BYU FOOTBALL: Knee Jerk Reactions

By Jacob Sorenson

You could consider today an emotional day around BYU football. Legends have been made and some passed on. Specifically today, one legend will remain a legend, although passed on. With news of Ty Detmer being relieved of his duties you can't help but wonder what could have been of BYU's offense. This statement is true regardless of how well you believe the cougars performed this season. At 4-9 with a dismal offensive pedigree, BYU is simply not taking any more chances. They want something proven, perhaps something consistent.

Consistency can be diluted and defined in many ways. Consistency may be 6 win seasons, it could be 8 or 9 win seasons, consistency may even just be living up character and improving. This cannot be said of this 2017 cougars team, lacking consistency both on and off the field. But is that the fault of a second year offensive coordinator with no collegiate experience other than his historic personal run?
The struggle began in the pre-season. A bright BYU future heralded the coming of multiple new recruits and some skilled transfers. The thought of moving on from coach detmer wasn't even an option. Common to the nature of football, injuries mounted, decisions were made, some favorable, and some not so favorable and the losses piled up. And so it began, a very awkward, confusing, angering, and down right depressing season. Points, points, points... the calls demanded.

BYU 6th string QB Joe Critchlow

There wasn't really one thing that stood out as the reason BYU struggled, but an array of things. Most notably possibly were the dropped passes, lack of turnovers created, number of turnovers given, errant passes, injuries even up to a 6th and 7th string level, formation set ups, play calling, blown coverages, a brutal schedule and the list goes on and on. While the offense was possibly the most noticeable concern, wasn't there something more, or at least more than met the eye? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Most would say this years football product was not very beautiful.

The season, finally over, seemed to be a painfully long, yet passed reasonably quickly. BYU victories came in games which the team scored 20 or more points with the exception of a game they likely should have won at Utah State. The majority of BYU losses came during games in which BYU scored anything below 20 points with the same exception noted above. After beginning 1-7, the cougars finished the season 3-2, including two road wins. Players seemed to be more prepared and coaches, although very worn down, appeared to be optimistic for the future. An adjunct bowl game in Hawaii should have been a spring-board into an unsatisfied yet driven off-season.

Squally Canada Breaks loose against Hawaii

It is often said that pressure is what creates diamonds. They luster and sparkle after years of molding and force. Similarly, trials seem to push people to their limits of physical, mental, and emotional stamina. Wouldn't this season be such a time to make this correlation to cougar football, could it be that BYU is on the right track, or was? even with the losses that is. One question that has lingered beyond the news of coach Detmers firing today is timing. How much time does it really take to know where you are headed as a program and what is "adequate" time for a coach and team to prove themselves? Was he given enough time to truly install his pro-style offense, with the pieces that would make it the success it has been at schools such as Wisconsin.

Modern sports make coaches drop like flies, but by no means is BYU your average modern sports school. For most, If you aren't at the top or making significant moves to the top, there must be somebody better. Nebraska ousted Mike Riley after a short three year tenure. Earlier this season Kalani Sitake's former mentor Gary Anderson Voluntarily stepped down before he was forced to at Oregon State. Coaches from Tennessee, Arkansas, and UCLA were all dropped after dismal seasons, but BYU is not like any of these programs, at least currently. After a relatively short era of being considered "elite", BYU is lucky to be mentioned among the middle of the road programs across the nation, and has been unanimously denied entry to power 5 conferences, although that remains their main goal.

Despite sources and breaking news, It's still possible with coach Detmer being under contract that the new offensive coordinator will grandfather in his predecessor with open arms to his wealth of knowledge. It is also possible that either no offer is made, or an offer is rejected. In large part the whole discussion is still unclear, and emotions are high, possibly so high that Kalani Sitake and Athletic Director Holmoe will make other moves, some surprising and others plead for.

Greater than any question that has been answered this year, and possibly greater than any success Ty Detmer had a BYU in the past will be that What-If's surrounding the coach as the days continue to pass on what could have been. What if he was given just a little more time. Maybe by many this is viewed as the right decision for BYU, Ty Detmer, his family, the fan base, recruits, and Boosters.
On the contrary, maybe this is a continuation of the merry-go-round search that many other college sports programs go through. A cycle of always finding whats the next best thing, in a sports climate where attention spans are waning and fan loyalty is at a premium.