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Utah Utes football: Johnson struggles, comes through when it really counts

So amazing! Congratulations to Utah on a great win. Incredible comeback...Utah defense is great! Don't forget that the majority of OSU's points came from our offense's mistake, not our defense's. One suggestion for the offense...play the entire game the way you play ed in the last two minutes...no need to wait till the last 2 minutes to be great.

The TD strike to Godfrey was LaTendresse all over again...same post play to Travis in OT against BYU in '05 for the win from the 25...Travis then scored on the same play 4 times against Ga Tech in the Emerald Bowl...all from about 25 yards out. Same yardage, same result. Godfrey is a stud over the middle. What an atmosphere! Reminded me of the '03 games at home against fellow Pac-10ers Cal and Oregon. Struggles and concerns for the Utes? No doubt, but it's a lot easier to handle those when it comes with a win.

Good for Johnson to put it all on him and make the plays he did at the end of the game to makeup for his errors throughout game. That is what a champion is made of. Now take this and keep improving through the rest of the season. Now go beat those Cowboys like we did last year (but no on-side kicks this time.)

GO UTES!!!

Sincere congrats to Ute Fans. Brian came through and showed some heart. Seems like he does that a lot at the end of games. Awesome to keep Utah unbeaten and the Mountain West looking dominant. Now if our Cougs can stay unblemished, we'll stay on track for a nationally focused show down. November 22nd baby!!

The Last couple years Utah has put a last minute drive that would have won the game against the Cougs, but unfortunately for the Utes, the Cougs responded and had some fortune on their side as well. It will undoubtedly be the same intensity this year. Can't wait.

It was nice of Johnson to show up for the last 2 minutes of the game. Fantastic win.

All this game showed me, is that Utah is not a complete team. If they play this way against BYU, BYU's going to be up by 30 with 2 minutes to play. I'd like to see Johnson come back from that deficit!!

The comeback in the final 2+ minutes was incredible. I just can't figure out why we can't execute like that the rest of the game - for 27.5 minutes in the second half we stunk. Our defense was solid except for about 4-5 big plays allowed in part by missed tackles. But Ludwig needs to do something different with our offense because our receivers aren't getting open (evidence Brian standing in the pocket for 7-10 seconds and getting sacked) which leads to all sorts of bad plays by BJ (sacks, fumbles, INTs). We wouldn't need heroics if we fix those problems.

As I came home from the game and caught Sports Center ESPN ran an interesting story. UOFU Football has the most wins against BCS teams (coming from a non-BCS conference) in Division I. 15 Wins against BCS teams shows the strength of the program. BYU will definitely be tough to beat this year but when it comes to beating the best we have proven to be the best given the cirumstance of being a "Non BCS" school. Which is complete garbage in my opinion, but you play with the hand you are dealt. GO UTES!!!!

re: BYU National Champs: I'd like to apologize for a fellow BYU fan who shows zero class. Congratulations Brian, you put on one heck of a late show last night! Utah makes the MWC proud!

Give credit where credit is due -- OSU scored 4 touchdowns and a field goal, Utah scored 3 touchdowns and 3 field goals. It was OSU's poor coaching that turned 4 OSU TDs and the FG into only 28 points. If OSU would have simply kicked the extra points in the 2nd and 3rd quarter -- they would have been up by 9 (even if they only made one of the attempts). In that case, Utah would have have been doing an onside kick at the end of the game rather than kicking it deep and letting the defense hold.

Utah got outplayed and outgained, but OSU got outcoached and outscored. Go Utes, but we couldn't have done it without Coach Riley and the refs.

I love the utes and brian johnson he did it when it counted. however this trend will come back to bite them if the defence have a lack luster of a game but I don't see that unless there are injuryies or they come out flat with overconfedience. This really goes well for the MWC and a show down with TCU and BYU

No worries. I have an idea....I want you to stay unbeaten when the Y rolls in to smoke you. I have the answer. I will hit the intramural fields down at BYU and find you a QB.

Does Ludwig actually watch the game films? Louks is a difference maker every time he touches the ball...( see the Michigan game, Weber State game, Lat year at Lousville, UCLA etc. ??)
Last night..0 carries, 0 passes while Johnson is was a disaster for most of the game...we were lucky to win BUT...
Ludwig scares me...

If only Utah could play Pac-10 teams all year, you would be an 8-4, or possibly 7-5 team. But alas, you get a free pass of playing in the always strong MWC and so with wins, at home, over unranked opponents, you storm the field. One aspect of showing you deserve to be in BCS consideration is to act like it. Storming the field after surviving a narrow loss to an unranked foe at home does not show you guys deserve to be there. You have to walk the walk and celebratory acts like that show you do not belong. Did Penn State storm the field after being Coastal Carolina? Did Georgia storm the field after beating Central Michigan? Nope.

The Utes overcame bad officiating and bad quarterbacking to win this game. OSU is a good team, but all round the Utes are better.

Here�s a key to the win: a focus on getting Brent Casteel the ball more. I�ve been saying this all year, we need to get him the ball, he is a play maker. Casteel came up big!

When he doesn't have time to think. Those throws in the two minute situation were rifled and the scamble for the two point conversion were quick responses. BJ thinks way to much back there...

I wish someone would just sit him down and tell him he has a pretty good defense behind him. So what if you make some mistakes, take THE CHANCES and stop thinking too much!!!! Let's make it simple

1- 3-5 seconds throw the ball (if that's not there)
2- step up and run UP FIELD (if that's not there)
3- throw it out of bounds

I have confidence that he can do it and this win just may be the game that jolts him out of it.
OH, and fire Ludwig PLEASE!!! I honestly was laughing out loud at the play calling last night in the 3rd quarter. That Casteel in motion around the end thing has never once worked. Of course that could be because you spread all five out "WIDE", try bringing them in and then see if he can get out and around. MY GOODNESS!!!! SORRY everyone for the length of this.

Go Utes!!!

Way to pull it out at the end. Another good win for the MWC!

Here's to having 2 undefeated teams matched up on 11/22. Then my Cougars will give you the smack down!

For the second time in my life I actually cheered for the Utes (first ime against Ben Olson and UCLA last year...liked the results!) I have been a huge BYU fan/Ute hater for 35 plus years. Things change. BYU and the conference needed this win from Utah....Badly. I almost prayed for my Northern adversaries to win this one...but stopped short.I still was glad and relieved when the Utes won. It looks a lot better for BYU win or lose to the Utes in November (I predict the Utes win 38-34)
Cougar fans need to wise up...we will have a very tough time agaist Utah in November. We will be very Lucky to even get past TCU in Dallas. AFA and even UNLV could present challenges. I just hope one of the teams are high enough in the BCS to play for a NC. If a 2 loss team goes to the NC instead of an undefeated BYU or Utah, I hope there is a lawsuit. Utah already had a BCS game and we have a championship. Please get a playoff system.

to BCS - Don't Think So | 11:23 a.m. Oct. 3, 2008

I see what you are saying. The PAC-10 is SSSSOOOO strong. They are just blowing out the weak Mountain West teams. I think the MWC is 6-1 vs. the PAC 10.

Nice to see you coming around. ALL Cougarfans should chear for the Utes in every game they are not playing the Cougs. It does BYU and this fantastic rivalry absolutely no good if both teams are not strong teams - and this year is shaping up to be historic that way.

Great win Utes!! Now BYU needs to manhandle the Ags in another shutout. A 31-0 win looks better on the national radar than a 65-21 win IMO. We are going into this game 105-0. I would love to keep that 0 going.

Thanks for keeping your end of the bargain up Utes as things are shaping up for the biggest rivalry game in history.