Some BYU fans at crossroads after 3-loss season

That quip brought an immediate response from one of his long-time subscribers, Robert Garrick of Clayton, Mo., who disagreed and wrote: "BYU has been better than Utah for three of the past four years, and there isn't a coach in the MWC who would take Utah's recruiting situation over BYU's. The University of Utah's home base is one of the smallest states in America. It's a state without a great football tradition. ... Utah doesn't have any special drawing power outside of its location, either."

Garrick continues, "BYU has the drawing power of the LDS Church (the fourth biggest church in America and a force worldwide), is academically superior to Utah, has better facilities, and has a lot more money. BYU has a national fan base that Utah can only dream of. It's not by accident that BYU, alone among teams in the MWC, has BCS-conference-quality athletic programs.

"Utah's athletic programs overall are not even in the same category as BYU's."

He challenges Arnett, a longtime commentator on BYU sports, thusly: "So while your statement that Utah has somehow become the "top dog" in the MWC is ridiculous (other than on a one-year basis), it is true that Utah keeps winning big football games while BYU doesn't. BYU hasn't won a really big national game since it beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, 13 years ago."

For Cougar faithful, many want to set aside the past two months and get on to 2009 and a new title hunt sans a slogan or T-shirt.

The looking forward deal in Provo took an upward turn last week.

BYU will face Oklahoma in the season opener in the Dallas Cowboys' new digs. Some are already making plans for Dallas and then New Orleans and Tulane a week later — a weeklong trip.

Over the weekend the Cougars hosted a bevy of recruits, many of whom already committed to BYU. The uncommitted group included the 2009 Sporting News high school player of the year, Manti Teo, a linebacker from Hawaii.

Also, Jake Heaps, a prep quarterback from Washington, rated the No. 1 high school recruit of 2010, paid his own way to visit campus and hang with prospects, BYU players and coaches this past weekend.

Last Friday, the BYU staff had Reno's McQueen High four-star linebacker recruit Kyle Van Noy confirm his commitment to sign with the Cougars next month.

Bronco Mendenhall and Kyle Whittingham are on track to deliver solid 2009 recruiting classes. Mendenhall told reporters this past week, his players and staff expected more than a 10-3 finish in 2008 and will push forward to improve every aspect of their act in 2009.

Mendenhall advises Cougar fans his program's goal is to move forward and there is momentum.

"A lot has been said about BYU at this time the past two years," said Mendenhall.