Reader comments
Whittingham regrets Utes' onside kick

243 comments   |   Read story

No Heat! | 8:51 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
All the fans of the little brother in red can defend Kryle all they want but he defended his actions as heat of the situation. Come on, what heat?? Wyo was beat like an ugly step child and the game was over. There was no "heat" in the game when he called for the onside kick. Don't try to compare it to running your offense and scoring a touchdown either. This was a blantant attempt to embarrass the pokes!
Anyone who keeps scoring and says, if you don't like it stop us - I have no problem with that. Though the classy thing is to hold the score down. In this situation, this is not running the offense. It was childish 5 year old behavior and Glenn's gesture was as bad or worse. Kryle's behavior is being criticized nationwide. His behavior is an embarrassment to good sportsmanship -which is what he should be teaching his players and we should all be teaching our youth. I am troubled by any fan of the little brother in red who is also not embarrassed by his actions. Please, stand for something! Is this really a lesson you want you child to learn?
Seattle | 8:55 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
The end result is that Utah and Willingham has lost some respect from fans and coaches in the conference. Now, he has his players all jacked up to play New Mexico and especially BYU. That is exactly what he wants.

BYU better watch out in two weeks. Utah has been the underdog several times vs BYU yet they still seem to rise up and beat them.

If BYU has the conference championship basically locked up in 2 weeks do you think they will be as motivated as Utah to dominate the game? I doubt it.

Better be careful.
Go Witt | 9:04 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Wyoming is already the worst place in the conference to play. Now the Utes can look forward to next year at Wyoming. Talk about bulletin board material the Cowboys will be hungry. I predict now Witt's little hissy fit costs the Utes a game. Maybe not to Wyoming but maybe to a key injury by an angry cowboy with a late hit.
Comments continue below
irondori | 9:06 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Gene -- you are an alumnus, not an alumni. But they probably didn't teach you that @ the U...

Btw, would be interested to know in what emotion Coach K.W. was caught up to persuade him to make the onside-kick call... I think he deserved the finger, er gesture.
Trick-Schmick | 9:28 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
I don't get all the cougar ire over the trick plays in the Utah game.

Please some "fully invested" cougar help me understand why scoring via a gadget play is less respectful than scoring via a standard running or passing play?

It's not as if the fumbleruski or the reverse or the flea-flicker or the hook and ladder comes with some kind of guarantee.

If they did, everyone would be using them. Even the unimaginitive (but as we're constantly being told) 'classy' Bronco Mendenhall.
kewg fans.... | 9:32 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
you guys feel threatened. utah is playing better football than byu. there is less than 2 weeks until the big game. deny it allllll you want. but in your heart of hearts, everyone single one of you kewg heads are scared about the 24th. you will talk big up until kickoff. thats what you guys do best. talk big. but your big time talking, your fasting, and your praying will NOT help you this year. good luck passing against the best secondary in the MWC. good luck trying to stop the leading RB in the conference. good luck trying to stop the U receivers, when you have one of the worst secondaries in the conference. and last, but not least, i wish max hall good luck with the likes of stevenson sylvester, steve tate, sean smith, robert johnson, joe jianoni, GABE LONG, and nai fotu coming at him all day long ;) good luck players and fans alike. lets see if good 'ol bronco can keep his finger down when utah is doing onside kicks in the 3rd quarter while pitching another blowout shutout
new to football | 9:36 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Please be patient with me (I am new to American football).

According to football etiquette, what is an acceptable margin of victory?

If a team is ahead by 3 points would it be good etiquette to punt or �fall on a knee� when it was your team�s turn to run or play catch with the ball?

Like in boxing, is it possible for the losing team to �throw in the towel� so that the team that is ahead won�t try to score any more points? Was the towel thrown onto the field so no come back would be possible?

Please clarify�I thought it was a good idea to make goals? The great American pastime is so confusing.
Damaged goods | 9:38 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
from Hey BYU Fans: "Isn't Coach Whitt an ALUM of your school? Isn't he alum of the BYU football program? Isn't he member of your church??"

Uh, yeah you're right on all those points. He used to be a pretty good guy. WHAT IN THE WORLD DID U GUYS DO TO HIM??! Now it's going to take years for us to reform him after he joins Bronco's staff as the D coordinator, thanks a bunch.
Arizona Ute | 9:42 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Went to Byu, graduated from UofU, read all these posts. I root for both teams unless they play each other. The "classless" ones, the ones that I have lost respect for are all the BYU fans on this post who have ridiculed and denigrated and made the incredibly childish, tasteless and totally stupid remarks. It's just a football game and somehow I had higher expectations of BYU fans- particularly given your religious affiliation. To say I am disappointed doesn't begin to cover it. I enjoy a good football game- but that's just it- it's ONLY a game!!! The fate of the free world doesn't rest on it's outcome!
re:re:Be afraid | 9:44 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Actually 20 yard line 5 row season ticket holder for 20 years baby. Love it, I'm jacked for the game on the 24th. Best rivalry in the country.
East Coast Ute | 9:52 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
I am amazed at how many BYU fanatics are commenting on a Utah-Wyoming game and attacking the character of the Utah coach. Sounds like fear, with maybe some hatred thrown in. Not even close to what BYU represents itself to be. Maybe BYU is not what it represents itself to be. A BYU friend recently told me he thinks everyone hates BYU because once upon a time they had some really good teams. Not true. Many teams have dominated and been respected. Just read the comments above for a hint at the real reason.
chester blue | 10:05 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Coach Kyle made a poor mistake and he admitted it. Was he put up to the apology? That we don't know for sure. He is a good coach and he's definitely proved it this year. I thought the Utes wouldn't win more than 5-6 games after all of their injuries. But Kyle has done a tremendous job up there. The on-sides kick was ridiculous though. Being up 43-0 and going for it there? I would've given him the double bird. It really was classless and he knows it. He still is an excellent coach by ripping off six in a row like they have. They do have real good talent and despite the record in '06 you knew that Utah's A-team would compete against BYU. I see another great game in LES and I'm curious as to how Vegas will pick this one. Right now, they may give Utah a 3.5 advantage but BYU will end up being picked to win by 3 1/2 points. Can't wait for the game. GO COUGS!!!
Re; Laugable | 10:10 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
You wanna talk about crying...John Beck two years ago. Now that's weak! haha. He's a baby. Not even tough enough to start on a team that's 0-8. Go Utes. I hate BYU and always will. And not to mention crying let's talk about criminals...now that's not very classy on BYU's part. Honor code doesn't even exist for football players.
think about it... | 10:31 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Hey byu guys (and other self righteous posters), better check out your own closets before chucking too many more rocks... Remember, what would Jesus do?
RE: Trick-Schmick | 10:44 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Please excuse my football ignorance maybe someone can help me out...when a hand-off is faked, isn't that a form of a trick play? When the offense huddles and calls a play, are they not trying to figure out how best to move the ball down the field without letting the opposing defense know what they are going to do? Is that not a form of trickery? If BUY fans pride themselves in not having trick plays, why doesn't their offense announce to the defense what they are going to do and then see if they are good enough to execute successfully?

A flea-flicker or hook and ladder are very entertaining plays to watch and demonstrate confidence and a willingness to take a risk. Let's face it, folks, if BYU had such plays in their play book, they would be talking like it is the greatest thing since sliced bread because that's what BYU fans do. BYU doesn't have them, they can't execute them, and therefore, their fans who espouse only what their institution says is ok, don't like them.
Ute shootin | 10:51 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Wow, BYU fans are just in here crying, trying to make Witt look bad so they can make themselves believe they have the better coach, well forget about it you are stuck with the second hand trash. Witt chose the classier program, and also the more successful program that has dominated BYU over the years.
Mike Gourley | 11:21 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
I think most people are missing the point in my opinion. I don't think Whitt ran the score up. They only scored 10 points in the second half. What Whitt did was classes and embarassing. I think it is a lot worse than just running the score up.
NIce | 11:43 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
Way to go Coach K.W!! The real side of you finally comes out !!
Anonymous | 11:52 p.m. Nov. 12, 2007
There is only one thing that I am getting by all of this controversy. BYU is afraid, very afraid (of the DARKSIDE). Let's have a repeat performance this week and get another W against New Mexico.

GO UTES!
Chicago Cougar | 7:34 a.m. Nov. 13, 2007
I watched the Utah game, and I thought it was a classless act, but the most classless thing about it is that BYU fans and not Wyoming fans are unable to forgive and let go. It's not really classy to generalize an entire fan base and school based on the actions of a few. Let it go. KW apologized. What more do you expect? Go Cougs! Beat those Utes in 2 weeks!
sparks24 | 10:32 a.m. Nov. 13, 2007
This whole thing is not about BYU VS UTAH it is about a coach doing something stupid period. I have been a high school coach for 18 years what Coach Whit did was simply wrong and to defend it makes you that are look stupid. Leave your red eyes at the door and just say it was stupid and move on.
thanks kyle | 11:58 a.m. Nov. 13, 2007
for giving us something to fuss about this week. The byu and utah game isnt until next week and we dont want to waste all the smack talk this week. Now that we have something for everyone to talk about we can save all the good stuff for the big show.
Tarheel Ute | 12:05 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
50 to 0. Perhaps it was a good thing I was unable to watch the game. A game were good sportsmanship was not exhibited by the hosts, albeit following some poorly timed remarks guaranteeing victory by Wyoming's coach prior to the game. The otherwise decisive win by the Utes was overshadowed by the Utes aggressive play once the early lead would have normally required a little civility. Granted it is difficult to tell even your second and third stringers to hold back, as the Utes attempted in most part in the second half. However the damage was done, and now a good win is tarnished and what little good graces gained after turning around their season has vanished. Wyoming may have deserved to be beaten on the field, but did not deserve to be humiliated, regardless of the their couches comments.
Coach | 12:06 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
Coach Whitt only apologized after his wife got on hit tale. Good thing coach married a good woman.
GO UTES!!! | 2:39 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
OK. We've beat this horse dead. Now let's just leave it to all those cougar fans with their fake outrage and their self-congratulatory hubris while the rest of us turn our attention to what is REALLY important...the 7-3 (4-2) New Mexico Lobos will be visiting us this weekend. We're still jockeying for position in the MWC, and these guys aren't going to roll over for us like the Cowboys did. They're playing some good football.

GO UTES!!!
UTE | 3:12 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
I personally love all the "class" comments coming from BYU fans and how Bronco would have never done this. How about throwing an 18 yard TD pass with your starting QB (ok, ok it was Jason Beck not John Beck and I am not sure there was a back up to the back up) with 2 minutes left in the GAME to your STARTING tight end Johnny Harline to make the score 38-0? By the way, that school was another in-state institution, Utah State. Running up the score? Classless? Thanks for the example Bronco and BYU. All class. The flagship of the conference.....LOL.
Anonymous | 3:48 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007

Whittingham should have spent some time in parochial school like Urbin Meyers did.

It might have given him some degree of class and dignity.
GRider | 5:16 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
I want to see a coach go for the jugular and attack at every opportunity, every game, every play.

Fact of the matter...Utah won another game and will win the next three (counting the bowl game).

I want Whittingham, Andersen and Ludwig to go for the jugular all the time the Utes are playing. Never quit until the whistle blows at the end of the game regardless of the score.
dennis | 6:09 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
Uh, GRider,
A lot of us don't exactly see an on-side kick as "going for the jugular."

Sort of a wimpy thing to do, actually.

Horsebutt Mendenhall | 8:58 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
Please have mercy on us, the holier-than-thou people of the school down south. Don't kick our hineys like you did Wyoming's. We promise to lose in San Diego after the Holy War to let your share the title if your don't pull out the onside when you're killing us 73-3.
Horsetush Mendanhall | 9:05 p.m. Nov. 13, 2007
My dear Kyle,
Please have mercy on us, the holier-than-thou people of the school down south. Don't kick our hineys like you did Wyoming's. We promise to lose in San Diego after the Holy War to let your share the title if your don't pull out the onside when you're killing us 73-3.

Love,
Bronchitis
False Pride? | 9:02 a.m. Nov. 14, 2007
An on-side kick when the game is clearly won, is the same as a sucker punch.

Nothing go be proud of Utahns.
Big 10 fan | 1:33 p.m. Nov. 14, 2007
"Whittingham regrets the onside kick."
I wonder how many Ute fans regret having him as coach. If you want a class act as a coach - you might think about looking in the Midwest for a good coach.
bluenwhite | 6:33 p.m. Nov. 14, 2007
Was it the correct thing to do? That is debateable. I wouldn't have done it. I am glad the Wyoming coach was punished for his gesture. My question is why Utah struggles to fill or even get close to filling their stadium for home games? Come on ute fans, if you are so die hard GO TO THE GAMES!!
I dislike Wyoming almost as much as I dislike the U, and I am predicting that the Cougs will win out and finish in the top 25.

Predictions:
BYU 31 Wyoming 10

BYU 24 Utah 17

BYU 38 San Diego 10

GO COUGS!!!
re: onside kick, etc. | 6:42 p.m. Nov. 14, 2007
PLEASE! Had Coach Whit took it easy on WY, and had WY made a comeback, then everybody would've been asking for his head saying that a good coach would've made certain that the game was in hand before letting up! This was the same team that badly beat VA who is leading the ACC. If you don't think that they could've made a comeback in the 3rd quarter, then you are the one that is disrespecting WY!

An onside kick is a low percentage play that courts extreme risk in that the opposing team ends up with excellent field position. It is only used when a coach is desperate or very sure that he can make the play. Auburn's coach used it against SC last year while beating SC. Spurrier was very impressed, and gave a nod of approval to the Auburn coach for having burned him. It did not work for the Utes, and gave WY one of their best shots at scoring the whole game.

This was no different than any of the other trick plays used against WY. I think the offense should've shown no let up until the 4th when it was impossible to comeback!
Anonymous | 6:11 a.m. Nov. 15, 2007
Onside kicks are a typical maneuver in Utah football.

They rely on plastic rather than substance.
Get some class | 8:52 a.m. Nov. 15, 2007
Typical cheap-shot Utah football tactic.
Kiss my class | 4:07 p.m. Nov. 15, 2007
It was as classy and incredible as anything. Why should trick plays be limited to the weak teams that aren't good enough to execute them anyways? They shouldn't be a last chance haven't-got-a-prayer kind of a thing. Let's practice them against real teams, and they'll be effective when we need them.
Pathetic Cougars | 2:33 a.m. Nov. 16, 2007
You guys are the worst, seriously. You as a sports culture and self rightoeus people are more competitive than anyone but you try to pull out the red flags and say what should have been done. It was one stupid onsides kick, stop making such a big deal about it. Everyone laughs at you all over the country cause this stuff is normal. It's football folks! The Utes are playing hard and pulling out what they can to do well and have fun. I think the classless thing is the star wars milking the cow cheer and gesture you do when you're on defense. That's aweful!
Anonymous | 6:41 a.m. Nov. 16, 2007
"Trick Play?"

Situations don't make the man - they reveal him.

And what has been revealed is another reason why people view Utahns as plastic.

I'm surprised he didn't grab the ball and go home.
Ute Alumni | 10:03 a.m. Nov. 16, 2007
It has been nearly a week and I still don't see why guaranteeing a win is "classless" like so many infer in these comments. I don't like Kyle being unsportsmanlike (which he was), I still wish him luck however. Let's be cool about how we win games and not act like it is the first time we have been ahead in a game. I think the way the Utes responded to the guarantee shows the inferiority complex that I noticed while attending the U. Go Utes. Act like you should, the top class university that you are.
USU grad | 12:26 p.m. Nov. 16, 2007
You whiners from Utah and BYU. At least you get wins to crow about, or against, with each other.
On-side kick the coach | 1:13 p.m. Nov. 16, 2007
An on-side kick when the team is ahead by 50 points to zilcho is not "guaranteeing a win,"
it's a shameless exhibition of low behavior and an embarassement to anyone with any class whatsoever.
Fire the coach and recruit somebody with class (I'd look in the Midwest somewhere)

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

previousnext

Latest comments

Our own Syracuse fans are the ones that came on here and started running...

What a joke! This game is a snore these days and the fan voting makes it even...

I've been in the asphalt manufacturing biz for eight years and I've never...

BYU's Unga weighing his options

Money comes and money goes, but an education is for life.

What a wonderful program. Mental illness really does affect every family...

Letters: Global warming a lie

You've seen video of icebergs calving, as they do every single year. The...

Good coaches have jobs. Former superstars- I consider Stockton one- don't...

I guess we should all think twice before answering "when nature calls" in...

I rode past the proposed temple site in Phoenix and was surprised that there...

Obama defends wars, accepts Nobel

Let me help you educate yourself. Type into any search engine "Democrats...

Advertisements