Holy War Report: A Sneak Peak Behind Enemy Lines
It has been a good month at CougConnect. We have been able to help another player in need and pay him to come in and do a Q&A in discord. We have had some great insider reports. We have been getting you weekly behind the scene updates with Isaiah Bagnah’s podcast as we follow the 8-0 cougars week by week. We have also seen a large influx of new subscribers this month.
The trend with CougConnect has been that subscribers come in trickles month to month and then in floods about 5-6 times a year. Whenever we get a bunch of new subscribers it’s good to revisit what CougConnect is and why it is important. First and foremost we are a group of fans who are committed to making the BYU players experience better. We have a lot of fun and love talking about the ins and outs of the program along the way. But our main mission is to take care of players.
That’s why 90% of all subscription money is used to create NIL deals for players. We have helped get players eligible by helping them pay for fees at past schools, helped them fly home to take care of single parents coming out of the ER, and so much more. Those are just a few examples that jump out to me. But we have helped with things from groceries, to repairs, quick moves, towing cars to mechanics and a lot more. That’s what our real mission is. The power of BYU fans has always been one of our best competitive advantages. CougConnect takes this and brings it to NIL for the players. We were started at the request of players and put them first in all this. I try and share what I can about who we help while still keeping players information and financial situation private.
But this is also a place to come talk BYU sports and get the latest news in a positive and upbeat environment. So when in the discord remember one thing that sets us apart is being positive and player centered. I think everyone will get the vibe and really appreciate being involved in it.
I also bring in the players and give you unfiltered access to them. Feel free to ask them about CougConnect and what we do to support the players. Whether on Discord or at a CougConnect event. Speaking of events, this Saturday at 7:00 pm we are having an event at Chubby’s in Orem. Players will be there to eat, hang with fans, watch college football and play some NCAA 2025 with our subscribers too. This is a real VIP experience with the players. I hope you can make it. I’ll leave a link here to register. It is for subscribers only so if you haven’t yet be sure to subscribe on our site first. CougConnect.com/subscribe
Register for the event here:
So now to the holy war. I talked to a person who professionally does CFB analysis. He looked at the holy war match up and said “it would be grossly irresponsible for BYU to lose this game, from a statistical perspective at least”. Well in a rivalry game you can often throw the stats out the window. I do expect this game to be competitive and spirited, as it usually is. I also expect there to be mistakes made on both sides, as usual.
But one thing that gives me confidence beyond the stats is the turmoil in the Utah football program. There has been smoke on Twitter and in post game remarks about the program. I have had some of this stuff dismissed by sources and others think there is some weight to it.
This one appears to be dismissed by a source. (Despite our Discord finding a campus police report fitting the timeline)
This claim about a lack of film study has been described to me as possible, but not confirmed.
The talk about Isaac and the Wilson’s really liking Ludwig, and him being a reason for their choice to come to Utah was confirmed. I think his departure is significant for them beyond it just being a change in offensive coordinator.
Apparently there has been conflict between coaches on which QB to play in the absence of Riding. Some are solidly in the camp of Isaac. They’re saying he is showing improvement each game and he has already burned his redshirt for this season. Another faction on the staff would like Rose to be the QB and have even asked Rose to get warm during stretches of the game, in order to be ready to go in if Isaac makes a mistake. This division it seems has spilled over to the team, at least to a degree. It is safe to speculate that these remarks by Micah Bernard’s post game comments could be about this same issue.
So the staff is torn, one coordinator has left or was let go, replacing him didn’t improve offensive results, the media is sharing that there are reasons to be concerned about QB preparation and a lot more.
One thing is for sure. Utah NEEDS this win. They have nothing to lose in this one. Rivalries are always interesting. A person with nothing to lose is a dangerous person. So this game is completely unpredictable from that standpoint. But catching them with a staff in disarray and locker room issues is interesting. This game is an opportunity for them to rally. But if BYU can get some momentum early on, you could also see their confidence completely crumble in the game. The seeds of discontent and disbelief are already there. Buckle up this should be a good one. Go Cougs!!
