Here’s what’s going on inside Darnell’s head.

I naturally assume that fewer BYU fans read my musings and that of other media when the Cougars get drubbed like they did on Saturday at West Virginia.

Funny thing is, I feel like I often write my best stuff when the Cougars lose.

So if you’re reading this, I don’t know whether to thank you or feel sorry for you.

I guess I’ll just thank you.

You’re a real trooper.

Buck up, little camper

I got the following e-mail from a West Virginia football fan: “I am a resident of Morgantown, WV and WVU fan. I would like to thank all the BYU fans who traveled to Morgantown to attend the BYU-WVU football game. I can say nothing but good things about the fans that I had the pleasure to speak with. BYU is a great addition to the Big XII conference and a class institution. Please publish this letter. I look forward to all the future games between our schools.

Best Wishes,

Eric Barrett”

Doesn’t that make you feel better?

Now it’s time for Perfectly Rational Overreactions (PRO’s)

PRO No. 1: The BYU players gave up on Saturday against West Virginia.

Boy, I hate hearing that. I read this all the time online after a bad Cougar performance. I’m even seeing former players questioning the current players’ commitment and effort, which is troublesome. If those guys are seeing it …

For the most part, I would say BYU players are trying hard. I see a good effort from most of the players on the field. The problem is that the Cougars have pretty much been blown out in three of the past four weeks. I know the Texas game was only 21-6 heading into the fourth quarter, but I never got the feeling that BYU was going to challenge. Same goes for the loss at TCU and Saturday at West Virginia. Right now, the offense is so inept that the only way the Cougars can be in the game is if the defense plays well, which it didn’t on Saturday.

PRO No. 2: The offensive and defensive line issues are unfixable.

I used to think that BYU’s lack of athleticism showed up mostly in skill positions, at least, as compared to power conference teams. But after six games in the Big 12, I really think the greatest deficiencies are on the offensive line and defensive front. It shows up in the lack of a running game and how much pressure opponents can generate. It shows up when BYU can’t even get close to sacking the opposing quarterback and gets manhandled in the run game.

So maybe that overreaction is correct. Maybe it’ll be a few years before the Cougars can upgrade the offensive and defensive lines to match their Big 12 counterparts. As for this season, with three games left, it looks like what you have been seeing is what you’re going to get.

PRO No. 3: BYU should have never joined the Big 12.

Funny that I still see this sentiment floating around the interwebs.

For years, Cougar fans wanted to have a shot at playing with the big boys. Now that it’s here and the results are less than awesome, they are having buyer’s remorse. Much safer to play an independent schedule and fade into the woodwork in college football after a couple of losses. Now, BYU is playing on ESPN major and FOX. There is no hiding from the whippings the Cougars are taking right now, but it’s part of the process of becoming a good power conference program. It won’t happen overnight. It’s disappointing that BYU can’t be more competitive, and that’s on this coaching staff to figure out a way to make that happen more often.

Finally, PRO No. 4: It’ll be all or nothing next week against Iowa State.

Of the three remaining games, it would appear Saturday’s home game against the Cyclones might be the only chance for the Cougars to earn that bowl-eligible sixth win. Beating Oklahoma at home or Oklahoma State on the road seems like a pipe dream with the way BYU is stumbling around right now. It seems every game something else unravels. On our morning walk, my wife said, “BYU isn’t just failing, they’re flailing.”

Couldn’t have put it better myself.

So what are the odds that the Cougars can find a way to put it together for one night? That Slovis comes back and makes the offense purr? That the defense recovers from a poor performance against West Virginia? That the coaching staff figures out a way to motivate a team losing confidence every time on the field?

Not great, Bob. Not great.

Who Carried the Boats and the Logs? (BYU version)

Jake Retzlaff was 24 of 42 for 210 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions on Saturday in his first start. He also finished with 10 carries for 46 yards (minus 22 in sack yardage). As it turns out (shocker) Kedon Slovis wasn’t the problem with this offense. The running game is still a dud, the pass protection wasn’t great and West Virginia’s head-hunting secondary bullied BYU’s receivers. I saw a lot of moxie and ability for Retzlaff that is a good sign for the future.

Losing a legend

Former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight passed away this week at the age of 83. Knight’s heyday was in my younger years when I was developing my love of sports. One of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read was “A Season on the Brink,” written by Bob Feinstein while following Knight and the Hoosier in 1986. Knight was always a mixture of hubris, cruelty, fierce devotion and success that I alternately admired and criticized. Plus, he despised the media and often went over the top in his criticism. However you viewed the man, he was a larger than life character before social media, NIL and big TV deals, and I miss those days.

I have more, lots more, but only room for this: I’d never seen so many students come to a BYU men’s basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center than I did last Wednesday. Good on the ROC for showing up. I guess they’re excited about the Big 12 or something.

Also, it’s nice of them to honor me by wearing BYU t-shirts with my No. 24 (which I wore for the Media Madness event a few weeks ago) on the back.

Remember to treat each other well and have a very, very good week.

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