Deseret News | Utah Utes: Whittingham wins top coach

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Utah Utes: Whittingham wins top coach

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BYU Grad | 2:40 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Everyone needs to ask themselves this question: who would you rather have as a coach, Bronco or Kyle?

If you are really honest with yourself, you will all say Bronco. End of discussion.

re:This just in | 2:46 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

you're an idiot. Bronco more important than Joseph Smith? Listening to the call in shows from the two programs explains everything - Yewt fans were crying for Whitingham's head just one year ago and now they are ready to crown him a prince. A few losses in 2009 will bring out the boo birds once again guaranteed. Y fans actually have lives away from athletics win or lose.

Congrats Whit! | 3:16 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Way to go Coach Whit! Thanks for the great season. Let's keep it rolling!

Comments continue below

To BYU Grad | 3:22 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Why? Don't toss something like that out there and leave us all hanging!

Re: Utah Mann | 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

You're right - Utah didn't dominate all their opponents this year. But we did BEAT them all, which is something NO other D-1 school can say. So I agree - you can't call this team the most DOMINATING (try spell-check every now and again, btw...) ever, but in terms of final accomplishments, this IS the best Utah team ever.

Truly Deserving - | 3:31 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Whittingham is a great one, UTAH is rightly proud to have him. Props !

All this BYU vs UTAH better coach trashing is ridiculous. Both schools did well - probably the 2 best coaches simultaneously at the 2 schools in their history. Each seems to fit the mission of their program appropriately - live and let live. No need to denigrade either. (BYU grad btw)

re: Mike | 3:47 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

1984 IS within the last quarter century, but for a more recent accomplishment, how about the 1996 Cotton Bowl win over a very good 9-3 Kansas State team that finished the season ranked #17, but was ranked in the Top 10 late in the season. BYU finished #5 in both polls with a 14-1 record; their only loss on the road at #16 Washington (9-3) 17-29.

BYU's 1996 shutout from the Alliance bowls helped usher in the BCS. BYU's 2001 pre-emptive shutout from the BCS bowls helped to open the door to non-BCS teams.

Utah 2004 and 2008 can thank BYU 1984, 1996 and 2001 for making it possible for the Utes to play in the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls; otherwise, even with Utah's undefeated regular seasons, the Utes would have been stuck in the bowls designated for the MWC champion, ala, BYU 1979 and 1984: both teams were undefeated at the end of the regular season.

Anonymous | 3:50 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Do I have to remind people that Kyle chose to Stay at Utah rather than go to BYU

This Just In... | 4:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Y fans are really defensive about the "this just in" article.

You'll see next year when you yewt fans haven't lived right off the field all the blessings being withdrawn for the yewts on the field. Then you'll experience that the only thing stronger than Max Hall's arm is his testimony. In the name of Bronco Mendenhall, Ahmen.

Re: BYU Grad | 2:40 p.m. | 4:35 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

"Everyone needs to ask themselves this question: who would you rather have as a coach, Bronco or Kyle?

If you are really honest with yourself, you will all say Bronco. End of discussion."

What a stupid comment. The Cougars are only beginning their downward spiral in a program that ranks #5 in priority. I sure hope the fans don't care because your coach now has every opportunity to pocket a big check and make a minimal effort to earn it.

GridironSam | 4:36 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

I guess because of the circumstances surrounding the hiring four years ago--Kyle turning down BYU's offer to become their head coach, accepting the offer at Utah, and Bronco then getting hired by BYU--the comparisons are bound to continue. But Whittingham winning this award has very little relevance to BYU or Bronco M. Congrats to Kyle for working his "process" and seeing the fruits of his efforts and leadership. He inherited a program and 2005 squad with inflated expectations and depleted talent. He faced adversity and setbacks along the way, but he has built it up now to the point where they should be consistently competitive for the MWC championship, and periodically good enough to break into the Top 10 and a BCS bowl. These are the best of times for Utah football, 2008 was their best season ever on all accounts. The fact that it happened in his 4th year means it has fingerprint on it, from top to bottom.

re: re: Mike | 3:47 p.m. | 4:43 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

This doesn't seem like much of a comparison to the accomplishments of the 2008 Utes. I think your zeal to wave a 30 year old blue and white flag has made you look rather silly.

Yes BYU has beaten teams that were ranked high when they played Pitt in 1984 was ranked #3 for example. However, by the end of the season, they weren't even in the polls.

How is a win over a 9-3 team ranked #17 in 1996 any more impressive than Utah's win over a then 10-1 BYU team in 2008? Stupid!!

To use your own vernacular, BYU (if they ever have an opportunity to play for an legitimate national championship) can thank Utah 2004 and 2008 for making it possible the the Cougars to play for that illusive nc. Again, stupid!!!

GridironSam | 4:57 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Here is one difference I see between the organizations. In 2001 when BYU was undefeated NEAR the end of the season, they were prematurely talking about lawsuits against the BCS, etc., and they go to Hawaii and get humiliated. Then they lose their bowl game. BYU fans want to take the credit for "paving the way" for non-BCS teams. What about Tulane and other non BCS teams that went undefeated and were shut out of a BCS bowl?

don't understand history | 6:17 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Mike and Sam obviously don't understand history or they wouldn't be asking such silly questions.

1984 and 1996 weren't based on one single win against Pittsburgh or Michigan or Kansas State, but on a complete body of work over an entire season 14 wins which was rewards by both polls with a #5 final ranking, easily the equal of anything Utah had accomplished up until this season. In the case of 1984, the body of work started in 1979 when BYU completed an undefeated regular season and culminated in a 24-game winning streak and the National Championship.

As for 2001, the Fiesta Bowl had already decided that they weren't going to invite an undefeated BYU team even if they had pummeled Hawaii; the disappointment of knowing they weren't going to be invited to the Fiesta Bowl regardless of how they did in Hawaii, combined with losing Luke Staley and having to travel 6000 miles in less than a week (Provo to Mississippi to Provo to Hawaii), made the loss to Hawaii understandable.

The threats of lawsuits and congressional investigations were started precisiously because the BCS arrogantly announced that they weren't going to invite BYU no matter what they did.

Re: don't understand history | 9:12 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

You Zoobies kill me! You always find a way to play the persecution card. And the really funny part is that you really believe it! Bronco will never be equal with coach Whit, Watch and See!!!

Great Job! | 5:16 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Wow, this is HUGE! From a true-blue hard-core Cougar fan, congrats Mr. Whittingham! I hope you lose next year!

Actual BYU Grad | 4:59 p.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Everyone needs to ask themselves this question: who would you rather have as a coach, Bronco or Kyle?

If you are really honest with yourself, you will all say Whit End of discussion.

re: Actual BYU Grad | 12:07 p.m. Jan. 19, 2009

I agree with you completely, and disagree with BYU Grad completely. That said, I think Bronco is an excellent coach, but I think Coach Whit is better at getting a team to improve. If you look at Utah, they always get better. This Utah team was not what I considered National Championship material at the beginning of the year, but I consider them that now! Yeah, they had close games, but they got better week after week. TCU is good, but I doubt they would play Utah close now. The last two games Utah played, they were a dominating force! This is why Utah has the longest winning bowl record. I was sweating Coach Whit would go to BYU when he was offered the coaching job at the Y, and I was honored that he did not take it. He prayed about it, and it didn't feel right. I found it especially cool when he told the team he "was a Utah man" in answer to their query as to whether he took the BYU job or the Utah job. I have been happy with Coach Whit even when BYU dominated us because I felt we had the better coach!

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