mormonrasta wrote:

I hope Bronco never leaves, but I could see him at a place like Washington. They could offer Bronco more money, a better football tradition, and the ability to play in better bowl games and in a better conference than BYU has access to.

Plus, one could easily enjoy the outdoors in that part of the country and we know Bronco likes the outdoors.

Mormonrasta, although I agree with you on a lot of things, I have to slightly disagree with you here. The reason I believe Bronco may be here to stay is that BYU offers him and his family a side no other school can...or at least not at the same level. That, of course, being the spiritual side.

Bronco, is a very spiritual man, and I feel like he takes great joy in feeling like he is part of something much greater then football at BYU. He is, in so many ways, an ambassador for the church. I am not saying that he won't leave because of it but I do believe that he has more invested in BYU then just the football program. Although coaching at BYU has its challenges, with it also comes its own unique rewards.

Bronco realizes that the football program is a beacon so to speak to millions of athletes, students, members, and fans world wide and has a great responsibility in leading the program in a way that it continues to shine as such a beacon. He has been the perfect man for the job at BYU in not only bringing us back to our winning ways but in bringing us back to a team of honor and integrity. I think he has a great understanding of his responsibility as coach and a great sense of accomplishment as such as well.

Isn't amazing that coaches from BCS conferences are coming to Bronco and BYU to see how things are done. Great things are happening here because of Bronco, his vision, and staff. He is receiving this recognition because of the incredible coach he is and hasn't had to be part of a big-time BCS school in order to receive this attention, which he richly deserves. If he can get schools and the media to notice these great things while at BYU why would he need to go to a BCS school and give up the spiritual side of a job he loves so much.

Personally though the biggest reason I think that Bronco is here to stay is because he isn't the type of coach who seems to seek after praise or recognition. Therefore, he won't feel a need to go to another big time program just so he can be recognized as one of the great coaches in college football. He'll be just as happy earning that same praise and feel a bigger sense of accomplishment that he did it while at BYU.

As far as money goes, again, I don't see this as a problem. BYU boosters will not let him get away from us for the simple reason that another school was offering him much money. Count on that. The Club Members love him...for his intensity, for his leadership, for his vision, for his abilities to produce winneres on and off the field, and for his spirituality. They will not let another school take him from us for lack of money. His salary will be compensated.

Go Cougs!

Anyway, again just my thoughts, sorry if they seem a little random.

Go Cougs.

mormonrasta wrote:

I hope Bronco never leaves, but I could see him at a place like Washington. They could offer Bronco... a better football tradition...

Yeah, like that magical #2 ranked-season in 1984.

runbyu1 wrote:

rasta,
I love your posts and almost always agree with you even when others don't, AND I realize you may be being sarcastic here. BUT just in case...

I'm here supposed to be working but I just have to weigh in on this one. More money, on paper...yes.
Better football tradition...I don't know about that one.
Ability to play in better bowl games...true for now and also when the team isn't performing great.
Enjoy the outdoors easily?...I don't see how he could enjoy the outdoors in Washington any easier than he could in Utah.
Good thoughts nonetheless. Karma to the original poster for getting this started.

I wasn't being sarcastic. I'm not saying that EVERYTHING is better at Washington. Of course it isn't. I'm just saying Washington does have many advantages like history:

Bowl Record- Wash: 14-14-1 (This includes 14 Rose Bowls) BYU: 9-16-1

Finished ranked- Wash: 24 times (11 top 10 finishes) BYU: 15 times (4 top 10 finishes)

National Championships- Wash: 1 BYU: 1

Plus Washington has a bigger stadium and I'm willing to bet they have better facilities. They play in a much better conference and they have access to better athletes. And if you believe the US NEWS and World Report rankings Washington is a better school.

BYU's advangates have to more with the unique quality of life intangibles. This is where I can't read Bronco. There is no question he has embraced the overall vision of the University and he does appear to draw gratification from it. However, he has made it very clear that meeting that vision is onerous and taxing and at times unenjoyable.

Although I never want Bronco to leave, I could envision him coming to a point at BYU where he has done everything he could do in Provo and would want a different challenge. Washington is one of the few places that would perhaps be considered a step up.

If it is true that Bronco is getting paid something close to a million a year, I think he will never leave BYU for a "better" opportunity.

I worried about that early on because I believed (and still do) that he will become a more successful coach than LaVell, and that in typical BYU fashion, they would chronically underpay him.

With his starting salary reportedly at 375K a year, he would have been the among lowest-paid coaches in the conference, not to mention among D1. So it looked like that was exactly what was shaping up for him--low pay, big bureaucracy, big disappointment.

But that's not how it has played out. The administration has stayed out of his way and he has proactively sought solutions before they have had to get involved. His incentive pay appears to be making up the gap, and meanwhile, he is giving something to the BYU/LDS community they haven't had in a long time--a reason to talk about BYU football in priesthood quorum meetings. That's only partly meant to be funny.

The fact is that no one needs to be ashamed of their LDS heritage, and Bronco is this bright neon example of how to do that without disparaging others. So I too have a hard time thinking ANY offer would be good enough for him to consider.

I could see that if BYU were to have two losing seasons in a row, things could change in a hurry, and some other school might come knocking and the offer would be too good to pass up. But as long as BYU stays in the MWC, and as long as Bronco is their coach, this team will never have a losing season. So I don't see Bronco going anywhere from here except retirement.

GO COUGARS!

GO COUGARS