Further evidence of how far BYU football has fallen

Photo Credit: Jim Urquhart, USA Today Sports

The BYU Cougars football team and its fan base is a proud one. Losing to Utah State is never a good sign about the state of the program. Ever since BYU started beating the Aggies on a regular basis, nearly 40 years now, the Cougars have never won more than eight games in a season when they don't beat Utah State--the one school they have dominated more than any other over this time span.

The final score, however, is not the evidence that demonstrates just how far BYU football is at this moment from the lofty standards of the past. Following the LSU loss, this website put out an editorial about how far BYU had fallen from being among the top tier of college football. If LSU's loss to Troy on Saturday wasn't enough to convince any remaining doubters, then here are two more evidences of the painful state of Cougar football.
 
From the moment the game ended, the coaches, the players, the analysts, and the armchair quarterbacks have pointed to, and will continue to all week, the fact that BYU turned the ball over so much as the reason BYU lost. In unanimity, they have proclaimed, "You cannot win when you turn the ball over that many times." That is not entirely true.

• 1990: BYU had six turnovers against Utah State. BYU won 45-10.
• 1990: BYU had five turnovers against No. 1 Miami. BYU won 28-21.
• 1984: BYU had six turnovers against Michigan. BYU won 24-17.
• 1984: BYU had five turnovers against Utah. BYU won 24-14.
• 1974: BYU had eight turnovers against Arizona State. BYU won 21-18.   

Let's not forget, either, that BYU forced six turnovers against Utah, and five against Boise State, last year and lost both games. It sure would have made 2016 a better season if it was a universal football truth that lots of turnovers equals a loss.


BYU could have won the game in Logan, in spite of the turnovers. The Cougars lost because the program has fallen.

As detailed in the game recap and game changing plays on this site, even after the first five turnovers, BYU was still in a position to win the game. It really didn't require much. It did not matter that BYU was down to its third-string quarterback. Well, maybe it did this time, but it shouldn't have.

It didn't matter in 1977 when All-American Gifford Nielsen was lost to injury. Unproven sophomore Marc Wilson stepped right in and led a mind-blowing 63-17 win over 5-0 Colorado State. Third string quarterback Ryan Hancock was forced into action as a result of injuries in 1992. He went 7-1 as a starter, including a win over nationally ranked Penn State. The only loss was in South Bend, Indiana to a Notre Dame squad that was among the nation's elite. Let's not forget that Brandon Doman was the third string quarterback in 2000. He was able to salvage the season with wins in the final two games. As recently as 2012, BYU had three different quarterbacks win two games as starters, one of which was a true freshman.

Brandon Doman, BYU QB 2000-01

Is it really too much to expect that a redshirt sophomore can come into a game with 2 1/2 quarters to play against an inferior opponent and provide enough of a passing threat to put up more than a field goal? Utah State had zero respect for BYU's passing game after Beau Hoge went out. Koy Detmer, Jr. might not have been able to do anything about the three fumbles, but he could have prevented the three interceptions he threw. Especially the one right before halftime.

That one was the most hurtful. It was a very basic read that he learned early in high school, if not sooner. Make the right read and it is at least a tie game at halftime, and the Aggies' momentum isn't as great.

How does Quarterback U not have better depth at quarterback? Ohio State recently won a national championship while being forced to play its third string quarterback, but BYU can't expect to beat Utah State when forced to play its third string QB?

Yes, BYU has fallen far. There is no pretending that it hasn't.

This is not a call to abandon ship. Last week, this site proclaimed, and still stands by that proclamation, there is no reason for despair among Cougar fans. As concluded last month, there is nothing wrong with being loyal to the boys in blue. In fact, it is what true fans do.


The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com