Deseret News | Utah Utes football: Team now No. 7 on BCS list

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Utah Utes football: Team now No. 7 on BCS list

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Biased Computers | 8:47 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

"The piece that has no bias is the computers which ranks them 4th."

A computer system that sees NO DIFFERENCE between a 1-point win and a 50-point blowout is inherently biased.

Computers can't distinguish between short weeks and travel and injuries to key players and altitude and weather and last minute hang on by the skin of your teeth victories and all of the other myriad factors that go into creating a decisive win or a lucky win.

Any beauty contest, which is what the BCS is, that can't distinguish beautiful from ugly is inherently biased toward the ugly.

A couple of comments | 8:53 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

To lame: Then don't read articles about football and make comments

As a die hard Cougar fan I am stoked that both BYU and Utah (although I can't find it in myself to cheer for them) are doing awesome this year. This is how it should be every year. They should both be the top of the conference every year.

PS I am absolutely excited for the game on the 22nd. This is no doubt the best rivalry in the country.

Big Daddy Ute | 9:05 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

With all the weapons we have on offense we should be unstoppable. Third and one, Asiata with the ball, we are in TCU territory, and Ludwig calls for a pass. Ouch. If we had an offensive coordinator who could call plays to put us in a position to win in the first, second, and third quarters, as well as the fourth quarter, we would be as I said unstoppable. I don't have problem with our offensive scheme, I have an issue with play calling. We need to do what makes sense and play to our strengths. Use the short passing game to set up the run and the option plays.

Comments continue below

1984 | 9:15 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

I've been around for over 50 years and I can tell you voting has changed over the years. If every score for every team from 1984 were to be repeated next year, byu would not finish #1 (even being the only undefeated team).

Being undefeated meant more to the voters back in the '80s than it does today.

FYI, EVERYONE that knew football in '84 knew byu wasn't the best team in the country. They couldn't have beaten any other team in the top 10 that year.

The National Championship was legitimate based on how voting was conducted in 1984, but they were not the best team in the country.

The 2004 Utes is the best local team that I've seen in my lifetime. 2004 Utes would have destroyed the 1984 cougars.

re: Nice gesture | 9:25 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

I disagree! Utah stands an excellent chance of beating USC. Did you see how USC struggled to put away Cal? They lost to Oregon State, and we beat Oregon State. If you take away the 13 pnts we spotted OSU in turnovers, we killed them! I'm not too concerned about Alabama. Alabama stuggled against Mississippi and Kentucky! Florida lost to Mississippi, but they've been scary ever since. I would take a pass on them, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Texas! Still, I wouldn't put it past the Utes to beat any of those teams if we can put up our 2 minute offense the whole game!

re: Rich | 9:58 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Rich,

Before you think Utah doesn't belong in the top 7, look at who is ahead of them. USC lost to Oregon State, and we beat them. USC just barely beat Cal, and that has been their most challenging game since Oregon State! Oregon State will probably win the PAC 10. USC's only win over a ranked team is Ohio State! Florida lost to Mississippi, an unranked team! They're good, but there should be a penalty for that. Alabama has had two close wins against KY and Mississippi! I feel pretty good about Utah vs Alabama or USC. Now look behind Utah. Penn State lost to an unranked team, but I could see them possibly ahead of Utah. Oklahoma State? They haven't lost to an unranked team. Ohio State, no unranked losses, but they got killed by USC who is suspect. Boise State and Ball State? Good, but we have the better record. Missouri almost lost to Baylor! TCU we beat, and BYU we will beat. Then you got teams with two losses, and most of them to unranked teams with Tulsa with one loss to Arkansas. I think best case we're 5th, and worst we're 12th!

re:1984 | 9:15 p.m. | 10:53 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

The night BYU beat the #1 Miami team, they would have beaten any team that would have been in the stadium that night.

The Utah 2004 team was the best team in Utah that year.

The best team, this year, in Utah--

Who knows until 11/22.

Let's hope it doesn't come down to two missed thirty yard fieldgoals by Sakoda.

Football is a funny game.

re: 1984 | 9:15 p.m. | 11:14 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Pure speculation without any factual basis.

NOTHING has changed in the voting since 1984.

The same pre-season polls that place teams in a pecking order before a single game has been played exists today. The same voting that keeps high pre-season picks high, until they lose, exists today. The same voting that moves undefeated teams steadily higher exists today. The same voting that rewards teams with early season losses and punishes teams with late season losses exists today.

The only addition is the inclusion of supposedly unbiased BCS computers that are so out of touch with reality that they see no difference between a one-point win and a 50-point win.

Being the best team has never been the criteria for winning the National Championship. The only criteria has always been finishing the season ranked #1.

Whether the 2004 Utah team could beat the 1984 BYU team is pure speculation and irrelevant.

The only thing that matters is that BYU finished #1 in every major poll in 1984.

Utah 2004, as good as they were, finished #4 AP & BCS, #5 Coaches.

#1 USC (13-0) and #2 Auburn (13-0) also finished undefeated and had better records than Utah (12-0).

not worried | 11:53 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

the utes will fall before the season is over.

tyler | 8:28 a.m. Nov. 11, 2008

to anyone who thinks utah could beat anyone in the top 6.
There is no way Utah could beat Alabama, Texas Tech, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, or USC. Have you watched any of these teams play? They are on a whole different level the Utah. Calling USC suspect? They would squish the Utes.
Alabama-Utah 27-12
Texas Tech- Utah 52-20
Texas - Utah 38-10
Florida - Utah 58-16
USC -Utah (good day USC) 45-10 (bad day USC) 28-14
Just watch these teams play ONCE before you say Utah would beat any of these guys.

crowtonlover | 8:43 a.m. Nov. 11, 2008

The reason we the BCS was created, was because of 1984. thanks alot zoobies, Way to ruin college football and make this mess for everyone.

re byu rocks | 9:00 a.m. Nov. 11, 2008

i agree with byu rocks and re byu rocks the first one the utes need to step it up as a school in my opinion utes do some dumb stuff i'm a BSU fan and i listened to the OSU Utah game and Re BYU rocks is right the Utah guy was raving about how much OSU sucks i mean come on , and cosmo is way better even the i like the broncos.

Who Knows. | 3:41 p.m. Nov. 11, 2008

To Tyler:
I did watch USC Play Cal and also Alabama Play LSU they weren't that impressive. Lackluster, kind of like the way Utah played against TCU. I think they could play with and beat either of them.

re national championship | 3:52 p.m. Nov. 11, 2008

its not happening and if it did your Yewts would lose 83-0. and Re lame if you think that football is so lame then why are you reading the comments on a football based story then posting???????????? if you really hate football stay away from and go cheer on the other sport that you watch or whatever

re to all | 4:00 p.m. Nov. 11, 2008

how did you put that? Bodiddley tech of 1984 we took the national championship and was ranked #1 in every poll our quarterback pretty much broke his leg and came back and played you can't say the same thing of any of what i just said for utah so i wouldn't be talking about the bodiddley tech for BYU the best Utah got was 5-4. And you guys just go off whichever poll ranks you higher computers had northwestern as #1 when they weren't even ranked, computers don't know squat

Defense | 11:06 p.m. Nov. 11, 2008

Every defense of teams in the top 6 are not as good as TCU's defense, except USC, who has a great defense because they get to play the UCLA's and Washingtons (BYU's opponents) but they did get owned one game by OSU (Utah's opponent)...

What I am saying is that Utah would put up more points than people think on the top 6 teams defense, while our own defense would have to be up to the task of stopping their offenses...being a biased Utah fan, I think we could actually do it in 1 game...They might beat us 9 times out of 10, but the Utes know how to get up and play for the big games...

Today's headline | 11:00 a.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Utes move up to No. 7 in BCS
Ecstatic fans rush Harris Poll voting stations

just wondering | 3:33 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

does byu have to pay tithing on the money that utah will make on there share of utah bcs bid!!!!!!

must of been | 3:37 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

a Al Bundy sighting i hear he once scored four touchdown in a high school game in 1984 also

Tyler | 9:44 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

to who knows.
I do not see this Ute team EVER beating any of those teams. I would bet my whole life savings on the Utes losing those game. You say the USC/Cal game and Bama/LSU games were lack luster; look at Utah and New Mexico. At least USC and Bama were against good teams.

Tyler | 10:05 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

To Defense:
TCU may have good defensive stats, but all you have to do is look at the only GOOD team TCU has played to see they aren't good. Oklahoma torched the TCU D for 436 yards and allowed 35 points. If you do not believe me go to ESPN and check the game stats. So much for a the best defense.

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