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BYU football: In need, Y. calls on Morgan

Nice win.

Should be a good game next week.

All the pressure is on the other team this time.

Go Cougars.

the replay clearly showed that Hadley, not morgan, reached out with his left hand to strip the ball. Morgan then hit the returner after the ball was already loose. Great story though.

Ready to rumble! Strap it up and let's leave it all on the field. Good luck U and good luck Y. It's last man standing time.

No offense to Morgan, but you just did a feature article on the wrong guy! Hadley stripped the ball with his left hand AND made the recovery. Let's watch replays before we write articles.

I know common opponent analysis doesn't mean much, but for what it is worth when you look at Utah and BYU's common opponents - head to head:

UNLV: U 42-21 / Y 42-35
Utah ST: U 58-10 / Y 34-14
AF: U 30-23 / Y 38-24
WY: U 40-7 / Y 44-0
CSU: U 49-16 / Y 45-42
NM: U 13-10 / Y 21-3
TCU: U 13-10 / Y 7-32 (Loss)
SDSU: U 63-14 / Y 41-12

What does this mean? Absolutely nothing. In fact, it means the two teams are more evenly matched than in years past which predicts nothing either. In years past the underdog team having the bad season has won many times when they had no business winning.

Can't wait to see what "magic" happens on Sat.

I heard after the MWC analysts talking about how BYU probably secretly wants Utah to win because it means more BCS money for BYU.

Does any self respecting "True" BYU fan reallly want the Y to take a dive just for $??? Any Y fan who says so really isn't a Y fan.

If Utah wins, they deserve it. No help at all should be extended by BYU in any way. DUH!!!

I would expect nothing less from rabid U fans that always love nothing more than to play the spoiler in years past when their season was in the tank and BYU was highly ranked.

But unlike years past (at least not recent past), there is now an automatic birth system for the highest ranking non BCS Team. So if BYU knocks off Utah, then Boise goes.

Oh well :)

think the reffs will want Utah to go to the MWC though:

"I heard after the MWC analysts talking about how BYU probably secretly wants Utah to win because it means more BCS money for BYU."

Watch the penalties on the BYU-UofU game, BYU is alreay a favorite target for the reffs, this will be very predictable, just watch....

What analysis? I don't care - BYU wins and maybe we be in favor over Boise State - why - we have three higher rank teams better than Boise or their WAC and MWC did better overal on two or three BCS losers (PAC10, B EAST, ACC). BYU would never want to lose to anybody including up north. But, let the best team win the big game (marbles). Go COUGARS!

Boise State is a four point favorite over Nevada and BYU is a four point underdog to Utah. The real question would be what happens if Boise loses and BYU wins.

i agree. after BYU dispatches the U and Boise State loses, does Ball State take the prize?

The fix may be in. I would not be surprised if MWC officials, knowing that there is so much money at stake, may be privately pressuring next Saturday's refs to screw BYU. Not a problem even on a normal day where BYU seldom gets a call (anti BYU/Mormon bias is always present). I truly fear that BYU will be lining up not only against the Utes but the officials as well. Which is too bad because even if BYU won I think there is a real chance for the MWC to get a team in. Besides, for the pure fan and the love of the sport, I urge Saturdays refs to call a fair game and let the chips fall where they may. In the long run, things will be better if they let the issue be decided by the players playing within the rules.

If BYU wins and Boise State loses, BYU is a virtual lock for a BCS bowl game. The ACC and Big East will have no teams in the top 16 and Boise State, Utah and Ball State will all fall behind BYU. I don't think Boise State will lose, and the Utah game will be a tough win, but we can hope!

Jeff, great article but you got it all wrong. After rewinding the video several times the ball is stripped and on the ground before Morgan hit the return man. The announcers got it right. Hadley clearly stripped the ball and recovered the fumble both. Shame that credit did not go to the guy who made the play. But it made for an interesting story.

I'm a BYU fan, and I'm embarrassed by the comments anticipating that the refs won't call a fair game. If Utah wins it'll be because they outplay BYU (which is likely to happen).

BYU's plays are regularly "reviewed" w/o challenge by the MWC officiating crew. Calls that "could go either way" are routinely called aainst BYU. An obvious incomplete pass in the Utah-NM game goes unscrutinized and ultimately makes the difference. An inept MWC crew hands Utah the game against OSU on a "pass interference" call. Bottom line: BYU has to play better than whatever officiating they experience, be it real or perceived. That's what good teams do. BYU did that against AFA yesterday; they can do it asgain Saturday...I gave up blaming the officials and concpiracy theories years ago...so should everyone else.

There is no such thing as Mountain West Conference officials. The Mountain West, Big XII, and WAC have a pool of officials that they use to officiate games. As much as the MWC has invested in Utah winning, the WAC has an interest in Utah losing (see Boise State). So the idea that referees would cheat for the monetary gain of the conference, which was a ludicrous, delusional thought originally, doesn't hold up because there is not the conflict of interest that the conspiracy theorists so foolishly banty about.

The idea that Utah should win so the conf can get the money is Bogus. If BYU wins they will jump Boise State on schedule strength. Further, they both may get in as both the SEC and Big 12 can only send 2 teams each. BYU will be ranked ahead of both of the ACC and Big East teams (neither of which are in the top 16).

I can't wait to see this game. Let's get it on and decide this game on the field. Both teams are capable of bringing this one home. Any intelligent coach (And Bronco is certainly one of those) will tell his players to win everything you can and let the BCS and polls fall where they may. I'm sure that the BYU organization would love for noting more than to enhance their reputation by winning such a great rivalry game. And Utah would love to break into the BCS ranks and play a formidable team. So there's a lot riding on this game. GET IT ON!!! Good luck to both.

Bleeding blue, but have to say Utah by 3 in OT.