Deseret News | Cougars looking to '08, BCS bowl

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Cougars looking to '08, BCS bowl

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BCS | 12:45 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves already talking about the BCS? We need to start winning our non-conference games, something we haven't been able to do the past two years despite running the table in the MWC, if we want a chance. If too much arrogance sets in, I am afraid we will fall and not make it to the BCS.

BTW...Austin Collie is amazing, but his post game comments are over the top (two games in a row). Let's talk Sunday School when we are in Sunday School, and football when we are playing football and not mix the two.

Co Cougs!

BYU Fan | 1:02 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

It won't happen, but we'll have the entire off season to dream.

Wallace King | 1:21 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

What a disappointing and boring game. Not a single BYU point scored in the 2nd half against a weakened and lame UCLA team. The only thing preventing a shameful defeat was a couple of fingers barely deflecting a kick that 99% of the time would have been good. Some might call it a miracle. Had BYU lost by two points, the spotlight would have been properly focused on the dumbest play call of the century. The coach would have been totally responsible for the loss for thinking, with some 90 yards to go and a half minute left in the first half, that anything besides a knee to the ground was worth the risk of giving UCLA an easy touchdown. He took the risk, gave them the score, but avoids the scorn by the lucky intervention of the fickle fingers of fate.

Comments continue below

BYU | 1:24 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

a team that has to pull off a miracle to beat utah, then another miracle to beat a bad 6-7 ucla team should not be striving for the bcs just yet. They do not have the talent to go all the way. byu will probably lose to both tcu and utah next year and that will be that. good luck next year and i hope they get better every year to show the BCS conferences are a sham and any team can win any given day; i just don't believe they will be good enough to do it.

woody | 1:27 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I realize much has been said about UCLA being chosen to play BYU in LV but please remember who it was that made that selection. Not BYU & certainly not the players. Would they have wanted someone else?. Would they want
to play a higher ranked team?. UCLA proved to be all they could handle but who would have thought it. Nevertheless, they played who they were told to play and it just happened to come out ok. Make all the comments about who the MTN teams should be playing this year and put their names in a hat, pull them out and I'm sure their would be different results compared to what happens to all teams. Lets put the ugly comments aside and enjoy what the conference teams have done. Its the only exposure we will get and with that farce of a tv contract, it all we will get. Congrats to all teams representing those of use who enjoy a good game.

UCLA Again | 1:44 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

What are you thoughts on playing UCLA again? Will the task be any easier in LES? Who will be favored?

Digbads | 2:18 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Good heavens, BCS? Get a grip.

Coach Mendenhall will set a goal of National Championship for the team, and President Shamo will set a goal of 95% for our elder's quorum home teaching.

While I'd be ecstatic for either to happen, I'm not holding my breath.

Reynolds = overmatched | 2:19 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Wow! What a great game. An ugly win but a win nontheless. Our OL got outplayed all game long. Coach Walker of UCLA had his guys fired up and ready to play. Reynolds got worked left and right by Bruce Davis. That was a man going against a child (even though Reynolds may be older than him). That first turnover you can put solely on Reynolds because he got beat badly. He needs to move inside to either Guard or Center because he certainly does NOT have what it takes to be a left tackly. He just doesn't have the athletic ability.

Having said that, we are poised for a huge seaon on the offensive side next year. I'm a little worried about our defense and the number of returners there, but I'm confident that Bronco and the gang will coach them up, put some duct tape on it, and keep it rolling right along. Offensively though, we can be a special unit that will strike fear into the stoutest of defenses we come across. BCS 08!!

California Cougar | 3:10 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

This was a real good season and Bronco has us heading the right way. We need to keep dominating the MWC. We now have to show we can beat these nonconference foes. I know a win is a win, but we need to be better prepared and play much better against the UCLA's of the world. We need to play our best. I don't think that Bronco will make the same mistake of not throwing the ball for 2 weeks like he did after the San Diego st. game in getting ready for this bowl. That was pretty crazy and our passing game was the worst its been all season. The running game also looked poor. I still don't think Bronco is making good decisions on 4th down when we are inside the other team's 40 yard line. He always wants to punt. The last punt from the 31 yard line almost lost us the game. It was 4th and 5 so we should have gone for it. If we get the 5 yards that game is over and UCLA never see the ball again. Exciting finish, but everyone I talked to was disappointed in the way we played.

gwb | 3:42 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Good luck Cougars!!!

CTR-Choose the Red | 3:59 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSSSEEEEEEE!

Since when is a a last second, LUCKY win over a depleted,second class, used to be power of a one team conference -the PAC10, a springboard for next year's perfect season? Spare all of us who live in the real world the waste of words that will follow this post. To post anything affirming the analysis of this article which is so obviously self serving that it must have suggested in desperation by the BYU public relations department before they left for the Holidays. To write anything would only further underscore how really unintouch with reality most BYU fans are.

Self Riteous | 4:17 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

It's awfully arrogant Cougars to keep thinking that you will go undefeated in MWC play next season. You escaped with some lucky wins this past season. Some advice: Don't lose sight of humility along the way.

east of Utah | 5:24 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Yes!!! We just put a whuppin' on the 5th place PAC 10 team and now we're plannin' on a BCS spot!!!

Really? I guess hope really does spring eternal.

Rabid Fan | 6:20 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

The only problem with all of this hype about next year is that if Pete Carroll doesn't give USC a victory in the Rose Bowl this year, the chances are really good that the Trojans will be looking for a coach that can bring return the Trojans back to the number one spot. And who will they be looking at? Bronco's going to be top of the list? BYU might have all their players returning, but what are they going to do without a coach? How can Bronco turn down an offer from a program like USC's. BYU fans better be cheering for USC in the Rose Bowl.

Realist | 6:40 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

It just aint going to happen!!!

Living out east, people really don't care what happens in the beehive state, or their schools. Most people don't have a clue that there is a beehive state. I would love for the mountain west to get the recognition, however I don't forsee this lofty dream comming to fruition.

Patata Brava | 6:57 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

To the Players - Terrific job all season. Congratulations, and work hard for next year!

To the embittered Utes who will read this who are still upset about 4 and 18 - the Bruins lost, the Cougars won. Understand? The Cougars won. They won the game. They didn't lose the game, BYU WON the game. BYU scored more points then UCLA, hence they won. Perhaps you haven't learned Math yet, but when one team (BYU) scores more points than the other team (UCLA or Utah) then they win. Those are the rules of football. It doesn't matter how "ugly" the point total, BYU still wins. With all the football yet to be played, "the powers that be" will see eleven wins and rank accordingly. Especially if TCU and AF win.

Honestly, it seems as if many are desperate to grab onto anything to criticize the Real University in Utah. Your color shouldn't be red, it should be green, as in green with envy.

Ha! | 7:00 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

BYU won't go to a BCS game. They are lame and will lose a couple next year, relegating them to Vegas forever.

davidutefan | 7:07 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Good win for the cougs, congratulations. That being said, can we see them win a few games in 2008 before we give them a bowl, much less a BCS bowl. They've got some good players coming back but, injuries or bad bounces can change a season outcome quickly.

Keith | 7:09 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

It's simple. Win OOC games. BYU has flirted with it for two years now. Regardless, the program is back and the future looks bright. I'm proud to be a cougar!!!!

Nyron | 7:14 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I watched the game from the comfort of my home. I am so proud of our Cougars staying focused, despite some adversity. Yes, we won and it is a nice ending to a good year. Plus I was nervous just before the last field goal attempt.
Go Cougars!
Coaching Staff: Lets strengthen the staff and make better calls.

Mark | 7:15 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I'm torn on this topic. On the one hand, it's great to have tangible goals that are outside your former reach. On the other, sometimes the players sound dismissive of elements that will really be tough, like going undefeated in conference for a third year in a row. Does this mean one loss, and boom the season comes crashing down around you?

They will still need to concentrate on one game at a time, not looking too far ahead, and certainly being better prepared for the early games than they have been.

Good luck Cougs in 08, and the best to Travis as he recuperates.

BCS? | 7:26 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Only when the MWC get a new TV deal. No one knows that we exist.

93 cougar | 7:27 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Thanks for a great season Cougars.

So glad we have Bronco leading the team. He was obviously the right man for the job and I couldn't be happier with the direction he has taken the team. Embracing what BYU stands for instead of hiding from it. We are getting a better class of recruits who show up knowing what is expected of them on and off the field and it shows.

I couldn't be more pleased.

Not to mention the Utah win.

Thanks to all and Merry Christmas!

Big Al | 7:35 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I'm a Ute fan, let me state that so no one wonders. I really don't believe BYU or Utah is worthy of a BCS bowl next year. Yes, BYU dominated the MWC. But I wouldn't pick them to win if they were playing a middle tier SEC team like Arkansas. And yes, I would also pick Arkansas over Utah. I root for both teams but I have a hard time believeing either one of them match up that well on a national level. Utah and BYU were both lucky to beat marginal opponents on a neutral field, althought you could have called Utah an away game and BYU a home game.

Mendenhall is talking about lightening BYU's non-conference schedule. I look at it and I already think it is too light. Why not prove you belong by beating quality teams. What are you proving by beating the Eastern Washington's of college football? I know BYU is dominating the MWC, but who cares when you can't beat teams like Tulsa and UCLA.

I hope both BYU and Utah make it to a BCS game soon, I just don't believe either team is skilled enough.

HLB | 7:37 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

How does a avid Cougar fan get a list of those players returning from missions, coming in as Freshmen, and returning players for next season?

kip | 7:43 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

BYU's propensity for winning games they sould have lost is acting like a drug causing delusions or grandeur. First, let them actually win a game outside the MWC other than against Eastern somebody and beat Utah without a "miracle" finish, and then talk about the BCS.

not so fast | 7:43 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I am a BYU fan, but before the BCS talks begin, BYU still needs to go undefeated next year. I know everyone points to Hawaii and what the warriors did. As easy as their schedule appeared, I don't know that BYU would have gone undefeated with Hawaii's schedule. BYU narrowly escaped UCLA. BSC talk at this point is waaay premature.

duhverl | 7:45 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

We have got to start that BCS bid by playing a decent game against UCLA--one which we win convincingly. The last two efforts have not been very good.

Thank you Eathyn Manumaleuna! (WHEW...)

Austin Collie for the Heisman in 2009!

GO COUGS!!!

r. fortado | 7:49 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

BCS bowl, really! what game did you watch.

Gretzky | 7:50 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Rock and Roll Cougars. The D was big in the Bowl Game!!! Nixion, Kehl, Denny, Big M and the rest of the boys were awesome!!! The D kept us in the game for sure. The O will hopefully pick up and improve even more now that they have a year of experience under their belts at the key positions. It will be hard to fill Sete Aulai's shoes though. However, under the current system the Cougs seem to be able to fill shoes as needed and make the proper adjustments. Looking forward to Spring Ball already.

Just Wow | 7:59 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Please don't even start the BYU BCS talk. You guys barely beat a 6-6 Pac 10 team without a coach. Had you spanked them by several touchdowns I could almost understand some talking. But the fact of the matter is you won by one point. For all the talk from BYU fans about how they didn't want to play such a weak opponent, your team sure didn't show me that they deserved to play a better team.

Magic | 8:13 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

You are on something if you think you can win a national title.

John | 8:17 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

So as a season ticket holder at BYU, I am ashamed that players and coaches seem to think that playing a 5th or 6th place PAC 10 team and winning by a finger gives them some type of credibility. All it showed was that the best MWC team this year had all that they could handle against a 6-6 PAC 10 team. Thats all! If they want respect and credibility they needed to blow UCLA (6-6) out of the stadium so that the rest of the country would have thought, Wow, I would have liked to see these guys play a better calliber team. That is how to get respect. Win games and look good doing it. Thats how Utah and Boise St. in years past did it. We just proved that we are right where we belong (MWC champ playing 5th or 6th place PAC 10 team)

wsl | 8:24 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Anybody still holding a grudge over a fumble in the first half of the UCLA gave needs to get a life. Can't you think of a single good thing that Anae and Unga did the rest of the season? When was the last time you made a mistake in front of 40,000 fans and a nationwide TV audience? If it bothers you so much why not put your money where your mouth is and donate to BYU so they can do better? Oh, by the way-news flash-BYU WON.

RE: Rabid Fan (and others) | 8:32 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I am so sick of hearing how EVERYBODY wants Bronco Mendenhall. Um, how many offers has he gotten? Zero. BYU fans are just crowning him as the best coach in the country so when he returns to BYU you guys can think that he is choosing BYU over USC, UCLA, Ohio State, LSU, thus making BYU the best program in the world. Newsflash, he is choosing BYU over nobody because nobody has offered. Sure he has had two good years in the MWC, but he is far from being an upper-echelon coach...especially after being badly outcoached by an interim with a 4th-string qb.

Deja Vu | 8:41 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Did anyone else remember meeting a UCLA team with an All American place kicker named Lee. It was 1985 and BYU had the longest winning streak in the nation at 25 wins.

Lee kicked five field goals in that game.

The biggest difference between this game and the one in '85 is that Bosco threw THREE interceptions, including one on the final drive that could have saved the game. (This was two games before he injured his shoulder at Temple.)

Fact | 8:48 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

IF the Cougars go undefeated in 2008 THEN they will go to a BCS Bowl. High and lofty goal, yet achievable. Why not set one's sights high? Go COUGARS!! BYU 38 UCLA 27 in 2008

Lots of comments | 8:52 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

First... I love the fact that the BCS and a national championship is the goal of next years team. We will be good enough to do it. We just must execute. Go Cougars.
Second... I really want to return to the Holiday Bowl. San Diego is much more my place than Las Vegas. We were in Las Vegas and had a good time but San Diego is much better. I miss the year after year trips to the HB.
Third... Bronco Mendenhall could name his salary at most universities around the country right now. The guy has discipline and D1 schools are longing for a good coach who will not have problems with players off of the field. Bronco is your man.
Fourth... The lord does step in and take part when you are living right. The lord does not care about football but he does help those who are living right to perform to their best ability and sometimes better than that. When BYU had all of the legal issues under Crowton the lord did not bless the team. Now that things are right the blessings return. Eat your heart out Ute fans!
GO Cougars! Go Bronco! BCS Yeah!

haohmaru | 8:53 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Max Hall will only get better. Their non conference losses this season could have gone either way mostly.
They could easily go undefeated next year.

If the cougs are so weak, why hasn't utah won the mtn west?

Not Yet | 8:58 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

The planets would have to align for BYU to make it to a BCS bowl. A few key injuries and they won't even run the table in the MWC. Let's face it, MWC teams are one deep at every position. The drop-off to the number two guy is huge. Look at what injuries did to the Utes this year. There are things besides having an injury free season that have to go perfectly. BYU's defensive backs will have to grow 6-8 inches and shave more than half a second off their 40 times to hang with BCS schools. DB's have always been, and appear they will always will be, BYU's weakness.

Defense | 8:58 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

Wasn't Byu's D that won the game against UCLA, Utah, and NW. At the same time wasn't Byu D that gave up 55 points to Tulsa and lost it to UCLA the first time?

Byu losses their whole secondary, losses 3/4 LBs meaning Byu only has 4 RETURING STARTERS on their Defense; the D that won games and LOST games for byu this year!

Byu playes at Washington, at Arizona, at home against UCLA, at TCU, at AF, and at Utah. Byu WILL lose at least two of these games which means NO BCS!!!!

Bronco has proven once again that he can not compete against non conference teams, he is 1 game over .500 and two of those wins were against 1AA teams!!!!!

Great showing:

MWC champ

vs

6-6, no coach, no QB( 4th string walk on), no RB, and that is how you win the game? Not to mention that UCLA had more yardage and more time of poss.

Nauvoo Dad | 9:01 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I'm really sorry that all these comments seem to be self serving against BYU, however, It really does need to be said. You have to have dreams, and think of the possability of greater and grandour things for our football teams. Without these two, the team would only be good, but they have the potenial to be great. Some of you people out there watch a game and think of all the bad calls from the coaches and players. What about all the hard choises that they call and are able to pull it off.
I have seen many other teams throughout the country that has won just the same way, and everybody says how great that team is. Lets give credit where credit is due. Thank you.

re: FACT | 9:02 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

if Utah state, or Nevada, or AF, or WYO go undeafeted they will go to a BCS game!

You can have that win at home against UCLA, but you will lose at Washington and/or at Arizona

Reality Check | 9:03 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

You gotta love BYU football fans, who apparently think a divine power will continue to help their team convert long fourth downs and block short field goals. Sorry guys, ain't gonna happen. The divine power doesn't care.

Had the BYU football team consistently overpowered every opponent this year, maybe some of the outrageous talk in the article above and this blog thread would be justified. As it was, team members showed they were winners by figuring out ways to win--which is certainly commendable and important. But, the hand of fate, changes so quickly and next year, likely as not, it will. The Horned Frogs, Utes, Falcons, or whomever, will win a close game to spoil the whole ridiculous BCS talk (that's assuming it isn't a distant memory before the conference season begins) and the Cougar Nation can get back to what it does best -- whining about the refs, its seed (oh, sorry, those are basketball fans), or something else.

Good luck riding the current, colossal wave of success, after really laying the lumber to a team that ends the season with a losing record, an interim coach, and a 6-44 loss to your arch rival.

without a coach?? | 9:03 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I'm the first to acknowledge we barely a beat a 6-6 UCLA team, but they had a coach who seemed to have the team ready to play. Perhaps he was able to coach a very talented team in a way that the previous coach could not. Perhaps we saw a UCLA team play up to their abilities. There should be little debate that a team like UCLA has a lot of talent, more than any MWC team. The key is to take the talent and get the guys to play smart and hard. And this new coach did what the previous coach could not. Perhaps if UCLA played with such fire and skill all season, they would have enjoyed a few more wins and they would be in the top 20. I just love all the Ute fans on these message boards. Mind your own home and don't lose four games if you are so good, Utes.

Truth | 9:09 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

The last game of the season UCLA was playing for the PAC 10 Championship. If they would have beat USC guess what thats right UCLA would have been the in the Rose Bowl as the PAC 10 champion.

Forward (not backward) thinking | 9:09 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

I don't understand all these posts saying we shouldn't talk about a BCS bowl until after we go undefeated in 2008. Acheiving tough goals, which BYU to a BCS game would be, requres borderline obsession. We BETTER be talking about it. The non-objective critics will always demean, whether it is for acheving (ie a close win in Vegas) or for not acheiving (ie talking BCS and not quite getting there) So we may as well talk BCS. Hall and Collie were SOPHOMOREs this year. I am looking forward to '08!!!!

Maryland BYU fan | 9:10 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

It is funny to read about all the whining going on about the game. If you had paid any attention to the college football season you would have noticed that many ranked teams where beat by lower unranked teams. That is why they play the game and everyone has a chance to win and you have no idea how it turns out. BYU won and Utah won so enjoy that and allow others to dream about next year and what could happen. That is what life is all about. It is hard to win every game as the players are all human and make mistakes as each of us do in our daily lives. It is a game and only a game, it gives us an hour or two to forget about life and enjoy the games. I attended the Arizona game and cherished the opportunity to see a game. BYU was not perfect but loved being there and enjoying the atmosphere. Just sit back and enjoy the season and what the team accomplished.

Cougars1 | 9:15 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

So what if BYU didn't look convincing with the WIN over UCLA, 3 monthes ago BYU outplayed UCLA and dominated statistically but LOST the game. I'll take the WIN anyday. As far as UCLA, they played better than a 6 and 6 team, and they weren't coachless, in fact they were playing for Dewayne Walker harder than they played for Dorel all year.

Tatum #32 | 9:21 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

This is great comedy to lighten the pre-Christmas tension. You just barely beat a .500 team that fired its coach BEFORE the game and played a fourth string freshman quarterback, now bring on LSU and USC? Do you see planes, is your name Tatu, because I swear you must be on Fantasy Island.

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