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Inside Cougar Report: Is Bronco the right ride? |
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Dick Harmon | Tuesday, December 17, 2002, 9:41 am
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The clock is ticking down. The Brethren will take recommendations on Wednesday during a board meeting and there will be a new DC for BYU football.
It is almost a forgone conclusion that the hire will be Bronco Mendenhall. And so it will go.
Not to denigrate Bronco, but aside from loyalty, friendship, a long-term relationship, trust, confidence and workability with Bronco, could this be the absolute right decision?
Consider:
Kyle Whittingham has a longer, proven track record.
Whittingham is more suited to make the transfer defensively with BYU's current players as opposed to the Cougars adjusting to a defense that requires different kinds of athletes on the line, at linebackers and in the secondary.
Which school is going to be a bigger threat to BYU in years to come? Utah or New Mexico. And if you want to cripple on of them, would you shoot at the feet of the Lobos or the Utes in making a hire?
Who can teach fundamentals better. Who is a better recruiter with more extensive contacts?
Who is smarter?
Who is more flexible?
Who has made the least demands for money, etc., and who has asked for the most? Who would fit into the current staff. Who does Gary Crowton trust the most.
Apparently these issues have weighed very heavy on Crowton the past 72 hours and it has made the decision on who to choose even tougher. He will likely decide today, late this after noon.
One argument that keeps cropping up is Crowton getting Mendenhall's defense or one designed over many years by New Mexico head coach Rocky Long. There is evidence in the background to suggest that Rocky Long is the author and teacher and implimenter of this Lobo defense. That doesn't suggest that Mendenhall is not capable of coaching it and carrying it onwards and upwards at BYU. Or does it?
Folks, contrary to earlier speculation, this is much tougher on Crowton than you'd think and he knows it. Meanwhile, Whittingham is on the verge of re-upping with Utah.
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