink wink, Cam.

Finally I will miss the firesides.  I got the chills every time we stood together and sang Army of Heleman.  No accomplishment on the field ever outweighed the feeling I had standing in that group of guys and singing that song.

My Opinion of the Current State of the Program:

I am very optimistic, but also very nervous at times.  It is great that the team is getting so much recognition early on in the season.  I think that the program is in great hands with Coach Mendenhall.  I was a little nervous while attending the Washington game that the defense didn’t really know what was going on but they have answered my doubts, and not because of the shutouts.  I have seen them take charge of their assignments and play within the system (See Quinn’s notes on the Tulsa game).  I am a little reserved in that I think that offense is a little non-chalant at times and that worries me.  I would also like to see more receivers get the ball thrown to them.  I may be a little biased because John is my brother in law, but I also had to play defense against him for 3 years and the hard thing with him is that you “Thought” you knew who he was going to throw to and then at the last second he would hit his 3^rd or 4^th read.  I want to see Max look off Dennis and Collie when there are 3 guys around them and hit Mike Reed, who in my opinion is the most under-appreciated receiver in the conference. Or he can hit Ashworth or Chambers when Reed is not in.  This is the thing that frustrates me the most about the team right now.  In order to win against teams like Oklahoma, USC and others with the talent to match up man for man with LB on our TE and RB we will struggle unless Max hits his 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th reads. ***THIS WAS ALL WRITTEN BEFORE THE TCU GAME***

Post TCU comments:  My opinion does not change, it has only grown stronger.  Our defense has struggled with the run all year, something they haven’t done in the last 3 years.  Throw out the avg/play rush yards because our standard is under 100 and we are not doing that.  What I have in bold is what I think has been, and was the biggest problem at TCU.  Mike Reed did not get thrown to until half way through the 3^rd quarter.  In the mean time Pitta and Collie repeatedly had balls thrown to them when there was help over the top and the guy underneath was running the route for them.  Max threw it to the defender and hoped that Pitta and Collie would make some miraculous pass.  Now I can’t fault Max entirely for this.  I fault mostly Coach Doman.  This has been a tendency for Max from day one at BYU and Coach Doman should have it fixed by now.  Also I fault Anae in that he should be calling some plays where a slot or z receiver are the primary targets.  If I were a D coordinator I would put a CB and a S on Collie and a CB and a S on Pitta and two LB on Unga and let the rest of the receivers do whatever they heck they wanted…(See TCU game plan).

How Have I Seen the Program Change:

This is the topic of the decade for us Cougars who lived through the Crowton and Mendenhall era.  It is one that pains me to talk about sometimes because of all the flack Coach Crowton gets.  This is something that I speak about with John Beck often.  I was glad to see Quinn put some thoughts down on this but I did not get to read the whole thing.  I would like to take the opportunity to voice my own two cents.  Coach Crowton is a major reason why I went on my mission!  He is a great man and a great coach.  Coach Crowton may not have been the most successful head coach, but he is an amazing coach.  He is not the only one who brought in a few bad eggs to the program.  Some of those many may consider the “worst” guys were there when he inherited the program.  When I first got to BYU in 2001 (Crowton’s 1^st year, probably did not have 1 person on the team that year that was his recruit) I was a little disappointed with the type of guys that I was surrounded by.  I thought that BYU would be different, but the lockerroom was like any other lockerroom in the country.  When I came back from my mission for the 2004 season the team was different.  It was not where it is now, but Coach Crowton had done a lot of good in getting more of the right people on the bus.  The biggest difference in the program has been the fact that now the right people are in the right seats.  But don’t forget that a great majority of the players on this team and last years were recruited by Coach Crowton.  Yes, the same guys that stand and sing Army of Heleman, are the same guys that Gary Crowton brought on board.  So why the change?  Coach Crowton was a very spiritual man inside one-on-one, inside his office, or in the hallway.  Coach Mendenhall has taken the next step and has been very vocal about the spiritual demands that come with being a BYU football player.  That is the change I have seen.  I am grateful for the change in head coaches.  I agree with what Quinn wrote that it is what needed to happen in order to get the right people in the right seats.  I wish Coach Crowton could have stayed as the OC (Not to take anything away from Anae, this would have been before I even knew Coach Anae).  Most of all I am grateful that I was able to finish my career at BYU on such a high note, and I have both coaches to thank for that.

Expectations for the Season:

WIN OUT! I think that Utah has a very explosive offense and they will test our defense.  What I would like to see is the defense finally stop a running QB when we play Utah.  We have struggled with that more than anything over the last 4 years and that, I believe will be the difference in the game…that and stopping Casteel who always plays up against the Cougs.  It is not over for the Cougs, not by a long shot.  TCU is a very good football team and their only loss was to then No.1 Oklahoma.  If our only loss is to them we could climb back up in the polls in the next 4 weeks and still have a shot at a BCS bowl.  We had some talk about BCS last year with a 2 loss team.  Stranger things have happened.

For the first time in a long time I feel that we were out physicaled at TCU.  (I don’t know if that is a word, but that is how I feel).  We need to reestablish ourselves as a physical team.  When I was in Philadelphia a LB from Kansas State told me he talked to his friend from the Pac 10 who said that BYU had a reputation out west for beating people up and just hurting the other team physically.  We lost that at TCU and need to get it back quick.

I thought that the TCU game would define our season.  Now I feel that how we respond to this butt whooping will define our season.

I am still proud as ever to be a Cougar.  I bleed blue and I will see you all at the bowl game!

Expectations for Upcoming Seasons:

We need a QB.  I know what you all are thinking, Max is a Junior.  If you want my opinion (THIS IS PURELY OPINION, I HAVE NOT TALKED TO ANYONE ON THE TEAM ABOUT THIS, SO DON’T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS) Max Hall, Austin Collie, Harvey Unga and Dennis Pitta, all leave next year for the draft (Get while the getting’s good, in their mind)  Then we lose our entire O Line.  We better get a GREAT QB to make plays with a young O Line.  Coach Mendenhall has a way of getting it done though.  In 2005 we were young, but he helped us believe in ourselves and in the system and we turned a program around.

I am optimistic that this train will keep rolling.  We won’t get our NC shot this year, but it is not out of reach in the very near future!

PS in 21 years the Cougs will have the most dominate LB in the country…Just a hunch!”