Deseret News | Orem star picks Utah after 'holy war'

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Orem star picks Utah after 'holy war'

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What? | 9:53 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007

No super players from 2A who some of the coaches claimed could play with anyone in the state! Get real.

ute | 9:55 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007

Didn't Bronco say he would not lose any more local recruits to the U? Hmmm.. I wonder what happened?

Family | 9:58 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007

Having family there already appears to be the key to that decision. Congrats to the Utes. However, it won't change the likelihood that this kid will watch BYU win 3 MWC championships and go at least 3-1 in the rivalry while he mires in medocrity.

Comments continue below

to family: | 10:42 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007

Because we all know, that he did choose the worse school. Who would want to go to mediocre Utah, when they could go to Football, Basketball, and Dating powerhouse BYU, where everything is AWESOME. Give me a break.

I'd go to Utah ANY day over BYU. Great decision Krugar! You won't regret it.

MT in MD | 11:09 p.m. Nov. 25, 2007

Stealing a favorite Ute hoops line from the late 90s: He wasn't a fit for our system anyway.

BigPerm! | 12:20 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Congrats to the young Krueger kid! I know he will make a fine addition to the Ute defensive front, big motor and will give you 110% every down! Played football with his father Paul back in the mid-80s and was also a stand out player.

Conejo | 2:31 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Choosing Utah over BYU doesn't make this kid a bad person. Everyone has their preference and their priorities. Utah is a fine school and a fine football program and what works well for one person doesn't for another. i wish him success on and off the field. Just not when he plays against BYU.

Camille | 5:11 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

I believe that because he has a brother on the Utes team already had a big role in his decision. So his mind was already made up even before the game last Saturday. But, to each his own. I wish him luck.

lezoave | 5:46 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

how can you give more than 100% that's the stupidest phrase. and it's used soooo much.

Utah Man | 6:18 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Congratulations on your decision! BYU is a great place to play but not the only place. At BYU they are 3-4 deep in every position so your chances of being really good and playing were slim and none. Good luck on your mission.

Kyle | 6:48 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

...and I care because? Utah can take Mr. Krueger for Christmas. We still got Unga.

curious | 6:48 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Nice article, but I'm curious...How many scholarships does BYU left have to give?

Enter-Name | 6:51 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

You Don't hear much about this kind of thing too often

Mr. Ute | 7:17 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Wow what a surprise! With his brother going to the U and being a starter I just couldn't imagine why he wouldn't be all giddy about going to the Y. I'm sure he likes Gary Anderson because "he's such a good defensive coach." Gary has struggled a bit against the Y in 06 and 07 as he takes all the responsibility for blown coverages and mix ups. Maybe Gary can strap on the helmet next year and go out and really be "a good defensive coach," by making sure BYU doesn't go the length of the field to score at the end of the game.

Jack from Ark | 7:20 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Congrats its pretty obvious the UTE's need him.

Texas Cougar | 7:26 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Best of luck to David Kruegar. If he plans on playing tight end or defensive lineman, I don't blame him for going to Utah...there's kind of a back log of great tight ends and defensive lineman at BYU right now(although, at Utah, he's going to fight to share time with a great tight end out of Spring, Texas...who's on an LDS mission right now).

Pat from Lehi | 7:40 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Great Story Dirk!

Dman | 7:46 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Wow, you guys really are just THAT bitter aren't you? Get a grip guys. Utah is a small state and BYU will get some recruits, Utah will get some and both schools will still continue to improve. Rivalry week is over. You have an entire year to stew in your juices.

I'm glad this kid is comfortable at Utah. I think it shows maturity to pick a school at which you will be a good fit, not just the one that wins a single rivalry game. I admire KWhit for recruiting kids that want to serve missions. I am a die-hard BYU fan, but I want the state's players to succeed. He may not regret his choice generally, just once a year ;).

17-10 - 2 in-a-row

Marky | 7:47 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

He will most likely be a great addition to a Ute team that obviously needs the help.

RE: Family | 7:51 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

It gets a bit old when a young man makes a decision based on the facts he has at hand and some Cougar fan slams his choice and states "having family their appears to be key to that decision".

Not every person needs to go to BYU to meet their spiritual or educational needs. Many BYU fans forget that many LDS leaders have attended and even played football for the U of U.

I guess Bronco's rah rah "listen to Austin Collie" magic speech doesn't work on everyone.

Utah Grad | 7:55 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Great Pickup!!! Only concern will be whether Anderson is still around after his mission.

One more to come | 8:05 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

There's another Kruger at Timpview who might be better. The Utes could end up with three of them in a few years.

I meant Timpanogos | 8:07 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

There's another Kruger at Timpanogos that is another dandy. Which means Utah might end up with three Krugers in a few years.

Recruited by his brother | 8:38 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Seriously..... was it that hard of a choice? Most siblings would enjoy the experience of playing on the same team. I wouldn't call that one a recruiting war. Good luck.

Prediction | 8:41 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

He will play a year at Utah and then go on a mission. While he is on his mission Whittingham and Anderson will be let go. He will come home have a change of heart and end up at BYU anyway.

Ray | 8:47 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

He didn't want to get in line at BYU. Probably a good choice for him so he could sniff the field and get some playing time. Has anyone looked at BYU's depth chart lately? It almost makes me feel bad for Kyle.

WOW | 8:57 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

BYU is not the only place...knowing first hand that my son chose another school over BYU gives me perspective...BYU is arrogant and expects locals and Mormons (generally one and the same) to fight to go there. Kudos to any kid who has the ability to make decisions for his reasons and not the neighbors'. Anyone who harps on a kid for getting the chance to play a sport past high school anywhere he chooses generally is a person that has never been close to that opportunity. Incidentally, we are BYU fans, and BYU had some serious luck on Saturday and should have buried the Utes, Anderson obviously aint too bad.

BYU Fans show ignorance again | 8:59 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Why is it whenever the Coogers lose a recruit he suddenly "wouldn't fit into the system', or "didn'twant him anyway", or "would have to wait in line".......You keep showing that you are the least educated fans in the universe....pathetic

Homer S | 9:22 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

This doesn't make sense. He must not be living right if he picked Utah over BYU. Maybe we should asked Austin Collie what he thinks.

Rich | 9:39 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

When it was time for me to choose a university, I turned down BYU because I didn't want to be forced to attend institute. So I went to USU and attended institute there of my own free will. Except for one or two missteps I would have been considered a model student at the Y. Now, after gaining some wisdom, I realize that I probably would have loved attending the Y. It was my choice either to attend the Y and commit long term to the university's requirements, or I could have attended the U or USU and then exercised my freedom on each choice I made there. I don't regret attending USU. In a way it made me stronger. With Krueger already announcing that he intends to go on a mission, I'm confident he'll be just fine at the U. There are many good people there, both in the student body and on the faculty. And Krueger can probably think for himself and filter out all the falsehoods that will be taught to him by students and professors at the U. That same wisdom is needed at the Y, too, by the way.

Who Cares | 9:42 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

4th and 18 is all that matters. Good luck at Utah they need all the help they can get. To bad he can't play this year because Utah will have their hands full beating Navy. Don't lose to two service academys in the same year!

bob | 9:42 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

In all honesty I don't think BYU has any more scholarships left to offer. We has 3 left as of a couple weeks ago but we filled those. Probably made his decision even easier.

TheHailstorm | 9:52 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Hey Prediction ..You mean like Unga backing down on his word and switchimg taems after a comittment ? A commit IS a comittmment.
I am glad my blood bleeds red and I wasn't born a blue blud dud-- My father taught me that a mans word is his bond.

Mike | 10:12 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

As a die-hard BYU sports fan I still have to admit that for a solid and BALANCED education as an LDS kid I would take Utah over BYU. Utah has a strong institute program and literally thousands of strong fellow LDS students but also provides a balanced education which encourages kids to think rather than just obey. Love my Cougs but, while having some great grad programs, the Y certainly does not have a sterling reputation for encouraging free thought and dialogue.

AFomfsCoug | 10:24 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

As a BYU fan and the recipient of a wonderful BYU experience/education, I am very happy that Kruger gets along with his brothers enough that he'd want to go to the same school and play on the same team as them. As the father of four boys, I hope they want to go to the Y and have that experience. Even more, I hope they like each other enough to want to be around each other when they are older even when they don't have to live under the same roof if they don't want to.

If he plays anything like his brother he'll be great. Congratulations to the Krugers for raising boys that like each other and want to serve missions.

Serving a mission and attending the Y were two very similar experiences in terms of who I was around and the leadership/instruction I received. Both were a privilege to experience. Both were critical for me (I know not for everyone) at critical times in my life. Utah really isn't that different from BYU in many ways. As someone who isn't from Utah, I find it curious that the two schools work overtime to exagerate their differences....

Don't worry | 10:50 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

He'll go on his mission and become a Cougar when he returns because by then the U will have all new coaches and Whittingham will be BYU's defensive coordinator.

Coug Fan | 11:50 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Best of luck Kruger. I was really hoping you would choose BYU, but it sounds like you have a good head on you shoulders and will do well at Utah. I hope you have tons of success, except of course, when you play the Cougs.

USU grad | 11:57 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

The Aggies need some good help. Perhaps after a mission he'll think about Cache Valley.

Two in a row for the Ags. 2008 and BCS, here we come(er, maybe not, but at least two straight wins).

Josh | 11:59 a.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Maybe when Bronco said he wouldn't lose any more local recruits, he was talking about Kyle Whittingham chosing Utah over BYU?
No? Oh, my mistake...

CougarBlue | 12:16 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

The Kruger boy made his decision on his experiences. I too would want to play with my brother. There aren"t enough positions for every faithful LDS athlete to play at BYU. All schools can use the values and ideals that a faithful LDS athlete should exemplify.

Also I don't think the Y has any scholarships left for 2008 and only 1 or 2 left for 2009. They are fairly deep at their positions and this may have played into his decision.

His brother played well and hope this young man can do the same.

I wouldn't want a young man playing for me that felt pressured he had to choose the Y over another school. I want someone who wants to go to the Y to come and play. They are fully invested in the school because of their desires.

If Ben Olson had stuck to his word and Max Hall stuck to their commitments this would have been a different season, and I suspect not as successful. We are not always aware of the circumstances why an ahtlete changes schools. Sometimes the coach tells him he is no longe a fit for that school, try elsewhere.

danburtreynolds | 12:28 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

To prediction and Don't worry: No, he would go to UCLA.

Let's face it the 2 programs are very good, and he likely couldn't go wrong at either school, but I am stoked he chose Utah. He understands that the worst day as a Ute is better than the best day as a coug.

scoosba | 12:47 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Good luck Paul. I'm bumbed you didn't choose the Y. I hope you have a heck of carrer except when you play the Cougars. I would love to play with my brother too. It's kind of good to see that the out come of the game didn't have an impact on your choice. Goooooo Cougars!!

Cougar Fan Here | 1:39 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Best of luck to Kruger. Ive watched his brother play, and I think his brother is a great palyer. I wish him all the success in the world. I saw a story on KSL last night about an 8 year old Ute Fan who has cancer and lost his dad to cancer recently. His wish was to meet the Utah football team. When he did, the Kruger kid took a lot of time with him and even got choked up and was crying. It showed that although we dont always want to admit, there are some class acts at the U. Best of luck, althought you will probably be 0-4 VS BYU!! :)

Cougar FAN | 2:57 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

I happened to work with Morgan Scalley when he was in high school and committed to play for Utah. As a BYU fan, I told him that I was disappointed and that he would probably live to regret that decision (as he had been recruited by BYU). After watching him play under Urban Meyer, go undefeated in his Senior year, win the Fiesta Bowl, and get drafted into the NFL (short lived), I don't think he ever regreted that decision. I hope Kreuger has a good experience at Utah and serves an honorable mission.

BYU Fan | 3:14 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Congrats to Kruger. It will be hard to watch him play against my cougs. I wish him all the luck in the world, and I hope he finds what he is looking for.

Orem | 3:22 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

We love BYU down here.
We LOVE OREM football down here!
We love David down here too!
We'll be cheering for you where ever you play!

John Bob | 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

Good article,but the comments? They only show the world how small the gene pool is in Utah.

MT in MD | 4:06 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

To BYU fans show ignorance once again:

I made the "doesn't fit into our system remark because that's what Ute fans said repeatedly during their run of basketball excellence in the late 90s. There would be a lot of talk about how great a particular recruiting class was shaping up with all these in-state kids choosing the obviously superior Utah program under Majerus over the pathetic Cougar program, etc. Then come signing day, or thereabouts, one kid that the fans had been raving about, breaking down his game and talking about how great he would be up on the Hill would decide to go to another school (usually outside the conference), and suddenly that kid "didn't really fit their system anyway." Just poking a little fun based on a memory that this story stirred up for me. Seems to me Jason Kapono was all lined up and ready to dress in red and was going to make everyone forget any number of Ute greats. When he announced he was going to UCLA, he suddenly wasn't the right fit with Majerus and his style of game. Just occasionally needs to be pointed out that Cougar fans aren't the only goofs.

cougarfan | 5:26 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

I am a faithful cougar fan who played football at BYU and wouldn't trade the experience for anywhere else. However, it is not for everyone and I would be okay with my son playing for Utah if it is the right fit for him. I think playing with his brother and rooting for his brother's team played into his decision. I am just not sure that Utah has better defensive coaching.

Austin 4:18 | 5:57 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

One more to come-David Kruger is the only Kruger at Timpanogos, his next brother is only in 7th grade! get it right!
Let's go cougars!!!

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