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Utah Utes football: Whittingham, rivals say feuds are over

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Re: Ryan | 12:45 p.m. July 23, 2008

Ute and cougar fans aside, do you realize how ridiculous it is to be arguing about who is playing the better I-AA team? It is ridiculous that either team is playing either of them. Both of them suck, and as a season ticket holder I wish they had someone else as I'm sure you do.

Doesn't matter | 12:47 p.m. July 23, 2008

Doesn't matter Boise will roll anybody in the Mtn West.

Re: Laugh | 12:10 | 12:51 p.m. July 23, 2008

Good for the TDS to finish in 2nd place back in 2005, especially with their pedestrian 6-6 record that year. The Utes were only 7-5.

Bronco is 2-1 against Whittingham. I don't see how 1 extra win exemplifies "dominance", especially if you consider the scores of those 3 games amounts to a difference of only 3-pts.

Don't forget...BYU has a better record against 1-AA opponents during the Whitt/Mendenhall era too:

BYU: 2-0
Utah: 1-0

Okay, so both teams average out to be batting a 1000 against lower tier schools, but BYU DOES have 1 extra win. DOMINATING!

Comments continue below

Re: UNLV's record | 12:56 p.m. July 23, 2008

Crowton is history. A new sheriff is in town. UNLV's record against Bronco is the only thing that's relevant.

Just curious, when was the last time Kyle was shutout by UNLV?

Re: Doesn't matter | 1:11 p.m. July 23, 2008

Boise State is desperately trying to abandon the WAC for the MWC.

Be careful what you wish for; BYU football is back and the Cougars would love to feast on a little bronco meat, after a little tenderizing.

BSU would be lucky to get through an MWC schedule with less than 3 losses.

Re: Laugh | 1:19 p.m. July 23, 2008

Bronco 2-1 over Whit head to head is a trend.

Bronco 21-3 to Kyle's 14-10 in league is dominance.

What part of that is so hard to understand?

Your record is the only real gauge to how good a team/program/coach is. That's why they play the games.

But Utah is probably the best 14-10 league team over a three-year period in the nation!

Re: Re: Laugh | 1:25 p.m. July 23, 2008

In 2005, Bronco was rebuilding the BYU football program after Crowton had spent 4 years dismantling it.

Kyle was taking over a program that had just finished its greatest season in Utah football history.

And Bronco still finished ahead of Kyle in the conference race.

A 1-point loss to conference champion TCU (50-51), an overtime loss to Utah (34-41), and a 7-point loss to California (28-35), a team that had been ranked as high as 9th Coaches/10th AP in early October, all very winable games, were the difference between a 6-6 record and a 9-3 record.

homers_84606 | 1:30 p.m. July 23, 2008

Hero of Canton - what have we done in the last quarter century? 218-96-2. 14 Conference Championships. 1 National Championship. 15-10 against Utah. What have the Utes done? 170-123-1.
4 conference champions. 10-15 against BYU. Cmon man - admit it - BYU has the better program.

Still need that.... | 1:45 p.m. July 23, 2008

record vs. UNLV in provo, you know, at home? I know history is relevant to the kittens. Just curious.

I love BYU fans... | 1:48 p.m. July 23, 2008

who seem to be more incensed by "on-sides-gate" than Wyoming fans.

Re need that | 2:21 p.m. July 23, 2008

Look it up yourself, but you and I both know that Crowton's anomaly is irrelevant and meaningless in evaluating BYU's overall success over the last half century and the current state of the program.

The more relevant question, for a Utah fan, is "When will Utah stop laying eggs in conference games?". Maybe you should consider changing your mascot. He could be giving the wrong subliminal message to your team.

Baked Potato | 2:25 p.m. July 23, 2008

Doesn't matter: The glory days are over in Boise. However, Boise St. would be a great addition to the Mountain West - where they could hang out in the cellar with UNLV and San Diego St.

Is that a.... | 2:36 p.m. July 23, 2008

spin-job or what? We're great except when crowton was here. We're great versus unlv, except for their two recent trips up to provo. Please, silly, tell us the answer to the question -- unlv's record this decade in provo? You can talk about what you know, but I know nothing of the sort, silly goose!! crowton shows-up in the record books, same as any other coach. Now in response to your comments regarding the "anomaly" in vegas last year (their first win over us since the '70's), let's talk about provo's record versus unlv this decade, not on the road, but at home. I know the kittens' favorite topic is history. This should not be difficult for you (just leave-out the spin-job this time). Record?

Crowton | 3:09 p.m. July 23, 2008

He may show up in the record books, but he was fired for things just like his record against UNLV.

FYI, the last time they came to Provo, the score was 52-7, not in their favor. If I were you, I'd be more concerned with what the current coaches are doing rather than what the previous coaches did. So far, Bronco is 3-0 versus UNLV, while K-Whit is 2-1, with that one being mighty glaring.

Anomaly in Vegas | 3:10 p.m. July 23, 2008

anomaly: something different, abnormal, peculiar

The "anomaly" in Vegas, would be a true anomaly if Utah had a history of regularly winning conference championships. Instead, it's just another example of Utah's propensity for losing conference games they could have, should have won.

Only winning 5 conference championships in the last 45 years (WAC/MWC combined) does not happen because of anomalous conference losses.

re: Anomoly in Vegas | 4:33 p.m. July 23, 2008

I see I have another entry for the zoobie-to-English dictionary.

Anomoly against a single team: determined by one's conference record rather than one's record against said team.

What the @#$% does conference record have to do with how two specific teams play against each other while their overall records is ignored?

Cowboy Joe | 4:46 p.m. July 23, 2008

Cowboys never forget! Utah is on our list. Thank you for throwing gas on the fire Coach KWitt.

wYo8 | 5:33 p.m. July 23, 2008

This year do i drive to laramie and watch the fans reaction to twitt and the Yewts or do i go and watch the winning streak continue. Go cougars and anybody playing the Yewts.

observer | 6:14 p.m. July 23, 2008

I'm glad the feuds don't appear to be over. If all this infantile stuff went away, what fun would football be??

Cougars Crack Me Up | 6:22 p.m. July 23, 2008

I am so proud of the little kitties from P-Town. You're so hung up on the past two years its ridiculous. 2004 is history but 2006 isn't??? Please. Grow up and realize that you've a had a good run in conference but other than that you're nothing special. A terrible bowl record, a terrible record against BCS teams. So stop talking so loud to Ute fans because there were not too long ago. They owned you for 4 years. You have 2. Good work. And if it came down to it I am taking Kyle any day vs. Bronco in MMA.

@ weber state | 6:36 p.m. July 23, 2008

you just showed your college football IQ...

Weber State and NIU are not D2, the are in the FCS or football championship subdivision (formerly D1AA) Division 2 is another thing altogether.

Dumb.

Wyo and UNLV | 6:39 p.m. July 23, 2008

Fueds aside, the games will be played between the lines and Utah will easily defeat UNLV and Wyoming. Unlv will not win a conference game this year. Wyoming MIGHT get into a bowl...Utah is predicted to finish at the top of the conference, is red hot winning 9 of last 11 and may have their best team EVER in SLC. no contest.

Still..... | 8:25 p.m. July 23, 2008

don't have the unlv-provo record in provo this decade. Anyone? Just curious. Leave-out the spin jobs. Thanks. BTW, the topic is unlv, not overall conference wins. Stay on topic, kittens!! Still just curious.

byu -vegas-utah | 9:26 p.m. July 23, 2008

seriously. you dont judge a 2008 team based off of one game, if i were to do taht i would pick the tulsa game for byu, just to show that they had and still have a TERRIBLE defense, even with brian kehl and jan jorgensen in the lineup. and as far as im concerned, im pretty sure the utes domitated just about every game (whith the byu game being equally dominant by both teams in certain aspects) after the loss to unlv, as byu dominated every game when they lost to tulsa........both teams have fans who are just idiots, sometimes myself included getting ralled up in the excitement of college football.......sure i want my utes to win the conference and go undefeated, but if they dont there's nothing i can do about it, and every fan of every team should feel the same way, because its just a game when it all comes down to it, and we need to look at the whole picture and realize that we need to just chill out on making fun of others teams based on one small thing.

GO UTES!!!!

Re: homers_84606 | 10:16 p.m. July 23, 2008

Really Homers_84606, you were part of the 218-96-2 record compilation by the Cougars? What position did you play?

Tip: Enter adulthood by first separating yourself from a silly childhood fantasy. No more "we did this..." or "we did that.." You are a fan. Get it? you ROOT for the team, not PLAY on the team.

wasn't that bad | 10:34 p.m. July 23, 2008

Joe Glenn wasn't flipping off Kyle last year. He was just telling him his team missed the on-side recovery by 1 yard! Sheesh!

Lavell | 1:27 a.m. July 24, 2008

One thing the sainted Lavell Edwards did that affects the conversation between BYU and Utah fans all these years later is make BYU ALL about conference championships. For three decades it was their only goal.

So it's not surprising that the blue Kool-Aid drinkers talk only about conference championships when that's how they've always measured success.

But now with the BCS there's a semblance (but only a semblance) of a tournament. And what we all love about tournaments is that when it's all said and done you pretty much know who's the best.

In the NCAA Basketball tournament there's a name for teams that win their conference tournament, but never make it to, oh say, the Sweeet 16.

Those teams are called losers.

And do I even need to say it? Utah has won in tournament settings, both in football and in basketball.

And BYU? Well the newspaper writers did crown them national champs in 1984. And they do have all those shiny conference trophies. Oh, and Danny Ainge has a couple of championship rings (only as a Celtic).

Cougars, I love you people. But less talk and more winning in tournament settings.

Dork Capitol | 6:24 a.m. July 24, 2008

Hey!

leave it to be settled on the field OK!!!!
Instead of Stupid fans! on both sides!!!

MainePoke | 7:03 a.m. July 24, 2008

Coaches may act nice, but fans and players won't forget the classless act of an onside kick up 43 points. Kick the tar out of us without intentionally rubbing our noses in it.
Glenn did the right thing to give the salute.
Can't wait to welcome our newest, hated team to WAR at 7220.

N.C. Hillbilly | 7:30 a.m. July 24, 2008

The Utes had better make a decent showing in the "BIG HOUSE" vs. Michigan, or else they'll have to BOW DOWN to the THREE TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION Appalachian State Mountaineers! GO APPS!

Lowered expectations | 8:31 a.m. July 24, 2008

Coach Whittingham: ï¿½We want a Mountain West Conference championship. It's eluded us for the last three years. That's what we have our sights set on.ï¿½

Utah Fan: ï¿½ï¿½it's not surprising thatï¿½ [BYU fans]ï¿½ talk only about conference championships when that's how they've always measured success.ï¿½

Itï¿½s not surprising that SOME Utah fans have lowered their expectations from winning conference championships to finding other less meaningful accomplishments for judging success. Utah, after all, has won so few championships in the last half century.

Most BYU fans view regularly winning conference championships as a STEPPING STONE to greater accomplishments. It used to be the ONLY way of getting into a bowl game, which is why Utah disappeared from the bowl scene for 28 years following their 1964 Liberty Bowl appearance. It also leads to Top-25 finishes and other national recognition, which is why BYU has finished in the Top-25 FIFTEEN times compared to Utahï¿½s 3 or 4.

A great record in bowl games is something Utah fans can be proud of, however, you canï¿½t transform an above average season into a great season simply by beating another above average team in a bowl game.

National Championships | 8:46 a.m. July 24, 2008

"the newspaper writers did crown them national champs in 1984"

Newspaper writers, coaches, sportscasters, and every other prominent group that "awards" national championships in Div 1A football.

Nothing really has changed since 1984 except for a feeble attempt by the BCS to match the "two best teams" in a so-called national championship game.

Everyone who has payed any attention to college football since the creation of the Alliance/BCS Bowl knows what a dismal failure that process has been.

Until we have a true national championship playoff, the "mythical" national champion will continue to be "awarded" in a beauty contest reserved for the "beautiful" conferences.

The BcS is nothing but money-making operation for the "haves" of college football. The ONLY reason they decided to throw the non-BcS teams a bone was because they were FORCED to do so to prevent a class-action lawsuit from breaking up their money-grabbing monopoly.

re: BCS Tournament??? | 9:55 a.m. July 24, 2008

"Utah has won in tournament settings, both in football and in basketball."

To call the BcS a "tournament" is like calling the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and real sporting event.

Both are nothing but beauty contests.

Represent | 10:17 a.m. July 24, 2008

In their 115 years of college football, Utah has won their conference championship and then played in the bowl game designated for their conference champion...

ONCE!!!

2003 - Liberty Bowl - Southern Miss - 17-0

It would have been twice if they hadn't played in the Fiesta Bowl in 2004.

Mcbride | 12:23 p.m. July 24, 2008

Thanks for the great laughs, "Lavell." Those are some of the most unintelligent comments on here.

To (dim) wit:

"And what we all love about tournaments is that when they're all said and done you pretty much know who's the best."

Oh, really?

So, in 2004 who was better ... USC or Utah? Who was better, Utah or Auburn? Who was better, USC or Auburn? And what about the year that USC was No. 1 in both polls, but not invited to play in the BCS Championship?

Yeah, we all knew who was the best team after those "tournaments."

That you ascribe Utah having success in "tournament" football for one game is the single most ridiculous comment in this entire thread. Stop bobbing for fruit in the barrel of red Kool-Aid, Lavell

I'm sure you don't see the irony in lauding Utah's Sweet Sixteen basketball appearances while denigrating BYU's conference football championships. I'd wager that BYU has more Top 16 final football rankings than Utah has Sweet 16 appearances.

And the only thing I remember about Utah and the NCCA Tournament is that the Yewts always find some way to lose to North Carolina. Beat the Tarheels, then pop off.

Fassel | 12:24 p.m. July 24, 2008

Sorry, Lavell, but you are missing the obvious. What has affected the conversation between BYU fans and Utah fans over the past 30 years can be traced to one single thing:

SCOREBOARD!

Dave | 12:31 p.m. July 24, 2008

This is coach-speak. If I was a coach or player this year for Wyoming, I too would say "water under the bridge" or "onside kick? What onside kick?" But come game time it will matter, and it will make a difference.

Wyoming 24, Utah 20

Urban | 12:31 p.m. July 24, 2008

Thanks for checking in, Lavell. The one thing you can say about Utah is that they do have a great bowl record. A big mitigating factor in that, however, is for most of those years, they did not win the conference and instead ended up in the lowest tier of bowl game possible to where they were playing opponents who could barely qualify for bowls. They should have won those matchups.

The two exceptions were 2003 and 2004 where Utah was conference champion and represented the league as conference champions. Although, one could argue that Pittsburgh was a vastly inferior opponent as well (through no fault of the Utes).

Stobart | 12:34 p.m. July 24, 2008

You crack me up, Lavell.

What would Utah's bowl record be if Ute fans counted the results of the BYU-Utah games during the Edwards era? During that entire span the BYU-Utah game WAS Utah's bowl game.

Kevin Olson | 2:02 p.m. July 24, 2008

It is KENTUCKY that Utah can't beat in basketball (another team in blue they have problems with). How many MWC Championships in basketball does Utah have recently? How many MWC Tournament Championships do they have.

Please remind me.

Just the Bowl Stats | 2:10 p.m. July 24, 2008

Total Bowls
BYU - 26
Utah - 13

Bowl Record
BYU - 9-16-1
Utah - 10-3

Average Overall Record
BYU - 10-3
Utah - 8-3

Average Opponent Record
BYU - 9-3
Utah - 8-4

No. of Opponents with 3 or fewer losses
BYU - 14
Utah - 2

No. of Opponents with 2 or fewer losses
BYU - 5
Utah - 0

No. of Undefeated Opponents
BYU - 2
Utah - 0

No. of Top 25 Rankings after bowl
*BYU - 14 AP, 14 Coaches
Utah - 3 AP, 4 Coaches

*BYU was ranked 16 AP, 20 Coaches in 1979 and didn't play in a bowl

Played in/Qualified for bowl reserved for conference champion
BYU - 17
Utah - 2

Longest streak of consecutive bowls
BYU - 18
Utah - 5

Correction | 2:20 p.m. July 24, 2008

BYU was ranked 16 AP, 20 Coaches in 1977 and didn't play in a bowl

Feud over??? | 2:46 p.m. July 24, 2008

Coach nit-Whitt knows that he made a bone-headed decision to call for an onside kick with the Utes up 43-0.

Now he's wishfully hoping to smooth things over so he can sneak into Laramie without being ambushed.

Maybe he's learned a hard lesson about not kicking an opponent when he's down, but, if not, he may yet learn that it's not wise to throw fuel on the fire when you have to play in the enemy's camp the following season.

Anonymous | 3:10 p.m. July 24, 2008

I thought this was an article about Wyoming...

Green Jello | 3:22 p.m. July 24, 2008

Given all the stupid comments from Cougar fans about an article that didn't have a thing to do with BY WHO maybe you Cougar fans time would be better spent getting the Jello ready for the MIA social

Re: Jello | 3:58 p.m. July 24, 2008

When it becomes clear that you've lost the argument and you have no genuine rebuttal, always resort to your best third-grade response to end the argument.

Good luck to the Utes at the Big House and in Laramie. Looking forward to meeting your undefeated team in November.

Kevin Olson | 4:07 p.m. July 24, 2008

Just like calling every Ute fan the town drunk, jokes about green jell-o are not funny anymore. Get some new material (Green Jell-O).

This is an open forum. No one ï¿½ownsï¿½ the right to comment here. Ute fans do not have sole authority on stupid comments

Wyoming by 40 | 12:03 a.m. July 25, 2008

Yes, they are over, that's because the u is going to lose to both of those teams this year, just like Bball last year. Thanks Wittless.

BYU identity issues | 1:40 a.m. July 25, 2008

byu, Yahoo called and they want their "Y" back.

USU called and they want their navy blue back.

Return to glory?!?! Find some identy first, stick with it, then talk about glory.

Your poor fans don't know what color or logo to purchase because your identity is a moving target!

The only consistancy you have is green jello, ignorant yet arrogant fans (very strange combination that exists only at byu) and envy for big brother in SLC.

Try having just ONE player stick in the NBA before you declare glory. Win a few bowl games (UCLA booted last year's game to you). Win an NCAA tournament game... just one every decade would be an improvement.

U of U envy? Certainly! Count the posts from negative byu fans on this U of U article and draw your own conclusion.

Utah little brother issues | 7:41 a.m. July 25, 2008

You rant about off-topic posts and then give us a long diatribe about ABCs and colors and basketball.

As a Utah graduate and an avid BYU fan I can state unequivocally that:

BYU has had the dominant football program for the last half century.

Utah has had the dominant basketball program for the last half century.

There are exceptions, such as BYU's NIT run in 1966 and their NCAA run in 1981, and Utah's BCS-busting season in 2004. BYU has gotten more competitive in basketball recently. Utah has gotten more competitive in football and has had some bowl success since 1992. But, if you look at the overall success of each program for the last 50 years:

BYU football has been MUCH better than Utah football.

Utah basketball has been MUCH better than BYU basketball.

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