Burgess was always a long shot, but Cuff and Robby Reid were the top instate basketball prospects and Cuff didn't come to BYU because Robby did.
That caused a lot of complaints, but again Reid proved to be in the right, as Robby had a very successful college career and Cuff ended up at Dixie I think.
The only player to transfer out as I recall was Robby.
Ruffner being the best player on the team, and then leaving a hole because of his legal troubles was an unforeseen problem with no fast solution for Roger, and when he missed on Burgess he made a stupid comment, but one that expressed mainly his own desperation because he knew he didn't have enough talent to compete with what he had and what he was bringing in through recruiting. That "letting down 10 million members" comment was one of the final nails for him.