It’s been a few months now and we are finally able to step back, free of emotion, and analyze former head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s decision to leave BYU. You know that feeling you get when your boyfriend or girlfriend leaves you for someone else and naturally you go stalk their new love interest on social media and just cant seem to put two and two together. You’re better looking, more fun, and just all around better and you cant help but be ridiculously confused on why they would choose to downgrade like that? That’s how I felt about Bronco going to UVA. BYU, while not a top 25 team, is still a very legitimate program with a rich and successful history. BYU has a nice relationship with ESPN and even in our “rough years”, still pull off 8 wins and head to a bowl game.  Then there’s UVA, not much school history, had a 4-8 record in 2015 and haven’t been to a bowl game since 2011 (where they got killed by Auburn i might add).

After the announcement of Bronco’s resignation the whole Cougar nation was in an uproar. Confused, hurt, and a little angry we demanded answers and in response Bronco basically gave us a classic “It’s not you, it’s me” speech. In an interview Bronco informed the nation that his reason for leaving was that his wife Holly wanted to leave our beloved Provo, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that didn’t buy that excuse.  And after thinking about it a little I realized that the move to UVA wasn’t a downgrade at all and that his reason for leaving was very obvious.

Being independent is both a blessing and a curse and as a fan I’ve gotten very used to defending the pros of being independent. If we look at it objectively, however, being independent has probably taken its final toll on Bronco. You can only achieve so much without being in a power 5 conference, especially with the layout of the new playoff system. BYU could be a successful team but with no Power 5 invite in sight the limit for our success is far lower than we would like it to be. On the other hand the sky’s the limit for Bronco at Virginia. The team itself may look like a bit of a joke but at least they have a route to greatness if Bronco can make them shape up.

The moral of the story is that breaking up is hard to undo, but the sun rises another day. I was as devastated as the next fan when I heard the news about Bronco, but what better way is there to move on from a past relationship then to find someone to fall in love again with? And that’s just what BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe has given us. Kalani and his Cougars have kicked off spring ball with an exciting quarterback battle, new defensive scheme, and four star recruits. With all the excitement surrounding the program I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one thinking “Bronco who”?