Welcome to Too Optimistic Tuesday! This weekly column reminds BYU fans why they should count their many blessings and have an abundance of hope. Every season in every sport is full of both ups and downs. This column will amplify the "ups" and help fans quickly recover from the "downs". So put on your blue-tinted goggles and just enjoy your BYU fandom for a moment.
The only result that matters is the final score
As I wrote last week, we are living in the “good old days” of BYU football. Kalani Sitake’s squad is now on a 17-2 hot streak going back to last year after the Cougars thrilling 33-27 double overtime road victory against a good Arizona Wildcats squad. BYU’s impressive run includes a 12-2 heater against Power Four opponents.
Are the Cougars winning pretty? No. No, they aren’t.
But are the Cougars winning? Yes! Yes, they are! And that’s the only thing that matters.
What if BYU ends up going 12-0 in the regular season and every remaining win is considered “ugly”? It doesn’t matter! Wins are wins! In the end, it doesn’t matter how sloppy or frustrating or even miraculous some of those victories are.
Over the last three weeks, BYU has had to overcome a 14-point deficit at Colorado, let West Virginia hang around far too long, and found nearly a dozen ways to lose at Arizona. While the Cougars still haven’t figured out how to “win pretty”, they’ve figured out how to win.
And that’s all that matters.
BYU beat Arizona despite multiple headwinds
Good teams find ways to win despite adversity, and the Cougars faced plenty of adversity against the Wildcats.
BYU figured out a way to win despite multiple defensive challenges. Jay Hill’s defense pulled it off despite missing dominant outside linebacker Jack Kelly, who is irreplaceable. The Cougars won despite defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa getting ejected in the first half on a targeting call. They secured the victory despite Logan Lutui getting flagged for lining up in the neutral zone on a fourth-and-1 defensive stop. BYU got the W despite a horrible, awful, inexcusably bad roughing the passer call against Isaiah Glasker.
Aaron Roderick’s offense did just enough to win despite two interceptions from a freshman quarterback. They remained undefeated despite drops from Carsen Ryan and Chase Roberts. BYU’s running game was dominant despite not having any options behind running back LJ Martin with backup Sione Moa out with an injury. The Cougars pulled it off against the Wildcats despite after having scored in 32 straight quarters, they went scoreless in the second and third quarters, and didn’t score again until 4:08 remaining in regulation.
The Cougars rallied for a win despite special teams setbacks like another Will Ferrin missed field goal and a questionable failed fake punt on fourth-and-9 from BYU’s own 38.
Despite. Despite. Despite.
It hasn’t always been pretty this year for the 6-0 Cougars, but it has always been wins. And in the end, that’s the only thing that matters.