BYU in "No More Mr. Nice Guy" Mode

Shower Thought - May 21, 2025

Audio Transcript

The Cubs went from being the lovable losers to the...scariest team in baseball in only a couple of years. They spent a bunch of money, they raised a bunch of talent through their farm system, and they hired Theo Epstein. For 100 years the cubs had been the most unthreatening team in the league. Cute Wrigley field day games, drunk Harry Caray, huge nationwide fanbase thanks to WGN, Ferris Bueller, Slammin' Sammy. Then they got Theo and they were no longer a cute team, they were scary, and they won a world series for the first time in 108 years.

It reminds me a little of BYU recently. For over a decade BYU's posture towards power conferences was docile and apologetic. Kind of like: “We'd love to join the PAC 12 or Big 12, but they think we're racist and homophobic and don't like our religion, so we have to walk on egg shells and just stand here and hope they ask us to dance.”

So BYU was always kind of wary of getting to the big stage. Maybe a little shy. And even in their first two years of being on the big stage in the big 12, they've been overly nice and in a grateful posture. Working hard to be accepted. Giving out donuts, great fans, Kalani is most likable coach. Everybody in the big 12 loves BYU and hates Utah.

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NOW, BYU is no longer in cute, “glad to be here” mode. They're in Theo Epstein mode. Which is...we're coming for the whole thing. President Shane Rhees is a sports guy...who is all in. They're buying up more players than the LIV tour. Paying Kevin Young, getting Dybansta, raiding BIG 12 teams of their best players, but that's not all! Hiring Brian Santiago, who is a killer who everybody hates becaues he's too aggressive and an alpha and not a typical BYU AD like nice guys Tom Holmoe or Val Hale...That hire is very indicative of BYU's new approach. They're not apologizing anymore. They're coming for it all.