That they can just flip a switch on their muscle(?) and attitude(?) and overpower anybody in their path. That they are some immovable force. And some years, this is deserved.

To their credit, Whitt's culture is tough guy, meathead. And he puts lots of focus in the trenches where this stuff is manifest. They have been solid over the years. No doubt. I won't take anything from their obvious success over the years.

But I think all of this has risen into part truth and part legend that spills over into years and lineups that don't deserve it. You can go watch film on them this year. They can't sustain drives on offense. They have been gashed up the middle in many of their games this year.

We must see them as they are. They are tough. They are big. They'll bring bluster and cockiness and long chewbacca manes that flow from their helmets, and plenty of eye black and tribal tattoos. They are also very, very beatable--whether they just aren't as good as in other years, or the coaching has slipped, or this cadre of players has bad attitudes, or the team is mentally weak. Not sure.

Rivalry games are rivalry games. And BYU should respect these guys. But there should be zero fear.