I think it is funny because when it comes to conference games BYU fans are cocky and come across as arrogant, but when it comes to playing BCS opponents sometimes we, fans and even the team, seem to be scared to death. On the one hand we think we are too good for the MWC, but then on the other hand, how could we possibly hang with the big boys.
BYU should have a very good team this year. Our offense can play both grind it out ball control, as well as high-octane shoot out. Our defense has is good and although we have to replace much of our defense from last year, many of the replacement players have had good playing time to gain experience.
There have been a couple of games in the past years that were key turns in the evolution of the program. In 2005 we lost, at home, in overtime, to both TCU and Utah. But in 2006 we played a tough game against a ranked TCU on the road and we pulled away for the victory. We took Utah to the wire and beat them with no time on the clock. In 2007 we won stare down games against New Mexico on the road and TCU at home. We came back in the final 2 minutes to take the lead against Utah and held them off at the end. We have learned to win the close ones in conference. Our offense has shown that if you give us the ball last, we will score, and our defense has shown that they can hold off late game heroics. But this has just been in conference.
In 2006 we played Arizona tight on the road, but lost on a last second field goal. In 2006 we took a ranked Boston College team to overtime on the road before losing. We overcame the gitters against Oregon to just blow them away. We handled Arizona at home, but despite making mounting a come back against UCLA, we came up short. We couldn't finish, and their best drive of the game was their last. At Tulsa we just fell apart. I don't know what happened there. But the LV Bowl win was important to the program. BYU seems to play scared, and it was a team that had already beat us once. We sometimes come out flat against BCS teams, but we had a commanding 17-6 lead before that fluke Unga fumble inside the ten right before the half. We played them very tough in the second half other than that final drive and that was almost all on one play that was this close to being a pick six. Still Bronco has instilled confidence into his defense. When they came out for the FG try, they did not look scared and they did it. They did what they had to do on that play.
We went from losing the close conference games to winning the close ones. We went from coming out intimidated against BCS opponents to staring them in the face. Bronco has built in his team the belief that they can play with anyone and that if it takes blocking a last second field goal they believe they will do it. That is too important.
I don't think we will come out flat against UW. I think we can and should go undefeated this year aside from critical injuries or let downs. I think we will be better than every team we face this year, but undefeated seasons are tough to come by.
