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Utah Utes football: Utah's man — Injury-free Johnson rarin' to go for Utes

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UteNation | 11:42 a.m. July 1, 2008

Don't know if anyone saw the Stewart Mandel article on sports illustrated, but he listed the Utah-BYU game as one of the top ten 'defining football games' this year. Should be a hummdinger!

Best wishes to Brian Johnson and the Utes this season.

Re: re:11:19 | 11:50 a.m. July 1, 2008

How can you ever hope to have an intelligent conversation with anyone if you can't hold up your end of the deal?

Re-read your post. 'Nuff said!

Josh | 11:53 a.m. July 1, 2008

I'm looking forward to the UNLV game more than anything else. If Joe Glenn's comments led to a rout of Wyoming, Mike Sanford's comments last season are going to trigger an absolute slaughter.

Comments continue below

re:Nuff Said | 11:58 a.m. July 1, 2008

Wow, classic Ute conversation.

Class? | 12:00 p.m. July 1, 2008

And I would love even one BYU fan that could use any sort of logic in a conversation. You were the conference champs two years in a row and undefeated in conference play. That is impressive.
You are right a W is a W. Therefore a loss is a loss regardless of who it is against? Strength of schedule means a lot. The Vegas bowl is embarassing to the CONFERENCE as I said. I know that it is hard for you to seperate the two. It is not embarassing that you won, just embarassing that you brag about it non stop like it was the national championship.
Class is knowing that you got a few lucky brakes. Class is admitting that sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don't (as BJ says in the article).
I will expect you to come on this board every time BYU loses a game and go on and on about how impressed you were with the opposing teams performance and how their students must be living right. That is the classy thing to do. But you won't, you will complain about the refs or some other rediculous thing.

Class? | 12:07 p.m. July 1, 2008

Let's see. The number of personal attacks against BYU fans in this post so far? 4. Personal attacks against U fans (which, I don't think many of us BYU fans condone)? 2.

Posts congratulating/praising Johnson or the Utes from BYU fans? 11. Posts congratulating/praising Johnson or the Utes from Utah fans? 6.

So now, who's got class?

Holier than thou.... | 12:22 p.m. July 1, 2008

Thanks for the lesson on being "classy." I'm sure glad that you are above all that. Coog fans never try to diminish what Utah has done right?? I'm sure you weren't one of the y fans that tore down our victory over UCLA last year - then had to choke down the fact that you barely beat them in Vegas.

We all want to win the conference - that's the goal of every team in the conference. I'm sorry that's what bothers you "nost" about Utah fans. For me I can't decide if it is y fans holier than thou mentality, arrogance from the Edwards days or their scewed vision of history that bothers me most.

"classless winners and most of the time even classless winners" - ??? - huh?

Quick go home - I think they are replaying the '84 game.

Losses and BCS dreams dashed | 12:25 p.m. July 1, 2008

I know it is nice to sit and dream about both teams being undefeated going into their matchup at the end of November with BCS implications on the line. But in reality, it won't happen. Those dreams will be crushed for BOTH teams after the first few weeks of the season.

BYU losses-

1. @Washington
2. @TCU
3. @Utah

Utah losses-

1. @Michigan
2. @New Mexico

LV Bowl- Utah
Poinsettia Bowl- BYU

Des News | 12:33 p.m. July 1, 2008

What's this, a well written article about the University of Utah?

Hold on, I thought this was a "BYU Rag"?

Is it possible that the Des News is trying to publish a newspaper and publishes articles as they pertain to the area?

(Or is it only a "BYU Rag" when it publishes an article favorable to BYU?)

I am a BYU/Utah fan and appreciate the Des News' fair and balanced approach.

Great article on B Johnson. I expect the Utes to have a great year. Same with BYU.

I think both Kyle and Bronco are great coaches and both fit well with their respective programs.

All this bickering back and forth get a tad bit tedious. Yes, BYU fans can get a little obnoxious. When I go to games, I don't really get all of the "Popcorn Popping" stuff, but that's who they are. Yes, Utah fans use the time to "party", and that can get old real fast.

I aree that recently BYU fans have shown more class, but that is easier to do when you are winning, and it's easy to denegrate W's and Bowls when you are losing.

So why all of the negative all the time?

BYU = NO CLASS | 12:41 p.m. July 1, 2008

BYU fans have no room to talk when it comes to having class.

Edwards ran up the score, Crowton ran up the score, and even BronKo has ran up the score(or at least tried to). Don't believe me? Go watch the '06 Wyoming game, up by 40+ and BYU still has their offensive starters in and they were still throwing the ball well into the 4th quarter.

Try listening to a Ute post game after the Utes lose a game this year(if they lose a game this year). At least half of the calls will be from BYU fans gloating, even though their team wasn't involved.

Utes | 12:44 p.m. July 1, 2008

It's a nice articel about a great football player, and he plays for our team. Why all of the anger?

re "Holier than thou": Why do you feel the need to throw the religion card into the mix. The game has nothing to do with your hatred for the church, or does it? My wife and I are both LDS and graduated from the U. Every time you make this a "Holy" issue, you cut out a majority of your fanbase. Many of us go to U games sober. It's insulting to the rest of us how you beat the religious aspect of BYU into the ground.

I hope our team stays focused on the game this year and does not get caught up in all of this negativity. I would love to see a great game at RES this year.

Re: Class? | 12:45 p.m. July 1, 2008

Really? There have only been 23 comments so far? I guess nobody could ever accuse BYU fans of being math nerds, they can't even count.

Ted | 12:45 p.m. July 1, 2008

It's about time Dirk Facer got back to work!

re:Class 12:45 | 12:56 p.m. July 1, 2008

Classy Ute...

(Wow, that was a total burn dude...)

re:BYU=No Class | 1:07 p.m. July 1, 2008

Sooooo... I'm confused. Can we or can we not count the Edwards years, because when BYU fans try to, you say it's not current and they are living in the past...

Oh, and please tell me you are not throwing the '06 Wyoming game in there as evidence of BYU being classless. Did you even watch Utah's onside kick last year where Kyle got the #1 salute from the Wyoming coach?

Ute posts are "all over the spectrum". It really is hard having an intelligent conversation. Your posts are like a Boxer, that dances here and there, fake here, fake there, but never lands a punch.

re:Holier 12:22 | 1:09 p.m. July 1, 2008

Sorry about the typo there.

I meant "classless winners and most of the time even classless "losers"".

My nails were drying.

re: re: 11:19 | 1:10 p.m. July 1, 2008

"...That is the one thing that bothers me nost about the Utes. They are classless winners (Wyoming), and most of the time even classless winners..."

Sir, why would I be remotely interested in having a conversation with someone who obviously has serious issues communicating in the English languageï¿½ I hope for your sake you do not attend said University that your affiliate your "fan hood" with. That would be a true shame.

Good luck this year to BOTH teams... Here is hoping for a great end of the year game!

KODDOS to Des News for the great article!

RE: Utes | 1:11 p.m. July 1, 2008

Amen regarding LDS Ute fans. I am LDS and a Ute fan, as are most of my friends. BYU fans are at their worst, when they generalize Utah fans as a bunch of drunks. Does this include Elder Wirthlin of the quorum of the 12, who not only played at the U, but is still a huge fan? He has traveled with team!

Speaking of how classless Utah fans are, remember when that guy jumped out of the stands and tackled the cheerleader.., wait that was a BYU fan. Well remember the guy that headbutted the other guy and broke his nose during the game.. oh wait, BYU fan again. Nevermind.

Back to the Article (BYU Fan) | 1:17 p.m. July 1, 2008

What are the odds of BJ staying healthy this year? I don't think he is as fragile as much as he is reckless in trying to make the big play. I appreciate his heart and will to win, but I hope they are right in saying that he has matured, and and learned how to play safe and protect his body. Sometimes the extra yard or two isn't worth the injury.

I agree with the Steele rankings to this extent, that both BYU are somewhere between #10 and #20 in the country. I hope both teams can stay relaitively healthy and the game lives up to be a real barnburner classic. (and BYU wins on the final play).

good qb | 1:23 p.m. July 1, 2008

B Johnson is a good qb but he'll get injured again, the guy is just too fragile just like the yoot fans' egos. Get ready yoot fans to lose to Michigan and I mean big time. Yoot fans think their team will be really good this year? Yes they will be but not as good as Michigan or BYU. U guys better start getting your excuses lined up (refer to the last two seasons for help with this).

LABruin09 | 1:23 p.m. July 1, 2008

You ute fans are ridiculous, you always talk about how you beat UCLA so bad, but none of you seem to remember how you got shut out by the MWC powerhouse, 2-10 UNLV (1-11 if the Utes wouldn't have choked, leaving only a victory against Utah State.) Oh ya, and what about that one game where they went a place called provo and lost to a team called BYU? Oh wait, my bad, I forgot that your quarterback had suffered a shoulder seperation 3 months previous to the game, and he still wasn't recovered from the injury. Ya Johnson was tough pulling out 8 of the last 9, but the only one that really mattered was the one against your rivals where he threw for more INT's than he did TD's.

re: re: re: 11:19 | 1:26 p.m. July 1, 2008

I'm sorry, do I need to be a "Sir" to post here?

Are all Utah Fans misogynistic?

Do only men go to the U of U.

We recieved the right to vote in 1920 (19th ammendment).

I doubt I'd be having any conversations with you anyway.

Utefan | 1:31 p.m. July 1, 2008

This is a rivalry for crying out loud, class doesn't need to be showed. I hate BYU and would rather die than see them have success. And to quote Michael Strahan, "This is football, this ain't tennis..." So if all you people who don't like to get into this rivalry, go be a RSL fan.

Re; Re: BYU = NO CLASS | 1:33 p.m. July 1, 2008

"Soooooo . . . . I'm confused."

Ah, the true sign of a byU fan.

"What? Who's there? . . . Is it still 1984? Where did I put my medication? I'm confused."

(And that is when they are coherant.)

Yewts and B-Y-who | 1:42 p.m. July 1, 2008

I swear if i have to hear this two nicknames again, I am going to die. People are so studid. I am a BYU fan, dont like Utah, but hope that they both have awesome seasons. Being realistic, and as much as i hate to say it, I dont see BYU beating Utah at their place this year. Utah's Defense vs. BYU's offense. Should be a great one. Hopefully it lives up to its billing.
Go Cougs, not Utes

Big Time BYU Fan | 1:42 p.m. July 1, 2008

I hate to say it, but all the hype over BYU this year is nothing but hot air. I love BYU, I want them to win every game they play and I want them to crush Utah. But from what I'm seeing, Utah is the best kept secret in the country right now. I see them winning the MWC Title this year. . . and I hope that's as far as it goes.

re:Re; Re: BYU = NO CLASS | 1:46 p.m. July 1, 2008

Classic Ute arguement.

Take something out of context and create your own reality.

Facts, truth, logic mean nothing in the world of the UTE FAN.

Hey, and then you again bring up '84.

It must be nice in your world of W=W and L=W and Leprechuans and Unicorns and Talking Animals.

Wyoming Fan | 1:54 p.m. July 1, 2008

Just want to pass on a note from the Cowboy defense. BJ won't make it past the Utah-Wyoming game this year thanks to Kyle W.

BYU = NO CLASS | 12:41 p.m. July | 1:55 p.m. July 1, 2008

even though byu can tend to run up the score, we are in the same boat, the wyoming game is the perfect example.... lookt at the CSU game, look at the Louisville game and the UCLA game even.....but i do want BJ to be healthy and have both Utah and BYU to be undefeated in a MWC showdown with a LOT of offense.

danburtreynolds | 1:59 p.m. July 1, 2008

This season can't start soon enough. I'm so tired of the comment board degradimg to a Jr. high argument (and that is an insult to Jr. high students everywhere). Ute fans think BYU fans are lame and vice versa, we get it. Neither side has a moral high road. Let's just settle this on the field.

BYU fans + Internet= FUNNY | 2:02 p.m. July 1, 2008

Do byu fans even read their comments before they click 'add'?

Holy cow, they talk out of both sides of their mouths more than bronKo does.

"We're better than you, but we're humble."

"We have class, now pay attention as we make fun of you."

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Unbelievable.

Vegas Bowl | 2:10 p.m. July 1, 2008

BYU beat UCLA in the Vegas Bowl. The only reason that UCLA was even bowl eligible was because they beat BYU earlier in the season. Why can't we argue that the bowl victory was terrible...it was. Utah's bowl history can't be disputed (and against quality teams such as top 25 rated Georgia Tech, top 25 rated Pittsburg, etc). BYU, despite going to the "best" bowl in the conference, BARELY squeeked a win over a terrible opponent. Not only does that make BYU look BAD, it makes our conference look worse. Our "champion" needs a blocked 30 field goal to beat the 6th place Pac 10 team? There is no way the MWC gets respect from that!

I'll start respecting BYU when they start pulling their weight in the games with national spotlight (ie UCLA, Arizona, Washington this year). In the meantime, we'll rely on Utah helping the MWC get exposure with their constant post season victories and non-conference victories (Louisville, etc).

Anonymous | 2:11 p.m. July 1, 2008

Class? I don't remember Bronco kicking an onside kick up 50-0. I also don't remember Bronco running the score up against wyoming in 06 considering that I was at the game. And Beck started a drive at the beginning of the 4th quarter and that's why he was in the game with 9:30 left. Plus I think that there is a difference with having your offense stay in the game, and actually kicking an onside kick. And while we are sitting here talking about how BYU fans are so classless, I would like to remind you of how you kind ute fans were throwing things at an old man wearing Cougar apparel at a Utah game. Now that's class!!

No. 3 | 2:13 p.m. July 1, 2008

Johnson is a class act. So, too, is the D-News and its coverage of Utah football. Go Utes!

John Lambert | 2:17 p.m. July 1, 2008

Brian is a world class act. He is not only a great athlete, but he is a great student (3.8 GPA). What a great role model.

He kind of reminds me of Obama. I hope both of them have great years.

Ore Coug | 2:35 p.m. July 1, 2008

It may have already been stated by someone else, but I am going to state it now.

Hall's shoulder seperation was a grade 3, not 1. If my understanding is correct Johnson's grade 3 is equal to Hall's grade 3 seperation. Not all injuries need surgery, many do, some do not.

I can already hear the naysayers saying "no way". Check the archives Nov 28, 2007.

I think it is a sign of desire and dedication that these QBs can play through these types of injuries.

Best of luck to the Utes this season, except when they play BYU. I think it would be incredible to have two highly ranked teams from the MWC and Utah playing that late in the season.

Re: Wyoming Fan | 2:40 p.m. July 1, 2008

Hey cowpoke, who really cares about Wyoming football except for the half dozen people who actually live in that sorry state. You'd be better off keeping to yourself and focusing your energy and passion where it is truly appreciated: those farm animals of yours.

Ute Football | 3:03 p.m. July 1, 2008

I love the BYU fans on here, telling UTE fans to not be classless. 2 years ago, after the game was over, I witnessed an incident in the west parking lot at Rice Eccles where a classless UTE fan, and a equally classless BYU fan, got into it. I have no idea which one ran his mouth first, but I saw the end of it. The BYU fan assaulted the UTE. He threw the Utah fan into a car's windshield, shattering the windshied. He then got back into his car and tried to get away. Not a smart move, the cars were crawling out of the parking lot. A policeman came on the scene. Several people (wearing red and blue) pointed out the offender to the cop. The officer got hime out of the car. While talking to this BYU fan, the BYU fan attacked the police officer. Several of us had to pull the guy off of the cop. He was arrested. 2 charges. Assualting a Police Officer, and Assualt.

This is news to most BYU fans, but BYU has classless fans also. I suggest cleaning your own house before you order UTE fans to clean ours.

Rich | 3:11 p.m. July 1, 2008

Go Utes!
Brian Johnson is a great quarterback and a great guy all together.
I just graduated from the U and Brian was a genuine nice guy on campus. He would say hi to everyone and even sit there and talk to strangers like me about the games.
I hope he stays healthy this year because if he does he is going to be playing int he NFL (not as a starter, but he will do some damage)

Go Utes.

PS. Don't let the Cougar fans get in your heads, they are just worried because they can see this freight train coming

re: Ore Coug | 3:26 p.m. July 1, 2008

"Hall's shoulder seperation was a grade 3, not 1. If my understanding is correct Johnson's grade 3 is equal to Hall's grade 3 seperation. Not all injuries need surgery, many do, some do not."

Um, if one needed surgery and one didn't, isn't that all the proof you need that one was worse than the other?

Blue Blood... | 3:45 p.m. July 1, 2008

we will sack the heck out of him when we play that school northward....LOL!!

Re; re: Ore Coug | 3:59 p.m. July 1, 2008

Sshhhhhh! Don't use logic with the byU fans. It gives them headaches and sends them into shock.

re:Ute Football | 4:03 p.m. July 1, 2008

Wow, I was at the game, west stadium, and the Ute fan confronted the BYU fan, the Ute fan was obviously "imapired", went after the wrong guy in Blue, and the guy in Blue knocked him out, and disappeared.

What about the Ute fan that ran down 10 rows on Utah's last touchdown, SW slice that BYU was in and clocked the cougar fan in the side of his head, yelled "that's how we do it", and ran out with his buddies.

So, we are going to judge all of the fans of both schools on these two incidents?

I'm guessing that most BYU and Ute fans are anon here, but pretty cool people that we all run into each day.

The story is about BJ.

From the past two years, it's obvious that Utes need to worry more about their team on the field than BYU fans.

IntelliUte | 4:26 p.m. July 1, 2008

Blogs and intelligence?
I get the impression you don't care too much about sources. James Carville has credibility, just happens to be different than that of Utah County Republicans.
Good thing!

To: re: Ore Coug | 5:04 p.m. July 1, 2008

Your logic would suggest that every person reacts the exact same to every injury. And that a grade-three seperation requires surgery EVERY TIME!! Are you aware that you came across as an idiot? Every person is different, some heal differently than others, so just because BJ had surgery does not mean BJ's was "worse" than Hall's.

The othropedic surgen for Oregon State examined my shoulder and told me my bursa was one of the worst he has seen, yet he did not operate. Why? because he felt other treatment would be sufficent. I am happy with the results. Yet I am sure there are others at OSU that would have been operated on.

A grade-three seperation is just that!!! To say one is worse than the other leads me to ask, what orthopedic school of medicine did you graduate from? Did you examine both players and operate on BJ? Your comments are as astonishingly naive as they are just plain dumb.

I hope you are not indicative of the education one would receive as a Yoot.

Don't strain yourself on this one.

TDS vs. TUN | 5:10 p.m. July 1, 2008

Will all of you in this rivalry stop it with the TDS and TUN comments? It sounds stupid and makes you appear as wannabes. This is a Bo vs. Woody (Michigan/Ohio St)thing which Oscar Meyer borrowed from his short stint in Columbus. Now KW and everyone else is tossing it around. Go get your own names for your rivals!!!

I hope Michigan steamrolls the U! The U doesn't even know what to prepare for in this game because they haven't seen any tape or anything. UM has a strong D this year and Utah will be lucky to score 13 points.

RE;Wyoming Fan | 1:54 p.m. | 5:11 p.m. July 1, 2008

Oh so there's going to be a Cowboy Defense this year? If you could somehow wrangle up an offense you may have something.

Russ | 5:12 p.m. July 1, 2008

Brian's really the one who converted me to the "Red side". He'll kick butt if he stays healthy

GO UTAH!!!!

UTE in Utah County | 5:16 p.m. July 1, 2008

Wow. The Utah-BYU banter is unbelievable. Who cares if Hall's shoulder was injured to the extent that Johnson's was? Why do we need to insult each other? Why does the conversation always have to go down the toilet with ridiculous bickering between fans? Let's have REAL sports talk.

Bottom line - BJ is a great athlete and an exciting QB. The Utes will have some good receivers and should be more solid running the ball than last year, so BJ will have more opportunity to make the big plays. I'm glad he's healthy (along with Asiata and several other returners) and look forward to a successful year. Looking forward to Michigan...(for those that didn't know, that's the first game, even though some may think the Utah-BYU game is the ONLY game of the year). I love the rivalry when everyone is mutually respected. Let's enjoy the season and not be children about this!!

COUG in Utah County | 5:39 p.m. July 1, 2008

to UTE in Utah County: Agree with you on all points.

Will be rooting for BJ and the Utes when they play in the Big House in early September. A Utah victory will be great for all of us and only serve to enhance the somewhat fragile reputation of the MWC.

Also sick of the childish comments from both fans of both schools. Really, can we muster just a little dignity and be civil to one another?

Like many others have already expressed, I would like nothing better than to see two undefeated top-ten ranked teams show up at RES in November to battle for a BCS berth. Hope it is a cold, windy and snowy day and the best team wins.

Great article DN on a classy young athlete!

All the best this season BJ!!

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