Men Win Football Games

We are just over halfway through the College Football season and I've already decided to check out on BYU football. Once again sky high promises were not kept and unreal expectations hit the cold icy reality of what this team is....a decent, but not great, football team. No rose colored articles from the ever delusional Dick Harmon, no reality averting always positive remarks from Bronco Mendenhall, and no stupid slogans can give this team the needed grit to actually win a game that matters.

Here's my big beef with BYU football. They show up small in big games. By big games I mean games in which both teams have something to play for. Sure we can sneak up on Oklahoma but they obviously underestimated us. Our victories over TCU and Utah have come when they (Utah and TCU) both had nothing to play for. Our humiliating defeats have come when they both (Utah and TCU) had something to play for.

Here are my armchair observations of why we won't be a top flight team. These aren't small deficiencies and require much more then some fine tuning. We will be destined for mediocrity until we can solve these problems.

• Speed: Let's face it white kids from Pleasant Grove aren't running 4.3 40's. They might be smart, team players but that doesn't cover up their obvious skill deficiencies. Our Honor Code prevents us from recruiting these speed guys.
• Offensive Play calling: I'm sure that Robert Anae is a great guy and makes a wonderful home teacher but our play calling is predictable and doesn't adjust to our circumstances. Just look at how dynamic TCU was when they dismantled our defense seven different ways. We didn't have an offensive gameplan that effectively countered their pass rush. The only thing offensive about our play calling was how "offensive" it was.
• Mentality: Maybe the Mormon culture just doesn't allow for a killer instinct that separates the winners from the pretenders. I think too many players and staff use this as an excuse. They can justify losing by saying that football is just not a priority compared to God, Family, and Education. I don't argue with the priorities but I also don't feel that they are mutually exclusive. Nobody on this team has attitude, leadership, or the drive to demand that others step up. This "we've got more important matters in our lives" also permeates the fan base to help justify the BYU losses to "Ute" Fan. I declare that you can have a "Killer Instinct" and still be a worthy member of the Church.
  
• Legacy Players: The bottom half of the BYU roster is filled with Covey's, Mendenhall's, Edward's, and Lamb's....all products of past BYU players, coaches, and benefactors. The problem is that none of them are real contributors. Why don't we free up their roster spots for more worthy players. We know that we could use the depth.

I could continue but the bottom line is that we are pansies and don't show up for big games. We haven't shown any real heart. We are incredibly outcoached. We complain about a lack of respect and then we get the some media light on our program we let TCU and old man Bowden take us to task in our own stadium. The whole program should be embarrassed. No amount of excuses or silver linings or learning experiences are allowed. We've used them for far too long. It is now time to actually back up your stupid slogans.