http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=9888619

Most of you won't be able to read that, but here's what it says:

"shoganai
Jan 4, 2013 - 1:10pm
Anae had his choice of jobs in the state of Utah.
(my friends only)
Utah State wasn't one of the options."

Word was out weeks ago that The Doctor had been pursued by Whitt. Here are some of the details that I know. There are actually several other people on CB who know this as well, but I'm probably one of the only ones in a position to talk about it right now without ticking off a source. But, just so you know, this isn't just shoganai info. It's out there in several places.

Dr. Anae was originally offered some type of co-OC and mentor role to BJ. Whittingham wanted him to install his version of the Texas Tech offense and treat BJ as a type of successor-in-training. Whittingham thought The Doctor might go for it just so he could get an authoritative offensive role again. At that point, Anae was also being offered non-coordinator roles at Texas Tech and Cal, so KW believed the Utah offer would be the best one. But, word got out soon that BYU was going after him as well.

Anae said no to KW, and told him he would only consider it if he was given the exclusive OC title and responsibilities. Here's where the story diverges from what most Utah fans will believe: Whittingham eventually agreed. He told Anae he would throw BJ under the bus, and give The Doctor the same responsibilities and autonomy an OC would usually expect.

Anae still said no, and ended up taking the BYU job. From what I understand the reasons included loyalty to BYU, a good relationship with Bronco, and his family's desire to live in Provo again. Also, he was promised total control over his staff at BYU. Yes, Bronco said in his press conference that he is ultimately responsible for the hires, but that's just Bronco "accountability" speak. No one is going to get hired unless Anae is on board with it.

There are two key takeaways, IMO...

-There's this perpetual opinion on CB that teams like Utah were so "dialed in" to Anae's "predictable" offense that they may as well have been in the huddle. Well, apparently Whittingham has a much better opinion of The Doctor than a lot of BYU fans who fancy themselves experts.

-KW is torn between his typically fierce loyalty, and a natural sense of self preservation. He has got to make significant changes to his offensive system or he'll eventually be going down with the ship. Last year proved that a defensive-oriented team (that would have dominated in the MWC) isn't even close to good enough in the Pac-12. He really wants to find somebody who will take BJ under his wing. But, that's a lot to ask of experienced and qualified candidates. If BYU fans are delusional for thinking Andy Reid would replace Bronco, what does that make Utah fans who think an ego as big as Dennis Erickson is going to take a shared or subservient role to the totally unqualified, in-over-his-head BJ?