Number1Ute | 1:34 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Way to go Kyle! Props for a great season, and another great recruiting year. Keep up the good work. Let's win one more game in January!
Brian Johnson? | 1:59 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
I guess he needs to be recognized because of the Utes great year, but he was NOT the offensive player of the year. BJ had a lot of talent around him that made the team successful, it wasn't him. I can think of several other more deserving players, but it must be an unwritten rule to give it someone from the conference champs.
Spoils | 7:22 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
To the victor go the spoils. Utah deserves the recognition for an undefeated conference championship.

Brian wasn't the outstanding offensive player, but he did lead his team to 12 straight wins and made key plays in win over Air Force and Oregon State, so I have no problem with Johnson getting the nod as Offensive Player of the Year.

Congrats to all of the players and coaches who received MWC recognition and good luck to all MWC teams in their bowls.
Comments continue below
Key stat... | 7:27 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Brian led the nation in "total wins" and "winning percentage." I haven't done the research to be sure, but I believe that he also led the league (and maybe the country) in "winning drives in that last 2 minutes."

I it fine to be the fan of another team, or player, but if the vote for Johnson as Offensive Player of the Year is not obvious to you then you don't know football. --I refer you to the comments of opposing MWC coaches.--
Brian Johnson?? | 7:59 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Come on. If TCU had made their field goals against Utah, B. Johnson would not have been given this award. For some reason this seems to always go to the most prominent (not necessarily the best) offensive player on the conference champion.

Collie had a much bigger impact on his team and on the conference. Collie also leads the nation in receiving yards. He should have won this award. Although Utah was clearly the better team, Collie was the best player on either team in the BYU-Utah game...much like Weddle was the best player on the field a few years ago when BYU beat Utah.
Brian Johnson? | 8:16 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Brian Johnson is a good player! Offensive player of the year? No way. His team won all of their games, but not because of Johnson's offense. The defense stepped up and won many games through great defensive stands.

Johnson isn't even in the top ten in most statistical quarterback categories, in the nation, let alone in the MWC.

Collie should win for his incredible offensive season. Leading the nation in receiving yards, and leading the top receivers in catches. But, once again we see the spoils of war going to the victors of the season, so better luck next year.
Heisman Voting | 8:44 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
It looks like the MWC votes like the Heisman voters...for the most visible player on the team with the most wins. As a result, individual accomplishments take a backseat to the accomplishment of the team. I think it is safe to say that Austin Collie was the best offensive player in the conference, but I think Johnson deserves to be recognized for leading an undefeated team. Collie will have his moment when he is announced to one of the all-American teams, which in my mind is a far greater individual honor than being named MWC offensive player of the year. But let Johnson enjoy the award because he deserves to be recognized for a great year. We will get to see how good he is if the Utes get matched up with a quality BCS opponent.
T-roy | 8:44 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Biran Johnson had maybe 2 good games...the rest of the year he was ridiculed for all of his "mistakes" and "high school play," and we all heard how it was the defense that was saving Utah! No way does he deserve it!!!!
Utah deserves credit.... | 8:45 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
but I dont know about Johnson as offensive MVP. He did come up big a few times, but that doesn't seal the deal with me.

Austin Collie is a step ahead of the rest in the MWC. Everybody knows who he is and that he's a playmaker, and this guy is still getting 100+ yards a game. He leads the NCAA in receiving yards. I think they were just trying to give the Senior QB some recognition, which he deserves...but not offensive MVP recognition.
RE: Brian Johnson?? | 8:46 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
You coug fans are so bitter. Always making excuses for the Utes perfect season. Regardless of whether or not TCU makes field goals, Utah was still down and had to come back to win the game. The game wasn't handed to the Utes, Brian Johnson led the Utes down the field and scored to win the game. That deserves offensive player of the year.
Collie had a good year, but | 8:48 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
But he's a cog in a system. Had Collie gone down early, Reed would have had those yards. That Texas Tech offense always produces big numbers in average players.

The offensive player of the year should have gone to the UofU wide receiever corps. Six amazing and unselfish players.
re: Collie had a good year | 9:12 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Take off the crimson-colored glasses... there isn't a single receiver on Utah's team that is even close to Collie in terms of talent and production.

Even in losing efforts, Collie had over a 100 yards receiving against the stellar defenses of TCU, New Mexico and Utah. Austin also had a 70-yard kickoff return against the Utes.

Collie will be playing in the NFL in a year or two. None of Utah's receivers will even get a tryout for an NFL team.
john | 9:15 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
you people crack me up. in his biggest games he played his best & had no turnovers in those games. brian had an amazing year! beating up on softies doesnt make you tough max small & collie.
Crimson Club | 9:34 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Collie is a great player, but there is no way that the MWC would have selected the offensive player of the year from the 3rd place team in the conference. It's not going to happen in a million years.
Crimson Club | 9:37 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Utah scored more offensive points this season (and against a tougher schedule) than BYU. This was also a consideration for the MWC to select Johnson as the offensive player of the year.

Stats don't lie. Utah had a better offense statistically than BYU.
SWEET | 9:40 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
It is so great that Bronco got coach of the year, and for Austin Collie to get Offensive MVP, and our fearless leader Max Hall is a First Team All Conference member. This was a great year got the cougars, Undeafeated and headed to the BCS just like our T-Shirts say.............Wait?
John Lambert | 10:09 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Quest for Perfection. Need I say any more?
Collie | 10:27 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Collie was an amazing reciever... and one that I must admit I was nervous to go up against this year. But I agree that the offensive player of the year is just not going to be awarded to the third place team in the conference. Had BYU won the two games they lost... Collie would have deffinitely won this award. With Utah finishing the season as the MWC champs... it makes sense that these awards went to the Utes.
Utah Man | 10:40 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Collie definitely deserves first team recognition. But OPOY eluded him because his team was third place in the conference. Sorry... wins count. Johnson is a winner and LED his team to three wins that made the Utes season. Collie got 100+ yards against Utah and 0 (ZERO) TDs. That, and losing the conference championship to Utah, probably killed him.
What determines OPOY? | 10:42 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
It hurts to see our brethren from the TDS so upset over the throttling they got from the Utes. It hurts so good. The moaning and groaning and silly rhetoric they use to try to make themselves feel better - entertaining. It's so pathetic it's almost cute. If you want to determine the guy with the best skills - have them do a skills challenge. Maybe Max could win the long throw. But the OPOY is the guy that MAKES IT HAPPEN for his team on the field. No one else is even close to BJ in this regard. Surprised he wasn't the unanimous choice (as well as King Louie). Plus, according to Collie, I guess our guys are just living better. And surely that makes BJ all the more deserving.
re: Brian Johnson?? | 10:46 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
One good drive at the end of the win over TCU qualifies Johnson for offensive MVP? I watched that game and Utah's offensive and Johnson struggled against TCU tough defense. Utah's defense played great...it was the defense that won that game for Utah, not Johnson. To give the credit to Johnson is an insult to Utah's defense.

And all season I kept hearing from Utah fans how much they didn't trust Johnson and how inconsistent he was. But after the team wins against TCU and BYU, now he's the offensive MVP of the entire conference? Get real.
re: What determines OPOY? | 11:35 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Sounds like you're projecting your own inadequacies onto others.

Unlike some adolescent Utah fans whose self-worth is tied hook, line, and sinker to the success of Utah's football team, the vast majority of BYU fans don't rely on the success of a bunch of college students playing a game to determine how they feel about themselves.

Johnson had a descent season on a team that was fortunate enough to go undefeated and win the MWC championship, but Brian certainly wasn't the OPOY.

Max Hall's passing efficiency of 160.3 is closer to Chase Daniel, Missouri, 168.5,
Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, 163.0,
Mark Sanchez, Southern California, 161.6, and Kellen Moore, Boise St., 161.5,
than it is to Brian Johnson, 148.3.

Austin Collie should have been the OPOY.
Anonymous | 11:53 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Remember in 2005 when BJ was third in the country in total offense, and lead the MWC in total offense? He took 2nd team behind Beck, even though he was clearly better than Beck.

What goes around comes around, 12-0 with late drives against AFA, Oregon State, TCU, and a complete destroying of BYU! He is NUMBER 1!

1st BCS busters, and first REPEATS BCS busters.

It is the best time of year for byU players and their fans: "next year is our year"! We have been hearing this comment for 4 years now!

Hall has not thrown a TD pass on Utah in two games but has a total of 8, count them 8, turnovers against Utah. Collie has not scored on Utah in three games, check 2004, 2007, 2008. Utah has 9/11 returning starters coming back on defense.......Hall/Collie better be very afraid!

That's football! | 11:53 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008
You gotta win the tight games. You gotta win the important games. You gotta go undefeated. You gotta get invited to a BCS bowl. Hmmm, which team would that be? Whoa, that'd be Utah. Yep, the all MWC picks where on the money. BJ is the OPOY. Nuff said.
Re:Re What determines @ 11:35 | 12:19 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
For someone who doesn't base his life on his football team, you sure have a lot of stats to back that whine. It's okay, your team can't always win and can't always be the best. The vote wasn't taken just in provo or SLC, it was the entire conference. I would say the rest of the conference is more objective than us locals, and that's how the votes went.

Keep shoving stats in our face as to Y the Y is better than Utah though, maybe it will change your w/L record...
RE: Re @ 11:35 | 12:23 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Nice adolescent comment. Woulda coulda shoulda. Save your stats to scare your 6-6 bowl team. Utah and BYU already played, we're done talking about the better team this year, remember?
Whinners | 12:37 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Love all the whining coming from Utah Valley. So, you all are saying BJ isn't deserving and that, without two missed field goals, Utah wouldn't be undefeated.... If it weren't for one missed extra point BYU would have lost to WASH, a finalist for THE WORST TEAM in the country. So, how can you all claim Collie deserves it if his team almost lost to WASH????

BJ is a gamer!! The voting was by coaches...remember Bronco and all other MWC coaches participated. Game winning drives vs. Oregon State, TCU, Air Force. Perfect in the turnover category in the big games (opposite of Max Hall). He is a leader and a gamer...so he deserves the player of the year.

If you think otherwise...just look where he's leading his team...to ANOTHER BCS bowl game. Collie and Hall...to another gambling trip to Vegas in early December.

Congrats to Utah and all their success...you deserve it all.
Wins | 12:37 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
If the Y wins close games it's from talent. If the U does it, they just got lucky and didn't deserve. Seems objective enough to me...
Re re Collie had a good year | 1:11 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Yes, Collie had big numbers, but to say none of the U's receivers are in the same class is absurd! The reason they don't have as big of stats as Collie is that their QB has the skill to actually think about and throw to more than the same two guys every play.

Here's Hall's check-off list: Oh, Collie's covered? Better dump it off to Pitta. Oh, Pitta's covered? Better find Austin.

Here's Johnson's check-off list: OK, Brown's covered, where's Reed? Now where's Godfrey? OK, how about Asiata or Casteel.

There were numerous games this year where 7 or 8 guys on Utah had 20-30 yards receiving, and maybe one had ~50 or more. Late in the year, Brown stepped up and had a couple 100-yard games. That doesn't make him worse than Collie - it just means Johnson didn't have tunnel vision on him the way Hall did for Collie.
re: Whinners | 1:12 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Not only can you not spell, you can't do math either.

A team that is behind by one point would not have won the game if their extra point hadn't been BLOCKED.

There's a big difference between a blocked kick and a missed kick.

Just like a DB knocking down a pass vs a receiver dropping a pass.

In the case of the blocked kick or the knocked down pass, the result was caused by good defensive execution.

In the case of the missed kick or the dropped pass, the result was caused by poor offensive execution.

Whether the official should have called the excessive celebration penalty or not, is irrelevant. The end result was that all Washington had to do to TIE the game was to kick an extra point -- a 34-yard kick from straight on vs a 19-yard kick from straight on. King Louie could have kicked either with his eyes closed. Ask ANY kicker. There's absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in trajectory between a 19-yard kick and a 34-yard kick.

BYU's great defensive play in BLOCKING the kick was the difference in the game, not the officials.

A two-point win over the worst Michigan team in history???
Nathan | 1:25 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
No offensive player, no matter how good, deserves to be selected from the 3rd place team (BYU) in the Mountain West Conference. Get over yourselves!
Provo Dad | 1:25 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
You Zoobies are such cry babies. You lost to Utah and you lost to the Lords real university TCU. BJ deserves the award. Where did you Zoobs ever get the Idea that It's your rightful place to claim every win and award?
johnson?? | 1:25 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Ha Ha Re RE Collie had a good year...

Brian Johnson?! The boy isn't even in the same class as Max Hall. Max put up MORE yards than Brian Johnson in the U BYU game. He has FAR superior numbers on the season in every catigory. Oh, except one: Johnson went 5 of 12 games being boo-ed off the field by HIS OWN FANS. Even they know he doesn't deserve this award.

Brian Johnson doesn't have tunnel vision, he just can't throw. Listen Ute fans, when YOUR OWN fans boo Johnson 5 of 12 games that ought to tell you you don't belong in the BCS.

The Utes have only won 1 of the last 3 match-ups against BYU. It will be 1 of 4 next year.
Bear | 1:38 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Bottom line: Without Brian, Utah doesn't win 12 games this year. Without Collie, BYU doesn't make it to 3rd place this year. Both guys were critical to their team's level of success. So...1st place or 3rd place??? My vote is for Brian. I'm sure Collie will have a long and productive NFL career, but Brian carried his team to the title and Collie's team was a bust.
akk | 1:38 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Collie and Hall are good players. One Day Coug fans will realize that wins are more important than stats. Johnson deserves every award he gets because he WON!!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa BYU fans
Cosmo | 1:43 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
You BYU fans can cry and whine all the way to the Vegas Bowl. I would try and watch you play, but I don't get the Mountain.

Feel free to watch us play (for the second time in four years) in the prestigious BCS Bowl, along with millions and millions of adoring fans and sportswriters.
re johnson | 1:47 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Hall did put more yards up yes, he also put the ball straight into our hands a ton of times. I guess you can look at it as the U only winning one of the last three. But for those of us that aren't so narrow minded it's five of the last seven :)
johnson ?? 1:25 | 1:54 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Commenting on a Utah article. Look if BYU beat TCU and Utah. Then this award still wouldn't of gone to Collie. It would of went to Hall. His worst games were against fast defenses. So if he would of beat TCU and Utah he would of been the OPOY hands down. As it stands BJ won. People want winners not excuses. Just like the 1 out of 3. How about 4 of the last 6 for Utah. Oh yea of forget ful minds. Let me guess the last 20 years BYU has dominated Utah. Wrong again. 10-10 sounds pretty even to me. Oh wait Nt'l Champs in 1984 or something like that. Whatever helps you sleep at night.
Which stat matters? | 2:05 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Re Hall vs. Johnson, I dare you to go ask Hall if he'd rather be 10-2 with more passing yards than Johnson, or 12-0 with the conference championship and a BCS berth, but less yards. It's a sure-fire GUARANTEE he'd say 12-0.

And by the way, the booing was more directed at Ludwig than Johnson - the reason we won the TCU and OSU games were we went into the 2-minute offense, where the QB calls the plays, not the OC.
Anonymous | 2:13 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
I will take a 2-point win over the worst Michigan team in history any day over an embarassing 24-point loss to Utah. If you couldn't beat Utah, what makes you think you could do better against Michigan? Think about that. Having said that, both teams had great players. They all deserve their awards.
RE: Johnson?? | 2:19 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Max Hall choked away two big games this year. Your capital letters and your attitude won't change that. You sound tense, try to relax, and stop yelling!
Scott | 2:35 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Hall is interception prone when facing good defense. Examples are the TCU and BYU games. Also, against Air Force, the Falcon defenders DROPPED 3 easy Hall picks... Had they picked those off, Air Force may have won too.

I don't think he deserves 2nd team recognition.
re: re: Whinners | 2:39 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
you pointed out that Utah barely beat the worst Michigan team in years by 2 points, but then you totally justified BYU beating the worst team in the NATION, let alone the worst Washington team in years, by 1 point...

funny...I am still laughing
Anonymous | 3:11 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
utes have won 1 of 3 against byu? Lets look at the last 4 years shall we?

2008- utah
2007- byu
2006- byu
2005- utah

how can you say 1 of 3? And what is the overall utah-byu record?

53 utah - 33 byu

Why are cougar fans so bitter about this? Utah is actually giving the conference some credibility (and not to mention a lot of money).

You know... NATIONAL COVERAGE. You'll see us playing in January on Fox. I will see you in 3 weeks on the mountain.
Taking notes | 3:18 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
of all of the inane arguments for why the "crybaby" label should be applied to anyone who argues that "hometown favorite" is more deserving of high honors even though he played for "hometown loser."

Bottom line, if you can't bolster your argument with facts, resort to name calling. That'll show 'em.
What wins OPOY??? | 4:09 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
12-0, 2 game winning drives under 2 minutes, and 30 of 36 for 300+yrds and 4 touchdowns against your biggest rival, with a BCS bid, outright Conference Championship and a perfect season on the line. Need I say More??? GO UTES!!!!!!
re:Johnson @1:25 | 4:17 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
You are right Max led over Brian Johson in U/BYU game, you however for some odd reason are leaving the key stat out 0 turnovers for Johnson, 5 for Maxie hence 48-24, 12-0 Outright championships and No Collier for OPOY
Collie isn't special | 4:26 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
The only reason Collie has those numbers is because he plays for BYU and BYU lives and DIES by the pass. He averaged only 3 more yards than Brown and had like 30 more catches.

Hall made Collie look good and Collie made Max look good, neither are anything special especially for a 3rd place team!!!

just 2 things today | 4:43 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
I just have two comments on here today

1. Johnson isnt even in the same class as Max Hall?

Well Johnson is on the Heisman watch list, what happened to hall?
And you are completely right, Hall does lead Johnson in most STATS. Including the most important one INTERCEPTIONS. so does that mean johnson is in a better class?

2. There is absolutly no difference in trajectory between a 19 yard feild goal and a 34 yard feild goal?

Possible the dumbest comment of the year, my hat is off to you.
Maybe a 15 yard difference? maybe a difference on how high/low the ball is kicked? And lastly maybe a huge difference the way the kick is defended. I used to be a kicker and i know that.

Just picked up my new prepperidge farm snack

Max Hall Turnovers, they come in a 6 pack filled with real fruit
whatever | 4:56 p.m. Dec. 4, 2008
Anyone who thinks that Collie should have been the Offensive player of the year is insane. He dropped pass after pass after pass. In every game he had passes that hit him in the hands and just bounced off and fell incomplete. He was a very good player and deserves to be mentioned but to be honest I do not think he was the best offensive player in the conference. I think Johnson is a good pick because he made plays to win when he had to. Yes Utah dodged a few bullets against TCU when they missed field goals but good teams and good players take advantage of miscues by other teams and that is all utah and Johnson did. There probably are better offensive talents in the conference than Johnson but I think that he really was one of the most dangerous and had so many intangibles that he is probably the best pick for the award. I don't really like BYU or Utah so don't try to use that arguement that I hate the Y and love Utah cause that is not how it is.

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