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BYU football: Five reasons to be excited for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

By Ron Jensen

BOISE, ID - DECEMBER 22: Spuddy Buddy, the mascot of the Idaho Potato Commission cheers during second half action between the Colorado State Rams and the Idaho Vandals at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 22, 2016 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Idaho won the game 61-50. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID - DECEMBER 22: Spuddy Buddy, the mascot of the Idaho Potato Commission cheers during second half action between the Colorado State Rams and the Idaho Vandals at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 22, 2016 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Idaho won the game 61-50. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 22: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl MVP and team championship trophies on display at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl between the Utah State Aggies and the Akron Zips on December 22, 2015 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Akron won the game 23-21. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – DECEMBER 22: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl MVP and team championship trophies on display at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl between the Utah State Aggies and the Akron Zips on December 22, 2015 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Akron won the game 23-21. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

No. 4 – Position projections for the coming season

It’s always exciting to contemplate future possibilities, and when it comes to BYU Football, there’s no greater indicator for next season than the bowl game.  This provides great insight on the direction coaches are planning to take with the personal in the next few months.

There is nothing good about losing Corbin Kaufusi or Matt Hadley for the bowl game, but their absences make way for two very important priorities.  Coaches now can and must start on the process of filling their roles.  And fans will have that glimpse in Boise.

Predicting line-ups won’t be a difficult task for the most part, especially with the number of underclassmen who are already atop their respective depth charts.  But those adjustments during the bowl will show the potential of just how successful things will be in 2019.

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No. 5 – A shot at a winning record

It is a long wait for the kick-off against the Utes on August 29 in LaVell Edwards Stadium. In fact, it’ll be exactly 250 days between the two games.  That’s a painful drought.

Leaving the 2018 season on a high note with a 7-6 record is essential for righting the ship before the break.  The mark allows for the necessary level of confidence that players need to have in coaches, and fans need to have in the BYU Football program.

Although a winning record may not signify a successful year for Cougar Nation, a losing one certainly won’t.   Coaches, players, and fans need an above .500 finish to indicate even the slightest notion of program progress.

This game represents a variety of “last chances”.  Maybe Kalani Sitake isn’t on the hot seat at this point, but a win begins a start towards a new and improved beginning.  In the same breath, losing the bowl could be the beginning of an eventual end for the current staff.  College football is a “what have you done for me lately” organization, and anything less than a victory wouldn’t be much.

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