OLB

kiwibacon

OLB

If anybody thinks we are going to win out, they haven't watched the games closely enough. BYU, even when presented with the opportunity to win, folds when playing highly regarded teams or in emotional games (Utah). I think the TCU and Utah games will be very competative, but I don't see BYU prevailing this year.

I just hope we don't have a let-down against USU.

I don't know about winning out, but I don't see a loss against TCU and Utah. Those two games will split.

Kind of like last year, right?

The last time BYU did not choke a big game was the win against Notre Dame more than two years ago. Since then we have managed to choke against BSU, TCU, Utah, Cal, Arizona, and BC. I classify choking as being close at the end of the game against a quality opponent, and then losing.

The other day someone asked if they thought we would finally beat a Top 25 team on the road. I said no, because we haven' beat one in nearly a decade, and I didn't expect it to change. Well, that is how I feel about this year's BYU football team. I expect that we continue to choke.

What BYU has shown so far is they can play just good enough to loose the big game. I think Beck has shown he is good but now I think great maybe unattainable. I think they can win out the rest of the season. The two real test games are over. Now even if they go out and beat every opponent by 50 pts all it will do is lead to BCS proponenets to say "see the MWC is real weak". That's too bad.

kiwibacon

OLB

kiwibacon

OLB

If anybody thinks we are going to win out, they haven't watched the games closely enough. BYU, even when presented with the opportunity to win, folds when playing highly regarded teams or in emotional games (Utah). I think the TCU and Utah games will be very competitive, but I don't see BYU prevailing this year.

I just hope we don't have a let-down against USU.

I don't know about winning out, but I don't see a loss against TCU and Utah. Those two games will split.

Kind of like last year, right?

The last time BYU did not choke a big game was the win against Notre Dame more than two years ago. Since then we have managed to choke against BSU, TCU, Utah, Cal, Arizona, and BC. I classify choking as being close at the end of the game against a quality opponent, and then losing.

The other day someone asked if they thought we would finally beat a Top 25 team on the road. I said no, because we haven' beat one in nearly a decade, and I didn't expect it to change. Well, that is how I feel about this year's BYU football team. I expect that we continue to choke.

Last year both games went into OT and could have gone either way. Today could have gone either way. Does history go against us? Yes. Does history really have a bearing on what will happen? No. I just think they will split those two games and they may lose to a team that they should beat as well. That gives us 8-4. Before doing something dumb and predicting a bowl win or loss, I would like to see who we will play. So for now, my only prediction is 8-4 for the season.

OLB, just so you know. I respect your comments. I think what you bring to this board is true realism. Not blind pessimism. I look forward to more of your posts. Thank you for being a true realist.

First, I appreciate the kind words.

I know, statistically speaking, close losses are bound to turn into close wins at some point. That being said, I have to believe that a team that has suffered so many disappointing loses over the past few years, that they still feel those effects psychologically. It's late in the game, and you're tied or down by a score. You don't think the ghosts of "close losses past" comes back into the minds of a lot of those players? I do.

Part of the reason I thought BYU wouldn't beat a ranked opponent on the road is it is something BYU hasn't done for so long, they don't even know how to do it. There isn't a player on the team that has felt that, and Coach Anae is probably the only coach to have experienced it recently.

The same goes with winning close games. How many players were around for that Notre Dame game? Maybe a quarter of the squad? That feeling was so long ago, and they've lost so many heart-breakers the past two seasons, that I think a mental wall has been created in their minds. I don't believe it to be intentional, but I think when the going gets rough in the late parts of a close game, BYU folds. It isn't pretty, but it happens. Let me stress again, I don't think BYU folds intentionally. But they are mentally trained to fail in close games. This is just one man's opinion, but someone provide me evidence otherwise.

Additionally, I think this extends into other spheres, such as men's basketball.

kiwibacon

OLB

kiwibacon

OLB

If anybody thinks we are going to win out, they haven't watched the games closely enough. BYU, even when presented with the opportunity to win, folds when playing highly regarded teams or in emotional games (Utah). I think the TCU and Utah games will be very competative, but I don't see BYU prevailing this year.

I just hope we don't have a let-down against USU.

I don't know about winning out, but I don't see a loss against TCU and Utah. Those two games will split.

Kind of like last year, right?

The last time BYU did not choke a big game was the win against Notre Dame more than two years ago. Since then we have managed to choke against BSU, TCU, Utah, Cal, Arizona, and BC. I classify choking as being close at the end of the game against a quality opponent, and then losing.

The other day someone asked if they thought we would finally beat a Top 25 team on the road. I said no, because we haven' beat one in nearly a decade, and I didn't expect it to change. Well, that is how I feel about this year's BYU football team. I expect that we continue to choke.

Last year both games went into OT and could have gone either way. Today could have gone either way. Does history go against us? Yes. Does history really have a bearing on what will happen? No. I just think they will split those two games and they may lose to a team that they should beat as well. That gives us 8-4. Before doing something dumb and predicting a bowl win or loss, I would like to see who we will play. So for now, my only prediction is 8-4 for the season.

OLB, just so you know. I respect your comments. I think what you bring to this board is true realism. Not blind pessimism. I look forward to more of your posts. Thank you for being a true realist.

OLB is correct here. I believe that we are 2-9 (or 10 can't remember for sure) in games decided by 7 pts or less with Beck as the QB. We don't know how to put teams away. Not sure when we are going to figure that out, but it won't be with Beck. I wanted so badly to be proven wrong about him, but he proved to me again that when the game is on the line he folds.

I don't think close games can go either way with this team. We don't have the ability to win the close ones and that won't change this year.

There are so many ways to point the proverbial finger in this game, but for me Beck will never be a winner. We lose to TCU, Utah and one other team this year. We always seem to blow at least on game we have no business losing.

I said all summer that 7-5 would be the best we would be and I stand by that. We still haven't done anything to make me feel wrong about that.

Please excuse me now while I go throw up...

JEFE

THEY ARE A C+ COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM PERIOD AND C+ PROGRAMS WIN 6 AND THEY LOSE 6 YEAR AFTER YEAR. GET USED TO IT.

Actually, a C+ team would go 7-5...

faithfullonghorn

Okay group,

Now we the realists have faced much persecution for our "realistic" views regarding our football program. I'm personally calling out bluecrew, catholic kid, dirtbiker, matalicat, etyox, and lehi cougar-who's currently waiting for his byu football newspaper clippings in the mail from his father back home while he knocks on doors. Now I understand this is difficult for many of you who wanted more than anything to prove us realists wrong. But it's not that easy. You see, we were nice to you all after the AZ game. We thoughtfully reserved our remarks in consideration of all of your sensitive feelings. But, many of you made some wrong choices when you decided to demean and ridicule us after beating an average, unranked Tulsa team (a team that is not a quality opponent on a national scale).

Don't come to me crying with excuses or reasons as to why we lost. The point is is that we lost after a valiant effort. The play calling was poor and we still are not a disciplined team. We were fortunate that BC turned the ball over so many times. But as I said long ago, we would not start the season better than 2 and 2. Now that we have validated all of our earlier predictions and proved to all of you haters that we are truly the experts, we will be accepting formal apologies for your ignorant comments, hateful private messages, and any other offenses you have made towards us. Thank you for your time and we will be waiting to hear from you.

-IMA Realist

ps. Hey bluecrew, maybe ty detmer could have won the game for us today. Here's a tissue.....

See this is what really pisses me off, I claim to be a homer yet I predicted that we would lose the game. But you will never see me come on hear after a BYU loss and say, Ha Ha, I told you so. You are the most pathetic fan I have ever been unfortunate enough to be in contact with. I am sure you are absolutely overjoyed that BYU lost just so you could come on hear and rub it in someone elses face.

Just out of curiousity were there any of the so called homers who thought BYU would be 3-0 at this point? I would imagine there are very few indeed. The problem isn't that our goggles are more blue than yours, the difference is we glory in the team we have and celebrate the wins not the losses.

PS. Just to clarify one point, I do not wish to lump all the realists into the same group as faithfullonghorn. If you indeed are as excited as him to rub it in someone elses face because BYU lost then you belong in his group.

JEFE

6-6, you guys just don't get it. This is not an outstanding football team; BYU is not top 30 material period. They are what they are 6-6 ,500 program going nowhere but sideways. Mendenahall's record aginst real teams is now at 6-8. Nothing has changed since Crowton left, only the names. BC WAS NOT A GOOD BALLCLUB, NEITHER WAS ARIZONA. BYU IS RANKED ABOUT 65 AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE, LIKE IT OR NOT. BUCK WITH BRONCO OR DO WHATEVER YOU DO, BUT THIS IS AT THE PRESENT TIME, NOT AN OUTSTANDING PROGAM. THEY ARE A C+ COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM PERIOD AND C+ PROGRAMS WIN 6 AND THEY LOSE 6 YEAR AFTER YEAR. GET USED TO IT.

It's nice to have a clear perspective from a realist legend!!!!

IMA Realist