BYU football guaranteed first losing season since 2004

After falling to Fresno State, BYU football dropped to 2-8 on the season. With only three games remaining, there’s no way the Cougars reach .500.

BYU football’s 2017 season will be looked back on… actually, no.

It won’t be looked back on. No Cougar fan in their right mind would want to go back and relive or remember this season. It’s been the worst in 50 years, not just because of the record, but because of the extensive injuries that have occurred.

Nearly 40 players have missed time with injuries, there have been Honor Code issues by two high-profile players, and the on-field product is as bad as its ever been.

After the game against Fresno State, when BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake addressed the media, he didn’t mince words.

He told Jeff Call of the Deseret News:

“We’ve got to get better. This is not BYU football.”

Sitake’s right. Historically, it’s not BYU football. But in a year when a legitimately highlight is a 46-yard field goal that takes place in a first half, it is exactly BYU football.

Lackluster, uninspired and bad.

Things will get better, but at this point it might not matter as much as saving grace in the court of public opinion.

Fans are clamoring for change. Empty seats in LaVell Edwards Stadium testify of that.

So what is Sitake to do? Getting rid of Ty Detmer at this point seems like a bad idea. The offense is putrid, but when you hire a coach with no Division-I coaching experience, you have to give him more than 24 months.

I think the answer is looking at the position coaches. With how bad the wide receivers have been since Guy Holliday left for Utah, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ben Cahoon be let go. For as much as we’ve all lambasted the play at quarterback (and it has been poor), it’s tough when you really only have one consistent option to throw to.

But ideally the benefit would be two-fold. Firstly, you’d be getting a better coach that would better develop players, resulting in better play. Secondly, you’d be giving the fans something to get excited about.