Deseret News | BYU football: Cougars focused on Max protection

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BYU football: Cougars focused on Max protection

is rj willing? | 12:14 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

He's contributed much to the team and now may have to play center or other positions to help other team members. That's commitment

Eugene | 2:13 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

I'm tired of all the talk. I can't wait until August 30th in order to shift from talk to walk . . . as in walking all over No. Arizona. Go Cougars!!

Re:Eugene | 7:28 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

BYU plays Northern Iowa on August 30th, not Northern Arizona.

Comments continue below

RE: Eugene-are you serious | 9:05 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

So let this one go down on the books of duh . . . I love how Cougar fans know everything about their team and are always popping off and talking about things like "walking the talk." "Fulfilling destiny" "Being blessed"

Two points to that; First, nice scheduling against a patsy school. Second, even nicer on the whole awareness thing, BYU doesn't play Northern Arizona-so funny how unaware some of these BYU crazies are. Fact is they are clueless about football but are professional "pop corn popping on the apricot tree" professionals. Nice work! Get your facts straight before reeling off your big bravado!!!

Northern Arizona, hahahahahaha! Is Detmer going to do good this year? Get it straight you fools!!!

RE: RE: Eugene-are you serious | 9:35 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

One point, since you are obviously a Utah fan, nice scheduling against a patsy school! (Weber St.) That should be a good game for you!! Don't make fun of us when your own school does it too!!

Worried about Fui | 9:39 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

BYU is so deep offensively that most minor injuries only give backups the chance to get reps and improve without losing much of anything in this offense (Hall would be the exception even though Gaskins has stepped up his game). But hearing about Fui does have me a bit worried. Tonga was a huge key to Unga's success and Hall's pass protection. I felt okay about losing Tonga knowing Fui was coming in healthy after struggling last season. Even a healthy Fui is a bit of a step down from Tonga but he can still be a solid blocker, adequate receiver and a great short yardage guy with his running style. However, he needs to be out there getting the reps he missed last season and he needs to be at full strength to give us what Tonga did last season. Without a completely healthy Fui, Tonga's loss may end up being more than just a little step back.

Re: 9:05 a.m. | 9:41 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Isn't it hilarious how the BYU football articles are ALWAYS the most popular for the DN? I mean, there are articles on Utah's team. So, for a while there, I just attributed the popularity to the Y simply having a larger following than Utah. But I've since come to realize that BYU fans only read the BYU articles and Utah fans HAVE to read both Utah's AND the Y's articles. What a sad and frustrating life you utah fans must lead...

By the way, Eugene, Utah's the team that played patsy N. Arizona back in 2006. Someone's bravado must have induced a serious case of amnesia. hahahahahaha! Get out a large bowl and melt the butter because the apricot tree is poppin' in PERFECT time for a spectacular show this fall!

Devan | 10:05 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

I don't like Ute fans.

Bobs corner | 10:44 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

It should be noted that most BCS schools schedule at least one patsy team. That is not uncommon and BYU and Utah are only following the trend. And I don't think Northern Iowa is really a patsy team but you get the point.

If you want to raise an eyebrow or two look at some big name schools such as Florida. Look at how many games they play at home versus the road. If I remember correctly a couple years back they had their toughest games at home with only 5 road games I believe.

In any case, scheduling is a big part of winning. Ask Don King of boxing fame.

Anonymous | 10:45 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

At least we are playing a team that won almost all of their games last year. The only loss that NIU had last year was to the delaware team that lost in the FCS championship game, produced a #3 QB in the 2008 draft, and beat the ferocious Navy team that lost to Utah in their bowl game last year. Weber State lost more games than they won.

contradictions? | 10:53 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Doesn't Utah play some other games besides BYU? Get off the board.

Shsh | 11:06 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

"At least we are playing a team that won almost all of their games last year."

Some fans are so ignorant that they assume that ALL division-formerly-known-as-1-AA teams are equally bad; they can't believe that, just as in 1-A, there are some really bad 1-AA teams and some very good 1-AA teams.

Regardless, a good 1-A team should never lose to any 1-AA team, especially at home.

Scheduling | 11:14 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Seems to me like both BYU and Utah are playing some patsy teams this year...I mean, we both have to play Utah State and UNLV this year, right? Course, Utah got completely destroyed by UNLV last year. And considering that Utah is playing Weber State this year, I don't think Ute fans have much room to talk about scheduling patsy teams. Didn't Weber State go 4-4 in conference and 5-6 overall last year? Yeah...nice schedule, Utes.

Should be Reno | 11:17 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

The only reason the Cougs are playing Northern Iowa in the first place is because the University of Nevada-Reno backed out of a contract at the last minute because their schedule would have been to "difficult". This left BYU with very few options seeing as virtually all D-1 teams had their schedules locked.

Either way the game would have been a blow out.

re: Should be Reno | 11:46 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Many teams view BYU to hard of a team to beat. To big of a chance to start off a season with a loss to a non BCS team. Thatï¿½s just one more reason why it is hard for BYU to find challenging BCS opponents.

Joe Schmoe | 11:46 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Last year the O-line was supposed to be the strong point of the team....."supposed to be!"

They looked lost all year. They gave up blind side blitzes all year. They are darn luck Hall did not get seriously hurt!

In the Vegas Bowl against UCLA they were clueless against the faster D-line of the Bruins. They literally had NO ANSWERS!

I miss Jeff Grimes! He NEVER would have tolerated those kinds of MENTAL mistakes from his offensive linemen! NEVER!

Coach Weber needs to increase his learning curve and be on his toes!

re:Bob | 12:46 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

"It should be noted that most BCS schools schedule at least one patsy team."

BYU has Northern Iowa, Utah has Weber, and Michigan has Utah.

All patsies playing for a check.

Anonymous | 12:53 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

And if Utah beats Michigan....

I love how | 1:37 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

RE: Eugene made fun of Eugene for accidentally typing the wrong team, and then in his/her own email s/he made a stupid typing error: "professional 'popcorn popping on the apricot tree' professionals." Are you a professional professional yourself? Sheesh. Give a guy a break, will you? Then we'll give you a break when you need one.

I obviously can't wait for this year to start, but I can't help but think that our potential NEXT year will be all the more sweet. HOPEFULLY BYU will be able to establish/strengthen some serious credibility this year and end up ranked even higher next year. There is no chance at all, even if we went undefeated, that we could get to the NC game at the end of this year. If we did go undefeated, I think there MIGHT be a chance next year, if that year went perfect as well. But, alas, these are just hopes and dreams. We've gotta win the next game first.

Anonymous | 2:22 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Devan,
Ute fans don't like you.

wounded wolverine? | 3:12 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

RE: Rob
Don't be shocked if the Utes beat Michigan. Michigan has a new coach, and is rebuilding. The Utes have nothing to lose and are never lacking in confidence. Michigan should win, being at home, but this may not be a typical Michigan team. Regardless, Go Cougs!

Las Vegas Sun | 3:28 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

had the top-read story on Bronco interview during media days and Sanford's interview was the 10th most-read that day.

Just like BYU dominates the sports news up there, they are getting more interest down here, too.

The radio jocks here hate it, too.

RE: Anonymous@12:53 | 3:39 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

"IF Utah beats Michigan" is a good way of putting it. 'Cause it's not gonna happen. Take it from a guy who's seen Big Ten football in action: The Utes won't pull off another Appalachian State.

And no, I'm not a "BYU fan." To generalize from the ones we hear from most often in this forum, the job description includes the words "fair weather" and "whiner." I'm just talkin' realistically. Not that I wouldn't LIKE to see the Utes do it--just that I'm not holding my breath.

Keep on dreaming, though!

Good Luck | 4:52 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

I wouldn't mind seeing the ewts beating Michigan, it's all for the conference, if BYU and Utah are both undefeated going into the final game and are both in the top ten, that would be awesome! And whichever team wins that game should deserve a legit chance at the National Championship!

GO COUGS!

michael | 5:03 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Byu has plenty to be proud of but every time I here a Y fan talk about Utah's embarrassing loss to UNLV it reminds me of the fact;
UNLV beat the Y at Home in 2004,
BYU lost to SDSU by 20 in 2005,
BYU lost to a U of A a team that was not invited to a bowl,
BYU gave up 50 points to Tulsa just last year.
You may say that none of those loses equal the U's loss to UNLV but before you do please take a moment to realize BYU lost there homecoming game to CSU 58-13 just 4 years ago.
The point is every team has a loss that is baffling, lets celebrate the fact that both team should be good and lets hope they meet undefeated.

RE: michael | 6:15 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

well said fred...

and let's hope the Y comes out victorious

ah ye | 6:44 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

i cant wait for this season GO COUGS

Spud Man | 8:38 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

Most of the known schools will schedule a "patsy" to start things off. However, N. Iowa is pretty good with a lot of speed. If you don't believe, look at their team on UTube. Hopefully, we wont look past them and see another upset like what happened to Michigan last year.

Detmer is RETIRED | 8:44 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

In case you don't know it Detmer is retired. Both of them.

re:Bob | 10:54 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008

"Anonymous | 12:53 p.m. Aug. 5, 2008
And if Utah beats Michigan.... "

Bats will fly out of my but. (t)

I watch the game at Lumpys. you can come watch.

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