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Cougars looking to '08, BCS bowl

Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves already talking about the BCS? We need to start winning our non-conference games, something we haven't been able to do the past two years despite running the table in the MWC, if we want a chance. If too much arrogance sets in, I am afraid we will fall and not make it to the BCS.

BTW...Austin Collie is amazing, but his post game comments are over the top (two games in a row). Let's talk Sunday School when we are in Sunday School, and football when we are playing football and not mix the two.

Co Cougs!

It won't happen, but we'll have the entire off season to dream.

What a disappointing and boring game. Not a single BYU point scored in the 2nd half against a weakened and lame UCLA team. The only thing preventing a shameful defeat was a couple of fingers barely deflecting a kick that 99% of the time would have been good. Some might call it a miracle. Had BYU lost by two points, the spotlight would have been properly focused on the dumbest play call of the century. The coach would have been totally responsible for the loss for thinking, with some 90 yards to go and a half minute left in the first half, that anything besides a knee to the ground was worth the risk of giving UCLA an easy touchdown. He took the risk, gave them the score, but avoids the scorn by the lucky intervention of the fickle fingers of fate.

a team that has to pull off a miracle to beat utah, then another miracle to beat a bad 6-7 ucla team should not be striving for the bcs just yet. They do not have the talent to go all the way. byu will probably lose to both tcu and utah next year and that will be that. good luck next year and i hope they get better every year to show the BCS conferences are a sham and any team can win any given day; i just don't believe they will be good enough to do it.

I realize much has been said about UCLA being chosen to play BYU in LV but please remember who it was that made that selection. Not BYU & certainly not the players. Would they have wanted someone else?. Would they want
to play a higher ranked team?. UCLA proved to be all they could handle but who would have thought it. Nevertheless, they played who they were told to play and it just happened to come out ok. Make all the comments about who the MTN teams should be playing this year and put their names in a hat, pull them out and I'm sure their would be different results compared to what happens to all teams. Lets put the ugly comments aside and enjoy what the conference teams have done. Its the only exposure we will get and with that farce of a tv contract, it all we will get. Congrats to all teams representing those of use who enjoy a good game.

What are you thoughts on playing UCLA again? Will the task be any easier in LES? Who will be favored?

Good heavens, BCS? Get a grip.

Coach Mendenhall will set a goal of National Championship for the team, and President Shamo will set a goal of 95% for our elder's quorum home teaching.

While I'd be ecstatic for either to happen, I'm not holding my breath.

Wow! What a great game. An ugly win but a win nontheless. Our OL got outplayed all game long. Coach Walker of UCLA had his guys fired up and ready to play. Reynolds got worked left and right by Bruce Davis. That was a man going against a child (even though Reynolds may be older than him). That first turnover you can put solely on Reynolds because he got beat badly. He needs to move inside to either Guard or Center because he certainly does NOT have what it takes to be a left tackly. He just doesn't have the athletic ability.

Having said that, we are poised for a huge seaon on the offensive side next year. I'm a little worried about our defense and the number of returners there, but I'm confident that Bronco and the gang will coach them up, put some duct tape on it, and keep it rolling right along. Offensively though, we can be a special unit that will strike fear into the stoutest of defenses we come across. BCS 08!!

This was a real good season and Bronco has us heading the right way. We need to keep dominating the MWC. We now have to show we can beat these nonconference foes. I know a win is a win, but we need to be better prepared and play much better against the UCLA's of the world. We need to play our best. I don't think that Bronco will make the same mistake of not throwing the ball for 2 weeks like he did after the San Diego st. game in getting ready for this bowl. That was pretty crazy and our passing game was the worst its been all season. The running game also looked poor. I still don't think Bronco is making good decisions on 4th down when we are inside the other team's 40 yard line. He always wants to punt. The last punt from the 31 yard line almost lost us the game. It was 4th and 5 so we should have gone for it. If we get the 5 yards that game is over and UCLA never see the ball again. Exciting finish, but everyone I talked to was disappointed in the way we played.

Good luck Cougars!!!

PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSSSEEEEEEE!

Since when is a a last second, LUCKY win over a depleted,second class, used to be power of a one team conference -the PAC10, a springboard for next year's perfect season? Spare all of us who live in the real world the waste of words that will follow this post. To post anything affirming the analysis of this article which is so obviously self serving that it must have suggested in desperation by the BYU public relations department before they left for the Holidays. To write anything would only further underscore how really unintouch with reality most BYU fans are.

It's awfully arrogant Cougars to keep thinking that you will go undefeated in MWC play next season. You escaped with some lucky wins this past season. Some advice: Don't lose sight of humility along the way.

Yes!!! We just put a whuppin' on the 5th place PAC 10 team and now we're plannin' on a BCS spot!!!

Really? I guess hope really does spring eternal.

The only problem with all of this hype about next year is that if Pete Carroll doesn't give USC a victory in the Rose Bowl this year, the chances are really good that the Trojans will be looking for a coach that can bring return the Trojans back to the number one spot. And who will they be looking at? Bronco's going to be top of the list? BYU might have all their players returning, but what are they going to do without a coach? How can Bronco turn down an offer from a program like USC's. BYU fans better be cheering for USC in the Rose Bowl.

It just aint going to happen!!!

Living out east, people really don't care what happens in the beehive state, or their schools. Most people don't have a clue that there is a beehive state. I would love for the mountain west to get the recognition, however I don't forsee this lofty dream comming to fruition.

To the Players - Terrific job all season. Congratulations, and work hard for next year!

To the embittered Utes who will read this who are still upset about 4 and 18 - the Bruins lost, the Cougars won. Understand? The Cougars won. They won the game. They didn't lose the game, BYU WON the game. BYU scored more points then UCLA, hence they won. Perhaps you haven't learned Math yet, but when one team (BYU) scores more points than the other team (UCLA or Utah) then they win. Those are the rules of football. It doesn't matter how "ugly" the point total, BYU still wins. With all the football yet to be played, "the powers that be" will see eleven wins and rank accordingly. Especially if TCU and AF win.

Honestly, it seems as if many are desperate to grab onto anything to criticize the Real University in Utah. Your color shouldn't be red, it should be green, as in green with envy.

BYU won't go to a BCS game. They are lame and will lose a couple next year, relegating them to Vegas forever.

Good win for the cougs, congratulations. That being said, can we see them win a few games in 2008 before we give them a bowl, much less a BCS bowl. They've got some good players coming back but, injuries or bad bounces can change a season outcome quickly.

It's simple. Win OOC games. BYU has flirted with it for two years now. Regardless, the program is back and the future looks bright. I'm proud to be a cougar!!!!

I watched the game from the comfort of my home. I am so proud of our Cougars staying focused, despite some adversity. Yes, we won and it is a nice ending to a good year. Plus I was nervous just before the last field goal attempt.
Go Cougars!
Coaching Staff: Lets strengthen the staff and make better calls.