Deseret News | BYU, Utah Utes football: Freshman and sophomores are already contributors

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BYU, Utah Utes football: Freshman and sophomores are already contributors

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football lover | 7:21 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

It is more impressive when the player is a not a return missionary. The Reynolds kid should be atleast a junior if not a senior in age. That gives the time needed for the body to devolp. Still, it is nice to see all the talented young players these schools have.

Direct TV Versus | 8:02 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

What channel is Versus on Direct TV?

Re: football lover | 8:39 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I have to agree that it may give a slight advantage, but only in terms of maturity. Other than that, there is a HUGE disadvantage in that you are basically dormant from athletics for two whole years. Returned missionaries, return slower and with less muscle than when they left. Their maturity and work ethic, however, is what gives a decisive advantage.

Comments continue below

Direct TV | 8:50 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Versus is on 603ish. I think you may need to have the regional sports package to get it.

Eh? | 8:50 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I think it's more impressive when they've served a mission cuz they haven't played football for atleast 2 years.

And it's channel 603 on directv.

Anonymous | 8:53 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

the Utah kid is a returned missionary as well. I think it depends what position they play if it is an advantage or not. If it was such a big advantage though all the big time programs would find a way to utilize a system of some sort (military, Christian sevice, or something,) to benefit their programs. The truth of the matter is that the risks out weigh the benefits.

Bryan | 8:59 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Direct TV has it on channel 604 called VS

Sorensen | 9:52 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I haven't heard any comments yet about why Sorensen's kickoffs seemed so much shorter against Washington. There definitely seemed to be a difference. With our terrible punting our kicking game was really a non-factor if not a negative.

Re: Sorensen | 9:57 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I was going to ask that same question about the shorter kickoffs. I wondered if the coaches told him to try and put the ball on the goal line so that they could try to force the offense to start behind the 20, but if so, it definitely back-fired. From the UNI game it looked like he can but the ball in the endzone at will on kickoffs.

re: Sorensen | 10:05 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

The reason the kicks were shorter, one word, altitude. The air at sea level is thicker and the ball doesn't travel as far.

But, Sorensen's kicks were high enough (depth isn't the only factor) that Washington rarely returned kickoffs past the 25-yard line. MUCH, MUCH better than last season when teams often returned kickoffs to the 40-yard line.

re: Sorensen | 10:20 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I have a bit of an inside source....I work with one of his brothers and he tells me that Justin was hit with the stomach flu on Thursday or Friday. This was effecting the way he was kicking.

Louks and Locker | 10:37 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

You saw what Louks did to Michigan on the one play he ran: touchdown. Just think what Jake Locker and Washington would have done to Michigan. They would have beat Michigan by a lot more than 2 lousy points, believe me.

Utah has definitely had easier games so far this season compared to BYU. Even UNI is a much better team than UNLV. UNI would probably finish 4th or 5th in our conference ahead of SDSU, UNLV, Wyoming, and New Mexico.

And now we have to play UCLA and utah gets to play USU? Whatever. The yoots should consider themselves very lucky to be ranked at all.

GO COUGARS!!!

Re: Louks and Locker | 11:15 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Take your lousy comments elsewhere, you homer. No one cares what you think about Utah's schedule versus BYU's schedule.

Re Louks and Locker | 11:23 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Trying to comapre one team to another to make your teams victores better is a dicey proposition. It is pure speculation to say Washington would beat Michigan by more than 2 points.

Washington was picked last in the PAC 10. BYU barely got by them, that is nothing to boast about, you did what you were supposed to do.

Go Utes

Anymous | 11:33 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

To Louks & Locker,
I think you are statements are very narrow minded. BYU is lucky to have not lost to UCLA twice last year and will loose this week. Remember what UT did to UCLA last year. BYU had major help from the refs at UW. UW offense was scoring at will most of the game. The arrogance of some BYU fans never ceases to amaze me. Can you compare UNI to playing MICH in the big house?

Homer | 11:37 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I care.

Washington > Michigan (at least in Seattle)

Northern Iowa > UNLV (anywhere)

But, the Utes do have a good football team and they do deserve to be ranked.

Michigan at Notre Dame

and

Washington vs Oklahoma

this week, will give a clearer indication of how good Michigan really is.

A decent Michigan team should be able to beat a Notre Dame team that barely squeaked by, at home, an awful SDSU team.

The Oklahoma/Washington game will be a little harder to judge since Oklahoma is good enough to dominate most of the teams in the Top 25. If Washington plays Oklahoma close, that's a good sign for the Huskies.

CrimsonUte | 11:47 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

"UNI would probably finish 4th or 5th in our conference..."

Bwah-ha-ha!

Re: Homer | 11:59 a.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Washington is better than MICHIGAN? WHAT? Luckily, both teams are very down or the cougs certainly would have lost (BTW they made a HUGE play to win that game and deserved the W / not the penalty though). The utes shut it down and sucked in the 2nd half, I blame Ludwig.
UM's defense was largely intact from last year and they were DOMINATED in the 1st half. What would locker do to them? A LOT less than he did to the cougars. I doubt Vegas would lose to Northern Iowa, Sommers would run those little linebackers over and carry them on his back much more than the 1st half against the Utes.
I hope UW shows up at OU and plays well Locker is a stud, but I wouldn't bet on them even if the line was 21 points against OU.
Anyway stupid argument, but Here's to both teams beating at least one more BCS Conf. team this year, the cougs seem to have the much bigger challenge against UCLA vs. Oregon St. for the Utes.

Re: Anymous | 12:05 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

U.W offence scored at will? I guess they must have lost their will.You'll be no where to be found come monday when B.Y.U wins, or do you just make stupid predictions each week.

RE: Re: Louks and Locker | 12:12 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Well, actually, we all care about the well written posts by those who have general intelligent quotients above 95. And by those who have something to say, other than mindless, baseless, negative and contrarian comments, which are posted by yewt fans, just like yours was. The belief is, UDub would have beat Michigan by 10 and the fact is UNI does have Sagrin ratings higher than some in the MWC. It is, however, not higher than Michigan. Locker would have run at will on UofM.

I was at the UDub game. Although it was beautiful, the humidity was high, especially in the first half, which caused the kicks to not travel as far. I don't think that and the lower elevation made up a 15-20 yard difference, but certainly contributed in a significant way. It makes sense that Sorenson was not feeling well.

Last, everyone who knows anythiing about RM's know that they come home slower, heavier, with less muscle tone and less the killer instinct than that of a true frosh. The one advantage is maturity. And I love that about BYU sports. Chambers, Sorenson, etal, are great additions to BYU. Go Aggies!

Re: Louks and Locker | 12:28 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

You are talking about the same defense at Michigan that beat last year's Heisman Trophy Winner. I mean, it's just my opinion, but I think Tebow is a much bigger stud than Locker. I doubt Michigan's defense would struggle as much as the Coug's at shutting Locker down.

Homer you can't be serious | 12:52 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

You can't really think washington in seattle is greater then michigan in michigan. Yes Michigan is down but it is still the Big House!!

RE: Re: Louks and Locker | 12:53 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Most comments on anything BYU or Utah related are "fanatical." I love it when rocket scientists like you, with "general intelligent(sp?) quotients above 95" critisize the "mindless, baseless, negative and contrarian comments" of "Yewts" (so clever and original) by making comments such as, "The belief is, UDub would have beat Michigan by 10." Whose belief are you referring to exactly?? This isn't testimony meeting. Then you refer to Sagrin ratings based on what -- last year's performance? Thank goodness you were at the game so you could give us a weather report though! The truth is, it is almost impossible to tell how the teams BYU and Utah have played would stack up against each other at this point. Why is it that Cougars like you refuese to acknowledge that your team has under performed? Is it possible that Locker isn't the next Heisman winner and perhaps your defense has some holes?? Or would such a reasonable acknowledgment prove too difficult for someone with an "intelligent" quotient over 95?

Louks' Locker | 1:24 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Fans who critisize (sp?) other fans simply they disagree are even more clueless than the fans they criticize. Sagrin (sp?) ratings give some indication of how teams compare, but no one really knows for sure how two specific teams would match up. Why is it that some Utah fans refuese (sp?) to believe that BYU is a very good team that has underperformed a little, but has also faced competition that is much better the some Utah fans are willing to acknowledge.

It only takes an average fan, someone with an intelligent (sp?) quotient over 95, to understand that some teams that look good early, fade, and some teams that struggle out of the blocks are actually pretty good.

The true strength of schedule for both teams is still nebulous. In a few weeks it will be more apparent. Until then, comparisons are simply personal opinions.

This is why the real polls shouldn't start until October, to give us a few games to separate the good teams from the bad teams.

Cosmo's Cousin | 1:36 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Do we have to hate each other every day? (Cougs and Utes?) BYU is 2-0. Utah is 2-0. Utah has a better defense. (stats back it up) BYU has a better offense. (opinion, but I think the stats back it up) I'm still dreaming the "impossible dream" of two very good teams meeting without a loss in Novemeber. Both schools have started the year impressively and should provide lots of fun for their fans. Who's better Washington or Michigan? Weber State or NIU? Utah State or Bo Diddily Tech? Talk about wasted energy.

re: re: louks and locker 12:28pm | 1:49 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Talk about comparing apples to oranges. The Michigan D that beat Tebow last year and the Michigan D that the utes played against to start this season are two different defenses.

So using your logic (or lack thereof) does that mean Appalachian State's QB is a bigger stud than Tebow? Since they beat Michigan and Michigan beat Florida and blah blah blah blah blah....

Maybe by the END of this season Michigan's D will be very good again, but during their 1st game this year they were not very good and certainly NOT as good as last year's bowl team. Utah had it easy and got Michigan when they were very weak.

WOW | 2:11 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

If we are gonna do the compare game then lets see... Washington only scored 10 pts vs Oregon. Utah St scored 24. Therefore Utah St is better than Washington. You Cougar fans do realize that Utah st put up more yards vs Oregon that Washington did. Utah st is not better than them. Just like Washington is not better than Michigan. So locker tears you up and now he is the heisman leader? He was shut down against Oregon. (Who by the way beat UDub 44-10 without their starting QB and then lost their 2nd stringer too) As for the RMs. Im not sure what missions you guys know about but if you are a guy who will come back to play D1 ball you get special treatment. I worked out EVERYDAY while on my mission and I wasnt state side. I had college teammates who did as well. There is a HUGE advantage of being 23 and 24 years old playing 18 year old kids. Physically and Mentally. Dont kid yourselevs.

If it was | 2:13 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

BYU who beat michigan and utah that beat NI clown college. then idiot cougarfans wouldn't be making this idiotic comparison to michigan at all. Michigan will go 11-1 just you wait.

former college coach | 2:30 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

what i seen was a very good BYU offense, that could play in pack 10. But a defense that had better stay in the MWC.People that spreed the field and have fast receivers will give BYU trouble any game. I think UCLA will take advantage of BYU corners playing 10 yards off the receivers.Washington should of keep throwing the hitch or stop pattern.Utah has a pac 10 defense and a MWC offense some of that is play call some lack of athletic offensive line.I watched both games all the wat through sometimes i would switch to the Air Force at WYO. game those teams look like JC programs. go BYU andgo UTES.

Missed It | 2:40 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

wow - what position did you play? thought so; being able to do 50 pushups and 100 situps isn't quite up to the conditioning standards expected of D1 football players. btw, unless the team's you're comparing only have freshmen, RM's are only 2 years older than their counterparts, not the 5-6 year spread that you used to distort the true picture.

If - Michigan will be lucky to make it through this week without picking up loss number two. A 7-5 or 6-6 record is far more likely than an 11-1 record. Check the mirror for the definition of idiot/clown.

football "jock" | 3:23 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I was watching an interview on the Mtn. channel and the panel was asked if RM's are an advantage or a disadvantage to BYU, Utah etc... One of the panel memebers said it was a disadvantage for skill position athletes (loss of timing), but an advantage for linemen. (more maturity and weight) I thought that was a very fair assesment.

re:missed it | 3:46 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Two years isn't quite accurate. Paul Kruger is a sophomore football player this year but in actuality he is 4 years older than a true freshman entering college this year. Four years might not seem like much but in football years it is HUGE!

D-Backs? | 3:50 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I'm a home grown Coug transplanted to the Seattle area. Went to the game last week. All I have to say is Locker was the MVP of that game for BYU. If Locker were better at throwing from the pocket he could have had 3-4 touchdown passes. Our D-Backs were burned so many times and saved because Locker overthrew his receivers by 10 yards. I'm worried about how they'll play against UCLA. Here's hoping their 3 defensive schemes to stop Locker contributed to the receivers being open.

re: D-backs | 4:16 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Pleeeeease don't tell Norm about that, okay? We're sooooooo scared now.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

louks and locker | 4:19 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Why can't you Cougs give credit where credit is due Michigan had same defense minus one player and we torched them in the first half. Why don't you quit with the weak excuses. The defense was good their offense sucked. News flash you are not the only team in the state with an explosive offense. However Utah is the only team in the state with a defense.

RM's | 4:24 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Same dumb theories about return missionaries being a "big advantage" pop up whenever BYU is doing well. Funny how nobody talks about RM's being a big advantage when BYU isn't doing well. I guess if it were true then BYU would be National Champs every year becuase we have more RM's than anybody!

NevadaCoug | 6:29 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Credit where credit is due: Utah is 2-0. BYU is 2-0. You can't beat who you don't play, so talking about which team is better without seeing them fight it out on the field is rather ridiculous.

So, yeah, I think using polls as a means to pick the best team in the country is ridiculous.

As a Cougar fan, I am worried a bit about the game against UCLA this weekend. But, if they can get past the Bruins, then BYU will have a really good shot at reaching November 22nd undefeated. The defense will get better, just like last year.

Oh, and Mr. D-Backs? Just wanted to point out that a lot of Washington's success came by positioning receivers so that linebackers had to cover them. I'm not saying the defensive backs played perfectly, but you can't lay all the blame on them. Washington obviously scouted that and planned to exploit it. It worked. Question is, will Bronco have that fixed (or at least improved) come Saturday? Only time will tell. But BYU will hopefully beat UCLA for the 3rd time in a row...oh, wait, that's right. All those close plays went UCLA's way in LA. Sorry.

Re: If it was | 6:48 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Are you frekin kidding me? Michigan has ZERO chance of going 11-1, haha i guess i will be waiting for at least 3 years for them to do so. You are obviously some clueless utah fan (based on the comment about BYU) A prediction of 7-5 or 8-4 at best would be correct. Pull your head out and GET REAL!!!

It's way too early anyway to see who's better utah or BYU based on the schedules. I'm tired of people basing teams on stuff like well our team beat this team by more than you did and stuff like that. So how bout we just wait till Nov. 25 or whatever and watch BYU and utah play each other?!?! It's gonna be tough for the cougs to pull it out at RES.

re: NevadaCoug | 7:27 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

..."so talking about which team is better without seeing them fight it out on the field is rather ridiculous."

Yeah, that's what I say! So that's why nobody should be sayin' no how that USC is better than Idaho State until THEY ACTUALLY PLAY EACH OTHER and PROVE IT on the field!

I'm with you on this one, buddy! Thanks for putting some perspective on things and getting us back on track.

Boo-yah!!

Interested observer of BYU | 8:21 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

BYU ended a 9 game loosing streak on the road against out of conference BCS and non BCS (Boise State, Tulsa) schools on Saturday. The fact is BYU us usually humbled by out of conference opponents: 6 & 6 UCLA should have defeated BYU twice last year, Tulsa, ect, ect. BYU is not a national power like its fan like to fantasize about. Remember why the PAC 10 is not interested in BYU: it is not a research school it just does not cut it academically compared to comparatively sized and funded institutions. It is average academically and atheletically.

to re: nevadacoug | 8:36 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Yea except sayin that USC is better than Idaho State is pretty much common sense haha!!!

What defense?? | 9:08 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Hey louks and locker at 4:19pm waddaya mean utah is the only team in the state with a defense? Haven't u guys lost to us that past two years in a row?? Do the phrases Harline is still open and 4th & 18 have any meaning for you? Yeah, what a great defense. Have the utes keep up the great defensive effort again this year when we play on Nov 22. Ha ha ha ha!!!!

Tom in Iowa | 9:41 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I find it interesting that the most annoying posts from both BYU and Utah fans appear to be from those who haven't ever attended any college (I'm basing this assumption on the spelling and grammar). I think both teams are good.

I was an athlete at BYU in the 70's (diving, not football). I chose to go on a mission against the wishes of my coaches. I'll never regret the decision. Although I did find some success when I returned, I also found that I never regained the "swagger" that had been present when I was a freshman. Maturity was a plus, but I lost timing and conditioning. So I can understand the arguments on both sides of the RM issue.

oh really | 9:55 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Hey "to re: nevadacoug", gee you're kidding, really? Thank you Captain Obvious. I take it understanding sarcasm is not exactly your forte?

to re: what defense | 10:19 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Quit living in the past, If you had any common sense you would understand, that I was talking about the 2 games that have been played this year. If you want to talk about the past look at the overall match-up.
But what does last year or 50 years ago do for either team, NOTHING. If you guys win on Sat. I will give your team credit, untill then the Cougs have not shown me or anyone else without rainbow colored goggles anything.

re: to re: nevadacoug | 10:26 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Uh hey there Sparky you're not too good at recognizing sarcasm, are ya?

re/ RM's | 11:11 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Nobody was saying anything about BYU or Utah with RM's. NEWSFLASH!!! Both teams have plenty of them.

re/ missed it | 11:13 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

I played S for Utah a few years back. I always stayed in apartment complexes with a workout facilty. I lifted and worked out EVERYDAY.

Ed Clinch | 11:16 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

BYU needs to improve to be a good BCS team this year.

I hope the best for all their opponents...

Even Utah. Until then...

RE: WOW | 11:50 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

Whatever mission you went to, if they did give you special treatment, they were wrong. And you were wrong to accept that special treatment.

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