Reader comments
'GameDay' right about Hall being the game-changer

Good comments today. This is all coming to a head and in the somewhat legal-happy society in which we live, there is no way this is going to continue as-is without someone crying foul and hitting the BCS for what it is: a Monopoly.

Enjoy the contract ESPN . . . it will be short-lived, at least as you now have it defined.

when do we find out if byu is going to the blue rug bowl?

I heard on SportsCenter this morning that Max Hall was intercepted two more times yesterday while trying to get to the cranberry sauce?!

Let's see, I seem to recall watching ESPN College Football on ABC. Has there been any discussion if ESPN will NOT air BCS games on ABC?

ESPN broadcasts games through ABC, I don't know if you've watched the big saturday night games, but they're all done through ESPN on ABC. The BCS is to big of a money maker not to have these games on network TV.

I have been evaluating teams for a long time, and I have analyzed the U-Y game three times. Max Hall was not the culprit in that game as the blogs keep suggesting. The flat out truth is the skill of Utah's defense. There were three more potential interceptions that could have been and in all of them, the skill of the linebackers and DB's was amazing. While the Defensive line was forcing untimely throws, the cover was crafting deceptive positions. The Pro playing Manning boys of NY and Indiana would have had a rough time against Utah. Let's give credit where credit is due and not on the shoulders of "poor Max" who just ran into a defensive buzz saw last week. Or point to where the target could be on the real hero - former defensive guru-recruiter now top guy Whittingham. Defensive teams like that don't just show up over night or by accident. Or am I the first to use the phrase "Defense wins games" Hmmm - Sounds vaguely familiar.

To football fan and Thomas, you are right about ESPN on ABC, but the new contract with the BCS has the games on ESPN only. A note to Scott: Why is there nothing about the miniscule rating the MLS title game got on a national basis? Yes, the game is mildly popular here in Utah, mainly because it is a cheap sport for parents to let their kids play, but nationally it is still a big yawn. Stop being such a cheerleader and get back to critiquing local TV and radio sports like you used to.

Any defense can shine when they have taken the time to study the films that show QB tendencies. Max does not appear to go through progressions, he appears to lock into his favorites and often forces the ball to them.

This was a game not unlike the TCU game when the opposition was well prepared for the Y's tendencies, and the OC did nothing to adjust. A few trick plays do not create an imaginative, successful offense. Max did not call the plays he tried to execute and he feel right into the Utes trap.
The blame lies not only at his fet but also in the Lap of Coach Anae.
Hats of to the Utes for doing their homework. I'm looking forward to vintage 2009 on our turf. It will be interesting to see how the Cougs game plan and adjust for their bowl game.

May the Utes do the conference proud with a BCS victory - please don't get so wapped up in the victory over the Y that you forget to show up in the BCS bowl game. We are counting on you to win and win big! Let's show the BCS bullies MWC strength!

The blame for the Utah loss goes to Anae and Hall. Anae should have called more running plays to give Hall a break and open up the pass. You also have to give credit to the clearly-prepared Ute defense.

When you only throw consistently to two or three receivers, what do you expect?

It wasn't unusual for the great quarterbacks at BYU to complete passes to 7, 8, or even 9 or more different receivers.

GO COUGS!!!

Max don't throw it. I am not wearing a Football shirt. It's just RED.

I disagree with your opinion and offer mine instead. Yes utah has a very good defense but the way the wheels came off for Max in the 4th qtr points to other factors as far as I'm concerned. It was 27-24 through 3 quarters of play and BYU was driving for another score.

If utah's defense is so good that they could have given Peyton and Eli Manning a rough time as you say, then why were they only that effective in the 4th qtr and not in the first 3 qtrs? I'm wondering if Max was playing with a mild concussion. Of course on a couple of those INTs I don't think Max could be blamed since it looked like Pitta may have run the wrong route on a timing pattern on one and George bobbled and deflected a pass into the air on another.

I think a big chunk of the blame for the meltdown goes to the coaches, Anae and Doman, who should have recognized something was wrong with Max and switched to emphasizing the run game. We had good success running the ball on them.

I really hope you are kidding about Max Hall being considered for the Heismann. His performance against Utah was not Heismann-worthy, and he cannot hold his own against the defense. Hall is good, but not great, on a national scale.

a waste of time

While it was 27-24 through 3 quarters of play, BYU most certainly was not driving for another score at the end of the third quarter. Hall had fumbled late in the third quarter IN BYU TERRITORY. It was just the beginning of a BYU possession. I'm not sure I'd call that "driving for another score."

Utah scored on the possession they got after the Hall fumble to make it 34-24. Then, Hall was intercepted by Kruger deep in BYU territory on the next possession. Utah scored there to make it 41-24.

I don't think you can say BYU was driving for another score when the score was 27-24 through 3 quarters of play.

If Brian Johnson throws five INTs, and Max Hall none, BYU wins the game.

Did you really say Utah's defense wasn't effective in the first quarter? Go look at the stats. BYU had 1 first down in the entire quarter. They were 3 and out the first possession but got a FG due to Collie's kickoff return of 70 yards. They punted on their second possession after one first down.

I'd say Utah's defense did a very effective job on BYU in the first quarter. Unless you consider 1 first down and 23 total yards of offense a good offensive quarter.

Old coach is right... re:Old coach is wrong. Max will be back and will do just fine. BYU needs to figure it out that Defense wins championships. Witt has known that for a long time.

Scotty, that statement is ridiculous. Of course the game would be different if Utah had 6 turnovers and BYU had none.

That is like saying that BYU would have won, if only they had scored more points than Utah. Great job.