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Throwbacks: Cougar have a stable full of big, bruising running backs
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K R James Kansas | 3:20 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
These boys may be the surprise of the year for the offense. A lot of negatives
have been published because of the loss of Curtis Brown - I see a pounding yard
gaining offense when needed.
RML | 6:54 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
I love BYU's connection with Polynesians and rugby. I wish BYU could have
this kind of group year after year. Vakapuna drags tacklers with him every time
he has the ball. If these guys can get through Arizona's tough defense,
BYU will win that game. If not, I think it will be too much pressure for Hall
and BYU will struggle to get a W. If they do get through it, they'll be
able to get through every other defense all year. These guys are going to be
awesome to watch! Football starts in two weeks!
Comments continue below
Bronco | 8:52 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
They are fully invested and will be blessed for...blah blah blah.
I can't wait for the season to start so we can stop hearing about how good ALL college football teams will be.
Everyone is undefeated in fall camp and will potentially bust the BCS.
Enough already.
I can't wait for the season to start so we can stop hearing about how good ALL college football teams will be.
Everyone is undefeated in fall camp and will potentially bust the BCS.
Enough already.
Heidi | 9:52 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
I keep hearing about how good the Cougars are going to be. I don't think
they've had a great team since 1985. The Ty Detmer year was ok. But 1982
to 1985 was awesome. There will never be another LaVell Edwards, Jim McMahon,
Steve Young, or Robbie Boscoe and the entire 1985 champion team. Good luck
anyhoo, Cougars of 2007.
C Bryant | 10:01 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Luke Staley was by far the most exciting RB to play at BYU.
If he says our RB's are great, it should be an awesome year!
If he says our RB's are great, it should be an awesome year!
annie | 10:53 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Heidi, I hope that before you made your comment you would have checked some
facts, the 1985 team didn't with the national title, that was the 1984
team. I'm pretty sure that since 1984 BYU has been nationally ranked
several times, won the conference championship several times, Lets start with
1996, record 14-1,won the conference title outright,beat #12 Kansas in the
holiday bowl, ending the season ranked 5th, and most people would argue this
team was one of the best in cougar history,the 2001 team went 11-2 with a top
national ranking at 6 and ending the season 17th, I'd consider that pretty
good, or this last year going 11-2, with the nation's second longest active
win streak at 10 wins. I"m sure that this years team will be just as good.
Possible BCS buster and I can't wait for kick-off v. Arizona. GO BYU!
mike | 10:58 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
But where is Luke now?
Steve C. | 11:09 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
As much as I love Fui, Manase, and the boys, I am disappointed to hear about the
J.J. having to redshirt. Anxious to see him and Harvey in the same
backfield.
In any case, the RBs must be strong from the beginning in order to give Hall some time to develop confidence.
If Max comes on quickly (a la Robbie Bosco) and we get by a tough UA squad on September 1st, this could be a very good season in Cougarland!
In any case, the RBs must be strong from the beginning in order to give Hall some time to develop confidence.
If Max comes on quickly (a la Robbie Bosco) and we get by a tough UA squad on September 1st, this could be a very good season in Cougarland!
Big Man | 11:38 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
I can't wait to see the boys smash through Utah's front line next
November. With the stable full, it will be like rolling down pins.
Spencer | 11:39 a.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Um Reno Mahe was mentioned as a one of the old powerbacks in the past. Yeah,
mahe was like 5-7 or 9 and like 180 pounds. Power? more shifty.
Blue Chelan 56 | 12:12 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Thanks Annie for setting everyone straight.Regardless of the past,each year we
pray for even one back that might get the job done at BYU.Good running backs
have been a luxury at BYU.There have been some great ones but often times they
had to pull the load by themselves and were few and far apart.Our controlled
passing offense allowed us to get the job done with a single back at times and
even when that back was an average athlete we could still win games. But those
backs already mentioned like Luke and Heimuli just put the icing on the cake for
great BYU Football. Now be thankful that we now have 4 with size, speed,
heart,commitment,and great athleticism. Any College coach would salivate to have
such a stable of Horses to work with.All in the same year or in our case,several
years. BUT REMEMBER. As Fui V. has indicated, it still takes a great front O.
line to make it all happen.We also have one of those as well!!!! GOOOO
Cougs!!!!!
LDS | 12:19 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
The lord has seen fit to bless the most blessed of all school football teams
with a most blessed RB. Fui is obviously staying away from all temptations,
including tofu and slim fast. He will punish all those sinfull opposing players
that support women's rights and free speech with powerfull blows of his
almighty shoulder!
WRM | 12:34 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Hey Big Man. Stop with the smack talk already. The Utah game is more than 3
months from now. A lot will happen between now and late November. And when was
the last time the Cougars rolled over the Utes like bowling pins anyway.
STUD | 12:55 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Who cares about rolling over. A win is a win, I think a Johnny Harline-type
touchdown catch hurts the ute fans to watch more than a complete shilacking
anyways.
Cougar Fan | 12:57 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Hey WRM, last year the cougars got a ton of confidence, and I think the utes are
reeling. If BYU can come out strong against arizona, than they will have a great
year because of that confidence boost.
Heidi | 1:06 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
All right, I was wrong about the year. Don't all go dog pilin' me : )
Thanks for setting me straight. I was just a young kid back then and I'm
relying on that memory. I got confused about the collegiate years. Was it the
1983-84 year when they won the nat'l championship? Or was it the 1984-85
year? I must have confused it with Snow College--they won the 1985 national
title for junior colleges. Oh, I may be wrong about that. Anyway, that was a
fun time and it's gone the way of the Bob Hope Christmas specials. I must
be the one with the problem--I just haven't gotten excited about the BYU
teams since then. I appologize to all loyal Cougar fans--including my dad who
are always looking forward to football season. I really do wish this team well.
Coach Bronco did oversee some improvements last season. Thanks everyone on the
comments who set me straight and who are true blue fans.
Jim A. | 1:51 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
You're killing me Heidi!! Seen any Raider games lately?
1984-1985?
Oh yeah, the O line is even better than the RB's.
1984-1985?
Oh yeah, the O line is even better than the RB's.
Civil | 2:09 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
1) The Utes are nowhere near reeling. The cougars may be confident, but they
were confident in 2002 as well.
2) STUD is correct (not in name, mind you, only with his comment). That last second win killed me more than any blowout ever would. But dont go thinking the Utes have forgotten about that.
2) STUD is correct (not in name, mind you, only with his comment). That last second win killed me more than any blowout ever would. But dont go thinking the Utes have forgotten about that.
scott | 3:17 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Since all their running so far has been against the BYU defense are they that
good or is the defense that bad and every other team will run over them too?
Ghost | 3:34 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Vakapuna is a little crazy I think...look at his eyes when he runs. Although I
am a Ute fan I watched Vakapuna play at Air Force last year and he is the
typical Fullback style with short to moderate pounding runs that punish
defensive players...that is if the O-line can move the opposing meat out of the
way for a good hole because although the backs are big 222-240 pounders they
still can't run through 290-340 pounders clogging up the line...so they
better be fast to skirt the outside if their line can't control the
trenches. As for "Stud" and "Big man" (compensating for
something) and their comments I am sure you are both capable of realizing that
an article in the newspaper about a scrimmage / post season play image of BYU
running backs does not translate to BYU beating Utah in November. I know you
can dream but do you guys function in the realm of reality at some point and
look at things objectively or do you jsut run your mouths all the time? Go
Utes- and long live a "healthy" Utah v BYU rivalry. In the meantime I
hope they both have undefeated seasons until the final game in November.
Vaca lover | 4:00 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Vakapuna is a little crazy. thats why I love to watch him play. My friends and I
have been calling him "crazy eyes" (a reference to Life Aquatic,
"he's got the crazy eyes!"). He gets me pumped when he gets all
crazy even after the most modest of runs. GO BYU!
Ken Goddard | 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Disgusting, any way you look at it. It has turned into a game of mutants just
like basketball.
Commando | 8:16 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Oh no, Ken! What are we going to do now that BYU is competetive and your son
won't ever make the team??!!LOL
zoobuh | 9:52 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Thank goodness for the running game. I have no confidence in the passing game.
I hope the best to Hall. Prove me wrong!!
UTE FAN | 10:09 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
You Cougar fans kill me. Even though I bleed red, I just wanted to correct
Annie's correction of Heidi. The 1996 team that went 14-1 didn't beat
No. 12 Kansas in the Holiday Bowl. It beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl. I am
a pure football fan and heart and hate inaccuracies. GO UTES!!!!
Cougar Mike | 10:23 p.m. Aug. 16, 2007
Hey Mike, Luke Staley won the doak walker award. They don't award that to
chumps. Had he not been injured in the end of that last win of to 2002 season
and blown out his knee he wouldhave been a nice pro RB. How good, nobody knows
but he had power and speed. They probably go undefeated that year also. That
injury killed the team. No more run attack. Why were they running him at the end
of a blow-out game!! It still bothers me. Go Cougs!
STUD | 12:18 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007
Ghost, when did I say it translated to BYU beating Utah in November,I
didn't even say anything about the article, I said I like to see the last
second win, rather than a blowout, becuase they're more memorable, you need
to settle down man, chill out. You Angry Ute fans, are obviously still a little
bitter about last year's last second win. (told you those are better than
blowouts)
Vern Rogers | 4:28 p.m. Aug. 18, 2007
Ok ok - STUB oops I mean STUD - why don't you just get a life and stop
re-living it on Channel 11's replays of the 1984 Cougars
"mythical" national championship game. And Heidi you are probably so
brain dead from all those chemicals dumped on your head at the beauty salon in
Payson - no wonder you can't remember the biggest and best bowl game the
Cougars ever played in. And Cougar Mike - now who would ever call themself
Cougar Mike - other than some low life janitor at Jenny P. Stewart Elementary
School - and you thought I didn't know. Finally, Vaca Lover - is that just
another way or saying that you are a flaming homo. To all those BYU fans out
there - just make an extra stop at McDonalds on Monday night Family Night -
pound down another $1 Big Mac and maybe just maybe your kids will get accepted
at the U - the University of YOOOOOTah.
AKCoug | 5:00 p.m. Aug. 19, 2007
hey vern, how is ernest? What's with the personal attacks?? worried that
Utah is going to be disappointing this year? That still doesn't mean you
need to be a grouch, try relaxing a little, I mean seriously with your choice in
sports teams I'd have to say you probably have some serious issues that
need to be dealt with. Maybe if you focus more on overcoming those problems you
won't be so angry. Good luck
STUD | 10:32 a.m. Aug. 20, 2007
Vern, woooooww, GOOD ONE!! STUB..How clever, golly, you are one smart guy...Man,
You might have to go all the way up to a 2nd grade class to find a name that
good! oh and a "mythical" national championship or not, it's
still ONE MORE than Utah has or will ever get!!!
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