Top 10 2008: Utes' Sugar Bowl run is year's top local sports story

In 2007, Dave Rose coached his team to a Top 25 ranking, an incredible homecourt advantage, a regular-season Mountain West title before losing in the Las Vegas Invitational/conference tournament and then (surprise) losing again in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Cougars did some lathering, rinsing and repeating with all of the aforementioned in '08, too — with Texas A&M delivering the March Sadness blow this time.

As a sign that they'd truly made it as a basketball program, BYU even lost an underclassmen to the NBA draft when Trent Plaisted decided to go pro. The Cougars almost lost another player to the D-League draft, but Lee Cummard decided to stay for his senior year after exploring his draftability.

Cummard has done nothing but improve his potential NBA draftability with a stellar fall, helping lead BYU to a 10-1 start.

9b. Jazz basketball: Utah conquers Northwest Division (but Lakers spoil fun)

Like BYU's basketball team, the Jazz had high hopes last year heading into the playoffs with a huge homecourt edge and another Northwest Division title banner to hang. Continuing their deja vu spring, the Jazz even had to meet and beat the Houston Rockets in the first round. Unfortunately for the Jazz, the Lakers waltzed into town in the second round — you might've noticed by all the booing of Public Enemy No. 1 and Derek Fisher's teammate, Kobe Bryant — and proved they were not the Golden State Warriors. Much to the chagrin of L.A.-hatin' Jazz fans, Phil Jackson's club ruined Utah's postseason celebrations again.

Andrei Kirilenko did, however, get his family's vacation paperwork taken care of, so the Jazz did have some lasting success during that series.

10. Weber State football: Coach McBride has 'Cats playing great

They not only chanted it, WSU faithful believed their cheer this past fall. Indeed, Weber State was "great, great, great!" OK, maybe not in the regular-season finale at home against Eastern Washington, but their march through the Big Sky Conference — including a win over Montana in the season — made the Wildcats and coach Ron McBride the toast of the town.

Weber State even — imagine this — had a chance to win a national championship by earning a spot in the 16-team playoffs. Seriously. No bowl about it. The Wildcats continued to captivate football fans statewide after beating Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The fun run for the former Utah coach and his team ended in the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals at Montana earlier this month. Almost makes you forget about the program getting put on minor probation in the spring, doesn't it?

E-mail: jody@desnews.com