BYU for years has always been considered the premiere program and institution in the state of Utah. And for good reason. They were a National Champion, produced some of the greatest players in the history of College Football who went on to win the sports greatest and most prestigous awards, prime example being Ty Detmer in 1990 winning the Heisman.
With all that said, BYU has always and to this day had to defend its tradition and accolades. Everyone who has a meaningful voice in the College Football landscape has always shot down BYU Football. In large part due to what conference they have been affiliated with. The WAC was just that crazy pass-happy league everyone thought, with BYU as the ring leader of it all. Then comes the Mountain West Conference. League has improved greatly from days of WAC, but still thought of as a lower-tier league that can’t play with big boys. So BYU continues to get whatever accolades they have accomplished shot down.
Despite all the negative criticsm pundits always place on the Cougars, BYU year-in and year-out always overcomes the obstacles and puts out a team that can compete with anyone in the country. Along with a competitive squad, they play a fun brand of football that has always stayed modern for the test of time. —LaVell Edwards not Bill Walsh, revolutionized the passing game—
The challenges that face BYU are numerous from fighting the little guy tag simply based on what league they are in to its limited recruiting pool, and to the rules put in place by the university itself. And when you think BYU is all but dead, they will prove you wrong, again and again and again.
BYU fans should expect nothing less moving forward into what will take place in the future of the College Football/Athletic landscape. Why you ask? Here’s my reasons to always believe BYU football is always going to be a great program.
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#1 BYU will always get talent that love BYU.
Everyone knows that BYU is at a total disadvantage in the recruiting world. How many 18-21 year olds want to sacrifice alcohol, premarital sex, smokes, growing a beard, and basically anything else most of their fellow peers are enjoying and consider the hip and trendy thing to do? Not many.
But with Bronco Mendenhall at the helm, BYU has maximized their recruiting efforts making sure no athlete who can not only play D-1 football but live up to the strict code of Brigham Young University, goes by their watch. Through referrals, internet, summer camps, and even referrals from former players and other Alumni. BYU is utilizing the few but strong resources they have out on the recruiting trail.
Bronco and staff are finding these players early, offering early, and receiving early commitments. Many questioned this logic in the early stages, but as the years have went by, Bronco’s approach to recruiting at BYU has led to BYU having some of the most depth the program has experienced in their history. These players are not only buying into what Bronco is telling them, but these guys have a commitment to BYU and they see the greatness that this place has to offer. Its a special place. Why treat it like any other? That’s what will always make BYU great.
Look at the latest Signing Day class of 2010. Travis Tuiloma a future star Defensive Tackle out of the state of Kansas. A rare state for a BYU athlete to come from. Tuiloma after his Junior year in High School sent out tape to BYU coaches hoping they would see it, and hopefully be interested. BYU coaches were more than impressed and flew out to Kansas to meet with Tuiloma and offer him a scholarship. Tuiloma accepted on the spot, and mind you he never visited or saw the campus. He just committed because he loved BYU and what it was about. Tuiloma went on to have a terrific Senior year and garnered heavy attention from in-state school Kansas State, but Tuiloma never waivered to his commitment to the Cougs. How many schools have a story similar to that? Not many. At BYU, it’s not that rare.
LDS (Mormon) athletes will always view BYU as a top-notch school when looking for a college. And the LDS church continues to grow, and the young men in the church more and more are being drawn to football, improving the talent base within. These recruits know its a place that their standards won’t be an issue, because everyone else feels the same way and they can get a great education, despite the supposed lack of research going on in Provo according to the PAC-10.
Many wonder what BYUs recruiting would be like in a “BCS” league. Honestly, I don’t feel it would be drastically different. They would still recruit the same type of players. BYU will never sacrifice its mission as a school and program for a blue-chip recruit who has no intent on committing to a school till Signing Day. And in most cases, guys who are indecisive when choosing between BYU and others, don’t last at BYU if they do in fact decide to come. You have to be 100% sold on the Y., or it will be a bad experience for you. That’s why I see nothing to be gained as far as recruiting in one of those leagues.
#2 Solid Fanbase
BYU fans can be some of the most annoying people you’ve heard or seen; but at the same time they are some of the most loyal and passionate. I’ve seen both sides of the BYU fan spectrum. I know how it is very well, with these guys. But BYU will always have a strong interest in its athletics, particularly Football. It will never die. A lot of BYUs fanbase comes from the fact that they are tied in with the LDS church, but many others have grown up to be fans of the athletic teams and be fully invested with the teams.
The passion BYU fans have will always show at games as well. They will come to games regardless of record, opponent, night, day, whatever they will be there. They might bitch and moan in the process but they will always show up. Same goes for road games and bowl games. BYU has great showings, especially for games located in the West Coast.
#3 Institution and Athletic Department that will always be profitable, and make smart financial decisions
Did you know BYU has the largest Indoor Practice Facility in all of America? Did you also know that Practice Facility was built solely from donations, along with its state-of-the-art Student Athlete Building? Pretty cool huh? How many programs can say they have some of the biggest and best facilities in America without draining their school and Athletic Department financially in the process? Not many.
I bring this up because despite being in the so-called “Non-BCS” BYU has still managed to be a Athletic Department that is consistently in the green, making profits and building top-notch facilities. Now would BCS money speed up the process? Sure. But at BYU, they wouldn’t go haywire and just splurge on big-money items like most schools. BYU will never break from doing their homework when it comes to making improvements, they will take their due dilligence and when its all said and done, it will be state-of-the-art. Why break from philosiphies that have proved to work for years?
This has been the only Athletic Department in the MWC (even those BCS Bustin Utes) that makes money year-in and year-out. Regardless of league affiliation. BYU makes smart business moves.
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At the end of the day, Cougar fans hold your head up high. Don’t be down that BYU isn’t in a BCS conference. Who knows what the future holds. College Football has always told us we can’t acheive anything, yet we always prove them wrong.
The old system back in the early days of College Football was never supposed to be allow a little guy to do anything; BYU went on to set numerous NCAA records and go on to win a National Championship in 1984. The only “Non-BCS” program to acheive such a feet since.
The Alliance was then brought into play and BYU went on to win 14 games in a season (1996), which is still a NCAA record for most wins in a season.
We were then told we couldn’t compete in the BCS. BYU went 12-0 in 2001, but before the regular season ended the BCS ruled BYU wasn’t qualified for any of the bowls. That action made the BCS have to re-evaluate its policies with “Non-BCS” teams opening the doors for more access for future teams.
Whatever system is in place, it will never stop BYU from being a winning program. A program who will always do things the right way on and off the field, and forever be proud of the way they do things and the effort they put into it. I for one look forward to the future of BYU athletics. I’m excited to see what is in store. I will always love BYU, win, lose, conference, BCS, no BCS. I’m a BYU fan, and I will be till the day I die.
Go Cougars!
Ever wondered the facts behind the departure of the Seattle Supersonics? Watch Sonicsgate
Kamikazes were one of my favorite pairs of shoes as a kid. Shawn Kemp a.k.a. “The Reign Man”, his Reebok Kamikazes editions I & II were amazing shoes to hoop in, and because of those kicks I always had an interest watching the Sonics because I had a pro basketball players shoes, and I wanted to see him play in them. Those Sonics were fun to watch and were always a franchise I respected, and never wanted to see my Lakers face in the 90s.
So when I found out about this documentary titled, Sonicsgate I was really interested to see what actually happened with the Sonics. Because honestly I never really heard much, it seemed like literally no one cared. Which is really sad. This was a franchise that was around for 41-years and it wasn’t even a blip on the radar to most of the country as to why they left. To me, that stems from a east coast bias, those east coasters act as though nothing exisists in the sports world past the Mississippi.
Having watched the documentary it was informative and really sheds light on what happened to this storied franchise. What killed me was watching the quotes from the state and city legislature officials trying to justify that there was no need to upgrade Key Arena. Having been there, that place needed a massive overhaul badly. State officials that always turn to education or we have more pressing needs, is a freakin joke. Sports gives people hope and something to turn to. I know if any of my teams relocated I would be devastated.
Hopefully the Sonics can once again be in the NBA, Seattle deserves it. And hopefully that town can finally get the arena it deserves as well.
But for any sports fan, this is a great documentary to watch. You can watch it in its entirety on YouTube or at their website Sonicsgate.org.
Here’s the YouTube version of the film.
Summer Movies are terrible this year
Ferrell and Wahlberg, you must save my Summer!
Is there anything original in movies anymore? Sequels, reboots, remakes, or whatever you want to call them is all there is this Summer.
Whatever happened to Summer movies meaning something? I’m a movie freak but I’ve literally had no desire to see anything so far. I saw Iron Man 2 because I had free tickets to an IMAX showing. I loved man the first Iron Man but this sequel was just meh.
Since the first week of May we’ve been rewarded with Just Wright and Robin Hood oh and don’t forget Shrek 7 or whatever the hell it is opening today. It’s just lame what movies are becoming, its depressing really.
Get Him to the Greek is the only flick in the coming weeks that I’m even excited about. And that’s because I loved Forgetting Sarah Marshall featuring Russell Brand’s character, Aldous Snow the lead singer of Infant Sorrow. This is like the only Judd Apatow-influenced flick that appears to be coming out this Summer. What ever happened to when these dudes were pumping out what appeared to be like five movies a month. Not many comedies out this Summer.
After that, The Other Guys starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg is the only thing that holds my interest. I’m holding hope that The Other Guys is my flick that I absolutely fall in love with. If Ferrell is in it, I’m usually happy with it. Hell, I liked Land of the Lost so that can shed some light on what kind of a Ferrell fan I am.
Inception looks kinda good, probably because my creepy crush can be revived in Ellen Page. I have no idea why I’m so into her, but I am. Maybe it was the Slinky t-shirt in Juno with that preggers belly. Meh, Ellen can flip my page anyday.
Do any of you have interest in this piss-poor selection that have been dubbed “SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS”? If so, what movies are you excited to see?
At least, I can look forward to Eastbound & Down having a 2nd season coming in the Fall. Even though, no Katy Mixon in this upcoming season which greatly depresses me.
Credit/LakersNation.com
I will admit, I was one of those doubters who felt the Lakers were absurd to think that they could just “turn on the switch” during the Playoffs. I didn’t buy it, personally just felt it was underachieving. My apologies.
Lakers are definitely turning on the switch at a blistering rate, to the point where you might get a seizure.
Like the previous series against the Jazz, the Lakers are using their length to overpower the Suns who simply have no answer for the Lakers inside play.
What makes this time even more exciting isn’t just the fact that the Lakers are two games away from the third straight NBA Finals appearance but the fact that Boston appears to be looming. Revenge is on the mind for the Lakers faithful. Two years ago has still left a bitter taste and its time to get rid of it, and this year we will have the homecourt on those tea party clowns.
If Lamar Odom keeps having these lucky games and the TruWarrior a.k.a. Ron Artest keeps knockin down big-time 3-pointers the Lakers will not be stopped.
Oh and don’t forget the most skilled big-man on the planet, Pau Gasol who is playing his best basketball of his career right now; and then of course that one guy….momma there goes that man again, Kobe Bean Bryant.
To LeBron James:
Eat it and weep buddy. Enjoy your time trying to saving the Knicks. A franchise that hasn’t won anything in about 40 years.
Real Kings have Rings buddy.
Choke!
Via Dime Magazine/Aaron Phillips
I usually feel I’m on top of stuff in pop culture. From starting the Shutter Shades comeback prior to KanYe West to discovering Lady Gaga’s Just Dance before anyone knew how to dance, I feel like I’m on top of my shit.
This Betty White craze baffles me and makes me wonder how it started. This all stems from a Facebook invite I just received to join a group supporting Betty White to be host of the Oscars.
WHY???????
Betty White was annoying as hell on Golden Girls. Yes, I’ve watched numerous Golden Girls episodes on Lifetime. And her damn character was annoying. That show was like 25 years ago, why is she relevant? Will someone please explain to me the sudden popularity of this old woman who quite frankly is not funny.
She gets a gig hosting Saturday Night Live. I wasn’t impressed. Are people really that infatuated with old people?
If you want to see a badass old person go see the Epic Beard Man. That guy is a true hero and someone I want to see hosting any event on television. He’s part of the Raider Nation too so that instantly makes him one of the coolest old people ever. Ever since his video came out three months ago, he has been someone I look up to.
For those of you who don’t know who Epic Beard Man is, watch the video below. He’s the stud with the white beard. And yes his t-shirt says, “I AM A MOTHERFUCKER”
Hero.
Well former BYU basketball Guard Mike Loyd Jr. fooled me. He apparently was lying to Jay Drew, dude knew straight up what he was getting booted for. It was marijuana and other off-the-court issues that at any other school are no big deal but at BYU is a big no-no.
Salt Lake Tribune article revealing Loyd’s off the court issues.
BYU should be fine without Loyd moving forward. The back-up Point Guard position is definitely up for grabs. Three players look to be vying for the minutes there.
Nick Martineau; return missionary (RS-Freshman)
Martineau is a return missionary who will re-join the program in July. Not sure if he is a D-1 talent, but he better rise up this season to give Jimmer Fredette rest during stretches this season.
Anson Winder from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.
Winder to me is more of a two-guard then a point. His strengths are slashing to the basket and knocking down clutch three’s. Not sure that he will translate to PG at the D-1 level.
Kyle Collinsworth from Provo High.
Collinsworth a 6’6 multi-dimensional player who was a Top 100 recruit in the Class of 2010 is already working out with the team and looks to have a great shot at the back-up spot. Collinsworth played PG at Provo High, but I just struggle to think of him as a PG in college basketball. Not the best position for him to flourish at. Wherever he plays though, he will make immediate contributions to this squad.
The Lakers achieved their first sweep in a playoff series since the 2008 1st Round matchup against Denver. This sweep over Utah was the first in the Jazz’ history going down in four games in a seven-game series.
Jazz fans were holding up signs saying lets make history…referring to coming back from 3-0, but instead they made different kind of history. The classless group that they are. Don’t help your daughter Fisher according to the Jazz faithful! Its been three years! Get over it!
The Lakers played pretty damn well in Salt Lake City. A lot better than I was honestly expecting. Getting a sweep was a great feeling. Kobe played great in the series scoring over 30 in every game. He’s on his last leg right? Ummmm….Momma there goes that man again! Then of course the man who came to L.A. on February 1st, 2008 the day that changed our lives forever, Pau Gasol absolutely tore up the Jazz. Boozer in particular. Boozer kept getting smaller and smaller as the series went along.
Jazz fans, you can officially go back to your undying hatred of all things Carlos Boozer now. Hell you probably cheered when you heard Boozer’s Escalade got plowed by the Lakers bus.
Ron Artest came up HUGE in Game 3. Playing like the Ron Artest that was always a thorn in the Lakers side when he was on the opposition. Ron Ron was big and of course was terrific on defense.
Lakers gotta keep this rolling going into the Western Conference Finals against Phoenix. This long layoff will be heaven sent for this Laker squad. No excuses to not defend homecourt in the first two games against the Suns.
In other news, I met one of my….I guess you could say heroes? TNT’s Craig Sager.
Met Sager outside the Energy Solutions Arena prior to Game 3 on Saturday afternoon. Only downside was that he wasn’t in some fancy suit. Just a NBA t-shirt with some gym shorts. Dude was a total stud though and gracious enough to allow me to have a photo with him. Cool stuff.
Oh and I can’t help but mention that Laker fans were lovin singin “I LOVE LA” in the concourse of the ESA after both victories with me. Great, great time.
Go Lakers! 8 more to go!
Backup BYU basketball Point Guard, Michael Loyd Jr. recently left the BYU basketball program on what appeared to be a mutual agreement with himself and coaches.
Then there was rumors that Loyd was struggling with grades and the culture of BYU.
After all that Coach Rose had a press conference on Wednesday to clear the air of what was going on with Loyd, by saying there was accountability and responsibility issues with Loyd as the reason to his departure.
Then the tip of the iceberg as to why to I’m still wondering what is going on with Loyd….Loyd spoke with BYU beat-writer Jay Drew and said this quote that continues to stick out in my mind.
Jay Drew: On what reasons BYU gave him for the dismissal:
Loyd: “I am still fuzzy about all the reasons I got released. It might be just little things. It might be they are tired [of dealing] with me. Because I feel like the school is very strongly based on religion, and the [honor] code. They try not to give anybody any leeway.“I know they care about the [basketball] program, and I have proven myself on the court. But they obviously care more about what they stand for than basketball.“
Ummm….”fuzzy” as to why he was booted? What the hell is going on here? I know Coach Rose wouldn’t boot a student-athlete for no reason at all. And according to Loyd in his interview with Drew he is in fact eligible as we speak and was also saying he had no problem with the culture at BYU.
Also, if Loyd did something terribly wrong don’t you think he would probably be back at his home in Las Vegas trying to figure out what to do next? Most guys would be too embarrassed to show their face around the team still, but Loyd is still around campus?
Loyd's departure is only the 2nd off the court issue in his tenure at BYU. (Rashaun Broadus)
I’m pegging this on BYU heirarchy having an issue with Loyd’s flamboyant personality (mohawk, pierced tongue). BYU can’t handle someone who actually doesn’t have a cookie cutter image. I’m looking at you Cecil O. Samuelson, Tom Holmoe, the academic advisor EJ Caffero, and all the other guys who make personnel decisions when it isn’t your damn call. The heirarchy probably told Rose that he had to let him go, and that’s what it made so difficult for Rose to let him go because deep down he knows this is bull. At any other program this is not happening. But BYU continues to act as though they are bigger than the church (LDS) they in fact represent; by ruining some guy’s college career.
From hearing Rose’ press conference the numerous discussions he refers to having with Loyd were probably letting Loyd know that these academic officials are on him and if he doesn’t wisen up it could result in him not being here. I’m sorry but Rose would not give up on this kid for no damn reason, hell he won’t give up on James Anderson who hasn’t done a damn thing in his career at BYU. Yet he’s going to axe the player who basically led BYU to their first NCAA Tournament win in 17 years over…a “fuzzy” situation?
I still don’t understand this at all.
This makes BYU basketball next season far from a Top 10 team as I had them, and realistically drops them to the bottom of the Top 25 poll, maybe out of it. Mountain West Conference will be a taunting task now. Hopefully Jimmer Fredette comes back or BYU is a likely CBI team next season. Can’t expect much great things when your back-up point guard is going to be return missionary out of Davis High School, Nick Martineau.
Ah the joys of being a fan of BYU athletics.
Not as many question marks have arose from the Laker faithful/media going into this Western Conference Semifinal matchup with the Utah Jazz, compared to the matchup with Oklahoma City in Round 1. Many feel this series against Utah is a tune-up for the final stretch, and why not believe that?
The Jazz haven’t won in Staples Center since 2006. Also, add the fact that the Lakers have ousted the Jazz the past two seasons in the Playoffs, firin up that fishin boat for a Jazz squad that their faithful feel is a title contender….not against the Lakers though.
In Game 1, Lakers length which is a known mismatch for the Jazz against LA was apparent in the early going as the Lakers shot 88% in the opening minutes, getting easy shots at the basket. But as many Laker fans are accustomed to with this squad the last few years, they couldn’t build a lead and the Jazz hung around, and kept hanging around until the fourth quarter where the Jazz took a lead and were up 93-89 with 3:57 remaining in the game.
The Laker length along with the Black Mamba the Lakers prevailed in Game 1 to down the Jazz 104-99.
Some positives I took away from this game as a Laker fan.
- Despite some sputtering play on offense, the Lakers still put up over 100 points. Fully expect to see more 100+ point games in this series as the Jazz just simply can’t stop the Lakers for extended periods of time. Which is a great thing for this team who had their struggles against a more physical Thunder squad getting to that 100-point plateau.
- The greatness of Kobe Bryant grows….if its even possible at this point. For people to say this guy is winding down, well if winding down consists of 12-19 from the field and scoring 13 of his game-high 31 in the 4th quarter when his team needed it the most, I will take the winding down Kobe Bryant anyday.
- Defensive assignments were great and the Lakers will only impose their will on the Jazz even more as the series goes along. Loved seeing Artest contain Deron Williams a.k.a. Torrey Ellis out there, did a great job.
- Lone negative had to of been the inept play by the bench yet again. The most bi-polar bench squad I have ever seen in my life.
Still sticking to my guns that the Lakers win in five. If they put a full 48 minutes together against the Jazz for once, this won’t even be a series. Build on leads!
Also this is off-topic but Staples Center crowd please oh please quit chanting MVP! MVP! MVP! when Kobe goes to the free throw line. He doesn’t wanna hear that anymore, nor do I and most sane Laker fans. Screw that lame chant its lame now. After Kobe is Finals MVP then go ahead. 
