Or whatever I used back then fretting.

The missing of the bowl game and the lost extra practices was a big worry for many fans and why would a recruit come to BYU after they missed a bowl game?

Coaches later mentioned that they were able to spend more time recruiting without the bowl game.
I know there were periods when coaches couldn't contact players. I don't know how that factored into it, but that's what I recall coaches saying after signing day.

That signing class was very, very impactful.