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BYU Football: Don’t worry Cougars, we still love you

By Adam Andreason

Sep 17, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars fans show their spirit prior to their game against the UCLA Bruins at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars fans show their spirit prior to their game against the UCLA Bruins at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 version of the BYU Football team nearly has “Almost” engraved on their helmets, but there is still time to turn things around. A letter of support, and belief, from the fans.

Dear BYU football,

We know this hasn’t been the smoothest start to a season. After that rolicking, exaultant victory in the last minute against Arizona, things have gotten tougher. Standing at 1-3 could dishearten a lot of fan bases.

But not us. We are still with you.

That’s not to say we wouldn’t really prefer wins. Especially since a collective seven points is all that makes up the gap between ruin and renown, giving us the feeling that victory is playing a game of Duck-Duck-Goose with us, and it has cleats on when we’ve only got loafers.

To say the margin has been thin is a fine wine of understatement.

There have been some great moments, even though those L’s make them harder to remember. Jamaal rumbling down the sideline. Ului Lapuaho’s run. Taysom’s latest leap. Anything involving a hit from Butch Pau’u. Two minute drives at the end of the game that (almost) always seemed to work, that kept the Cougs in it despite a gaggle of tipped-ball interceptions.

By the way, if something could be done about those, we would be really very grateful.

Sep 5, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Brigham Young Cougars receiver Mitch Mathews (10) celebrates his game-winning touchdown with wide receiver Mitchell Juergens (87) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Brigham Young won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Brigham Young Cougars receiver Mitch Mathews celebrates his game-winning touchdown with wide receiver Mitchell Juergens against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Brigham Young won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /

Now, some of us have seemed a bit harsh at times. Sometimes fans, in their passion and investment in the football program, both emotional and financial, forget that most of you are just college kids. That you still quake at the words “midterm exam,” and that the hopes and dreams of an incredibly optimistic fan base are a pretty heavy thing to carry. There are those of us that expect greatness from you every time you step out on the field.

Those people should really read that bit on managing expectations being the secret to happiness.

But in fairness to them, you’ve been great so often we’ve come to take it for granted. The glories of yesteryear reverberate through your athletic building’s halls, echo with the cannon fire across LaVell Edwards Stadium.

It doesn’t help that there is a razor-thin gap between the L’s and W’s, that you’ve gone blow for blow against nationally renowned and powerful teams. That gives us the idea that you are capable of so much more, that greatness is there for the taking.

And it is. It truly is. All our grinding over that throw, that non-catch, that play call—those are just us searching for the gold. As we pan for the sweet, precious nuggets of greatness, we can’t help but comment on all these empty rocks we keep finding. It’s part of human nature.

But we know that the motherlode is on its way. That each game has brought you closer to paydirt.

Let’s make a deal. We can both improve, and turn this around.

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We’ll try to be a little better. A few less boos, and more cheers. More of us staying until the clock reads zero, instead of being so concerned about where we parked our cars, or that we’ve got 9 A.M. church. More giving it up for you on third down, rising and shouting when you need us. We’ll show more patience, and maybe try to manage some of our expectations, just a little.

But only a little. Because we know that with just a little more tuning, one or two guys making a play, you’ll lead us back to the days of glories.

We’ll again see those unforgettable moments that lead to fist pumps and hugging strangers. We’ll leap up and down, roaring across LES’s hallowed grounds. (And they’d have to be holy by now. Think of all those prayers.)

We’ll cheer you on as best we can, shouting incoherently at our TVs from Provo to Washington DC to London to Shanghai (Jimmer can make it from there) to Tonga and back. Because that’s what it means to be a true blue BYU fan. That’s what fans do when they love their team.

So go catch us a win. We’ll be right there for you, feast on it together, hands full of praise and fry sauce.

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