Motivation? What is it? How do you do it?
This has been a debate for quite some time. How do our coaches motivate the players? Or how can they better motivate the players? Or should the players just motivate themselves? I will do my best to answer, but keep in mind, all people/athletes are different.
I have been talking with a lot of folks around the BYU Football Program about this exact question and the answer really is that they mentality of the current players is just different from when I was there.
When I was at BYU we were hungry to change to the program and we would do ANYTHING Coach Mendenhall asked us to do. That doesn’t mean that we did it with a smile all the time, but if he asked us to run from the school to the Y and back, we would do it. We did a lot of things that seemed impossible or absurd, but the fact is that we had a Rocky mentality of just getting better through hard work and toughness.
The players are not getting pushed as much or maybe a better way to say it is that they are not getting pushed in the same way as we did. At the end of last year the players told Coach Mendenhall that they were not having fun with all the pressure and expectations and work. They wanted to get back to having fun. It is a different mentality. And I can’t necessarily say that it is the wrong mentality, just one I don’t personally understand.
So here is the tricky part, (and I don’t think I fully understood this until I became a coach at my alma mater this year) every person/player reacts differently to different types of motivation. Some people are self (internally) motivated and others what motivation placed on them. Some react to negative or threatening motivation, some only react to positive reinforcement. The trick is to know who you are dealing with and motivate them accordingly.
My personal profile is that I am only truly motivated when…
- I know others are relying on me to win
- I receive positive motivation/confidence
- I am faced with a challenge that I want to be the first to accomplish in the group
I did not perform as well when I was motivated by, “Get the job done or I am putting someone else in!” In fact that was always counter productive with me and I played even worse.
My favorite story comes from the old baseball coach and former AD, Glen Tuckett. He had a certain freshman shortstop on the baseball team who had a tendency of overthrowing the first basemen. He sat him down in the dugout one day and said, “Mike, you are my starting shortstop whether you throw it into the stands or not, so you might as well just throw it to the first basemen.” That took all the pressure off. Mike started for 4 years and went on to play professionally.
In working with kids on our team this year I was trying to motivate them through putting them in pressure situations where they would have to perform in head to head competition and the loser and a running punishment. One of the kids totally shut down and walked away to go sit against the fence. I could have gotten mad at him for quitting on the drill and on his team, but I knew that I was in the wrong because he is motivated more like I am in that he needed positive reinforcement. I failed him, not the other way around.
So how this all relates to BYU and Bronco and what is happening is that the coaches are faced with a tough task. I know there are guys on this team who are cut from the 2005-2007 cloth, Jan, Brett, Manase, Terrance Brown, Scott Johnson, Matt Bauman…to name a few. I think that they are hungry to get back to Coach asking a lot of them and pushing them to the limits. Then there are others who don’t want to be pushed in that way and the coaches are having to find new ways to motivate those guys while still giving them an edge.
To be sure it is a job that is easier said that done.
In a round about way, I guess my answer is that I don’t know the answer and I am glad that I am not the one who has to come up with it.
That really is what it comes down to. We can talk preparation and execution all we want, but if the player can’t get motivated to prepare and execute, he won’t.
Good points and I hope the coaching staff can find that balance.
thanks Markell
Markell,
It sounds like you’re describing the difference between tough blue collar guys and sissy prima donnas. Am I off in that assesment? I’m geussing that I am because I can’t imagine Bronco recruting guys with entitlement complexes. But even if you’re talking about guys who can handle being pushed beyond their limits and guys who need to be treated more gently, I wonder why a coach would put up with guys who don’t want to be pushed. It seems like trying to work with both types of players would cause more problems (dissension in the ranks, perceptions of iniequitable treatment, etc.) than it would cause good.
Is it just to complicated to work out at a philosophical level?
Thanks!
Thanks for the article. I know this is something that every coach in the country has to deal with it. It’s not a problem specific to BYU. Why are some coaches better at this than others.
Do you think that it might be a little bit more difficult for BYU players becuase of the life experiences that most of the players have had from missions, marriage, and family’s?
Thanks
Interesting perspective, thanks for sharing.
No matter the field of expertise, those who learn how to work around the different personalities are the successful people who are liked and admired in the world.
My oldest son, after a 5 year career in heating and air, was ask to go into sales, he wasn’t sure, he was doing pretty well in the maintenance end, but his boss insisted and sent him to a school that taught him to work with and around different personalities. My son is now the top salesman in the Western United States, and has been so since his second year in sales. And he credits that course for his success.
Sam works “one on one” with his clients, I can’t imagine a coach working with a whole team of different personalities, or a position coach working with 10-20 people at a time. I don’t know how much one on one time a player gets with a position coach, probable not much at all with the head coach. But it would seem to me that a coach would have to adjust in some way.
Wish I had taken that course earlier in my life! It would have made a difference.
Bob
Didn’t Beck always watch “Rudy” before every game to get himself pumped up?
Markell,
Your thoughts on motivation seem to tie into a current thread on CB that speaks of a former player judging the current team as lacking in team unity (harder to accurately judge from the outside, but still a possible concern for the team). Motivating a group of players is obviously easier if there is a strong union and shared vision. During your playing days, was it the leadership of a single player (or a small group of leaders) that made the most impact?
It seems to me that coaches can only have so much influence and Coach Mendenhall is big on independence and responsibility, so I attribute lack of motivation/unity as coming from the players.
- Ed
OK, let’s cut to the chase with this discussion.
It’s easy for a lot of us armchair quarterbacks to conclude from our seats in section 244, or through the low-quality mtn. broadcasts that our team isn’t motivated or fired up enough.
But, for 99.9% of us, it’s all uneducated speculation made from a distance.
Markell and others, you know these guys and you have to know better than we do what is going on inside that locker room.
The question is simple: Is our team lacking the motivation and fire necessary to get up for these big games?
If the answer is yes, then my first assumption is that we have a leadership issue – not with the coaches, but with the team itself. And, the truth is, that happens with every team sometimes.
Devon,
I have to agree with you. I think I said this same thing in another post a month or so ago. Coaches may be able to negatively affect the emotion (as with the example I mentioned above with me), but I think it is rare that a coach can externally motivate someone at game time! Before the game? In practice and preparation? Sure. But at game time I think it is up to the leaders on the team.
There is a different type of leadership now, than there was with John Beck, Matt Allen, Kelly Poppinga, Cameron Jensen.
I think it does start there, more than it starts with Coach Mendenhall.
What a great quote in “Remember the Titans”
“Attitude reflects leadership!”
“Attitude reflects leadership!”
Markell,
I think you and Devon nailed it here. Coaches can only do so much. A successful team needs leadership from within the team. I feel like we are lacking in the “all for one and one for all” area. The old Band of Brothers seems to be gone. When I played HS football, many moons ago, we made commitments to each other that we would always be on, and that we would never let each other done. We even wore a piece of artificial turf around our necks at all times. Our focus was to “Pay the Price to get to Rice.” Back in my day they played the HS championship games on the old turf at Rice stadium at the school up North.
We had 3 team captains and they and each player held each other accountable at all times. We had an average at best head coach but we had a great team that acted as one, practices as one and played as one. I still remember those captains (Scott Mitchell, John Paystrup and Lyle Small). They were great men and we never lost and we brought home the trophy. We were not the most talented team nor the biggest or fastest but as a unit no one could beat us. No one came close to beating us.
It is time for some team/player leadership and for the captains to stand up and take some accountability for this team.
To be honest what upsets me the most is after every big beat down we have had (TCU, Utah and Arizona last year and FSU and TCU this year) the players after the game say they came out flat. There is no excuse for coming out flat in any game let alone a big. This is a sign of a lack of character, hard work, preparation and leadership. It is time to be the Band of Brothers once again.
Great article man!
Team Bocce Ball Tournament!!
Markell what about outside things like bulletin board, or comments made like Curtis Brown would make before BYU yewts games. I think you mention the word hunger, When Bronco took over there was a hunger and a big up hill battle. there were slogans, and being the flag bearer for the school and LDS church, the haka was a big part, my daughter and I would walk over from sec 4 to watch the haka, and it would give us chills every time. If it did that for us, could the team be missing some of those things.
I also agree that the team is missing the vocal leaders on the field. I think thats what chambers brings he stomps clinches his fist. Fui used to do that too. I see some of that in JJ. Not that I can see what goes on on the sidelines, except when I watch recordings but when the team is loosing, no team mates seem to be walking up and down saying things to RALLY. Also I love the picture for this post from full metal jacket.
Go COUGS
I paid particular attention before the TCU game to the fellas over in the tunnel before they took the field. I watched them. They were pumped up. I’m not sure if anything special was said in the locker room or what, but they were pumped up. The crowd was pumped up too. You could hear it when they were doing the section to section “B” “Y” “U”. It was electric.
There are times when I watch us play and wonder if we’re hungry out there, but last Saturday was not one of those.
The one a lot of people point to is the Utah/BYU game and how the Utes always seem more fiery and motivated. I’ve never known whether there was truth or not to it. You can see the Utes bouncing around a lot more before kickoff, but that doesn’t mean the Cougs aren’t full of fire in their belly either.
Markell, obviously you’d know. Would you say we are as fiery/motivated/hungry for it as the Utes are at the rivarly game?
Rick: I see this quality in JJ as well. I would’ve liked to have seen what he could’ve done between the tackles last week.
Go Cougars.
Let’s all remember that it’s easy to get fired up and pumped and motivated when you are in a close game or when you are winning (Max halftime at Cowboys stadium). There are no Tiger Woods fist pumps without slamming home the impossible downhill putt at Torrey Pines, chipping in from off the green Augusta or putting the nail in the coffin with another 20 foot bender.
It is not easy to do the same when you are coming from behind. The crucial drive against TCU was the opening of the 2nd half. The ball hits Kariya and gets intercepted. What can you say? Max missed the read? Kariya lost focus? Neither. It was just a tough play and we didn’t make it.
Roughing the passer. Was Hooks not focused, not motivated, not energized? Again, something that didn’t go our way. Same with the PI. Why does Logan get called and the TCU DBs do not?
When you are coming from behind, especially by 3 touchdowns, often you need a big play (long pass, long run, pick-6, kickoff return, or punt return) to be the catalyst. When was the last time we had one of these plays??? What if Max doesn’t thread the needle to Dennis on 4th and a few against the Sooners??? What if Dennis drops that ball? What if the defense gives up the game winning field goal? So, they were more focused then and that’s why they made the plays? No matter how motivated and focused you are, there are no points for motivation. No extra credit or style points go on the scoreboard for enthusiasm or exhuberance.
It sounds like previous teams’ leadership was a bit more focused, intense and business-like. I remember fans saying that the team needed to be a bit more “loose”. Now, the team leadership may be a bit “loose” and we want them to be more intense and focused.
My guess is that the team couldn’t be hungrier and more focused each and every time they step out there. Whether they want to be a bit business-like or whether they want to have fun, I say DO IT.
There are so many positives this season that beating Utah will be the icing on the cake. The team will have to stay focused to get the job done against Wyoming and Air Force. Hopefully Riley will get some good time against New Mexico. Max will have the all-time win record. Pitta might even catch Collie’s career reception mark. The recruiting classes are strong. Let’s enjoy these coaches and players while we have them!
Some good points about intensity vs focus. I think the team was psyched up to start the game but sometimes all it takes is one bad play to take the wind of your sails. As the saying goes, cool heads will prevail and that’s what I was looking for on the field. For the most part I think the offense was trying hard to maintain its composure but when you get one bad drive after another, it’s hard for a team to stay motivated when you can feel the game slipping away. What I didn’t see is more team huddling either on the field or on the sideline where players get together and say “ok guys, how are we gonna win this?” I’m not one to question Max’s leadership but I do wonder if he starts to doubt himself when the team is struggling. On the other hand, the coaches have a responsibility to call plays or make adjustments to jumpstart the team.
Very cool article Staff.
I agree with everything Kiyoshige said. I DO hope the team is focused for Wyoming and Air Force. Both of those teams will be ready, and both have a tough defense that will give their offense good opportunities to score.
This post has inspired me. I am going to take my cue from the Cougars.
First, I’m going to talk to my boss. I’m going to tell him that I’m really not having fun at my job. There’s just too much pressure, expectations, and hard work. It’s just not fun for me anymore.
Next, I’m going to talk to my bishop. He’s putting WAY too much pressure on me. I’m not having nearly as much fun as when I wasn’t worried about being good and when expectations weren’t so high.
Lastly, I’m going to have a heart to heart with my wife. She puts way too much pressure on me to support the family and help raise our kids. It was way more fun when I was single and I didn’t have all those freaking expectations hanging over me.
Thanks, Cougs! I’ll let you all know how it goes!
Easy big cat Mike,
I’m guessing your motivated in a different way. But remember, relating a grown mans “problems” to a college kids problems isn’t a apples to apples comparison. Every person deals with expectations differently and that’s what Markell is trying to say. This years team hasn’t struggled through a 5-6 season or stayed home for the holidays and not played in a Bowl game. There accustom to different results. Hopefully this adversity will provide the younger players with the drive and desire to get to a BCS bowl game.
BYU’s problems are more physical than mental.
There is definitely a huge contrast between the first three years under Bronco and the last two. I don’t necessarily think it is all about the change from building mode to maintaining mode, either. I think that Bronco has made a conscious shift in his coaching mentality. Much has been made on the talk radio stations about how these guys really never go live in practice. Most of the time they only practice in helmets and shoulder pads. Bronco made a choice by doing things this way. He decided that he was going to place a higher value on protecting players from possible injury than on increasing the toughness of his team. I wasn’t sure what to think when he first started doing this a couple of years ago, but it seems clear to me over the past two seasons that BYU has become an extremely soft team. A team that if you punch them in the face early, can’t seem to recover. Its like they haven’t been hit before!
I heard a radio discussion leading up to the TCU game between a local host and former Ute receiver Brent Casteel. Casteel stopped short of calling BYU soft, but he hinted very strongly that they all knew that if they could get up on them that BYU would quit. Yes, he said quit. That drove me nuts, but have we seen anything different on the field?
To be perfectly honest with you, I think that Bronco really let this team down from a motivational standpoint last year with the “Quest for Perfection” campaign. Even if Bronco didn’t mean the “perfect season” like he told the media, that is an expectation that is destined for failure on so many levels. Bronco explained it as every player’s personal quest to be perfect or be working towards perfection on every play and in every aspect of their life. From day one, this was destined for failure. Not only that, but it put the players in the very difficult position of dealing with and overcoming their own personal failures multiple times per game. Think about it…Max throws a pick, looks up in the stands and sees 65,000 fans with “The Quest” written on their shirts. His imperfection sinks in, and it is very difficult to bounce back from that mentality before the next series of downs. If you are a BYU cornerback, nobody should be placing an expectation of perfection on you, or you are going to get a complex. Is it any wonder that the players were talking about it not being “fun?”
I don’t know about you, but if I hear Bronco say any more about execution at high levels, I’m going to puke. We know that if you want to win, you have to execute. I want to see that fiery Bronco that we saw against Oklahoma. Where was he against TCU? I know you have to maintain a level of consistency, but sometimes you have to knock over a table or grab a kid by the facemask, or throw a headset on the ground or something. You can’t expect the kids to not come out flat if the coach comes out flat.
Markel,
I think the other reality that is not mentioned here is that you also face some superior talent that simply outplays you. The win against Oklahoma built too high an expectation for this group. The loss against FSU showed their lack of speed. The loss against TCU was in the face of a superior squad. I feel BYU offers an excellent program and though it will have it’s ups and downs the program is definately on the rise. Win or lose I enjoy the game they put on the field, yes, and at times it is very frustrating, but more often very rewarding.
We have an excellent team with excellent coaches at all levels. Consistancy will improve as we continue to attrack more talent, particularly with speed.
Gary
I prefer Coach K over Coach Knight. Lavell never knocked anyone over besides Lee Corso this past Saturday. Bronco is a great motivator and he sees his responsibilities differently than we do.
Personally, I think the Quest was brilliant. Upside? Go perfect and play in the NC game. I honestly think he did that just because in the off chance we actually run the table, he wanted to make sure the media knew about it and put us not only in the BCS but the NC discussion.
Downside? We’re there and we know it. Criticism, second-guessing and Monday morning QB’ing.
I really think if Utah or TCU would’ve done the same last year and this year they would be more in the discussion (like a Quest campaign or some other PR campaign). Instead, they are not really in the picture. THIS is where a coach REALLY fails their team. They actually have a top 3 or top 5 team and NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THEM.
Take G Pat. He shuns the media, does a Jaime Hill with them. That’s fine if you’re DC. But if you’re the head coach, you need to be on Sportscenter, on the Rome show, etc. spouting your team a la Pete Carroll. Why do you think USC gets so much love after losing to (cough, choke) UW? Last year, K Whit was too little too late in the PR department. G Pat and K Whit take the position, “We’ll let our play speak for itself.” But, in reality, then need to say, “I’m going to put my neck out for my team, pump them up as much as I can, then match that on the field.” Much like Orrin Hatch is doing for the MWC politically.
It takes guts to stick your neck out when you are NOT SURE that your team will follow through.
Monson scoffs at our goal to be a NC team. Then people wonder why we can’t get the top 10 or top 20 talent? Does Jake Heaps stage a press conference with two buddies to go to a place where we just want to win the MWC championship? No way we can attract the top talent unless they think we’re going to be in the national (not just MWC picture). EVERYONE from fans to players to coaches have to buy in to lofty goals.
Then, the problem is, how do we react in the 69 years out of 70 that we are not a NC team? Is this the time to criticize, demean or armchair QB? My answer is to respond the same way the OU fans reacted when I walked out of Cowboys stadium last September – tip your hat to your opponent, congratulate them sincerely and GET BACK TO WORK. It’s actually a compliment when a team is pumped that they beat you. It means they feel that they accomplished something – and they’re right.
But that 1 year out of 70 will be worth it. And I’m not gonna miss it!
Ki
I do respect all the viewpoints shared here – we all know this blog is great first because of the unique moderators and then second all of the objective and substantiative comments. It’s a great way to spend fall and I could talk/write about the Cougs for days. I’m NOT QUITE ready to move on to hoops just yet…
I was just about ready to rant and rave and fire off e-mail after e-mail in response to all of the idiotic articles and comments that I’ve read on DesNews and the SL Trib until I came here and realized what rational, educated, well-grounded BYU fans are like. This site is really the only site worth going to to have a discussion on BYU football. I thought the comments made here by kiyoshige were awesome and spot on.
I remember going to the Boise St. vs Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl a few years ago and being so annoyed by the BSU fans, after they won the game, and so impressed with most of the OU fans, after they lost the game. Two different programs that reflected different levels of fan maturity and perspective and different goals. Thus, when kiyoshige says, “tip your hat to your opponent, congratulate them sincerely and GET BACK TO WORK.” I totally agree.
I love BYU football, love all that it is, all that it stands for, all that it accomplishes and all that the program strives to be. And if this program doesn’t go undefeated every year and doesn’t win every game by 30+ points, I would hope that I would see if for what it is, acknowledge it and continue to cheer for my Cougars through it all!
Lack of physicality, soft interior, lacking leadership, talent issues. Are we talking about the Jazz or the Y? Jon makes a good point last years team(offense and defense) was soft as momma’s potatoes. This years team better but not great.
Kiyoshige,
Good points about Bronco keeping BYU relevant in the national spotlight. I’m sure Kyle was pretty miffed when BYU and not his team was picked to play Oklahoma in Cowboys new stadium. Bronco understands that BYU football is also a brand and product that you have to sell and promote to the public. We’ve had some great recruiting classes and will have a stellar one next year but with that revolving door of players coming and leaving for missions, it’s always difficult to predict exactly how good the team will be in a given year. I could be wrong, but Hall is only the 3rd QB in BYU history who was an RM that led BYU to a conference championship (Doman and Beck being the other 2). We’re on track to achieve an unprecedented 4th 10 win season. I know we all want more than that but as Bronco taught the team how to overcome failure, the team will eventually learn how to handle success and get to that next level. Now excuse while I take my blue tinted shades off.
This has been a great read, both Markell’s article, and also the comments. So why are we down on a team that could still go 11-2, counting a bowl game victory? Is it because we’re tired of having dominant seasons? No, it’s because we all expected that BYU would have a BCS bowl win by now, or even a NC win. Are those absurd expectations? Yes, yes they are. Why do we want it, because we all know that BYU is capable of pulling out the big wins. We want our team to be invincible against any opponent, no matter how improbable it should be. These last two seasons have been tough. Why? Becuase for the first time we have actually been receiving some media love. We have started the last two seasons ranked, have reached the top 10 early, and have even been talked about as NC contenders. So it feels disappointing when we don’t live up to the hype. It’s especially hard when it feels like we lose during the most important games. However, BYU has pulled out some great wins recently, we just forget too easily.
BYU will get there under Mendenhall’s coaching. I keep hearing fans and critiques hint that Bronco has taken this program as far as he can. That is ridiculous. How long did it take LaVell to get his NC? It didn’t happen over night. In fact, he didn’t see a bowl game victory until three years before that in ‘81, and if that team didn’t experience multiple miracles, I wonder how unfocused/undisciplined McMahon would have looked.
People keep talking about lack of talent or physical ability. That is ridiculous. If you look at our guys individually and statistically, they match up very well with the top of the nation. The problem is that we are not “gelling” right now. Too many broken plays are evidence that our team is not playing as one. Bronco’s new slogan should be “Become One” next year. It fits very well with our Church perspective. Passes should never be bouncing off of receivers. That just shows that there is a disconnect. What is causing this to happen? I don’t know, and neither does anyone else right now, or you can bet it would be fixed. But I will say this: Mendenhall’s staff will figure it out, and when they do, watch out. We will have a big bowl coming our way.
The only thing left for this season is to smash the Utes in the mouth and win a respectable bowl game. I believe this team can accomplish both of these goals.
GO COUGS!!!
Had a brief conversation with a d-lineman this week and the only ‘negative’ was that he wouldn’t mind more hitting in practice, alluding to the workman attitude of teams past.
There seems to be a VERY fine line that has been hashed and rehashed regarding addressing a teams’ mentality. Some like it hot, others like it cold; so how to make it the right warm for all?
Staff, Gooch and Criddle: How can the team (coaches/ players/ trainers) address the differing desires to a: have fun and/or b: work harder ie. 05 and 06?
As the team improves it’s depth do you think the coaches will allow them to be more physical during practice?
I’m not into advertising for someone elses blog on another blog but Jonny Harline has a nice little blog where he gives his own insight on BYU football including the TCU debacle. Not surprisingly, his views are very similar Markell, Quinn and Ben’s.
http://www.jonnyharline13.blogspot.com/
Holy crap,
I’m trying not to offend anyone, but there are a few posts on here that make me wonder if people have kids? If so, I hope you recognize them as individuals, and try to figure out the best way to motivate/teach them. One style vs. another does not suggest that one kid is better than the other!
I agree wholeheartedly with Quinn’s point. These are college kids… KIDS. I’m 37 (I’m not old… hail Monty Python), and I realize that in my job, I could ask my boss to teach/motivate/reinforce me in the way that’s best for me, but I’m a big boy now, and if he chooses not to, I’ve still got to find it from within. For a 19 year old kid, especially one who hasn’t served a mission, that’s a tall order. College is a tough life, leaving home, suddenly being responsible for your studying, eating, sleeping, etc. That’s why mental illness often rears its ugly head in places like freshman dorms or basic training in the military… the person loses the shelter of comfort.
I think it is a coach’s job to learn to understand each individual player and what motivates them if they want to get the best out of them. If they don’t, that’s fine, and they lose a nice source of potential. How sad that would be.
Hey Markell,
This was awesome. I love you guys’ blog. I always feel so much better listening to people who actually have been on the team and know what they’re talking about than going onto other websites where random fans, most of whom have never played football in pads, sit around and say some of the most dumbest things about whats going on with the team.
This was the first intelligent answer I have heard as to why the BYU team shows different levels of motivation at times. Thanks. Maybe you should run an article giving your possible explanation why the whole team seems to fall apart when faced with major adversity in a game, aka get down by at least 14 points.
Sounds like you’re doing a great job coaching, and, again, I really enjoyed the article.
Some of the posters have been asking why some of us are disappointed in this team even though we may end the season 11 and 2. Here is my take on this.
* It is not just that we are losing at home but it is how we are getting beat. First it seems like this team can’t handle adversity at all. They crumble in the face of adversity. It seems like we could beat France in throwing up the white flag if you know what I mean. Also I think we are all tired of hearing the players in the post game report saying that they came out flat and unprepared. This is unacceptable and we all know it. The team has 100% control of how they come out and how they prepare. In the last 2 years we are not just getting beat but we are getting control, dominated and torn apart in our losses. Before 2008 our losses where hard fought battles that came down to the end of the game. Why does the team come out flat? Why does the team come out unprepared? I strongly believe that it is a sign of weakness to rely on someone else to prepare you and motivate you. It is called initiative and self motivation. So I look at the players more than I do at the coaches.
* I think we all see TCU and Utah pulling away from the rest of the conference including BYU. We are 26 and 1 vs. everyone in the conference minus Utah and TCU and we have a losing record vs. TCU and Utah combined. We are 2 and 9 in big games. I think some of us want to see BYU take the next step and be more consistent in beating good teams. It seems like all we can do is beat the lower level teams.
What I am looking for is to not here we came out flat, that we weren’t prepared and to see this team not crumble in the face of adversity.
What think you?
I think there’s a possibility of TCU pulling away but I can’t say the same about Utah. Yes, they had a great season last year and have busted the BCS twice this decade but between those trips the Utes have been either worse off or in the same boat as BYU. They’re notthat impressive this year either but they are winning games and have a slightly better record than us so far.
I keep hearing this 2-7 or 2-9 record. One thing that never gets mentioned is that nearly all those games were games where either the team was ranked higher than us or they were the favored team. I don’t know of any program that has a winning record against teams that were ranked higher than them when they played. It just rarely happens. Having said that, there is definitely need for improvement in that statistic. But I get tired of hearing that BYU hasn’t beaten anybody. We’ve beaten some good solid teams since Bronco took over. I know it looks sexier when we beat a team from one of those other conferences, but I don’t think it’s a realistic or fair to judge BYU’s success on those games alone.
Seasider, thanks for the Harline blog and maybe the football gods were paying us back this year for that Reed pushoff on 3rd down at Amon Carter. I conveniently forgot the calls that go our way and always remember the ones against us…’
We know our team is good, not great this year. Will this team be content with a season finish similar to last year’s? Or will we find that on-field leader who will be a difference-maker against the Utes and our bowl opponent (which could very well be a disgruntled BSU)…
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