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Utah Utes football: BCS official gets in-person look at late heroics

THE LATE GAME HEROICS WERE AMAZING!

Glad the Utes won and are still in consideration for a BcS bowl, but I marvel at the comment made by Schoeffler, saying the Beavers still had a shot. Shows just how corrupt the BcS is - even had Oregon State won last night and were to win out the rest of the season, they would have still had two losses, having lost to that powerhouse known as Stanford and having been humiliated by Penn State.

Lest our friends in Boise or Hawaii forget, Utah played in the Fiesta Bowl when schools from non-BcS conferences had to be ranked in the top 6 in the BcS rankings - Boise and Hawaii never got that high, only making it in after the BcS expanded it to the top 12. and while mock BcS polls have Byu at 9 or 10 in BcS standings, they would still have to climb higher to have qualified under the standard the Utes did in 2004. Not saying they won't make it, they've looked very impressive, and Utah's win last night helps Byu almost as much as it did the Utes.

Great win for our Utes, but I just have to say that I was very unimpressed with how the coaching staff (particularly Coach Whitingham), the fans, and even some players were handling the pressure of this tight battle. I couldn't believe so many fans were boooing Johnson after one particularly bad series and that the fans, many of which profess to be religious people (though I must admit a lot of our fans don't surprise me here) would actually chant the words B.S. (not the initials, the words). Coach Whitingham looked like he was going to have a fit 5-6 times after some excellent calls by the ref. When you're wrong, Whit, it's obvious. Finally, when our players start playing "a little" too dirty, that's when the coaching staff needs to set the example. But I know we'll hardly get it from Whit. These actions were the epitome of classlessness. OSU's coach, on the other hand, is a class act. He celebrated Sakoda's field goal in the end. He took the loss ins tride. Can some things change for us, so we don't look like sore losers, poor sports, and flat out dumb to our opposition?

Congrats to the Utes on a solid win last night. That was impressive and it shows that they are a very clutch team. I don't understand why the fans rushed the field though. When you are the ranked team playing at home against a team that doesn't even have a winning record, what is that all about? Maybe it's because I wasn't there that I don't quite understand that.

You better believe we were booing Johnson, his play was horrible last night and was just like every other game this year...he shows enough flashes of brilliance to keep us from booing him the moment he steps out of the tunnel but his lack of judgement and apparenty inability to take care of the ball are a growing concern.

The Utes got lucky last night to win this one. OSU completes another play or two and has luck on their side and they win this by two touchdowns easy.

The fans rushed the field not because they just beat a 2-3 OSU team but because of the highly improbably and emotional way in which it happened. Most of us in the stadium had all but given up on winning that game and having a chance at an unbeaten season when OSU scored their TD with 2:23 left. To come back from the dead in that manner was so incredibly emotional, the fans just went nuts when Sakoda's kick sailed through the uprights.

I didn't personally rush the field but to experience that roller coaster of emotion in the last two minutes of a key game, I totally understand the reaction.

Look at it this way, at least the fans didn't tear down the goal posts. That will happen in November after Utah beats BYU to clinch the BCS berth.

I don't understand why the Utes stayed with so many long passes through most of the game. The short passing game was no where to be found which I thought was a poor game plan. Utes were lucky.

Wow, good job Utes. I was pulling for you.... I want two undefeated teams in the holy war! Way to come through in the clutch... As a side note, just another example of MWC dominance over Pac 10 this year.

All the BCS official saw was an average Utah team that is lucky to have such a good kicker and the benefit of a questionable call at the end. The BCS couldn't have been too thrilled at the prospect of having to let Utah into the party later this year.

On the other hand he probably left town thinking they didn't have too much to worry about because the way Utah plays it will be pretty difficult to survive the whole season without a loss. Sakota won't be able to bail them out each and every time Johnson and Ludwig dig them into a hole.

to last night's game. Let's not get too excited. But you've got to love the fact that the MWC is 6-1 against the PAC 10.

Do you mean like an average TDS team that had to rely on a questionable call at the end to beat an 0-4 Washington team?

"All the BCS official saw was an average Utah team that is lucky to have such a good kicker and the benefit of a questionable call at the end."

Yeah, you zoobs wouldn't know anything about winning games thanks to questionable calls at the end, would you?

At least the team we snuck by on the last play isn't 0-4 this year.

And since your Y "education" has left you mathematically challenged, I'll remind you that Utah still would have one even if the 2-point conversion had failed.....the margin would've been less is all.

I was so disappointed with Johnsons showing. He is so erratic and jittery. He makes me nervous watching him. So what if he can run, a QB is a decision making leader who can find the weaknesses in a defense and execute. In his case especially, decision making and leadership abilities are far more important. very close and scary to watch. I am not concerned with him at the helm. Max with rip the utes apart. Its on baby. BCS here we come!

Enjoy the win Ute fans. Your team has one more test to pass before the big rivary game against BYU. That's the TCU game. The Utah offense better work on improving thier turnovers, because it's not going to get any easier from here on out.

Yes, we won, but we should be very concerned about things that have been going on each game this season that we fail to correct. Johnson is a big concern, it appears that he is afraid and flinching each time he takes the snap, he does not seems to protect the ball very well when being tackled, and just overall trying to force passes that end up being picked off. In reality OSU should have won that game by at least 8 or more if they make easy field goals, and just kick the extra point instead of going for 2. Unless Johnson starts believing in himself and having confidence in his playing calling and passing, then the BYU game won't be close.

This is not an "average" Utah team. This is an AWESOME team with an incredibly inconsistent quarterback. The defense was awesome the whole game. (yeah they gave up some yards through the air but OSU has a pretty sweet offense) The O-line gave adequate protection. The recievers were getting open. There were just maybe 3 offensive series in a row where Johnson just wasn't seeing the field. We were all just waiting for him to snap out of it and wondering if he even would. He did, and we won. But if he plays an entire game this Utah team is as good as any.

I am disappointed with Ute fans that boo or discredit Brian Johnson. THe utes have won 14 of the last 15 games that Johnson has started. I am not defending his fumbles, but to get mad at johnson for taking time in the pocket and go through his reads is idiotic. Utah fans must just feel like every offense and quarterback should perform like Alex Smith and the 04 utes. OSU had a great secondary and it was a tough game. If Johnson will not fumble and have an occasional INT then we will be in good shape. Johnson is a good quarterback, not great, but good! Come on, stand up for the guy that brought us back to victory. Don't be lame and over emotional. Realize that the QB, WR, and the opposing Defense is doing a lot more than the fans can see in the stands.

You may be right with Utah's average play most of the game or games this season. However, they pull through in the clutch when they need to and get wins and that is all that matters. I don't think it was luck that they drove the ball down the field like they did in the last two minutes.

As for a questionable call that is debatable and every game has them. You know they just could have stopped them on the next play or the next drive.

First of all, that was clearly pass interference on the 2 pt try- much less questionable than the celebration penalty on Locker. Secondly, I have to echo the remarks of "UTE FAN;" we have no reason to boo our quarterback. How in the world would booing a guy help him out of a slump? I mean, we know what he's capable of, so let's support him and help him play to his potential. GO UTES!

Lost in DC

If Oregon wins the PAC 10 they go to a BCS bowl. Why is this hard to understand.

Hero of Canton

If Utah makes 1 or 2 more plays they win by even more points. Statements like that are ridiculous.

BcS Official

He probably hasn't left town yet, at least not UT. My guess is that he will be in Logan tonight.

Re: BcS Official

Big difference between BYU's close win and Utah's close win. BYU dominated UW where OSU domintate UT.

Average?

I tend to agree with you. I think a consistent QB would make all the difference for UT this year. That and better play calling. They are pretty solid otherwise.

BYU 42 - Utah 12 (3 Sakoda Field Goals)