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Utah Utes football: Whittingham, Utes ignoring the outside opinions
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Sure Alabama is much better than Wyoming. However, Whitt is using this to get his team ready. Bama is a good team and Utah has nothing to lose and only 60 minutes to play. Utah is no Hawaii!!!
Can't wait to see Utah prove all those "4-letter" idiots wrong when they give Bama everything they can handle or even beat them in their own backyard.
I THINK COACH WHITT WILL HAVE THEM READY!!
UTAH 24 ALABAMA 21
Really, TCU should have no problem with BSU since TCU was the best team in the MWC this year and I don't think the WAC can really compete (maybe just BSU) with MWC. Utah and probably BYU would have beat BSU this year as well.
Too bad TCU didn't make the BCS bowl as they would give a much better showing than Utah will. I love the Joe Glenn comment at 4:47am by the way, shows some true fantasy world fans here.
byu loses to decent teams in bowl games.
It's become tradition actually.
Realistically, Utah is not as good of a team that BYU put on the field in 1984, and Utah in 2004.
I hope they do not embarass the conference, and other non-BCS teams. I think they are in way over their heads.
I am happy it's not BYU, because they are not as good this year as they thought.
Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.
If Oregon State can beat USC.
If Boise State can beat Oklahoma.
Then Utah has a chance against Alabama.
That said, they are not the '04 Utes either and they are matched up against an excellent team.
I think Utah will give them a tough game, but I am still picking 'Bama: 35-21.
You're probably just like Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber when the chick says he has about one in a million chance of landing her. I'm sure your attitude is th same "So you're saying there's a chance."
Ute fans are in some fantasy that they're going to play a "decent" Pittsburgh again. Unfortunately, to the embarrassment of the MWC, they're eyes will be open when the Tide rolls at the Sugar Bowl.
Utah's tradition in bowl games is beating mediocre teams with 6-5 to 9-3 records, average 8-4; 8-5 in their last 7 bowls. The only team with less than 3 losses that Utah has ever played in a bowl game was New Mexico, 8-2, in the 1939 Sun Bowl.
#18 Washington State, #15 Arizona, #19 Pittsburgh, and #24 Georgia Tech (pre-bowl AP rank) are the only ranked teams Utah has played in a bowl.
This will be Utah's first football game ever versus an SEC team.
Utah has a chance, but only a very slim chance to beat Alabama. I just hope that Utah can stay close enough to keep the final score respectable.
It'll be a defacto home game for the Crimson Tide, 90% of the crowd, minimum, will be 'Bama fans.
How many Utah fans will actually make the trek to Norleans?
Colorado St and BYU could help by getting the conference off to a good start. GO MWC Teams
After this year's bowl games, BYU will have a 3 game bowl win streak over "decent teams." Utah will have a one game losing streak against a really good team.
Truth is, BYU has played a lot of really good teams (not so much recently) in bowls and has lost frequently. Utah has not played so many really good teams in bowl games, but when they have, they've lost as well. The last better "decent" team Utah played in a bowl game was USC in 2001, and USC was not that good back then.
The last really good team Utah played was Wisconsin in the '96 Copper Bowl, and they lost big. In fact, that was the only good opponent they've faced in the last 8 bowl games.
Unfortunately, the Utes lose big and BYU wins a close one. So much for tradition, Mr. Bass.
With affection,
Gomer Pyle
My wife is from Alabama. I am not. They take their football very seriously to say the least.
At the risk of sleeping in the dog house till spring-Go Utah!!
Also, thanks for the J.B.W. A wonderful tribute to a great Apostle. You are truly a great coach of a top-notch football program. I wish you well.
My bet is the MWC offensive player of the year will be shaking in his boots up on the big stage in New Orleans.
BYU fans MIGHT consider not living in the past with their 1984 National Championship, if Utah fans would stop living in the past and NEVER, EVER mention again their bogus record versus BYU.
Utah even counts a spring scrimmage waaaaay back in the 1890's in THEIR "wins" against "BYU" -- it was actually BY Academy waaaay back then, essentially, little more than a high school.
Alabama's entire offense is centered around the run game. They are simple but efficient. ESPN was talking about how Utah has been weak against the run this year but, in actuality, Utah was the 11th ranked team against the run. Bama's passing game was centered on 1 guy (the second best receiver caught 20 passes). So, Utah will be able to load the box and stop the run pretty efficiently.
On the flip side, Alabama's defense ranks worse than TCU's in every category. So, Utah has already seen a defense the caliber of Alabama. Utah had some success moving the ball on TCU, so why won't they be able to do the same here.
On the flip side, Bama's offense is 30th in the nation, while Utah's is 15th.
Don't get me wrong, it'll be very tough to get a victory, but its not a done deal that Bama is the Sugar Bowl champs just yet...Utah's got a chance!!!
The damper on your season will come from Alabama when they expose a Utah team that is only marginally better than the BYU team that Utah fans consider to be so terrible. Despite all the mindless chatter from Utah fans, Utah 2004 is lucky to be 12-0 instead of 7-5. Utah's defense and King Louie were just barely good enough to compensate for Utah's mediocre offense.
Utah 2008 would have had a 50/50 chance of beating this Alabama team. Utah 2004 has, maybe, a 10% chance of winning, with a 50/50 chance of losing ugly.
Good luck to the Utes in Norleans.
Utah Alum
The difference between what Utah official records say and what BYU official records say about the head to head matchup is six games in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Those six games were split 3-3, so in reality there is little difference between the two views in terms of school advantage.
Mathematically, the official BYU records give Utah a slightly higher overall winning percentage when those six games are not included.
This is not a statement of endorsement or loyalty to either school, it is simply an endorsement of accuracy and good math.
Sorry, 10-2, #16 is not a ruined season.
Utah's season is BYU, not the other way around.
Most BYU fans I know are quite happy with our season. Do we wish we would have beat Utah, again? Of course, but we usually set loftier goals than just beat our instate rival.
I feel bad for the Utes, because after they peak and get a national ranking, they usually go into hiding.
Good luck with Bama. Bama won't just damper your season. Utah is just to slow and small to have a chance. Enjoy the Big Boys.
But, Utah counts dozens of high schools in their win column, so it's not a surprise that they would count BY Academy also.
BY Academy was 3-2 versus the U in the 1890's; Utah counts an April scrimmage to make the record 3-3 -- the only time in the history of Utah football that the Utes played a "game" before August.
The worst team that Bama played that is going to a bowl game is Kentucky (6-6) which lost 17-14 at Bama. So if Kentucky can keep it close I am confident that the Utes D is good enough to stay in the game.
Over the last five games:
Utes averaged 37.2 points per game and allowed 14.8 points per game. Bama averaged 30 per game and allowed 11.8. Utah beat 2 top 20 teams (still ranked) and Bama beat none.
Prediciton: Bama 20 Utah 13
As a Ute I will still cry, but 48-24 will take the sting out of it.
GO UTES!!!
Well, Mr. Lofty goals we were nationally ranked week one of this season and have only gone up in the polls.
Another ignorant Cougar, I'm keeping a collection of all your stupid comments this year and making a photo book of the game for all my BYU friends. Try and keep them to a minimum I have enough material for a few years.
Tide by 50. You Utes ain't see the likes of the SEC this year.
BYU stinks. TCU stinks. Oregon State stinks. The Pac-10 stinks. The MWC stinks.
The Utes are in for a mighty whoopin.
-------------
FYI... Over the last five years:
Utah Won:
Georgia Tech #24 Emerald Bowl 38-10
Pitt #19 Fiesta Bowl 35-7
BYU has not even played ranked teams in a bowl game in BCS area. Not wonder: BCS: Utah 2 and BYU 0
I guess facts don't matter to BYU fans when they pound their chest in proclaiming that their a better program.
The Louisiana Superdome has around 70,000 to 75,000 seats.
Utah has sold a little over 10,000 tickets to Ute fans. 75,000/10000 = about 13 percent are Utah fans.
Assuming the remainder of the fans are cheering for Alabama which according to you is a 90% MINIMUM, the Superdome must hold 100,000+.
Now that we have a contradiciton, I say we throw out your entire argument and have your comment stricken from the board.
Exhibit A - All of the BYU fans about 8 weeks ago were talking about a National Championship.....now their happy with Vegas and one of the least know bowl games of the 34? Sure...we all believe you.
Exhibit B - All of the "Quest For Perfection" t-shirts that are now filling up the Deseret Industry stores around town. Rumor is these t-shirts are 50% off at the D.I. How is 10-2 "perfection"?
Exhibit C - BYU fans long for...even covet....the Utah fans who get to watch their team take on a real opponent in a BCS game. Try to minimize the Utah team all you want, but just take a look at the....SCOREBOARD. Utah was 12-0, including a 48-24 beat down in the last game.
Exhibit D - all the 1984 talk is back. Thats the only thing BYU can hang its hat on....24 years ago. How about celebrating this century's sucesses....2004 and 2008!!!
Go Utes!!
Either way, The bowl games will be fun. Either way, BSU will drop a spot in a BCS bowl for the next 2+ years! If they're this good on a rebuilding year, how good will they be when the players have more than a year or 2 under there belt! BSU is great every year, Utah, TCU, and BYU aren't a perrenially ranked top 15 program like BSU. Enjoy this year cause there won't be many like it in the future. Can't wait for the bowl games!
I do wish some of your fans were a little less obnoxious, but I wish the same thing for some of my fellow cougar fans.
For your game, I will wear red with pride. After that, all bets are off.
On the flipside the MWC has an opportunity to make a bigger statement than beating 4 bad teams.
Utah's defense will be up to the task of slowing down the Alabama offense, holding them under 30 points. The question will be if our offense can find an answer to the Alabama defense. I think Utah loses 17-24. I hope I am wrong.
TCU and Boise State is an interesting matchup. Any Boise State fan will tell you they belong in the MWC. Here is a chance to prove it against the team that was two missed field goals away from the MWC title. TCU 20 Boise State 17
BYU should beat Arizona, though the PAC 10 might actually not look past this one. BYU 24 Arizona 10
CSU Fresno State, Fresno has more bark than bite.
Air Force vs Houston will be good.
3-2 is reasonable for the MWC this year.
I feel bad for the Utes, because after they peak and get a national ranking, they usually go into hiding."
That's the difference between the two programs. As far as I am concerned the 4 years since going to the Fiesta in 2004 have been FAILURES! Without a playoffs the Quest for Perfection is 12-0 with a BCS bid.
The only bright spot since 2004 wasn't the nobody-cares-bowl games but the win over BYU in 2005.
I'm not sure what you want Utah fans to say. Do you want us to concede victory and pay homage to Nick Saban? Do you want us to diefy your O-line and running game? Do you want us to say that the Utes have no chance and beg the team and administration to decline the BCS invitation? Good grief, yes Alabama is a good team from a good conference, and the team that brings a unique combination of speed and size, but we have confindence in OUR team and OUR players. I don't think anyone has confused Alabama with Weber State, that's an insult to Ron Mcbride.
2004 and 2008... seems like every 5 years.
BSU a power house program? BSU plays in a tier below MWC. Just because WY beat Tenn and Utah beat MI doesn't mean MWC is better its just that those teams were weak. Just like when BSU beat Utah and BYU.
So enlighten us with Utah and BYU's records in the years BSU beat them?
I notice that all you Utah fans are novices at this whole nationally ranked thing. National Rankings only count at the end of the season. Many teams are #1 during the season, it's the #1 in January that is lofty. (see 1984)
You should be nationally ranked next month, it's after January that the Utes go into hiding.
"Another ignorant Cougar, I'm keeping a collection of all your stupid comments this year and making a photo book of the game for all my BYU friends."
Another ignorant Ute not seeing the big picture, living in a red bubble on the hill. Keep that photo book of the game for your BYU friends. Make sure to include a shot of the final Sugar Bowl scoreboard. That will make them jealous.
Oh, and keep the camera ready for a nice shot of the Utah backfield and count which team has more players there, Utah or Bama.
What a miserable way to end a nice season.
But smile, this is your reward for the two missed FG by a TCU Freshman.
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A BYU win over a mid-tier PAC team that lost 5 games by a total of 28 points (including a loss to NM)would show that the MWC is competitive with a BCS conference.
A Utah win in a BCS bowl over a traditional SEC powerhouse would be the icing on the cake.
TCU over BSU should be a sure thing.
BYU over UA should be even up.
UU over UA should be a struggle, but maybe, just maybe.
Go MWC!