Deseret News | It's fun but too early for BYU fans to celebrate

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Mike Sorensen: It's fun but too early for BYU fans to celebrate

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Bottom Line | 8:05 a.m. June 10, 2009

Bottom line: BYU is landing top recruits regardless of all the smack about BYU not being able to recruit with the best. It is OBVIOUS that these recruits still have to prove themselves on the field, we don't need an article in the Dnews to tell us that! Several factors go into creating a successful football team and recruiting is definitely one of them!

@ 3:23 p.m. | 8:54 a.m. June 10, 2009

"PS: How does it feel that the last team to shut Utah out was UNLV?! OUCH!"

Not as bad as it feels to be a zoob knowing the last team to shut YOU out WAS THE "YEWTS"!

Ha ha ha ha ha!

GO UTES!!!

Re: what gives? | 4:39 p.m. | 9:02 a.m. June 10, 2009

"If Utah landed the number #1 QB in the nation right now you wouldn't be able to get Kyle Whittingham to shutup about it, much less the fans. And don't give me that "no we wouldn't" talk because you know very well that you would. You just haven't so you have no way of proving it."

Actually, since we haven't, YOU would have no way of proving that we WOULD. However, if history is a good predictor of future events, last year, the Utes picked up the #1 JC recruit [DE J. Aiono] AND the #1 JC QB recruit [T. Cain], we haven't been crowing about "2009 MWC Championships" or multiple National Championships like YOUR fanbase has.

Comments continue below

Since Bronco & Whiningham | 9:54 a.m. June 10, 2009

Bronco and Whiningham have coached at their schools for 4 years now.

Here are the resumes:

Conference Championships:
BYU: 2
Utah: 1

10+ Win seasons:
BYU: 3
Utah: 1

Bowl Appearances:
BYU: 4
Utah: 4

BCS Bowls:
BYU: 0
Utah: 1

So, from the looks of it, Utah has had one good season with conference championship under whiningham. BYU has had 2 conference championships, and 3 double digit winning seasons.

Sounds like Utah had one good hurrah, while BYU is building a dynasty and a legacy.

Let's see how Utah does against Oregon this year, and playing at TCU and at BYU.

Go Cougs!

fred | 10:10 a.m. June 10, 2009

Spoken like a true ute!!!

re: 9:54 | 11:03 a.m. June 10, 2009

A dynasty that has a ceiling of the Vegas Bowl.

And a team with one good hurrah that finished #2 in the country, won the Sugar Bowl, and gifted about $600,000 to the Cougars.

Lets see how BYU handles Oklahoma this year. Will they give up more than 70? That is the only question heading into that game.

BYU = Good, never great. Not exactly a dynasty. Slow and steady does not always win the race.

Anonymous | 11:16 a.m. June 10, 2009

"So, from the looks of it, Utah has had one good season with conference championship under whiningham. BYU has had 2 conference championships, and 3 double digit winning seasons."

Actually, from the looks of it, BronKo has only 1 more win than Whittingham. BronKo ALSO has 1 more 1-AA opponent. And I noticed you mentioned BronKo and Whittingham's Bowl appearance record, but conveniently left off the W/L record of those bowls. So I'll include it for you:

BronKo postseason record: 2-2
Whittingham postseason record: 4-0

BronKo faced NO ranked bowl opponents, and only won vs. 7-6 Oregon and 6-7 UCLA. Combined record: 13-13.

Whittingham faced TWO ranked bowl opponents (#24 Ga Tech, #4 Alabama). The combined records of Utah's bowl opponents is 35-17.

Also on their coaching resume:

National Coach of the Year Awards:
BronKo: 0
Whittingham: 2 (albeit both in the same year)

Record vs opponents finishing in the Top-25:
BronKo: 1-6
Whittingham: 5-3

Looks a little different when taking in the BIG picture, doesn't it?

11:16 continued | 11:29 a.m. June 10, 2009

It's easier to obtain 10+ win seasons when you run away from quality [ranked] opponents, and pad your schedule with a bunch of teams with losing records, and schools just barely above 0.500. Your 1-21 record vs. ranked opponents this past decade attests to that. Utah has double the wins vs. BCS teams than the "why?", and in the last 6-yrs, ranks tied with West Virginia, at #10, in most victories (58). TCU ranks #12 (57). Navy is #19, and Hawai'i, Missouri, Florida St, and Tulsa are tied at #20. The tdS....is unranked.

So it would seem that the tdS has 3 good "fluffy" yrs in 6 when loading up on 1-AA competition, teams with losing records, and a few lucky nail biters.

Go zoobs!

Where's Stockton???? | 11:39 a.m. June 10, 2009

Well Steve Sarkisian may have lost Heaps to BYU but he's got Nick Montana..... Time will tell. Great recruiting Steve.....It's too bad that BYU couldn't have taken a longer look at Sarkisian while they had him....but BYU has a bad habit of getting rid of great offensive coordinators and replacing them with mediocre ones

Anonymous | 1:57 p.m. June 10, 2009

Its not how you start but how you finish.

Quest for celebration....DENIED!

DieHardCougar | 2:13 p.m. June 10, 2009

I love all the comments about BYU's appearances in the Vegas Bowl...as if Ute fans have much room to talk. Let's stick with the "3 good 'fluffy' yrs" that Mr. tds referred to. In the 2009 Sugar Bowl, Utah stunned the college football world by taking it to the Alabama Crimson Tide. But don't look at their bowl appearances in the three previous years. In the previous two years, the Utes beat Navy.....NAVY!....by 3 points in the Poinsettia Bowl and Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Even the ranked GT team that Utah beat the year before that (as referred to by "Anonymous | 11:16 a.m. June 10, 2009") was in the coveted Emerald Bowl.
Please. Don't go on and on about BYU's appearances in the Vegas Bowl as if the Utes have consistently been better. At least the Cougars consistently appear in the MWC's best bowl - and have played BCS teams in each and every one of the past 4 Vegas bowls.

re: 11:16 continued | 2:18 p.m. June 10, 2009

on the flip side, many losing teams manage to pull an occasional upset of a ranked opponent, but that still doesn't mean they had a successful season.

Despite their "vastly superior" scheduling and great "success" against Top 25 teams, nobody, except homer Utah fans, seems to recognize Utah's superior accomplishments. Where are all the Top 25 finishes, the conference championships, and players winning national awards?

Top 25 finishes:

BYU - 16 AP, 16 Coaches
Utah - 4 AP, 5 Coaches

WAC/MWC Championships:

BYU - 23 (50%)
Utah - 6 (14%)

National Awards:

BYU:
1 National Championship
1 Heisman Trophy
2 Outland Trophies
1 Doah Walker Award
6 Davey O'Brien Awards
7 Sammy Baugh Trophies

Utah:
Zero, nada, zilch

To: 11:16 | 3:37 p.m. June 10, 2009

yea two of those wins over the last three years were fluffy indeed, the utes.

DieHardCougar | 3:44 p.m. June 10, 2009

"So it would seem that the tdS has 3 good 'fluffy' yrs in 6 when loading up on 1-AA competition, teams with losing records, and a few lucky nail biters." Oh, please. There are not many Cougar fans out there that would use the Crowton years (aside from '01) as any example of good BYU football, so when you go back 6 years, it only makes sense why BYU is not on that list.
And as for your other comments, Bronco has only faced three "1-AA" teams in his tenure as head coach and the last one only happened because Nevada backed out of a meeting with the Cougars. BYU's OOC opponents (under Bronco) include BC (twice), ND, Cal, Arizona (3 times), Oregon, Tulsa (twice), UCLA (3 times), and Washington. As for conference foes, we all know that each MWC team plays every other MWC team, so no avoiding those. Finally, your "few lucky nail biters" aren't exactly lucky; BYU is 8-0 in its last 8 games decided by 7 points or fewer. Seems like it's more than luck that gets BYU its close vitories.

RE: Where's Stockton???? | 4:27 p.m. June 10, 2009

"It's too bad that BYU couldn't have taken a longer look at Sarkisian while they had him....but BYU has a bad habit of getting rid of great offensive coordinators and replacing them with mediocre ones."
So by "while they had him" you must be referring to Sark's QB career at the Y, because he never coached for BYU.
And now Anae is a mediocre offensive coordinator. I think you should join all the ridiculous posters who are calling for Bronco's head.

RE DieHardCougar | 5:41 p.m. June 10, 2009

DieHardCougar | 2:13 p.m. June 10, 2009

I don't recall a Ute claiming Utah has a "dynasty" and a national "legacy" it was a Zoob.

Mediocre Ute Team:
WINS (8-4) Navy and (7-4) Georiga Tech in a who cares bowl (As a Ute anything less then a BCS game is a dissapointing year, yes we are spoiled).

Good 11-2 BYU Team:
To its credit in 2006 soundly beat 7-4 Organ but in recent years barly beats 6-6 UCLA and gets smacked by UofA.

The trend analysis reveals that Utah is becomming a better program while BYU is at mediocre at best.

Red T-Shirt only in Football | 5:59 p.m. June 10, 2009

re: 11:16 continued | 2:18 p.m. June 10, 2009

Congraulations on your '84 championship and individual awards BUT they mean nothing today. You can keep your Heisman trophies and awards but I have moved on from the slacking Utah took in the 80's and I live in the current era:

2 BCS wins and 2 top 5 rankings in five years in the BCS era. IF we (and we are NOT) were living in the '84 era the 2008 Utes would be national champs as being the only undefeated team in the nation (aka 84). Only differece we atucally beat a ranked team, not some "fluffy" WAC teams.

DieHardCougar | 3:44 p.m. June 10, 2009
Finally, your "few lucky nail biters" aren't exactly lucky; BYU is 8-0 in its last 8 games decided by 7 points or fewer. Seems like it's more than luck that gets BYU its close vitories.

I agree... then why do BYU fans keep crying about the 2008 "Quest for Perfection is 13-0" Utes beating TCU, Orgaon, and New Mexico as lucky? Or you crying about Utah beating Navy by 3 points?

RE: 5:59 p.m. | 8:57 p.m. June 10, 2009

"Only differece we atucally beat a ranked team, not some "fluffy" WAC teams."

Fluffy WAC teams like Utah?! HA!

Go Cougs!

DieHardCougar | 10:59 p.m. June 10, 2009

"I agree... then why do BYU fans keep crying about the 2008 "Quest for Perfection is 13-0" Utes beating TCU, Orgaon, and New Mexico as lucky? Or you crying about Utah beating Navy by 3 points?"

If you agree, then why did you reply? You don't hear me crying about TCU, Oregon, and UNM. And I wasn't crying about Navy, just saying that it's weird for a U fan to poke fun at the Cougars because of their appearances in consecutive Vegas bowl games when previous to the Sugar Bowl the Utes were in lesser bowls for three years running.

WSU Cougar | 11:39 p.m. June 10, 2009

"Who is Cain?" "What has Cain done..."

Terrance Cain was the 2008 NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year. In 2007 he set a new NJCAA record by completing 71.1 percent of his passes. He earned Honorable Mention All-American as a freshman.

In 2008 Cain led the NJCAA in passing yards (3,138), completions (223), and touchdowns (29). He also ranked second in completion percentage (68.4%) and was awarded NJCAA First-Team All-American honors.

For his career, Cain threw for 5,313 yards, 51 touchdowns and just 22 interceptions. He also completed over 70 percent of his pass attempts (418-of-590).

Cain looks pretty good. We'll see.

Re: 11:16 a.m. | 11:57 p.m. June 10, 2009

"Utah has double the wins against ranked teams than the "why" has."

Does that mean Utah is 2-42 against ranked teams?

If that's your ranked teams record I don't think you should be bragging.

flash in the pan | 1:52 a.m. June 11, 2009

Utah's all-time record against ranked opponents:

AP Top 20/25: 14 of 77 (18%)
Coaches Top 20/25: 14 of 83 (17%)

Only a Utah homer would expect everyone to be impressed because they've had 2 great seasons in the last the last 5 years,

while completely ignoring the fact that Utah did practically nothing on a national scale in their previous 111 seasons of football???

what a joke

keep winning conference championships and finishing in the Top 25 regularly for the next 20 years, then Utah fans will have something to brag about

True Ute | 6:50 a.m. June 11, 2009

RE: 5:59 p.m. | 8:57 p.m. June 10, 2009

"Only difference we actually beat a ranked team, not some "fluffy" WAC teams."

Fluffy WAC teams like Utah?! HA!

Go Cougs!

-----------------
Yes exactly, Utes stunk in the 80's. I wasn't claming Utah was a good team in the 80s; just like BYU is now at best medicore.

IF and when you beat a good ranked team in this decade then you can talk until then hush but by all means continue enjoying your annual Vegas Bowl on 11-2 years.

CrimsonShirt | 7:18 a.m. June 11, 2009

flash in the pan | 1:52 a.m. June 11, 2009

"Utah's all-time record against ranked opponents... Only a Utah homer would expect everyone to be impressed because they've had 2 great seasons in the last the last 5 years"

No one cares about the all time record, well at least I don't TODAY is what counts. I sat through the humiliating Ute seasons of the 80's and underachievement under McBride so I am not claiming Utah as a powerhouse program.

Flash in the pan?
3 11 win seasons in 6 years with 2 undefeated seasons and cracking the BCS monopoly with 2 top 5 finishes VS. 2-2 in the Vegas Bowl. I don't expect you to be impressed but I am.

What is annoying is BYU printing 2013 Championship T-Shirts when they haven't even been good enough to break into the current BCS system. I have more respect for Boise then I do for BYU....both accomplished their "glory" years in a weak WAC. If we were still in the 84 standards Boise would be the 2nd WAC team to be a national champ.

@ 11:57 | 7:19 a.m. June 11, 2009

Typical dumb and dishonest zoob. You didn't read for content, and subsequently misquoted me. I never said we have double the wins vs Top-25 opponents. Go back to my original 11:29 post. You'll see I said we have double the BCS wins. We actually have WAY more than double the wins vs ranked opponents than the tdS. Next time, when quoting somebody, try using the cut-&-paste function on your keyboard.

geezer | 7:59 a.m. June 11, 2009

It just seems to me a lot of people are causing themselves a lot of undue stress. The rivalry will always be what it is. Ute and Cougar fans will never like each other much. However, we can be more rational. The way I see it Ute fans need to let go of 1984. BYU won the national championship. There is no asterisk and it will always be on the NCAA records. On the other hand Coug fans need to admitt that the Utes have had the upper hand in the 21st century and also dominated the series before the 70's and 80's. They should have had two chances to play for national championships (04-08), but didn't receive the opportunity. I think total lack of rational respect for either program just shortens lives.

RE: True Ute | 8:06 a.m. June 11, 2009

"...just like BYU is now at best medicore.

"IF and when you beat a good ranked team in this decade then you can talk until then hush but by all means continue enjoying your annual Vegas Bowl on 11-2 years."

So let me get this straight: the only BYU wins that are worth talking about are against ranked teams, but BYU, which has been ranked at the end of each of the last 3 seasons is mediocre? Sounds like a contradiction to me.

Ute logic | 9:23 a.m. June 11, 2009

quality opponent = Top 25

quality team = Top 25

Top 25 BYU = quality opponent, but not quality team

only a Utah homer would understand that logic

Top 25 finishes for BYU and Utah

1960's
BYU - 0
Utah - 1 (Coaches poll only)

1970's
BYU - 2
Utah - 0

1980's
BYU - 6
Utah - 0

1990's
BYU - 4
Utah - 1

2000's
BYU - 4
Utah - 3

All-Time
BYU - 16
Utah - 4.5

It's been 50 years since Utah finished a decade with more Top 25 finishes than BYU, and in that decade (1960's), Utah was only able to crack the rankings in one poll

Utah has had a couple of very impressive seasons this decade, and for that, Utah fans can be proud, but Utah fans need to understand that, despite their recent success, Utah is a relative flash-in-the-pan compared to what BYU has been doing consistently for the past 30 years

re: flash in the pan | 9:44 a.m. June 11, 2009

"keep winning conference championships and finishing in the Top 25 regularly for the next 20 years, then Utah fans will have something to brag about"

...said the zoob whose allegiance lies with a school who has only finished ranked in the Top-25 8 times these past 2 decades. I'm not sure how a 40% appearance qualifies as "regular". Going back 15 yrs, the tdS has only appeared 5 times; or 33% of the time. This past decade, the tdS has 3 Top-25 rankings; 30%, and a 5 yr rate of 40%.

The Utes have 4 Top-25 appearances in both the last 20 yrs [20%], and 15 yrs [27%]. This last decade they have 3 [30%], and a 5 yr rate of 40%. Notice any trend here? The Utes are trending upward, while the tdS either falls behind, or stands pat.

The tdS has NO BCS Bowls during these last 20 yrs, and a bowl record of 5-9-1, beating only ONE ranked bowl opponent [#17 Kan. St.]. The Utes have TWO BCS Bowls, a bowl record of 9-3-0, and beating THREE ranked bowl opponents [#20 Ariz, #25 Pitt, #6 Alabama].

GO UTES!!!

Hisory Lesson | 9:53 a.m. June 11, 2009

Yea, another Cougar fan bragging about his teams record in the 1970's & 1980's.

My guess is you weren't even born during most of that span, like most people on these boards.

Put down the dusty history book and settle into reality.

Utah's flash-in-the-pan includes a 6-4 record over the mighty Cougars. The same number of MWC titles as the mighty Cougars. And 2 undefeated seasons and BCS victories, no need to mention the mighty Cougars success in that area.

That flash-in-the-pan has completely overshadowed the mighty Cougars in the last decade. That is what matters to people today. To media around the country who watched the Sugar Bowl, and unfortunately the Vegas Bowl.

Didn't Arizona State have a great history of football back around the same time as the Cougars? Funny that not even Arizona State fans still revel in their past achievements. That distinction lives in Provo, and Provo alone.

Keep living the dream Cougars.

TOP-25 these past 20 yrs | 10:02 a.m. June 11, 2009

BYU:
1989: #22; Lost to Penn St. in Holiday Bowl
1990: #22; Lost to Texas A&M in Holiday Bowl
1991: #23; Tied Iowa in Holiday Bowl
1994: #18; Beat Oklahoma in Copper Bowl
1996: # 5; Beat Kansas St. in Cotton Bowl
2006: #16; Beat Oregon in Las Vegas Bowl
2007: #14; Beat UCLA in Las Vegas Bowl
2008: #25; Lost to Arizona in Las Vegas Bowl

Total: 8 ranked teams, ave rank #18

Utah:
1994: #10; Beat Arizona in Freedom Bowl
2003: #21; Beat Southern Mississippi in Liberty Bowl
2004: # 4; Beat Pittsburgh in Fiesta Bowl
2008: # 2; Beat Alabama in Sugar Bowl

Total: 4 ranked teams, ave rank #9

Conclusion: BYU fans overinflate the number of ranked teams they've had in the last 20 yrs. They've finished ranked twice as often as the Utes, but the Utes banner seasons were ranked twice as high as the cougars. BYU had 1 Top-10 finish. Utah had 3. BYU had 1 Top-5 finish. Utah had 2.

***Interesting Fact***
During those 8 ranked cougar yrs, BYU went 3-10 vs. ranked opponents. During those 4 ranked Ute yrs, Utah went 8-0 vs. ranked opponents.

Head to Head | 10:35 a.m. June 11, 2009

1920's Utah outscored BYU 231-13
Utah 7
BYU 0
1 tie 1928 (0-0)

1930's Utah outscored BYU 325-30
Utah 9
BYU 0
1 tie 1938 (7-7)

1940's Utah outscored BYU 161-31
Utah 5
BYU 1
1 tie 1941n (6-6) didn't play from 43-45 WWII

1950's Utah outscored BYU 243-102
Utah 8
BYU 1
1 tie 1950 (28-28)

1960's Utah outscored BYU 206-158
Utah 8
BYU 2

1970's BYU outscored Utah 310-143
Utah 3
BYU 7

1980's BYU outscored Utah 372-222
Utah 1
BYU 9

1990's BYU oustscored Utah 297-200
Utah 5
BYU 5

2000-08 Utah outscored BYU 246-193
Utah 5
BYU 4

All Time Record Utah 53 BYU 33 Ties 4
According to BYU the official record is 51-29-4 as they claim the rivalry didn't start until 1922.
Points scored Utah 1977 BYU 1506

Great memories endless!!
Long live the Holy War!!!

Re: Interesting Fact | 10:45 a.m. June 11, 2009

Here's another interesting piece of trivia:

During Utah's 4 ranked seasons, they went 4-0 vs the tdS, and 2 of those kewgar teams were ranked.

During the tdS' 8 ranked seasons, they went 6-2 vs the Utes. All losses came to ranked Utah teams. That just goes to further the claim that the tdS can't win the big game.

5 yr record: 3-2 Edge - Utah
10 yr record: 6-4 Edge - Utah
15 yr record: 9-6 Edge - Utah
20 yr record: 10-10 Edge - even

Seems pretty clear to me who needs to be living in the past. Zoobs have to go back to the 80s for any semblance of domination. So to all those zoobs who seem to think we Utes need to finish ranked for each of the next 20 yrs before we can talk, try going 20-0 against US to even the all time series before YOU can begin talk about program domination.

Ute Fan in MS | 10:50 a.m. June 11, 2009

Not one, but he sure kicked your ute trash all over the field, Nice to know he went undefeated against utah.

To: To re:Never too soon | 10:54 a.m. June 11, 2009

Man, that is nothing to be proud about 2 complete bust and a embarrassment to the MWC. Keep bragging, it makes you look like a fool!

Top 25 finish | 10:57 a.m. June 11, 2009

BYU finishes in the top 25 for the past 3 years and we are considered mediocre during that time period. Oh wait that is only by a minority of trashy ute fans. Only an over-biased ute fan can understand that logic. I won't deny the awesome seasons the utes have had during their BCS runs and the majority of BYU fans have enjoyed the past 3 years. Hopefully the rivalry will continue to be competitive for the next 20 years.

Top 25 | 11:01 a.m. June 11, 2009

BYU 8 > Utah 4

Utah fans like to brag about their bowl wins over mediocre teams and RECENT wins over Top 25 teams, but, the Ute's dirty little secret is that they choose to ignore all those losses to teams like UNLV that counter-balance their wins

which is why Utah has only finished ranked in the Top 25, in BOTH POLLS,

in their ENTIRE HISTORY

and why Utah has only had 4 10+ win seasons

in their ENTIRE HISTORY

the 4 seasons they keep bragging about, 1994, 2003, 2004, and 2008 are the only really good seasons, along with 1964, that Utah has had

in their ENTIRE HISTORY

Utah's football history is basically an occassional big win, like soundly beating UCLA, coupled with a collapse the next week, like getting shut out by UNLV

1964 and beyond | 11:24 a.m. June 11, 2009

during their only 5 ranked seasons,

1964 9-2
lost to Missouri 6-23
lost to Wyoming 13-14

1994 10-2
last 4 games
lost to New Mexico 21-23
lost to Air Force 33-40
barely beat BYU 34-31
barely beat Arizona 16-13

2003 10-2
lost to Texas A&M 26-28
lost to New Mexico 35-47
barely beat a dismal BYU 3-0
beat So Miss in their bowl game 17-0

2004 13-0
undefeated, but only played one ranked opponent, Pittsburgh, in their bowl, and Pittsburgh only finished ranked #25 AP, unranked in Coaches poll

2008 13-0
undefeated
truly an outstanding year, with a little luck of the draw getting all three regular season ranked opponents at home, and barely squeeking past two of them

Alabama was by far the signature win in Utah football history

and still, Utah could only muster a #2 AP, #4 Coaches ranking

not signficantly better than BYU's 1996 14-1 season in which the Cougars finished #5 in both polls, with wins over two Top 25 teams and a close early season loss on the road to a ranked Washington

I Have a Question | 11:41 a.m. June 11, 2009

Don't you have to win against ranked teams and win in the NCCA Tourney before you are considered respectable?

In football, BYU is 3-22 in their last 25 games against ranked opponents.

In basketball, BYU hasn't won a Tournament Game since 1992.

Why are BYU fans so delusional that they overlook these two MASSIVE problems with their programs?

Re: Top 25 | 11:58 a.m. June 11, 2009

"...the Ute's dirty little secret is that they choose to ignore all those losses to teams like UNLV that counter-balance their wins"

Sort of like how the tdS' dirty little secret is their record vs UNLV is not as sterling as the Utes'. Or how while they've never shut out the Utes IN THEIR ENTIRE HISTORY, the Utes have enjoyed 15 shut outs of the tdS.

I don't know why fans from the tdS are so critical of the undefeated Sugar Bowl/MWC Champion Utes when they floundered so miserably against a 7-5 Arizona team. Utes can get shut out at UNLV one year, then rebound to an undefeated #2 ranked season, while the tdS can follow up their #14th ranked 11-2 season, onward their "Quest for Perfection" with a colossal flop, saved only by the number of opponents with losing records.

And speaking of 2007, way to "raise the bar" vs Tulsa!

Re: 1964 and beyond | 12:41 p.m. June 11, 2009

In '94, the #10 Utes beat #16 Colo. St, #18 BYU, and #20 Ariz. The Utes won the big games. Same yr, #18 BYU lost to the only ranked teams on their schedule, #10 Utah, and #16 Colo. St. The cougars couldn't win the big game.

In '03, rather than attempt to punch in a final TD from within the RZ, Coach Urban Meyer wisely ran out the clock. A win is a win. We were already destined to the Liberty Bowl. A larger margin would not have earned us a better bid. Why risk injury in a snow storm for "style points"?

In '04, the Utes thoroughly dominated every opponent. The closest score was a 2 TD lead over AFA, thanks to a late 4th qtr TD against our bench "D".

In '96, the tdS did NOT beat 2 ranked opponents. Wyo. fell out of the national rankings following the WAC Championship game. The only ranked teams the tdS faced that year was #17 Kansas St, and #16 Washington. The 4-pt Cotton Bowl "W" over KSU was courtesy of a LATE 4th qtr rally. They lost to UW by 12.

'04 & '08 were EACH significantly > '96

True Ute | 2:04 p.m. June 11, 2009

RE: True Ute | 8:06 a.m. June 11, 2009
So let me get this straight: the only BYU wins that are worth talking about are against ranked teams, but BYU, which has been ranked at the end of each of the last 3 seasons is mediocre? Sounds like a contradiction to me.

----------
Not at all, Ball State was 12-0 last year for me they were a mediocre team because they beat no ranked teams with their "fluffy" schedule. Same goes for Boise State look what happened when they played TCU. Now if BYU had gone undefeated in those years then it would be a different story.

In 2004 I didn't think we deserved a shot at the title because we beat NO ranked teams I do think we deserved a shot at the Championship but I do think we should have a shot at a better appoint like undefeated Auburn.

Quest for Perfection | 2:11 p.m. June 11, 2009

Magic will probably not happen on the football field next year against Oklahoma, and then BYU's dismal record against ranked teams will be 3-23.

To: I have a question | 2:35 p.m. June 11, 2009

Because we have a NC in football and you don't.

Re: 1964 and beyond | 2:59 p.m. June 11, 2009

Actually in 1996 you do have to count WY as a ranked team that BYU beat since they were ranked #22 in the final poll. So I do have to give BYU respect, 96 was their best team hands down.

BUT to say the 2008 Utes are "not significantly better" then 1996 BYU team when Utes beat 2 top-10 teams and gained 16 first place votes is ridiculous. Plus given BYU played to more "fluff" teams in 1996.

1996 BYU: #5 14-1
Wins: #17 KSU and #22 WY
Lose: #16 UW

2008 Utes: #2 13-0
Wins: #25 BYU, #18 OSU, #7 TCU, and #6 Bama

RE: To: I have a question | 3:08 p.m. June 11, 2009

Yes you do have the 1984 NC which as relevant TODAY as the 1990 champion Colorado.

But I'm guessing that since 1984 Colorado has more wins against ranked teams then BYU.

I wonder if any of Colorado's 2013 recruits are printing "2013: Quest for National Championship" T-Shirts?

Herb Gravy | 3:16 p.m. June 11, 2009

My Dear Young Friends - In football, as in life, there is a sifting process. People either perform or they don't. Please don't get yourself all worked up about something over which you have no control. How are you doing in your personal life with regard to the sifting process? Are you improving or just muddling along? Take a look in that mirror and make an honest assessment. Are you making the world a better place? For everyone's sake I hope so!

relevant | 4:17 p.m. June 11, 2009

a National Championship from 1984 is just as relevant as a National Championship from 2008

if it wasn't, Utah would have put away their NCAA basketball championship banner from 1945 and most of their women's gymnastics championship banners a long time ago

as far as rankings, the only ranking that is meaningful is the final ranking

final rankings take into account your complete record for the entire season--who you played, who you beat, who you lost to, blowout wins, close losses, road wins, bowl wins, wins and losses against ranked teams, wins and losses against unranked teams, etc, etc

in other words, the complete picture for the entire season compared to the accomplishments of all of the other teams for that same season

bottom line:

BYU has finished ranked in both polls SIXTEEN times in their football history, including the last three years, AND concensus #1 in every significant poll in 1984

Utah has finished ranked FOUR times in both polls in their football history, AND a #2 AP and #4 Coaches ranking in 2008

Where's Stockton???? | 4:36 p.m. June 11, 2009

REF: Ref: Where's Stocton 4:27 p.m. 10 June

Hey what do you know there is actually life out there in Cougarland...and yes in comparison to Doug Scovil and Norm Chow.. Anae is just a mediocre offensive coordinator...and where did you get the idea I have any wish to see Broncho gone...he's a great coach who has already made one great decision
by hiring a Defensive coordinator and becoming a true head coach. Yes, back during the Crowton debacle Norm Chow should have been made the Head Coach and had he been... then Steve Sarkisian more than likely would still be in Cougarville......And Gollee.... I wonder what coaching staff position he might have been given. If you are any good at historical reasoning then maybe...just maybe... you can figure out why I took the back door to say what I meant to say instead of the front door. You do know the Chow - Sarkisian relationship I'm sure. But if you are still having a slow time on the uptake I can continue to spell it out for you. It's time for BYU to relace a mediocre OC with agood one

RE: relevant | 6:43 p.m. June 11, 2009

relevant | 4:17 p.m. June 11, 2009
A National Championship from 1984 is just as relevant as a National Championship from 2008.

NOPE... two different eras one has nothing to do with the other as far as the current or future success of either programs. Utah's 1945 basketball championship is also not relevant as well.

What is relevant is what is happening today and short-term history:

Basketball: 1999 Final Four, 2005 Sweet Sixteen and Boylan resurrecting the program.

Football: Myers putting the program on the map 12-0 and KW finally achieving a "Quest for Perfection" 13-0.

I give BYU credit for being ranked in the top-25 the last 3 years but

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