Reader comments: BYU volleyball: BYU volleyball squad came oh-so-close

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Ridiculous selection committee | 12:49 a.m. May 2, 2008
Was this evening's Pepperdine/Long Beach match predictable enough? Come on! That makes 9 straight games in which Pepperdine has swept Long Beach, whereas BYU swept CSUN in the MPSF Semis and came within 1 point of sweeping Pepperdine in the Finals! You can rest assured that BYU wouldn't have gone down as softly today as Long Beach did. In fact, they would've played more inspired than anyone in wanting to avenge their close loss last week to Pepperdine.

I don't know who sits on the selection committee, but this one was a no-brainer and they managed to screw it up big-time. Does momentum count for nothing in their eyes?

What can I say - until BYU can pull out the big guns at crunch time, they'll be subjected to prejudice in any sport, any year.

Reload and go get 'em next year, Cougs.
Birdman | 6:21 a.m. May 2, 2008
Hang in there, Cougs. I know exactly what you're going through.
Gretzky | 7:38 a.m. May 2, 2008
there is a perceived notion, created by UCLA and the other LowballCal teams' coaches, that BYU is an NcAA violator in volleyball. very sad. the Cougs got the shaft for sure. the recent probationary status was uncalled for. BYU has no control over so called "boosters" whom they don't even know exist.
Comments continue below
BlueCoug | 9:15 a.m. May 2, 2008
Congrats Cougs on winning a share of the regular season MPSF title. I know you're more disappointed than any of the fans at coming up a little short, but maybe this will be a springboard to even greater success next season.

Thanks seniors for all the excitement you've brought to BYU volleyball.
lvscott | 1:20 p.m. May 2, 2008
Seriously, anyone could have predicted a sweep of Long Beach. The NCAA committee made the wrong choice clearly. BYU would have been quite possibly playing Penn State in the championship game tomorrow afternoon. Pepperdine will own Penn State in the final. Congrats to the Waves!
Byudog | 3:20 p.m. May 2, 2008
Pepperdine is a fine team and good luck to them and yes BYU shoulda taken care of business and won the MSPF tourney, but really now.. they deserved that at-large bid more than LBS, imo.
Dorr | 10:59 a.m. May 3, 2008
According to those who know, BYU had the player talent these last two years to win more than one volleyball national championship. Recruits of Coach Peterson's preparations for the future were selected for that in mind. It is sad that some BYU players, coaches, administrators, and their families initiated actions that undermined the team's goals and impacted Coach Peterson's career so negatively. Running for national championships is way different from winning national championships. Winning involves participants who are mature who are willing to sacrifice personal agendas for the good of the team.
Anonymous | 6:39 p.m. May 4, 2008
BYU has an excellent men's volleyball team and program, they had a superb year. However, all those thinking they got robbed by the NCAA by not getting the at-large berth to the Final Four are covered in sour grapes. BYU had their chance to qualify for the championship tourney, but fell short. They undoubtedly were considered for the at-large berth, but correctly lost out to Long Beach State. I guaranty that had BYU beat Long Beach twice during the season and then not lost out on the at-large spot to LBSU they would have been screaming bloody murder.

BYU needs to learn how to win the big games on opponents home floors, they do not often enough beat the good teams on the road. Secondly, regardless of whether BYU fans acknowledge it or not, the Cougars are on NCAA probation for major violations of the NCAA regulations. BYU is certainly not the first school to get in trouble as a result of the actions of over zealous boosters, even ones who don't know they are breaking the rules and think they are being kind to needy students. Tom Peterson got treated unfairly, more by BYU then by the NCAA.
Ted | 12:32 p.m. May 5, 2008
The only entity who started the "perceived notion" that BYU cheats is BYU itself. The NCAA made a ruling to confirm it. Stop cheating and maybe BYU won't suffer for it. In years past BYU came excruciatingly close to breaking other eligibility rules, didn't break them literally but did break the spirit of existing rules, resulting in the NCAA changing the rule so it can't be done anymore.

Some of you people have an unconditional love for your team but the truth that the program is not the angelic little entity you wish for it. I think that is in the past now, hopefully for the good of the sport. The truth shall set you free.
David Viger | 9:34 a.m. May 8, 2008
Under the pressure and shadow the NCAA cast upon the BYU team it is incrdible how well they did perform. I admire the personal courage of coaches and the athletic department showed in virtully disciplining itself to ensure a clean program. That is what you would expect! It is remarkable that an "interim" coach did so well in holding up under that position of extreme uncertainty! It shows his dedication to the players, and it is great that under The microscope of the investgation he was found clean and without blemish! Win or lose we need more coaches like him!

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