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Dick Harmon: Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits

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Anonymous | 10:26 p.m. July 6, 2009
I would be willing to bet that the Alabama team Utah walked all over last January was filled with five star players and recruiting classes that ranked in at least the top 25 every year.

So how valid are those rankings? Let's just get to September and start playing the games.
Anonymous | 10:30 p.m. July 6, 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I present to you: the inevitable negative comments from Utah fans.

Read below....
Howard S. | 10:44 p.m. July 6, 2009
The Utes love to demolish 4 and 5 star recruits.
Comments continue below
Edward C. | 11:14 p.m. July 6, 2009
I've been around a loooong time and I can tell you that every year is BYU's best recruiting class ever.

This year is no different.
The big pay off | 12:06 a.m. July 7, 2009
It is great to see all the results coming from winning a BCS game and finishing #2!... wait the article is about BYU?.... Ok I will get in the back seat and ride on the hump where I belong.
A football article... | 12:15 a.m. July 7, 2009
With no mention of #2 Utah????

Waahhh waaahhh Wahhhh Wahhh.

*can I have a tissue*
Disclaimer | 12:19 a.m. July 7, 2009
Yes BYU is #14 in recruiting so far but with that being said we need to place a disclaimer so there are not ruffled feathers.

*This article is pointless and we all know that Utah is the supreme being of football programs. Utah has better athletes and better coaching and will always be "better" in every way when compared to BYU.

There you go you big babies. Now you don't have to waste all of your time worrying about what the Cougars are doing.
News? | 12:19 a.m. July 7, 2009
Hey Dick, why don't you tell us something we don't know?
Bronco has used this tactic since he became a coach!
I think he does it to get all of us cougar fans to come back after a disapointing end to the season. Good luck with this recruiting class.
And it continues... | 12:29 a.m. July 7, 2009
BYU will never be replaced as Utah's team.

Wow | 12:31 a.m. July 7, 2009
Utah comes in ranked at 62nd...watch out! ha ha
Hi Ute Fans | 1:01 a.m. July 7, 2009
Love that I get on to read articles about my own team, the Cougars, only to see most Utah fans reading it as well. I couldn't care less about your team but you sure seem to care about mine. So welcome. Enjoy talking about BYU football, because I'm sure not going to, nor care to, talk about Utah Football.
utefan | 4:18 a.m. July 7, 2009
Gosh, Dick, after reading this article I am sure you are going to want to write another fantasy...err article about how great BYU's chances are to win the national championship this year! To Hi Ute Fans: real fans are fanatics...that's the etymology of the word; so I guess you aren't as fanatical as many of us Utah Fans are. But being second to Utah in everything is OK with us!
Anonymous | 5:56 a.m. July 7, 2009
I always hope for the best with the Utah teams. It will be interesting to see what BYU's DB's look like in speed & mechanics. This has been the most disapointing part of the BYU program, speed and defense. Lets wish for a great year for all Utah teams. Looking forward to see what Utah creates after such a fabulous year. TCU looks like the pwoer this year, they always have great speed and aggressive linemen. Football is KING in sports.
every year | 6:15 a.m. July 7, 2009
Every year is supposedly the best class BYU has ever had. Yet this last season our team was the most unathletic bunch I have ever seen. Colorado State and Unlv took us to the last second of the game with their superior athletes at the skill positions. I won't even mention how slow Utah and TCU made us look.

Bottom line: Dick Harmons propaganda pieces do more harm than good to Cougar Nation. Unrealistic expectations that make our defeats even more bitter to swallow. Dick needs to hang it up and let someone else take the beat. Dick is leading us astray.
BYU | 6:36 a.m. July 7, 2009
Its so funny how all the yewt fans come out of the woodwork when there is a article about byu. I could carless what the yewt fans think about byu. Until you actually are national champs you can talk.Come down to provo and see what a national champion trophy looks like . You will never get one up there little bro
Um... | 7:12 a.m. July 7, 2009
I promise you this Dick. If BYU gets a top ten class the BYU PR guys will be popping off about a "top ten" recruiting class. Do you know how they rank recruiting classes? by stars... So people do care about the star system as long as they get recruits.

Also, BYU is #14 primarily because it is based on total points (total stars) rather than average star rank and since bYu has more recruits, they have an inflated rating. THus, when the big boys solidify their classes they'll surpass BYU.
Utah Fodder | 7:13 a.m. July 7, 2009
After the best year in program history Ute fans still suffer from a painful inferiority complex even when there is no reason to feel inferior (consider the rivalry and all that Utah has accomplished over the last ten years). Utah remains the little brother not because of what happens on the field but because its fan base acts like little brother.

Edward C. - Last year was a down year for BYU recruiting by all accounts so apparently the "long time" you've been around doesn't extend beyond 2009.

Howard S. - Utah has a long history of "demolishing 4 and 5 star recruits" that goes way back to 2008.

I love how Utes can say rankings are "nothing more than a crock" and spout off about BYU's fake national championship (based on rankings) but then beat their chests about their #2 ranked team. It's kind of funny to watch. The reality is that rankings of teams and recruiting classes are just educated guesses. Of course it's what happens on the field that matters, but if any Ute fan thinks Whittingham wouldn't take BYU's 2010 recruiting class in a heartbeat they're dillusional.
RE: BYU | 7:21 a.m. July 7, 2009
Haha, still living in 1984 is see. Have fun polishing that antiquated trophy.
c-ran | 7:26 a.m. July 7, 2009
Hay disclaimer if my memory services me it was not too long ago I heard a lot of u fans willing to trade coaches with the Y
re:byu | 7:27 a.m. July 7, 2009
It must be hard having so little to cheer for these past two decades. You can come up to the hill and have a look at our bcs trophies if you would like. They were actually won in your life time and come from much more prestigious bowls than your little holiday bowl win over a crappy 6-5 michigan team.

Utah: we don't Quest or Invest, we just win BCS Bowls.
National Champion Trophy | 7:37 a.m. July 7, 2009
Still hanging your hats on that trophy from 25 yrs. ago huh? That thing should be getting a little tarnished by now I would think.

Welcome to the 21st century. Nobody cares about what happened 25 yrs. ago. Get over it already!!
THEeyepatch | 7:40 a.m. July 7, 2009
With the Utes going undefeated, the Coug's need to put in gear. How unfortunate that the rival team that BYU has always considered inferior the best team in the nation [bias opinion]. GO UTES!
The Bard Says... | 7:50 a.m. July 7, 2009
It's so funny that there are far more BYU fan comments on this thread warning/whYning about terrible "Yewt" fan comments than there are comments by Utah fans.

"Thou doth protest to much."
Math Lessen | 7:56 a.m. July 7, 2009
Silly Cougar fans. Here's a quick lessen in simple mathematics.

When a ranking system is based on TOTAL points accumlated throughout a process, it's completely irrelevant to judge these rankings before the survey is complete.

That might be too complex for someone like Dick Harmon, and the Cougar fans on this board, but here's what it means. BYU's class has some very nice pieces in it and looks terrific right now because Bronco has already guaranteed 20 of his scholarships. When you add up 20 samples and are comparing them to say 6 like Utah has, of course the 20 will provide a larger sum. You guys should have learned that in second grade.

BYU's class this year looks very similar to Utah's last year. Utah had 1 5-star, 2 4-stars, and many 3-stars, and you know where that shook out when classes were complete....about 30-40. BYU will end up in that same area as teams finish up their classes next February. When that happens, will Mr. Harmon be commenting again? Probably not.
Knowwhat | 8:13 a.m. July 7, 2009
I think Bronco is talking about that his players leave with a gold or silver star on their forehead.
True Red | 8:17 a.m. July 7, 2009
Re:Utah Fodder---haaaa haaaaa.....dream on Fodder Boy...love reading a good joke early in the morning!

Edward C.!!!!!! Man, did U hit the nail on the head!

I thought this was an article about how Donko does not put any weight on the "ranking gooos"? Yet all the Zoobies are whining about the BCS Utes--LOL
Ernest T. Bass | 8:23 a.m. July 7, 2009
So much speed in this group, just like always.
1984? | 8:32 a.m. July 7, 2009
Barely beat a 6-5 Michigan team on your home court that was Jack Murphy Stadium. Michigan didn't want to be there. If undefeated was the measure of National Champs, then Utah has two national championships. We all know that there were nine or ten teams that would have slaughtered BYU in 1984. That is why there will always be an asterick by your 1984 National Championship because it only matters in Provo. Nobody else believes it because it didn't happen.
SJ | 8:32 a.m. July 7, 2009
Let's see if I understand this. If BYU fans are expected (by Utes) to stop living in the past and forget about the 1984 football championship because it was 25 years ago and supposedly no longer relevant then why do Utah fans continue to boast about their basketball championship that was what 50 years ago? Talk about hypocrisy......
Re: Math Lessen | 8:34 a.m. July 7, 2009
Learn to spell before you start teaching us math. How embarrassing for you. If you want to beat the stereotype, hit the books. Now where are you, I called in that pizza order hours ago?
re: True Red | 8:35 a.m. July 7, 2009
True Red wrote:
"Re:Utah Fodder---haaaa haaaaa.....dream on Fodder Boy...love reading a good joke early in the morning!"

And yet here you are proving his point about Ute fans, Thanks for playing come back when you can do better.
Call me The Dude | 8:43 a.m. July 7, 2009
RE: Math Lessen

You got the equation right but the comclusion is still wrong! Let's see, 20 players have already decided they want to play for BYU against 6 who consider your place. BYU is three times more popular than your place! That is the main conclusion of today's recruiting developement.
aj arizona | 8:57 a.m. July 7, 2009
Well one thing is for sure Ute fan. You will never have a National Championship trophy in Football to be tarnished.

Let alone see a Heisman, 2 Outlands, Davey O'Briens, Sammy Baugh's or Doak Walker trophies. 55 All-Americans, 11 being consensus, I doubt we will ever see College Hall of Famers, let alone 6 of them, soon to be 7 with Detmer.

Nor will we see a Super Bowl MVP or an NFL MVP (2), etc. Remember, that '84 team had 16 players draw paychecks in the Pros. Your insults of BYU's achievement shows your utter ignorance and jealousy.

BYU was the consensus number one by AP, UPI, Macarthur Bowl and Grantland Rice. The only two that mattered were UPI and AP, of course.

Enjoy your two BCS trophies, 10 teams a year play in those games. BYU will get there one day, but will Utah ever match BYU's other achievements.

Who has the tougher challenge to equal the other?
Legacy is built over generations, Ute fan, you have a long way to go to catch up
re: 1984? | 9:01 a.m. July 7, 2009
It seems to matter in the NCAA records which is more than will be noted for your #2 ranking. Oh and by the way, there is no asterik except in your mind because it just burns Ute fans that BYU has something Utah doesn't just like it irritates us BYU fans that our team hasn't gotten to a BCS bowl yet.
re: Nat'l Champs | 9:07 a.m. July 7, 2009
You can't get through one article about BYU football without some fan bringing up the national championship that was 25 years ago. Guys, bringing this up just shows that we don't have anything in the present that we can hang our hats on when comparing ourselves to the Utes. Lets face it, we all wanted an undefeated season and a BCS game last year. Everyone was writing us in to a BCS game early on. Some national sports figures were talking about BYU in the national championship game. Then, in a 2 game span, the Utes pulled the rug out from under us ans stole what we all wanted (fans like me as well as the coach and team at BYU). Can we all just stop pretending that the national championship makes us a better team. I'm waiting for something in this century to be excited about. I'm hoping all these high-starred recruits will lead us where Utah has recently been (twice).

So, please stop it with the 1984. Lets focus on the present and how we can get the spotlight back from Utah!!!
Boise Coug | 9:20 a.m. July 7, 2009
Any evaluation about BYU's recruits is so different than any other team in the country because a majority of them will not see the field for at least 3 years. Mendenhall needs every advantage he can get because he has the toughest job (when combining honor code with mission delays) putting talent on the field in the country. Name any coach in the country who would want the majority of his recruits to basically stop all football and athletic development for 2 years at their athletic prime. And add to that some who decide to do it a couple of years into their playing career - our 2 d-linemen who up and decided to go on a mission after starting a couple of years. The success BYU does have is that much more impressive considering what they have to overcome. Utah and USU deals with it on a much smaller scale.

With that said, I'm afraid that none of this talk will matter this season. BYU, Utah and TCU can be as good as they want to be and the best will still be headed to Vegas. BECAUSE BSU WILL BE THIS SEASON'S BCS BUSTER!!
pj Galoolie | 9:42 a.m. July 7, 2009
to 1984
Football is not played on a "court". Try a "field" Einstein!
Doesn't mattter | 9:45 a.m. July 7, 2009
BYU will lose at least 4 games next year..Not a hater just facts.
Magic Happens .... oops | 9:48 a.m. July 7, 2009
No stupid Quest, no investments, no magic ........................ just wins.
Recruiting talk | 9:51 a.m. July 7, 2009
BYU's recruiting class for 2010 is exciting to be sure. Of course, unless the hype plays out on the field it won't matter, but for now it is fun to be a fan and consider the possibilities.

I don't know why some kids wait forever to commit to a program. If they were making a paycheck it would make sense to hold out for more money. But if a college wants you and you want to play for that school there's no sense in waiting. I think it is great that BYU knows what they want, can evaluate it early, and can make an offer as soon as possible. Anyone who thinks BYU isn't getting great recruiting, the kind that any team in the MWC would be jealous of, is just talk.

As for the Ute fans commenting here, that's exactly what I'm hearing--talk: blah blah blah blah blah




BYU dominence | 9:51 a.m. July 7, 2009
BYu is the greatest champion in the state. I don't care if i was only 2 years old when my mighty cougars won the national championship.
SJ | 9:53 a.m. July 7, 2009
re: Nat'l Champs | 9:07 a.m.

You are either a young fan or you do not understand the rivalry very well. The concept is this: ANY advantage (real or imaginary) either fan base can use against the other MUST be exploited for all it's worth in an attempt to one-up the other and at least appear superior, especially during the off-season when there isn't much else to talk about.

AT LEAST | 9:54 a.m. July 7, 2009
At least this years batch of recruits is not full of recruit drinking parties on BYU's campus with current players, and recruits getting DUI's after making their commitments (Van Noy).

Although I do find it a little curious that the biggest news of this class was announced in a bar, albeit a sports bar. Heaps will be a lush too most likely.
Sundial | 9:56 a.m. July 7, 2009
A sundial is needed to time BYU's skill positions in the 40 yard dash.
wait | 9:57 a.m. July 7, 2009
Let me go buy a piece of the turf at Utah, so I can sleep with and party with it, it was nice seeing Utah succeed, but your program has been and will be in shambles before too long, coach whit wears to tight of shirts, he will eventually have loosen up.
UTAH FOOTBALL | 9:59 a.m. July 7, 2009
No slogan required.
UTAH FOOTBALL | 10:02 a.m. July 7, 2009
Where perfection is not a quest - it's a habit.
BYU is a great program | 10:03 a.m. July 7, 2009
Everyone has to make comparisons to try to justify their existence. It's all just stupid "keeping up with the jones" jabber. After three straight ten win seasons including two MWC titles, BYU is doing just fine. This year's recruiting class demonstrates that BYU is still on the right track as a strong program. This doesn't take anything away from a great Utah program so I'm not sure why Utes feel the need to get on here and blab about their BCS victories, try to explain the math behind recruit rankings, or explain how Bronco's early recruiting philosophy is a mistake. It just screams inferiority complex.

BYU's 2009 class was a down year with only one four star recruit (Van Noy) who won't even join the team until 2010. Nobody said 2009 was BYU's best recruiting year ever. Also, we all know that what happens on the field matters the most, but recruiting is where it all begins so stop saying recruiting means nothing. It matters and coaches and fans all know it. If it doesn't mean anything then stop reading and commenting on the articles.
Biased | 10:07 a.m. July 7, 2009
The d-news comment monitor is a biased cougar lover who is not letting through any Ute comments with sound logic.
Don | 10:09 a.m. July 7, 2009
As a Y graduate and having sisters who went to Utah I have only one comment to make. Ute and Cougar football fans should hurry and plan a vacation to Oklahoma(my Graduate school)or Norte Dame near where I grew up and look in their football trophy cases and then take a step back and realize this: Byu and Utah are infants in College football, never win based on recruiting class ratings and are usually over rated playing in a weaker conference. That is not to take away from the Ute win over Alabama(sure fun to watch especially as the National Media and ESPN ate crow) or Byu putting up some ten win seasons back to back to etc... But reality is this, Until you play regular season games in conference week after week against ranked teams and carry a solid non-conference schedule even a BCS Bowl win is taken lightly! Yes anyone can beat anyone on a given week like the Ute win, but you can bet that Alabama will be there again while who knows with BYU or Utah! Lets hope for a great season for both and then 10 or 12 more to talk.

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