Kicking game and the defense | 12:56 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Those are the KEYS to winning this game. The offense will take care of itself and execute, but the defense is the key to a win. The best way to break in a new defense is special teams and field position. Just like we needed a strong O-line and a running game to break in a new quarterback, long fields to defend is what the new defense will need. If we can keep the ball downfield and keep good field position, the defense will have a longer field to defend, giving them more reps, more chances to force a 3 and out, and more chances to turn over the ball.
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Reality check | 2:05 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
This years BYU team has some real talent and has the potential to be a pretty good team but i just don't see an undefeated season. Yes BYU has an excellent record the past two years but who have they beat outside the conference? A lucky victory over a banged up 6-6 UCLA team without their coach on basically a home field doesn't give me the convidence that it has given everyone else. I think they lose at Washington and at Utah. That doesn't mean i am routing against them, I just think this perfection garbage will destroy their season if they finsh with 1 or 2 loses, which they will. Learn some humility before you are humbled by the huskies. Seriously when was the last victory against a top 25 nonconference team? 1999? 95? 94? Really, i don't know
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warrior | 3:13 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
I could beat N. Iowa by myself while blindfolded and tied to a stake. My prediction: N. Iowa 48 BYU 3
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Hollywood | 4:17 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
For the Ute trolls still ragging on BYU/Northern Iowa, here are some of the other top matchups on Saturday:


#22 Penn State vs. Coastal Carolina
#2 Ohio State vs. Youngstown State
#1 Georgia vs. Georgia Southern
#11 Texas vs. Florida Atlantic
#4 Oklahoma vs. Chattanooga
#14 Kansas vs. Florida International
#10 Auburn vs. Louisiana Monroe
#19 South Florida vs. Tennessee-Martin
#15 Arizona State vs. Northern Arizona
#13 Wisconsin vs. Akron
#7 LSU vs. Appalachian State

Hmmm...seems like a lot of ranked teams schedule "patsies" the first game of the season.

OK, the last one might be a good matchup. Wonder if Les Miles has asked the LSU AD, "what the he@# are you doing scheduling a team like the Mountaineers?"

"Well, Les, back in 2004, they were 6-5. Sure looked like patsies to me. Who knew they would go on to win 3 straight 1-AA/FCS championships."

Fact is, BYU scheduled Nevada-Reno. They're on par with the teams listed abpve. Then UNR backed out. Teams schedule 4-5 years in advance so i'm sure it wasn't easy finding 1) a school that could still add a game w/o exceeding the maximum limit and 2)a school per #1 w/ availability August 30th.
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Anonymous | 6:36 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
I respect what Mendenhall has done at BYU and expect another fine season for the cougars. To take the next step Mendenhall needs to get a handle on non-conference opponents. To play like they have in conference and then disappoint on their non-conference schedule has really undermined the conference's efforts to demand respect. Comparing Northern Iowa to the better teams in our league, as Mendenhall has, does not help much either. I know a coach has to get his team ready to play and make sure that the team does not overlook its opponent, but that could have been done without such a silly comparison. The real test It is a game the cougars need to win to get the road and non-conference monkey off of their back. If they go up their and lose and then dominate in conference, it will be a huge set back for the conference (like Tulsa and UCLA (both times--the bowl game was a win, but for its champ to win in such fashion after complaining about its opponent for a month was humiliating for the MWC last year).
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Anonymous | 6:38 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
accidentally deletion in previous post: the real test is next week's game at Washington.
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Rich | 7:17 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
This Quest for Perfection will be exposed for the fraud that it is.
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BlueCoug | 7:23 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Quest accepted. Wear Blue. Go Cougs!
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Pine needles and cream | 7:33 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Fall is here. The weather is turning and college football is back! Best of luck to all our Utah teams.
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Kicking game and the defense | 7:43 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
The real key to BYU winning is decent field position to break in the new defense. The offense will execute and take care of itself, but our new defense needs to contain a running back that had 1,500 yards last season. So if they start out with the ball, we've got to get Payne or probably Sorensen, or whoever to boot the ball downfield so that we have a long field to defend. Just like a good O-line and a running game is essential to break in a new quarterback (like last year), it's also important to have good field position to break in a new defense. Those are my thoughts.
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Anonymous | 8:00 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
I will laugh so hard if BYU chokes against UNI. It couldn't happen to a better team.
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Quarterback Collie? | 8:10 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
If they open up a big lead, why risks Collie's health and have him play quarterback? Wouldn't that be the opportune time to allow the backups to get some experience? Collie may add a different dimension to the offense, but why use that option so early in the season if you don't have to? Let the backups get the experience.
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Oregon | 8:38 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Consider that the 4 games we lost the last two years were close games; within a touchdown or a turnover by BYU.
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not perfect | 8:41 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Perfection will end in Logan :)
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SEC Rover | 9:03 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Without one top 25 opponent and a schedule liberally sprinkled with patsies this quest for "perfection" will result in a nice W-L percentage but will not get the BCS attention BYU so desperately craves.

Will this team ever play a competitive schedule?
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passive fan | 9:05 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
let the games begin!

Few things excite me like good BYU football...

I'll be watching...

always watching!
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AsISeeIt | 9:14 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Great way to start a season...beating up a cupcake.
Pathetic.
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SEC Rover | 9:34 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Sure, LSU opens with three patsies. They also play four top 25 teams this season, three of which are top ten.

BYU's big game? The Huskies?
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Can't Wait | 9:47 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
I can't wait for the game this afternoon. Should be a lot of fun.

Two words for all of the Yoot trolls on here trying to poke fun at BYU's first opponent: Weber State

At least UNI is a ranked 1-AA team...

Oh, wait, two more words: Go away.

No one care what any of you Yoot fans have to say or about your pathetic little "football team" anyway.
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what are they thinking? | 9:48 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008
Hey Coach, Brandon Doman never looked all that great in practices either, which was why he sat on the bench or played at other positions until they absolutely had to use him at QB. Brandon, you're now our QB coach. Don't tell me you've fortgotten this too? I hope this QB thing with Collie is just a ploy. Maybe Bronco is just mocking Kyle for trying out one of his QB's as a receiver.
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