Bringing Back The Domanator

Rewind back to 2001. As a senior the "Domanator" threw for 3542 yards including 33 TDs while leading the blue and white jerseys to a rather impressive 12-2 record. Fast forward to 2011 and today's reality. Brandon Doman is now the cougs new offensive coordinator leading the band of brothers as they venture boldly into independence charting their own destiny. He will be making the calls one whistle at a time.

What will it hold in store? What sort of things can cougar fans expect to see? Will there be many adjustments? Where much is given much will be required. Cougar fans expect to win and are used to putting points on the board. Many of these questions have likely been asked by cougar fans across the nation. Such are some of the examples that Doman will likely encounter and must handle.

Precise accurate receiving routes. Knowing how to get open and exactly where to be at any given time. This will surely be addressed. Get into a flow. The communication between Heaps and his weapons will be crucial in order to move the chains.

Player accountability on dropped passes. Last season it happened far too often. This cannot continue. Days of the past it was unacceptable. It was an absolute rarity. Often you get one shot. Its an absolute to take full and complete advantage of the opportunities as they occur. Heaps and his receiving crew have had ample of time for quality reps to be on the same page. Look for this to dramatically change and improve.

Get the tight ends involved. Somehow the TE action virtually was a distant memory from the past. Some of the cougs biggest plays in history have come through the tight ends. Whether it was Clay Brown. Whether it was Jonny Harline. Whether it has been Andrew George. No question they must be more heavily involved.

Open up the playbook. No more vanilla. Bring back the old school. Keeping opponents on their heels guessing. And guessing wrong. Far too often last season at times those plays were simply too predictable. Got to hit the opponent in the jaw early, often and coming from all possible angles. Teams can't have any clue where or when the cougs will strike next.

On the fly. Allow freedom for adjustments as they need to be implemented. Things will come up. Can't allow to get painted into a corner in the ever changing game. Every play will present new possible wrinkles. Giving all team captains more opportunities when needed for audibles as well as the player communication each down can only be a positive.

Synergy can certainly be a powerful word. Keep the band of brothers together strong as one. I believe it was Aristotle who said some serious truth which could be applied here. The whole is greater than sum of its parts. This season the cougs emergence into independence will be vital to this exact manner of thinking. It will take everyone working together on all levels as a collective unit. Together this band of brothers will certainly write history. What is says will only be known as we watch it play out one whistle at a time.
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AP Photo Credit: Isaac Brekken

Popcorn POPPIN-GA No More

The song popcorn popping can often be heard at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Yet, popcorn was first discovered ages ago by Native Americans and as a result of a elementary school project even became the state snack food of the state of Illinois. Recently former cougar Kelly Poppinga was elevated from intern and grad assistant to the full time linebacker coach and hopes now to develop the cougs defense making opponents offensive pads snap crackle and pop. He should have plenty to work with in the linebacking corps of Jordan Pendleton, Jameson Frazier, Kyle Van Noy, Uona Kaveinga, Brandon Ogletree, Zac Stout in the mix. Poppinga was an All MWC linebacker for the cougs helping the jerseys in blue achieve back to back conference championships in 2006 and 2007 even leading the team with 113 tackles his senior season. The Evanston Wyoming native has also completed both a bachelors and masters degree in exercise science. "It's an honor to have the opportunity to coach at the university where I played and under Coach Mendenhall, who has been a great mentor to me," Poppinga said. "I'm excited to help our program be successful and reach our goals through football excellence. I look forward to coaching the many talented players we have at outside linebacker and help them succeed."

Photo Credit Goes To BYU File Photo

Back To The Future

It was approximately ten years ago that the jerseys in blue were led by the "Domanator". Once again the cougs offense will be front and center under Brandon Doman's careful watch as it was given the Bronco stamp of approval. Coach Mendenhall was recently quoted "I believe Brandon is the best quarterbacks coach in the country and I'm excited he has accepted the opportunity to also serve as offensive coordinator. He is one of the bright young coaches in the country and the kind of person who exemplifies the core values that our program represents. He is a great teacher and mentor to all in his care, and I'm confident he will thrive in this opportunity to build upon our successes as a program and as an offensive unit.". Bronco said there was no timetable and no deadline for finalizing the rest of the staff. The cougs under Doman with talent like Heaps, Quezada, Hoffman and the rest of the cougar gridiron crew will in no time be back to the future.

Apparently there was never a desire to be elsewhere and the interview took a good three hours. Brandon was an amazing dual threat quarterback who ranks 3rd all time rushing only behind Steve Young and Virgil Carter. Doman was also one of the most efficient cougar quarterbacks ranking 4th behind McMahon, Sarkisian and Detmer. Quite a bunch of names to even be associated with. The players love him (maybe even run through brick walls for him). He clearly can recruit and understands the game in its entirety. As the cougs begin the march to independence Brandon is the right individual who will take the full potential of all the offensive players and elevate them to another plane. "To be in a position that I am in as the offensive coordinator at this school is quite mind-boggling, and humbling for me, but I'm very excited," said Doman.

An Eye For Anae

Not long ago it the entire offensive coaching staff was advised to seek other employment opportunities. It seems now that one of those assistants has officially taken that advise as the university released a statement that Robert Anae, the cougs offensive coordinator had resigned to seek other possible options in his coaching career. Whether it was a stagnant offense, one that was too predictable, a difference of coaching philosophy or something else is all up to speculation. Regardless what the final straw was fact remains that one could only assume that other options should be readily available as teams across the country will have an eye for Anae.

Anae played on the cougs National Championship 84 team and in 86 began his coaching career as a grad assistant with the University of Hawaii moving up the ranks eventually making his way to BYU. While at BYU the cougs went 49-15 in his first five seasons including three of those years with a top 6 passing attack. Under Anae the jerseys in blue went 4-2 in bowl games. Although in todays world its what have you done for me lately. This year the passing offense was ranked 75th with the cougs record finishing a disappointing 7-6 season.

As for "other employment opportunities" there could be speculation of Anae hooking back up at Maryland with Mike Leach who very well could be headed to coach the Terps. Given Anae's ties to Leach back from the Texas Tech days the Terps possibility could very well be a reality. Even if Anae doesn't reconnect with Leach teams across the country hopefully will have an eye for Anae.


Photo Credit Goes to Mike Terry/Deseret News

Fully Invested Changes

Much of the local media are reporting that the cougs have begun the annual staff evaluation process to see who will be retained. Those coaches on the offensive staff that would be possibly affected include offensive coordinator Robert Anae; the OL coach Mark Weber, wide receivers coach Patrick Higgins, quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman, running backs coach and longtime assistant Lance Reynolds.

Regardless of what the future holds and who returns is the fact that Bronco is a man of principles, vision, love for others and one that is fully invested. Bronco always does his homework leaving no stone unturned. He carefully calculates every move and will make the correct choices regardless of any possible position changes. Bronco is clearly the right man in the right place. With the rumours swirling across cougar nation many are speculating who might be leaving and who could be coming aboard as possible replacements.

Assuming that Robert Anae; as most would expect is out, that would like mean Brandon Doman is the cougs next offensive coordinator. Doman was also one of Bronco's first hires after becoming head coach. Six years later Brandon seems to be absolutely thriving when considering he has sent Max Hall to the pros and this seasons development of freshman starting quarterback Jake Heaps.

If one domino falls then who would be the next likely quarterback clipboard candidate to replace Doman? One name that keeps popping up amongst the cougar tweets and forum boards is former Heisman trophy winner, ultimate field general and cougar legend Ty Detmer. Detmer is currently the head coach at St. Andrew's Episcopal school in Austin, Texas. The owner of a Heisman trophy and originally from Texas? Absolutely solid potential option. And recruiting? Another concrete positive. Ty is simply a winner. He's beaten the odds and beaten the best. Detmer has seen it at all levels.

Of the staff one could only speculate that if Higgins is gone leaving the position coach wide open Ben Cahoon; a CFL legend and former cougar, is one strong candidate who would fit the bill. He has nine 1000 yard receiving seasons under the belt. In fact, on October 11th against the Calgary Stampeders Cahoon also became the all time reception leader catching his 1007th career pass. If there's an individual who might know something about catching passes Ben certainly would be more than qualified.

As for the rest of the offensive staff? Again this is ONLY speculation but Reynolds and Weber are likely sticking around. Reynolds has been solid with the running backs that the cougs have seen. Names like Luke Staley (one of the cougs most explosive backs ever), Curtis Brown, Brian McKenzie, Jamal Willis, and Harvey Unga (the cougs all time leading rusher) are only a few examples.

The evaluation process has begun and may take some time to complete. It will be interesting to see what actually transpires. Who will be retained. Who will be let go. Regardless what changes occurs this coug will always be fully invested.

Time For Offensive Change?

At what point does it stop being business as usual? One could only assume when Jaime Hill was let go it was a warning shot across the bow to the rest of the staff. On the season it seems the lifeless cougs are still searching for its offensive identity its heart and soul with a 2-5 record.

Apparently, one cougar fan couldn't hold back any longer wasn't satisfied with the lack of offensive production on the season as well as during the TCU game. The fan shouting "Come on BYU offense play like the defense. Come on you guys play like the defense!". Yes, the alumns, donors and fans in the seats came to see a show and on the year its simply not there. Fans don't want to see something vanilla. They want something special.

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Of the 120 teams ranked in the nation the jerseys in blue currently only rank 107th in total offense. The cougs also unfortunately rank 115th in scoring offense only averaging 14.71 on the scoreboard. Bottom line the coug offense isn't producing any special stats right now. At what point does Robert Anae's offense finally start stretching the field and putting points on the board? In saturday's game against TCU only two passes were caught by the receiving corps. Yes 2. That's it. Only one to a wide receiver and the other to a tight end. The cougs spent over 20 years finding and building upon their identity of being a throwing team. You can't be something you aren't. It simply doesn't work.

In 2009 the cougs finished as the 11th ranked scoring offense in the country. The jerseys in blue in 2007 were 25th in total offense. Back in 2008 the passing was the 6th ranked passing offense. Whether its dropped passes, making gametime adjustments, poor execution, recruiting, bad coaching, or something else something has got to give. With the cougs goin independent and scheduling teams as Oregon State; Texas, Central Florida, West Virginia, and Georgia Tech in the future the coaching staff and those jerseys in blue must begin to raise the bar a hecukva lot higher. Stats like what coug fans have seen will continue to chalk up losses against teams like that. A teams offense in a single year just doesn't simply fall off the map. Something has happened. Changes must be made soon whether formal or behind the scenes to address whatever it might be ailing the cougs. To put things into perspective the jerseys in blue must begin to produce and are in a must win situation for each and every game the rest of the season. Otherwise cougar fans, alumns, and donors can forget even possibly a Humanitarian Bowl.

Top Or Bottom Of The Hill

It began back in 2006 when Brian Mitchell (now with the Memphis Tiger coaching staff) left the Cougs for greener grass at Texas Tech. Jaime Hill was brought in as a defensive coordinator. However, sometime after the Cougs were dismantled friday and basically handed their football cleats by the Aggies an option was given to end things. Resign or to be relieved of your duties effective immediately. Apparently, Jaime chose the other. Somewhere in between things have gone way off track. The last time the jerseys in blue were 1-4 was back in 1973. Hill began as an assistant with San Fransisco State back in 1987 and has been to through 11 stops in his stints since. Was it a matter of coaching differences, leadership and philosophy? Could be. Maybe the stats also speak for themselves. On the season the Cougs rush defense was ranked dead last. Yes, dead last out of 120 team giving up roughly 259 yards a matchup. The total defense was ranked 101. Maybe its also a lack of pressure on opponents QBs? The cougs are currently ranked 107th only finding an average of one sack a game. Right now, the jerseys in blue defense simply put isn't pretty.

Could there be more changes in store? Would only have to assume that all aspects of the football program will certainly be evaluated at some point. On the other side of the ball things might not look much better. The fans certainly want to see some points on the board. Yet, the cougs scoring offense is ranked 114th averaging only 15.2 per contest.

Is the talent there? One of the recruiting services byu.scout.com has the 2010 class ranked as the 22nd best in the nation. The 2009 class was ranked 40th best. How about the 2008 class? They were listed as the #57th best. Even the 2007 class was ranked 42nd. Certainly on paper the talent has got to be present. However, translating paper to what's on the field is often a different story. Something is without question amiss. Will this change things on paper? Only time will tell. Yet, there's no question Bronco, staff and players will certainly have their hands full considering what's left on schedule. Never forget though groups and indivuals who put in the work, surround themselves with greatness, with a vision and do things right at some point of time somehow magic happens. One can only hope.