Jason Franchuk
DAILY HERALD

They carry the same records and no doubt the same feelings heading into Saturday

[b]

I agree! If there is a time to build confidence on a team it is after going through the schedule we just did especially after playing quite well against BSU. Now is the time to find out whether you have men or boys on the team. Put hte heat on them make them prove something. I heard one player say they were stronger and faster, tell them to prove it. I think its time the players put up or shut up. THey either have it or they don't. I think the coaching staff is doing all it is capable of doing, now its time for the ohter half to step up. I would tell them this is the season, this game with CSU, they either step it up or hang it up. Teams get used to loosing, the more it happens th easier it becomes to accept. Payne stepped it up last game even though he missed the FG. ITs time for someone who playes on O or D to step it up. I hear so much negative about Crowton, but everyone is afraid to lay any blame on the players, maybe for fear of hurting their feelings. Missed blocks, dropped passes, poor reads, missed tackles, its time they stood up and took some of the heat. I think we have coaches that are on the hot seat and afraid to coach they way they really want to and players who are aftraid to put things on the line and maybe make a mistake. Have any players said anything abaout beating CSU? No guts no glory.

I agree Bman, this is something that bothers me about Crowton. I hate Urban Meyer but he always emphasizes that each game is the most important. I think that Crowton does this so that his players don't play tight but this CSU game is "do or die" and I hope the players play like it. If BYU wins this game, they could conceivably be above .500 before they play anyone tough again and could be playing with a lot of confidence. If they lose, they start 1-4 and would have to fight very hard to have a winning season. If BYU plays nearly as well against CSU as they did against BSU, then they will win the game, I have no doubts about that.

Unfortunately for Crowton this is a "do-or-get your butt fired" game. I just don't think he can turn around a 1-4 start, I haven't been in the locker room with him so I don't know what kind of motivator he is, however, it would take a miracle worker to turn around a 1-4 train wreck. I have no doubt that we have the talent and depth on our team that we need to be top 25. I do, however, doubt that if we lose to CSU we will have the opportunity to see much of that potential develop since the mental battle will be all but lost. That being said, I am no pecimist (??), I think we take it to CSU this week. We will get a double digit win and our teams confidence will sore. I predicted at the beginning of the season that we would come in 2nd place in the conference. If we win this game convincingly I thin we have a great shot at that mark and even a decent shot at 1st, what a turnaround that would be!!! GO COUGS

The start of this season takes me back 30 years ago to a somewhat similar situation for the Cougars. 1974 was Lavell's third season. His first two years were only so-so. I think his record after two years was only 12-10. BYU lost the first three games of 1974 and was having difficulty getting their offense in gear. Gary Sheide was the quarterback. BYU's fourth game that year was against Colorado State. Things did not look so good going into that game. However, in that game, something clicked. The offense started to gel. The game ended in a 33-33 tie but never was a team so happy to get a tie. That game is often times thought to be the turning point in Lavell's career. After that game BYU ran the table in conference play and went on to play in their first bowl game.

Is this game a do-or-die game for the Cougars? I think so. I'd like to think last week's game, even though it was a loss, could have been the game that turned things around for this year's team. I feel that going into CSU the Cougars need to make a positive statement. They not only need to win the game, they need to do so with some authority. If they do, then I think we can see a bright future. If not, they may have dug a hole too deep to climb out of.