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| Photo Credit: Sean Gardner, Getty Images |
Just how bad has the 2017 football season been for the BYU Cougars thus far? Even after a bye week, fans are feeling worse on Monday than they were on Friday.
With each passing week, the shutout loss to LSU looks worse and worse. Syracuse put up 26 points in a valiant effort at LSU this weekend. The Orangemen haven't had a winning season since 2013, and haven't won more than eight games in a season since 2001. Yet, they were able to have a better showing than BYU.
Future opponents, Utah State in particular, are looking more and more formidable. Although the Aggies have looked terrible against Wisconsin and Wake Forest, they proved their 51 points against Idaho State wasn't a fluke by scoring 61 on San Jose State. BYU is travelling to Logan this Friday, and doubts are creeping in that the Cougar defense will be able to keep Utah State in check. Not too long ago, such doubts were blasphemy in Cougar Nation.
However, this is not uncharted territory for BYU.
Seven years ago, there were a lot of similar feelings about the 2010 season. BYU won its season opener, and then dropped the next three games to Air Force, Florida State, and Nevada. The Cougar offense lacked firepower and playmakers. The Cougar defense didn't inspire confidence, and struggled to stop the run. Utah State was next on the schedule.
BYU hadn't lost to Utah State since 1993. Not even a 27-point halftime lead in 2002 was enough for Utah State to secure a win against BYU. It had become a fact of football: BYU always beat Utah State. That changed in 2010, and BYU came out of Logan 31-16 losers.
That loss brought about great weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth by Cougar fans. It even prompted this website to pronounce, "Looking at the schedule, the only games that look winnable at this point are New Mexico and Colorado State (UNLV is a toss up)."
BYU finished the 2010 season winning six of its final eight games, including a win in the bowl game. As it turned out, the schedule was front loaded. Air Force, Florida State, and Nevada combined to win 32 games and lose just nine that season. That's an average record of 10.7 wins and 3 losses.
Out of nowhere, a BYU team that appeared lifeless shut down the high powered San Diego State offense. That "toss up" game with UNLV ended up a 55-7 route. This happened with an inexperienced, true freshman, quarterback.
What does this mean for 2017? There is no reason for despair among BYU Cougar fans.
Just like 2010, the rest of the schedule this season is not as daunting as the last three games. There are still two formidable foes on the docket--Boise State and Mississippi State--much like 2010 still had TCU and Utah, but the other seven games seem winnable. None of those seven schools are remotely close to being as good as LSU, Wisconsin, and Utah.
That doesn't mean a win this Friday can be taken for granted, but even with Beau Hoge at quarterback, BYU should be bowl eligible at the end of the season. The Cougar D will start shutting down over-matched opponents, and maybe, just maybe, BYU can pull off an unexpected win, a la San Diego State, against Boise State or Mississippi State. After all, this is football, and teams can go from looking like world beaters one week (Mississippi State beating LSU 37-7) to mere mortals the next (Mississippi State losing to Georgia 31-3).
That's not to say the standards for the program should drop to merely being bowl eligible. It's just pointing out, these aren't exactly dire straights. Clearly, BYU is not at the competitive level it wants, but don't let that get in the way of enjoying the good moments that should come before this season is over.
Then, hopefully, BYU will regroup, learn, and come back better in 2018.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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