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BYU football: Cougars hit a wall in final 7 games
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re:two issues | 6:37 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
You could not be a more classless person. I'm sure you're a ute fan.
Look your team is in a BSC game, congratulations. Name calling and lecturing
your rival is so pathetic and classless. You have an arrogant inferiority
complex.
You have a good team this year, go cheer for them.
You have a good team this year, go cheer for them.
Bob in line | 7:06 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I don't know if they were arrogant about their opponents per se. I do know
they came across as thinking all they had to do is step on the field and they
would magically score 59 points.
The obviously read WAY too many news stories and followed their climb in the national polls.
Maybe next year they will live up to their potential. Maybe but who knows. And they do need some team speed. I think my grandma might be able to beat them to the corner on a running play every now and then.
The obviously read WAY too many news stories and followed their climb in the national polls.
Maybe next year they will live up to their potential. Maybe but who knows. And they do need some team speed. I think my grandma might be able to beat them to the corner on a running play every now and then.
Comments continue below
Dart down the lane | 7:40 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
It's not arrogant to observe BYU came in unprepared, unmotivated in its
money games. Despite not being the best team on the field, BYU failed to focus.
Players and coaches have said as much. There was no unity this year and for
things to have worked out BYU would have had to overcome talent deficiencies.
Utah showed it was prepared and BYU did not. Whit outcoached Mendenhall a
hundred percent. I guess the nine to five work routine won't beat a 24 to 7
coach.
Past | 7:53 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
It's too bad BYU didn't play better, but football is merely
entertainment (except for the players and coaches). The season is over. Time for
fans and sports writers to move on.
Dutchman | 7:50 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Coach Whit has Urban Meyer in his corner, Bronco had the now ex-coach Rocky
Long. Enough said.
rdha | 7:55 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I'm sure that the mishaps of the BYU Football season and the Las Vegas
Bowl game ended up being a valuable learning experience for both Coach
Mendenhall and all the players with the rest of the coaching staff. Chances are
that everyone will learn enough from the mistakes and have a much better season
next year. I am confident about that.
Cougar Fan | 8:33 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I guess the question is simple. As cougar fans, are we really interested in
watching a team whose focus under Mendenhall will always be football fifth.
It is obvious from the 2008 season that the cougs had a major lack of focus this year...not what one would expect from a team returning so many starters.
Let's put it this way...if I put in the same kind of effort in my job that the football team did on the football field, I'd be unemployed today.
It is obvious from the 2008 season that the cougs had a major lack of focus this year...not what one would expect from a team returning so many starters.
Let's put it this way...if I put in the same kind of effort in my job that the football team did on the football field, I'd be unemployed today.
Gretzky | 8:40 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
the wall was "hit" at the conclusion of the Wyoming game not after.
the QB position is up for grabs in the offseason in many of the cougar
fans' minds. the team leaders cannot choke each time they play a
"quality opponent".
also, heard no mention of Fui's injury in the arizona game. is Tonga coming back? the fullback position is key in the cougar offense.
also, heard no mention of Fui's injury in the arizona game. is Tonga coming back? the fullback position is key in the cougar offense.
wm | 8:41 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speeeeed now you get it? Go back to the old farm
and chase chickens. Even Rocky Balboa had to chase chickens to increase speed
and agility. Mr. Hall needs to increase body mass and speed; he looks like a
stick out there on the field.
what happened??? | 8:41 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
They didn't hit a wall...
it just took til the end of the season to play 2 good teams.
They just weren't that good!!
it just took til the end of the season to play 2 good teams.
They just weren't that good!!
LVIS | 8:48 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I am tired of Mendenhall's same old refrain "I didn't get them
ready for the game". Ok, coach--if you can't get them ready for games,
I guess it's time to move over and let someone coach that CAN get them
ready for games.
Anonymous | 8:53 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I admire Bronco's desire to mold young men. We need more of them in the
world. Unfortunately, he is paid a lot of money to coach football and not to
mold these young players. Bronco needs to focus on football and forget the
other stuff. The whole "Quest" and his silly list putting football
fifth opens himself up for ridicule when the team loses. If BYU wants a top
tier football program they are going to have to give up this silly mixture of
religion and athletics. Hire a football coach and make Bronco a mission
president.
Robo | 8:59 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Since when is 10-3 laughable? You know, sometimes things just don't go the
way you would like, that's called life. To have a goal of perfection is
not a crime. A goal that isn't a stretch is of no value. I agree that it
shouldn't be shared around with the world at large, but kept within the
locker room and presented on the field.
Stirling 301 | 8:58 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
BYU played few teams with better players. They played 3 teams with better
coaching.
When you can run you should run. When your QB is struggling you spare him and the team the embarrassment of continuing to try doing what everbody can see isn't working (i.e. keep passing...and throwing interceptions).
BYU can win with these players. They can excel with these players.
Having an eternal perspective on priorites doesn't mean you don't work hard on each. When it's time for family, you focus on family. When it's time for football, everything else takes 2nd place.
It's coaching boys. Mendenhall can do it but:
1. He's got to be a full time head coach. Hire the best defensive coordinator he can, or promote from within, if the ability is already there.
2. Avoid surrounding himself with mediocre assistant coaches (the way Lavell did near the end).
3. Be merciful. Fire the incompetnents and let them work at jobs that are a better match for their skills.
When you can run you should run. When your QB is struggling you spare him and the team the embarrassment of continuing to try doing what everbody can see isn't working (i.e. keep passing...and throwing interceptions).
BYU can win with these players. They can excel with these players.
Having an eternal perspective on priorites doesn't mean you don't work hard on each. When it's time for family, you focus on family. When it's time for football, everything else takes 2nd place.
It's coaching boys. Mendenhall can do it but:
1. He's got to be a full time head coach. Hire the best defensive coordinator he can, or promote from within, if the ability is already there.
2. Avoid surrounding himself with mediocre assistant coaches (the way Lavell did near the end).
3. Be merciful. Fire the incompetnents and let them work at jobs that are a better match for their skills.
btw | 9:40 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
It is interesting that Utah squeaked by Michigan and BYU squeaked by Washington,
at the time both were hailed as great victories.
Notre Dame, which had a mediocre year, nevertheless squashed both of those schools (Wash, Mich).
There is no substitute for a tough schedule.
Notre Dame, which had a mediocre year, nevertheless squashed both of those schools (Wash, Mich).
There is no substitute for a tough schedule.
Sharjah | 9:41 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I wonder if BYU's board has as its goal a championship football team or,
rather, a quality football team composed of good men who represent BYU and the
Church well? I wonder if Bronco Mendenhall will be asked at the pearly gates if
he a national championship or if he produced good young men. I wonder if my
tithing dollars should be spent hiring a coach who can win or one who can
represent the School well. Mind, you, I am not saying that any of these goals
are necessarily mutually exclusive. I just don't buy into the whole idea
that sports should build the kind of rancor, heartbreak, mean-spiritedness,
etc... that I see on these comment boards. I have to admit that I prefer Ivy
League sports where victory takes a second place to other, more significant,
goals. But, that is just me.
Merry Christmas to all and go Utes!
Merry Christmas to all and go Utes!
Good Grief | 9:58 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Relax, people. The Cougars won 10 games! They won 11 games last year and 11
games the year before that.
And drop the "soft schedule" ranting. Most teams play a so-called "soft schedule." Max Hall had two uncharacteristically bad games or BYU might have finished 11-1. Only TCU really handled the Cougars.
And drop the "soft schedule" ranting. Most teams play a so-called "soft schedule." Max Hall had two uncharacteristically bad games or BYU might have finished 11-1. Only TCU really handled the Cougars.
SCR | 9:59 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I really don't think BYU underacheived at all. 10-3 is a very good record,
and the three losses were to very good teams. Except for the occasional
spectacular season, you are simply not going to win all of your games when your
competition is as good as what BYU played. Sometimes it doesn't even
matter if you have a superior will to win -- the breaks just don't go your
way.
chttrtn | 9:56 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
BYU needs a new offensive coordinator, that's all they need. Our, put him
up in the press box like every other coordinator in the country is. They need
to spend sometime with Boise State and see how an offensive is supposed to play
the game.
Re:LVIS | 10:03 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Great comment, I'm tired of hearing we learned so much this year in our
losses,I didn't see where they have learned anything. They have the best
talent in the league, Yet could'nt get up for games I guess you would have
to ask the coach What are you getting paid for? BYU had pathetic showing in the
Las Vegas Bowl against a team that they should have beaten and the fans were
upset that they didn't have a worthy opponent, they just made the Mtn West
look bad.
2009 | 10:04 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
BYU has Utah and TCU at home with much of the offense comming back. Gone are
big, slow and un-athletic linemen. I think many of the people leaving hurt BYU.
Here is to 2009 and new blood.
Rick | 10:09 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
10-3 is a decent record, I will give them that. However, BYU is absolutely one
of the weakest 10-3 teams in the nation, and no better than a lot of 6 win
teams.
The Vegas bowl was a joke. That was a stunning display of lousy football. And it was much more than the series where Reed dropped the ball followed by 3 straight dead ball penalties. They were inept the whole game. It was like watching the 3 stooges play football.
Those of you trying to make yourself feel better (ie. Good Grief, SCR, etc), need to get your heads out of the sand. BYU simply isn't a very good football team and there is a very large question mark whether or not they will be able to get any better in the near term (Bronco isn't a fan of JC transfers and quite frankly that is his only choice).
UCLA was a big time fluke against a lousy opponent with a somewhat storied past.
The Vegas bowl was a joke. That was a stunning display of lousy football. And it was much more than the series where Reed dropped the ball followed by 3 straight dead ball penalties. They were inept the whole game. It was like watching the 3 stooges play football.
Those of you trying to make yourself feel better (ie. Good Grief, SCR, etc), need to get your heads out of the sand. BYU simply isn't a very good football team and there is a very large question mark whether or not they will be able to get any better in the near term (Bronco isn't a fan of JC transfers and quite frankly that is his only choice).
UCLA was a big time fluke against a lousy opponent with a somewhat storied past.
MAX HALL and Crew! | 10:14 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Hit the weights! Get tougher and come back with some teeth in 2009. We have a
bumper crop of weak, soft players. What is coach Olmer doing(surfing the net???)
When do we get some tough hard hiting men? We see giant O-Linemen getting
over-powered. Line backers who have no explosive strength and a quarterback that
gets arm tackled. The key to getting the most out of the talent we have is the
weight room/gym....Really! Watch film...these are very weak D1 football players.
Squats, Deadlifts, Overhead press and benchpress would do wonders for these soft
like wonder bread babies. C'mon BYU many of the fans are tougher and
stronger than the girls on the field. GET TOUGHER YESTERDAY!!!!!
Different Rise and Fall | 10:17 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I agree with 95% of the article, and kudos to SCR for pointing out that 10-3
isn't anything to hang heads about--much less throw a hissy-fit. It's
good to strive for playing even better, but keep it in perspective--these are
college kids playing a college game. 10-3 is doing fairly well--and aiming for
12-1 or even 13-0 next year is OK, too! (Just don't be too disappointed
when it doesn't happen--and it usually won't.)
As for the 5%--I see the rise-and-fall differently. BYU peaked AT the UCLA and Wyoming games and then headed into a bye week. They were hot and the break cooled them off. They came out flat against Utah State and never really got their rhythm back.
BYU has often played that way over the years--they heat up, get into a rhythm, and then cool off once they take a break. Partly why they play so dismally in bowls--though the quality opponents have their own fair share to do with that, too.
Maybe the coaching staff can do more to address that. It sure would have been a lot more fun to see BYU play TCU and Utah the way they played UCLA.
As for the 5%--I see the rise-and-fall differently. BYU peaked AT the UCLA and Wyoming games and then headed into a bye week. They were hot and the break cooled them off. They came out flat against Utah State and never really got their rhythm back.
BYU has often played that way over the years--they heat up, get into a rhythm, and then cool off once they take a break. Partly why they play so dismally in bowls--though the quality opponents have their own fair share to do with that, too.
Maybe the coaching staff can do more to address that. It sure would have been a lot more fun to see BYU play TCU and Utah the way they played UCLA.
Football SHOULD be 5th | 10:25 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
OK, tell me which of the following priorities SHOULD NOT be above football:
1. Faith
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Knowledge
The only one that's even arguable is Friends.
I think this is the priority list with just about EVERY college football program, even non-religious ones. Could you imagine a coach demanding that his players put football ahead of God? Their family? Knowledge?
Putting football 5th isn't as silly as it might seem on the surface; it's actually pretty common and quite reasonable.
As for the season, it was a very good one, envied by many teams, just not a great one. Those of you calling for the head of the offensive coordinator or other wholesale changes to the staff simply because this team didn't go 12-1 or 13-0 are completely delusional.
11-2, 11-2, 10-3? Are you kidding me? And keeping their priorities while having such success?
What Mendenhall and his assistants have accomplished at BYU is amazing. They're ALL keepers in my book, doing as well as could ever be hoped for/expected at such a unique school as BYU.
I hope Mendenhall and crew are here for the long haul! Go Cougars!
1. Faith
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Knowledge
The only one that's even arguable is Friends.
I think this is the priority list with just about EVERY college football program, even non-religious ones. Could you imagine a coach demanding that his players put football ahead of God? Their family? Knowledge?
Putting football 5th isn't as silly as it might seem on the surface; it's actually pretty common and quite reasonable.
As for the season, it was a very good one, envied by many teams, just not a great one. Those of you calling for the head of the offensive coordinator or other wholesale changes to the staff simply because this team didn't go 12-1 or 13-0 are completely delusional.
11-2, 11-2, 10-3? Are you kidding me? And keeping their priorities while having such success?
What Mendenhall and his assistants have accomplished at BYU is amazing. They're ALL keepers in my book, doing as well as could ever be hoped for/expected at such a unique school as BYU.
I hope Mendenhall and crew are here for the long haul! Go Cougars!
Just A Few Things | 10:22 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Mendenhall needs to focus 100% on coaching. Many people in the players lives are
either paid or called to provide spiritual aspects not found to the same degree
at any other university. Mendenhall does not need to worry about that part!
If Collie returns, we get Manti Teo to join a healthy So'to and talented Clawson and Bauman, McKay Jacobson regains his talent and speed quickly, Tonga comes back in his pro-level form, and our o-line gells quickly - we could ride a very nice home schedule to the undefeated season we thought this one would be.
Oh yeah, and we DON'T schedule Oklahoma. Play Oklahoma and we will be playing for a fifth straight Vegas Bowl by week 2.
If Collie returns, we get Manti Teo to join a healthy So'to and talented Clawson and Bauman, McKay Jacobson regains his talent and speed quickly, Tonga comes back in his pro-level form, and our o-line gells quickly - we could ride a very nice home schedule to the undefeated season we thought this one would be.
Oh yeah, and we DON'T schedule Oklahoma. Play Oklahoma and we will be playing for a fifth straight Vegas Bowl by week 2.
Re: Good Grief | 10:34 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
A-FREAKING-MEN! Thank you for pointing that out.
For all of you so called "fans" who are saying that Mendenhall is a terrible coach what do you call 38-13 the past FOUR SEASONS? Everyone is a gosh-dang critic! Guess what you guys, Mendenhall is HUMAN like the rest of us, even though he doesn't always portray that to the public. He turned a 3 straight losing season program into what it has been the past four. This also drives me nuts, Coach Whittingham has one good season and all of a sudden he's the best football coach in history. Also all of this weak schedule talk is ridiculous, Utah practically had the SAME WEAK SCHEDULE we did! And they are talking like they are all superior. If this is Utah's climactic year I'm not impressed. This is one of BYU's down years. In a down year Utah would struggle for bowl eligibility. Few teams are able to get three 10 win seasons in a row. So the future of BYU is bright, brighter than most in the conference. I agree with the comment that TCU was the only team to really outmatch BYU.
P.S. BYU's "unathletic" lineman were 2006/2007's too.
For all of you so called "fans" who are saying that Mendenhall is a terrible coach what do you call 38-13 the past FOUR SEASONS? Everyone is a gosh-dang critic! Guess what you guys, Mendenhall is HUMAN like the rest of us, even though he doesn't always portray that to the public. He turned a 3 straight losing season program into what it has been the past four. This also drives me nuts, Coach Whittingham has one good season and all of a sudden he's the best football coach in history. Also all of this weak schedule talk is ridiculous, Utah practically had the SAME WEAK SCHEDULE we did! And they are talking like they are all superior. If this is Utah's climactic year I'm not impressed. This is one of BYU's down years. In a down year Utah would struggle for bowl eligibility. Few teams are able to get three 10 win seasons in a row. So the future of BYU is bright, brighter than most in the conference. I agree with the comment that TCU was the only team to really outmatch BYU.
P.S. BYU's "unathletic" lineman were 2006/2007's too.
wm | 10:37 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Our "quest" t-shirts are pretty good for washing cars and windows I
found........
Present&Future | 10:37 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
To Past: What? ...football is "merely entertainment"? Well, you tell
that to the coaches especially Bronco - it's also his job! Tell that to
the LDS Church which spends millions on the program but also use thousands from
football for other things. How about the oft-mentioned missionary role of
football/athletics at the Y? I guess I don't have to mention all the
football players who became LDS members while at the Y? ..."merely
entrtainment"? - Past, as they say in football "go deep"!
On the Cougars, well I hope they change the coaches so we can see some real plays and not the predicatble ones in 2009.
On the Cougars, well I hope they change the coaches so we can see some real plays and not the predicatble ones in 2009.
underachievers? | 10:41 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
BYU did not underachieve.
The problem was grossly unrealistic expectations early in the season after misleading victories.
Those expectations found expression in fans' obnoxious whining that BYU's greatness wasn't being recognized by polls and national media.
Even whining that BCS was going to rob BYU of a chance to claim it's deserved national title!!
PS the difference in BYU and Utah is that BYU has had it's shortcomings revealed, Utah is still waiting for that.
aloha
The problem was grossly unrealistic expectations early in the season after misleading victories.
Those expectations found expression in fans' obnoxious whining that BYU's greatness wasn't being recognized by polls and national media.
Even whining that BCS was going to rob BYU of a chance to claim it's deserved national title!!
PS the difference in BYU and Utah is that BYU has had it's shortcomings revealed, Utah is still waiting for that.
aloha
Anonymous | 10:44 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Having a football team with good priorities is great. Posting them to the world
is not. I agree with Football should be fifth in that many people and schools
probably have similar priorities. Why post it to the world? It comes across as
saying that the BYU football team is different from and better than the rest.
If you just live your lives with the proper priorities, then you don't need
to tell everyone else what your priorities are.
Re: why post it to the world | 11:13 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Isn't it obvious? The BYU football program is about more than just
football. It is about football, but it is a football team representing the LDS
church since BYU is an LDS institution. BYU football is also about missionary
work, as is anything associated with the church that can get national exposure.
BYU football is good because there are so many negative misconceptions about the
church and it is a way of showing the country that "hey mormons are normal
everyday people, and THEY LIKE TO PLAY FOOTBALL TOO!" Any organization
whether it be service oriented or athletics or whatever also serves a missionary
work type of purpose. That's why it is on the responsibility of the players
to represent well, (even though they always haven't). That is why I
don't understand why many members of the church, even Ute fans, would
oppose the mission of BYU football. Again, any organization that can represent
the church can be used as a missionary tool.
Tom in CA | 11:24 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Re: Random observations:
Reminding you: TCU handed a win to the Utes - missing three short field goals cost TCU that game.
Having said that - hopefully Utah will be respectable v. Alabama.
Boise State - with its fouth/fifth tier "left-overs" has proven over the past 10 plus years it is pound for pound maybe the best football team in the country - all things considered. Credit to their coaching staff. Didn't win the Poinsettia but took TCU - probably 4th/5th best team in the country - to the wire. BYU needs to look no further than a few miles north of SLC to learn some lessons.
Vakapuna - please quit doing the Texas Two Step at the line of scrimmage. Just go North, baby.
Here's to a better '09 for BYU.
Reminding you: TCU handed a win to the Utes - missing three short field goals cost TCU that game.
Having said that - hopefully Utah will be respectable v. Alabama.
Boise State - with its fouth/fifth tier "left-overs" has proven over the past 10 plus years it is pound for pound maybe the best football team in the country - all things considered. Credit to their coaching staff. Didn't win the Poinsettia but took TCU - probably 4th/5th best team in the country - to the wire. BYU needs to look no further than a few miles north of SLC to learn some lessons.
Vakapuna - please quit doing the Texas Two Step at the line of scrimmage. Just go North, baby.
Here's to a better '09 for BYU.
bigutefan | 11:26 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
"Championship teams don't do that. Championship coaches don't
coach a team to do that." This has to be the most arrogant statement since
Collie's "living right" statement. When will the blue people
realize that pompous statements from high up on the podium are offensive. Get
off your high horse folks. Your are not the greatest gift to college football.
casual fan | 11:43 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008
The season is over. Let's talk about something else.
BYU overachieves | 12:01 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
If anything BYU overachieved. Listen, folks, BYU is hard pressed to get any of
the top athletes out there - LDS or not. They win because they work hard and
have a great passing attack and they lose when they face teams that have better
athletes than they do. How else do you explain their abysmal record against
nationally ranked teams??? Answer is that they don't have the athletes to
keep up with them - period.
BYU's self-imposed recruiting restrictions (i.e. the honor code and the LDS religion) will keep BYU from ever being a top-of-the-pack nationally-recognized football team.
What I don't understand is why a Utah team who CAN recruit the best of both the LDS and non-LDS athletes can only maintain a .500 winning percentage against BYU over the past twenty years or so? Utah should be winning 8 out of every 10 games.
Seems to me that on the whole BYU overachieves; Utah underachieves.
It is what it is folks, so get used to it. BYU will never be a big fish on the national scene. Our best hope is to be THE big fish in the MWC, which may or may not happen.
BYU's self-imposed recruiting restrictions (i.e. the honor code and the LDS religion) will keep BYU from ever being a top-of-the-pack nationally-recognized football team.
What I don't understand is why a Utah team who CAN recruit the best of both the LDS and non-LDS athletes can only maintain a .500 winning percentage against BYU over the past twenty years or so? Utah should be winning 8 out of every 10 games.
Seems to me that on the whole BYU overachieves; Utah underachieves.
It is what it is folks, so get used to it. BYU will never be a big fish on the national scene. Our best hope is to be THE big fish in the MWC, which may or may not happen.
To The Casual Fan | 12:08 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Hey Mr. Let's Talk About Something Else,
It's because of you that 64,000+ at Edwards Stadium still doesn't get loud. Take off the Abercrombie, put down the cellphone, and step it up a little bit.
It's because of you that 64,000+ at Edwards Stadium still doesn't get loud. Take off the Abercrombie, put down the cellphone, and step it up a little bit.
Hall | 12:20 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Look at who made the turnovers in the losses...we didn't hit a wall we hit
a Hall.
RE: bigutefan | 12:23 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I don't see anything arrogant or wrong with Bronco's statement. He is
taking responsibility for their losses! He is admitting his shortcomings as a
coach! He is merely saying he wants BYU to be a championship team (and what
coach wouldn't?), but they played nothing like one and he takes
responsibility. What is your problem?!?! I mean, geez, get some counseling or
something, please! Ute fans like yourself who just seethe animosity for Bronco,
Collie and pretty much anything BYU or LDS are some of the most pathetic people
I have ever meet in my life. And I am not LDS and neither a BYU or Utah fan,
just an outside observer who recently moved to Utah and am amazed by all the
rancor I see between people. It is hilarious and really, really sad at the same
time.
re:bigutefan | 12:30 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Why is it a crime for BYU to say anything religious? You hear Notre Dame
players talk about religion all the time, as well as many players. i.e. Tim
Tebow always mentioning how he wouldn't be where he is without God in his
life. You need to get off your high horse. It's just fine to bring up
religion and football. Stop whinning about BYU and start praising your Utah
football team! typical ute fan...
BYU vs. Utah | 12:36 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I came onto this post expecting fights between the ute posts and the cougar
posts. I'm mildly surprised from all the talk of BYU and how they need to
make improvements and what went wrong. BYU gets tagged as being whinners, but
yet I've lived in Utah for ten years now and observed that of all the fans
I've seen, none come close to the whinners of Utah. They whine about one
thing and one thing only...BYU. They're not fans of Utah, but fans of
hating BYU. This is why I root for BYU every chance I get
Smiles | 12:49 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
If my coach was giving a power point presentation about how football wasn't
that important, I probably wouldn't work as hard at it either, whether
conciously or subconciously. What if my boss was constantly telling me that my
job was #5 in the grand scheme of life? I bet I wouldn't work as hard. I
think everyone would agree that those are the correct priorities in life, even
-gasp- non-religious schools. Only BYU would go spouting off about it to
"prove" that they are on some higher intelectual ground. I'm sure
all the handshakes and hugs after the seminar are nice though.
To re: bigutefan | 12:59 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Welcome to Utah. Just stick with "hilarious" it's much more fun.
And seriously, can the desnews just go one day without running a byu football
story? This just in! Byu hit a "wall!" tomorrow the story will be,
"bronco speaks: we need to play harder" read all about it!
Fickle Fans | 1:01 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
Until October of this season, all BYU fans embraced Bronco Mendenhall and all
the things he brought to the table. Now, he is considered out of touch and
behind the power curb of coaching.
Only in Provo could a 10-3 season be looked upon as a failure. BYU fans need to glad they don't have the Joe Glenn and Chuck Long's of the world coaching their football team.
Mendenhall is a smart man and will make the adjustments needed in Provo to continue to win. Good grief...10-3 and Rome is burning. Bronco got schooled by Whittingham this season but next year might be different. I wish he would get out of the theme business and just coach like Whittingham does at Utah.
Who knows? Utah State might be the best team in Utah 5 yrs from now.
Only in Provo could a 10-3 season be looked upon as a failure. BYU fans need to glad they don't have the Joe Glenn and Chuck Long's of the world coaching their football team.
Mendenhall is a smart man and will make the adjustments needed in Provo to continue to win. Good grief...10-3 and Rome is burning. Bronco got schooled by Whittingham this season but next year might be different. I wish he would get out of the theme business and just coach like Whittingham does at Utah.
Who knows? Utah State might be the best team in Utah 5 yrs from now.
RE:re: Why post it to the world | 1:06 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
"BYU football is good because there are so many negative misconceptions
about the church and it is a way of showing the country that: hey mormons are
normal everyday people, and THEY LIKE TO PLAY FOOTBALL TOO!"
You are joking right? Please tell me you are joking...that has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. The BYWhoCares football club and knitting circle is there to show the world that mormons are normal? I really, REALLY doubt there has ever been one person in this world who has said to themselves: "self...I have always thought Mormons to be baby-killing, horn wearing, multiple wife marrying, religious bigots BUT they play football...so they must be normal folk like you and me."
Can we just get passed the incredible arrogance? You don't represent 14 million mormons when you step on the field. Bring Roger Reid back and have him give a fireside to remind you about that fallacy.
You barely beat a decent team in Northern Iowa and lost to every good team on your schedule, digest that for a bit.
You are joking right? Please tell me you are joking...that has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. The BYWhoCares football club and knitting circle is there to show the world that mormons are normal? I really, REALLY doubt there has ever been one person in this world who has said to themselves: "self...I have always thought Mormons to be baby-killing, horn wearing, multiple wife marrying, religious bigots BUT they play football...so they must be normal folk like you and me."
Can we just get passed the incredible arrogance? You don't represent 14 million mormons when you step on the field. Bring Roger Reid back and have him give a fireside to remind you about that fallacy.
You barely beat a decent team in Northern Iowa and lost to every good team on your schedule, digest that for a bit.
Stephen | 1:15 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I firmly embrace Bronco's enthusiasm and positive image, but frankly the
offensive playcalling needs to be completely overhauled so it's less
predictable and takes advantage of their running ability more. Also, they have
to beef up the speed of the defense and play MUCH more agressively--just look at
TCU and Utah for great examples of this.
Utah Ute Fan | 1:18 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
BYU's season was interesting. Perhaps 2008 will be somewhat of a wake up
year for Bronco. Like Utah's loss in 2007 to UNLV 27-0 was a huge wake up
for Kyle. Kyle admitted that he and Utah just had to work harder. And I see
Bronco admitting that now. To win, you have to work hard. Ridiculously hard. As
hard as you can, then double it. No. Triple it. It takes a painful experience to
realize that.
BYU has the unenviable but admirable position (from an LDS position, which I am) position of putting faith and honor code first and above all else. Not an easy combination. With that, the recruiting will be limited, and more exceptional athletes will usually go elsewhere. With that, BYU's winning tradition is admirable.
Now let's all root for the Utes. If they win, or at least keep it respectable if they lose, it will bode well if the Cougars ever are in the position of a future BCS bowl bid. Utah might lose to Alabama, but if they at least perform well, all in the MWC are to gain, especially the Cougars who can hope for a BCS bid some day soon.
BYU has the unenviable but admirable position (from an LDS position, which I am) position of putting faith and honor code first and above all else. Not an easy combination. With that, the recruiting will be limited, and more exceptional athletes will usually go elsewhere. With that, BYU's winning tradition is admirable.
Now let's all root for the Utes. If they win, or at least keep it respectable if they lose, it will bode well if the Cougars ever are in the position of a future BCS bowl bid. Utah might lose to Alabama, but if they at least perform well, all in the MWC are to gain, especially the Cougars who can hope for a BCS bid some day soon.
Anonymous | 1:25 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
I must have seen the words "National Championship" 100 times from Byu
fan in the comments this year. Baby steps: beat a ranked team. Seriously you
guys set your expectations so high that there can never be a soft landing. This
year for this ute, it was "try to win the mwc, beat Oregon state, beat
byu." Michigan (I know, they sucked this year, but we didn't know that
pre-season), undefeated, and BCS Bowl are just gravy. I don't expect to win
in the sugar, but I hope we do of course.
True BYU | 1:27 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008
First, to the Utes... until you can sell your 17,000 tickets for the Sugar Bowl
to Utah fans... shut up and be embarrassed at the lack of support for your
program. This is the reason why the MWC will never be considered for an
automatic bid.
Second, BYU has performed well (not against non-conference opponents) with their so-called lack of speed over the past few seasons. The let downs in their 3 losses this year had more to do with preparation, focus, and desire.
Third, the O-line has underperformed the past two seasons under the coach Bronco hired out of UNC (his pedigree is not imporessive).
Fourth, the linebackers need a lot of help. Outside of Nixon, they lack speed and sound fundamentals. Look at the past few years and this is definitely where the biggest drop off in talent has occurred. 2006--Jensen, Kehl, Nixon, Poppinga (S), 2007--Kehl, Nixon, and Pop, 2008--Nixon.
Fifth, I hated seeing BYU lose, but I am hoping it will force the team to do some real evaluations/changes heading into 2009.
Second, BYU has performed well (not against non-conference opponents) with their so-called lack of speed over the past few seasons. The let downs in their 3 losses this year had more to do with preparation, focus, and desire.
Third, the O-line has underperformed the past two seasons under the coach Bronco hired out of UNC (his pedigree is not imporessive).
Fourth, the linebackers need a lot of help. Outside of Nixon, they lack speed and sound fundamentals. Look at the past few years and this is definitely where the biggest drop off in talent has occurred. 2006--Jensen, Kehl, Nixon, Poppinga (S), 2007--Kehl, Nixon, and Pop, 2008--Nixon.
Fifth, I hated seeing BYU lose, but I am hoping it will force the team to do some real evaluations/changes heading into 2009.
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BYU's Max Hall, top, is sacked by Air Force's Ken Lamendola in Colorado Springs. The win was one of the few bright spots late in the season as the Cougars went 4-3 in their last seven games.
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