PROVO — On the heels of the Cougar football team's second straight losing season under his direction, embattled BYU coach Gary Crowton nevertheless received the backing of university president Cecil Samuelson on Wednesday.
"The university and athletic administrations extend a vote of confidence to Coach (Gary Crowton)," the president said in a released statement. "Everyone associated with the program was disappointed in the results of the just-concluded season, but we are confident Coach Crowton will make the changes needed to return the program to prominence and to its tradition of excellence.
"We commend the coach for his significant efforts in encouraging our student-athletes to excel academically. Under Coach Crowton's leadership, the football team's GPA is nearly 3.0, and its graduation rate is above 80 percent. There have also been very few honor-code violations among team members."
"We appreciate and acknowledge the loyal support of our tremendous fans who stood behind the team throughout this difficult season," Samuelson said. "Fan support for our football team is critical to the continued success of our entire athletic program, and we hope our fans, in true BYU fashion, will show up in large numbers to support the team next season when we host Southern California, Notre Dame and have another challenging conference season."
In 2004 Crowton enters the fourth year of what has been reported to be a five-year contract.
Administrators met with Crowton last week in an annual review. They asked the coach what he needed to guide the BYU football program in the right direction.
"We're going to get him what he needs," athletic director Val Hale said.
When asked if that includes making staff changes, as happened a year ago, Hale answered: "That's up to him (Crowton), and it's something he's going to have to answer. Only he can answer that."
At the end of a losing 2002 season, Crowton accepted the resignation of longtime defensive coordinator Ken Schmidt, and offensive coordinator Mike Borich stepped down.
Critics and criticism
The 4-8 season concludes the first back-to-back losing campaigns for the Cougars since 1970-71, under head coach Tommy Hudsbeth, who was replaced by LaVell Edwards in 1973.
The season-ending loss Nov. 22 to Utah by a 3-0 score also ended a 28-year-old Cougar NCAA consecutive-game scoring record.
The season saw more home losses in 2003 than a generation of Cougar fans have witnessed before, and the defeat to Boise State in LaVell Edwards Stadium on national TV was the worst home whipping in school history.
Crowton came under criticism from fans and media for play calls and several comments this past season, including fuss over a quote that he'd rather win by nine points than two. That sound bite, taken out of a longer interview quote, came two days after a loss to Stanford. Reporters asked Crowton to explain how his team committed a turnover with 4:21 remaining. The Cougars had a slim lead over the Cardinal, but after an interception of a tipped pass attempt from freshman quarterback John Beck to freshman tight end Daniel Coats, Stanford scored and won the game.
KSL Radio's sideline reporter Bill Riley, interviewing Crowton as he exited the field at halftime of a game, aired a few seconds of an exchange in which Crowton told a fan to shut up. Crowton publicly apologized after the game on the radio.
Frustrated fans also have waited to hear Crowton accept responsibility in a public forum for mistakes and the season's woes. Crowton's did so in several interviews, including a post-game radio forum, but it was not in the dramatic fashion expected by many.
The coach also came under criticism for blaming the team's poor performance on inexperience and injuries.
Positive spin
Crowton's approach, say administrators, has been to keep a positive spin when answering questions about struggles, and they can live with that.
Hale said Crowton has admitted to school leaders he hasn't always made the right public comments this year.
"I think Gary has probably said some things he wished he hadn't and not said some things that he wish he had or to have back or correct. But that's not how it works, and he has learned from the experience. Unless you have been under the bright lights with a microphone there, you may not understand.
"It's a huge load that he carries on his shoulders. Gary is learning. I'm sure he'd like to do things over, but only he can correct that," Hale said.
Criticism in print, in broadcast media and on the Internet ruled most of this past season about BYU football, and that continues today.
Hale said criticism is a product of the times as some media thrive on negativity — it comes with the territory.
"It's hard to get out of that cycle. Negativity sells, that's how it works ,and it's hard to get out of that negative spiral. This will be one of the big challenges," Hale said.
What fixes the negative is winning, he said.
"We need our fans to support us. We need that not only for football . . . but the whole program. Football drives the whole overall program. People can abandon ship, give up on the team, and that is their prerogative. But the young men need them now more than ever. What they need is for fans to rally behind them. They don't need people coming up at school and church and saying they're going to lose and they can't get it done. But that is the way things are set up in our society."
The future
There are rumors of players quitting or going on LDS missions to escape another losing season, and questions abound about whether they'll return to play for the Cougars.
Hale said Crowton and the athletic department are aware of the rumors and have challenged them head-on by sitting down and visiting with players.
"We talk to the athletes before they leave and get a commitment from them. There can be a lot of water going under the bridge between now and when they get back. We're always working with athletes, and we keep in contact with them when they go on missions. Recruiting is a never-ending process. It didn't used to be that way, but that's the way it is now. I'm sure there will be some casualties. What they are, I don't know. It's bound to happen in cases like this."
What, if anything, does BYU's administration throw to BYU fans weary of worry about the football program's future?
Hale said work is under way.
"Gary and his staff have worked very hard and put in a lot of hours. They've tried to leave no stone unturned to find answers. They've tried to keep a positive outlook with the players, which is hard to do when losses mount and everything being so negative. I think the players stayed positive, and outside of USC, the last three games" — Boise State, Notre Dame and Utah — "were probably the toughest teams on the schedule. . . .
"The coaches have shifted their effort not to identify problems, since the season is over. They've been out recruiting hard, and early reports are that recruiting is going very well."
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com