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Former BSU player commits to Utah

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Anonymous | 12:24 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
this is a huge commitment. aiona key is a five-star recruit on scout.com. good job KW!!!!
7of8SisterWives | 12:26 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Utah only signed him because BYU didn't want him to begin with.
That's rich | 1:54 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
How the Utes have fallen. Now they are taking castoffs from Boise State.

And what is up with reminding us that BSU made it to the BCS last season? That's so 5 minutes ago.
Comments continue below
John | 5:51 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
The real question is how this football player, how left BSU or academic reasons, will be able to stay eligible at Utah. He is a good football player but you have to wonder what extremes schools will go to in order to get athletes and keep them eligible. I have always thought Utah to be a better academic school than BSU.
die Wahrheit | 6:07 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Blah blah blah......same old zoobie talk. I love how zoobie fans claim that BYU didn't want the recruits that choose to play at Utah. Hey zoobie, why don't you venture out of your bubble and realize that a lot of people don't want to play in Provostan
Pittsburgh Ute | 6:35 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
My My My

Jealous Cougar fans are green with envy.

The Utes just added another playmaker to their wide receiver corp.

Oh -- Harline is still open at the kiosk at University Mall peddling those cell phones.

And Lenny Gomes is still pumping gas at the Maverick.
re: 7 of 8 | 7:38 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Jealous?
VOR | 7:49 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
And byu won the nc 1984 big whoop
Marky | 7:54 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Get a clue Pittsburgh - Maverick is strictly a self-serve gas pumping outfit.

While Aiona may be a good player and highly rated, we'll see how he does in the world of Division I football. Not every highly rated "5-star" player pans out (see Ben Olson).
Chi Town Ute | 8:02 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Jealousy arises out of insecurity. Here comes all the BYU fans out of the woodwork to belittle a new Ute. Stay classy Y fans - make Key out to be a BSU reject and an academic failure. Key may very well have worked incredibly hard to be academically eligible and, if so, my hat's off to him. College sports could use more Andre Millers and less Austin Collies. Here's wishing him the best of luck in his college career - academically and athletically.
BYU Fan | 8:25 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Am I to understand that someone does not recognizing BYU as a national program, and choose us over one of those "mid major" schools.

Time to play the victim card (Everyone is against us, college football isnt' fair, people hate us because we're Mormon, etc. etc.)

Let's get some litigation going. Isn't there someone we can sue.
BYU FAN | 8:31 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
I am a huge BYU fan and always will be. It is sad that BYU fans can not be happy for the utes, or the utes for BYU. He is probably going to be a great player and will really help the utes improve. I hope that Utah has a great year and so does BYU, it helps get the state of Utah some respect and makes for a great final game between these two teams, and makes it even better when BYU wins! Good luck to this young athlete and all the college athletes. Go Cougars!
Anonymous | 8:32 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Why would he want to go to that high school on the hill? He could have gone to Dixie or SUU. With loses to Air Force Unlv and the Y I would have to say great season U. Get some good players so you can compete. But you will always be able to whine. Even that great coach could only handle 2 years, but the memory will last the next 20.
1984 Nat Chumps | 8:38 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Face it, he couldn't hack it with Coach Bronco Mendenhall. That is why Coach Bronco Mendenhall wouldn't recruit him. He probably has at least one tatoo.
Crimson Cougar | 8:39 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Another reason to turn my back on my school and cheer for the team down south. Since when should a team ever be happy, with a player that could not make it in the WAC. Come on Kyle, lets start looking at top players and not guys sitting on the end of the Boise State bench!!!
Thrilled | 8:53 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
I am absolutely thrilled that my boys in red have recruited another 5 star castoff from Boise state. Wow that just makes me happy that a person like this young man would choose to go to Utah over other schools in the area. What we need are more high quality rejects... no wait we already have many high quality rejects. In fact would it be possible to purchase all of our uniforms as seconds too? That would be way cool if we could get every type of reject known to man as part of the U football team. After all we have a Cougar as a coach and BYU is thrilled with their 2nd place finisher in Bronco who played for another school too... just like Whit. As for Lenny Gomes or Lenny Gregory, since his senior year at BYU he took the name of his biological father, he runs a multimillion dollar business in the south and has been very successful. I don't think we should judge Lenny too harshly since he is doing better than most of us writing on this blog. Anyone can pump my gas! PLEASE
Pile on | 8:57 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Stupid BYU fans always have to make negative comments when something good happens at the U.

Ute fans *never* make ridiculously negative comments after a story about a win for the Y. ;)
JD | 8:59 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Hey Chi Town, why throw Austin Collie into the mix. He's the real deal as a receiver, student and person. I think your jealous that the Cougs can get student athletes like Collie and your stuck with the Aiona's of the world.
HUGE!!! | 8:59 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
I heard great things about Utah's receivers prior to the season but I don't think they lived up to the billing. This is huge for Utah. A 5-Star recruit (according to Scout.com) that Johnson can throw to. Not sure if he'll be a sophmore or junior, but it will be a nice weapon to have for Johnson next year. Johnson, Mack, Key....I'm already excited for next year. Go Utes!

And for all you Utah haters out there (See: BYU fans), keep trying to pick at something that will make you feel a little bit better about Utah beating you at recruiting. Utah is only 5 slots behind BYU in the recruiting rankings on Scout.com, and that is before landing a 5 star recruit!!! Wasn't it Bronco that didn't even want to recruit when he was the D.C. at BYU? I don't know why these guys don't choose Provotown....who wouldn't want to lay in the grass and look up at the sky during practice....I'd sign up in a heart beat!!! Go K. Witt....what a recruiter!!
Mapleton Cougar | 9:04 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Congrats to the Utes on picking up a great player! Let's give the guy a chance to show what he's made of both academically and on the field. I have to disagree with Chi Town though - we need (and have more than you think) more like Austin Collie. Did you notice the Texas quarterback who fumbled the ball into the end zone last night? A Texas player came up with the ball for a touchdown, and the QB lifted his eyes and arms heavenward in thanks. Let the magic happen for all of the respectable players out there, be they Ute, Cougar, or whatever!
Utah fan | 9:10 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
who really cares when it is 10 degrees outside..I am glad KW kept his job and all the U' fans that wanted him gone..oh how you jumped back on the wagon..as for the recieving corp..we will need him because Wilson drops to many passes and who know what kind of trouble he will be in in the off season...you are right about us hanging on to dirty laundry...KW the pressure is on with great recruits..One other thing...the reason we started playing better is because we had injuries and the back ups were better than the starters...go figure..Slvester vs. Brady...who really is the better player..
CougarBlue | 9:19 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
BYU already awarded all of their scholarships for 2008 last spring. How can they give a guy a scholarship, when they don't have anymore to give.

I hope the young man does well at the U. I will not judge him as to why he wound up taking the course he took, but I hope him success in the future.
Vvoyage | 9:34 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
This could be a good pickup for the Utes. Aiona Key had a lot of promise as a freshman at Boise State. The BSU coaches thought he had a bright future. I don't know why he left Boise. Unfortunately, Aiona Key is best known for being hit by the punt in the Fiesta Bowl, which started Oklahoma's rally.
cougfan | 9:36 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
If he's good, then I welcome him. I enjoy the close, bitter rivalry between the Utes and the Y. If both teams aren't good, then the rivalry becomes boring.
Sly | 9:39 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Great irony hearing BUY fans talking about academics. Hey, folks, doesn't the Y practice censorship?
Another Weddle | 9:41 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Someone else for Johnson to overthrow.

Maybe he can take direct snaps and also play DB in Kyle's goofy system.
YES!!! | 9:42 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Christmas if finally here for the Utes. Good recruit Kyle...rated as a 5-star in the recruiting rankings!!! A phenomenon I've noticed....I didn't realize until reading all the BYU fans comments here that they actually taught a class at BYU...Whining 101. I think you have to pass the 3 class series before you can become a season ticket holder, based on the whining I heard at the game this year from the hefty BYU fan doing the star wars romp and crying about every "pass interference" and "hold" that wasn't called. Have they taken it as far as to make it a major down south? "I graduated in Whining....and now I can get my season tickets."

Face it...Utah got a good recruit and you didn't. It isn't the end of the world for Cougies and it doesn't guarantee that Utah will be good next year. I say: good job Kyle...keep them 5-star recruits coming!!
U? Who? | 9:58 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Has anyone questioned why a 5 star recruit would go to the U? Did the article mention that he was heavily recruited by anyone else? I don't think so!!!!! Maybe the guy has baggage. Maybe we should ask those questions? Maybe at BYU he couldn't handle the honor code? Maybe the U should exercise a little more censorship in who they recruit??? Maybe at the U they should reinstate the class "pump my gas 101?" Just some thoughts from an Aggie fan!
Idaho Coug | 10:00 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
It doesn't matter who the Utes get. I hope that they sign all of the supposed "5 star" castoffs they can find. Ute fans must cry themselves to sleep at night when they consider that BYU was supposed to be in "rebuilding" mode this past year and still went undefeated in the conference. I don't think Whittingham should count on spending the bonus he supposedly receives for beating BYU anytime soon.
wYo8 | 10:09 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Good get, Key must like to play for a consistant 3rd place MWC team. The most athletic non bcs team.
recruit | 10:26 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
I get so sick of those bywho fans and their holier then thou attitudes. I'm pretty sure there are players on BYU's team that had to get their grades straightened out on the JC level and or had to overcome some silly teenage stuff.(ie Unga??) Whatever happened to repentence and kids growing up. We don't really know anything about this kid so lets cut him some slack. And as far as Utah only getting him because byu did not want him. Get over that. Not everyone wants to go to byu I know that is hard to believe but true.

Go Utes - looks like another addition to a recruiting class that could turn out to be great - only time will tell.

re:Sly | 10:29 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Sorry.

Academics are an issue in college sports.

Kid had a problem at BSU and Mt. SAC.

Either Utah is a prestigous University with a solid academic program with Nobel Prize winners, or it is not.

Seems like Kyle is feeling the pressure to win, which often leads to poor choices. Bronco still has the option to make good choices.

A Zero Star recruit from Rivals Dot Com.

Have fun kids...
TheHailstorm | 10:29 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
What is with these blue bloods and all of the sour grapes. Classless lot !
Keep them coming. | 10:35 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
That's great to hear. Another great recuit for the U.
Anonymous | 10:39 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Way to go Utes!

Anyone claiming this guy is a castoff is nutty. He's five stars and I'm pretty sure with this new addition - and more to come - the recruiting services will show Utah with the top recruiting class of any non-BCS school.

Way to go Utes!
utah_man18 | 10:39 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
First of all, "anonymous," how in the world do you think we need to get players who can "compete?" The losses you cited resulted from either injuries (UNLV and Air Force) or from a blown coverage and some blown calls late in the game (you know which calls I'm talking about). By the end of the season, we were playing at least as well as your "consistent" cougies.
Oh, and "Idaho Coug," it's okay to admit you're starting to get scared to come up on the hill next year. I'm sure you'll still do okay, even though you don't have the five star recruits Kyle brings in. Call him a "castoff" all you want, but I'll take anybody, five star or not, over Austin Collie; I don't think any of our football helmets could hold his over-inflated head at this point....
Go Utes | 10:47 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Whining 101
How to maintain your used 1989 mini van
Hamburger Helper tonight & every night!
Married with 4 children before you become a Senior
BYU Film studies class-watching classic byu football games.

No wonder you guys are so ill prepared to deal with the real world.
The byu theme
"The world is our campus" No no guys- it is still the Campus is your world.
Utah Ute News Story | 10:54 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
People complained yesterday that there were no Ute blogs happening.

Here's one on an academic problem coming to Utah via BSU and Mt. Sac Junior College, who had problems there.

So, there you go Ute fans. Ask and ye shall recieve, and all of your wildest dreams will come true.

(We cougar fans would be happier if you would recruit someone with some heart to make it more exciting at the end of the game, and not just wait for the typical Ute end of the game collapse...)
Re: Pittsburgh Ute | 10:58 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
That was funny and very true. I appreciate a good comment with some humor. Poor BYSpew fans are really getting their panties in a bunch about an athlete signing with the UTES. Even an Aggie fan is getting involved...they were impressive this season. Too bad idiot opposing fans don't make a difference to the actual players on the field.

Good recruit on paper...hope he is great on the field. But since nobody really knows much about him and several BYSpew fans are speculating so much how about we let the athlete speak for himself next seasonon the field.
Blue Friday | 11:02 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Ok, so maybe the guy isn't a sterling scholar. That's so unusual for a football player. It sounds to me the Utes have another good athlete on their already athletic team. Everyone has to prove themselves, but maybe we should just let the Utes bask in their recruiting glory.
re:Playa | 11:02 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
C'mon Dawg, wat makes U think this dude can play?

Wat has he done?

Not hatin' the playa, just cant see the game???
BYU and the MWC... | 11:11 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

The MWC is irrelevant. Why do Y fans always boast about the Y record when it is irrelevant nationally.

BYU is a second tier team playing in a irrelevant conference.

-Ohio Alumni
Jason | 11:22 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Boy, after reading all of the hate filled comments from BYU fans, I can see why the christian world doesn't believe you're one of them.
Jay | 11:32 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
I thought BYU football was supposed to be a missionary tool for the church. Who in the world would read these comments from BYU fans and want to be like you. I hope the brethren read these comments and decide to do somehting about it. You bring nothing but shame upon the church.
Good Choice | 11:34 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
He was offered scholarships at Utah, Utah State and Akron...

I think he chose the best school out of the three.

...and being a Zero Star Recruit by Rivals Dot Com, all I can say is the announcement came just in time for a slow news day.
re: Keep the Coming | 11:38 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
If it would help I think there is a list of academically inelegible playas out there that were once highly prized recruits that have dropped to worthless for you to choose from.
re:Go Utes | 11:45 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Cute.

Letting your third grader blog.
Aggie Fan | 11:46 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Of course we're upset.

I came down to Us, Akron and the U of U.

Can't you Utes give and Aggie a break?
U? Who? | 11:51 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
So who else recruited this guy? Did anyone else offer a scholarship to him? Is there anyone else out there who recruited this guy? Please stand up if so. I don't think so. The guy has baggage. I am telling you. If he were that good he wouldn't be coming to Utah. Sorry folks but he wouldn't. He is also another Ute who will not be invested in the rivalry with Provo. He won't care come game time. Don't get me wrong. I root for the Utes when they are not playing either team in blue. I am not anti U. but who is this guy? Who else recruited him and why do we care about him? Johnson still has to deliver and the way I see it Mr. Hall down south has a huge leg up on both Johnson and the Utes. The Aggies will lose to the Utes next year but BYU will thump Utah with or without this guy.
RE: BYU and the MWC | 11:56 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007
Is that miami of Ohio?

I hope so, isn't Ohio State 0-9 in bowl games against the SEC?

Ouch! Big-10 is a trumped up fraud, a joke, App st. just called and said so. If your saying that the SEC is a good conference maybe your point is legit. Pa lease don't go there about the fraud-10

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