Deseret News | Utah Utes football: 2 backs, zero problem for Utes

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Utah Utes football: 2 backs, zero problem for Utes

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Mike Johnson Fallon NV | 6:33 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

It is pretty clear why BYU fans here want to count the ranking of the opponents after the bowl game and why Utah fans want to count them before the bowl games--at least in recent years. That is because BYU has lost a majority of the bowl games and opponents that were unranked (like California in 2005) became ranked after winning the bowl game. And because Utah has won a majority of bowl games often leading to ranked teams dropping out after their loss.

Both sets of fans are playing to their strengths in a silly attempt to falsely prove they are better than the other. The truth is there has been parity between them for years and that has fueled the rivalry between them. When teams actually superior to another their fans spend essentially no time trying to selectively produce statistics and arguments to prove their case. They only do that when there is parity between the teams, like there has been for a decade or two between Utah and BYU.

The argument that using the ranking before the bowl game, but after the season is some how analogous to using a preseason ranking is silly.

RE: Yewt Dude | 7:02 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

I believe the majority of these guys go to JC's due to poor academic performance (and later qualify during this time). The others make themselves better players during their tenure there. I don't recall where Asiata falls into. Perhaps, someone out there knows more about his history? I've lived away from the area for a number of years.

Re Mike Johnson Fallon NV | 7:03 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

THANK YOU!!! FINALLY SOMEONE WITH SOME SENSE IS COMMENTING!!! This is what I've been saying all along!!!

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Oh You Cougar fans | 7:02 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

Just win your Bowl games and you will have an argument. Just beat the ranked teams and you may have an argument. You lose Bowl games and big games that is the bottom line. Now pick out the one big game you have won in the last 20 years and that is what you talk bout...that is the BYU MO.....of if you were only half as good as you think you are...pride cometh before the fall

re:mike johnson | 7:48 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

you it does make alot of sense, in favor of byu that is...face it no ranking means anything other then the final ranking!! I don't go around spouting to my friends that byu in 2001 was a top 10 team...because we WERENT! yet yewt fans try to manipulate anything they can. Well let me congratulate you on really having such an unblemished bowl record, thats if these were actually bowls that you were playin in. get real!

#1 Miami | 10:04 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

If you can only count end of season rankings, then I guess BYU should never mention that they beat #1 Miami back in 1990 or whenever it was, because Miami didn't finish at #1.

What a stupid argument.

Don't matter now | 10:03 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

I'm a BYU fan and I've also argued about BYU in '84 and utah in '04, but you know what? Quoting all kinds of stats and other logical/illogical reasons don't really matter now. The only thing that really matters is the people who follow this sport closely and got to vote believed that BYU was the #1 team in '84 and utah was the #4 or #5 team in '04. That's pretty much the end of the story and no amount of aguing or stat quoting is ever going to change it. The best anyone can do now is just accept it and move on.

re:Yewt dude.. | 10:46 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

Academic Reasons???..the players that are stars now at Snow are and have always been strong academically.......Whittingham and Bronco have more players in respective programs today that are borderline, than does Snow?.....the Utes just suck at recruiting......and BYU isn't much better!

re:#1 miami | 2:16 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

dude you are comparing apples and oranges...miami was number one because they had a ridiculous team the year before and had the talent of a great team, as did pitt in 84. When BYU beat these teams it killed their years and showed in the rankings. Utards on the other hand played a pitt team that wasn't great the year before, played in a terrible conference...really it was a joke. Also your game was at the end of the year so pitt's pathetic team wasn't in doubt. BYU shocked the world when they beat miami and to even compare that to your pitt game is a crime against the sport

Re: MJ in Fallon | 7:36 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

The fact is, BYU was good enough and played strong enough competition in their bowl games, that even when they lost bowl teams they were still considered good enough to finish in the Top 25 FOURTEEN times in both the AP and Coaches poll.

Utah, despite their bowl wins, had such average teams and played such average competition in their bowls, that they were only considered good enough to finish in the Top 25 THREE times AP, FOUR times Coaches.

Someday Utah fans will learn that finishing 3rd or 4th in the conference, having an above average year (which is all it takes to get into a bowl game now days) and then beating another above average team in a bowl game, does not suddenly transform your above average season into a very good or outstanding season.

re:apples oranges | 12:54 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

std fans are ridiculous like this "fruit" that commented on miami. No it is the same comparison. Both miami and pitt were terrible, detmer got love cause he beat a bad team at "home" like that isn't hard for anyteam to do,, lok at us vs. ucla last year,,,,really it baffles me how biased std fans can be get your heads out of the sand

re: fruit salad | 1:56 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

And Utah got love for beating a mediocre Pitt team that didn't deserve to be ranked, let alone be playing in a BCS game.

Utah can take pride in their bowl win/loss record, but they also need be honest enough to admit that the most formidable opponent they've ever faced in a bowl game was #15-ranked* Washington State in the 1992 Copper Bowl.

Washington State (9-3) finished FIFTH in the PAC-10 in 1992.

And Utah lost to them 31-28, to finish 6-6.

*final ranking, AP #15, #17 Coaches

Lets just put it this way | 5:02 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Let's just put is this way and say that the last 2 season BYU was better than Utah because BYU beat Utah and had a better record. Before that Utah was better for 3 seasons I believe because they beat BYU and had a better record. Enough said. The team that finishes with the better record is the better team that year.

Oh and I was at the Pitt game when Utah hammered them and not one fan was happy and every single person there and announcing the game said Utah got screwed and should have been playing Auburn since both were undefeated. No one thought Pitt deserved to be there and no one will argue that but that is just how it happened and I would bet money that Utah could have beaten Auburn that year and played great games verses USC and Oklahoma who were undefeated going into bowl games

Re Lets put it this way | 7:54 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I ALMOST agree with you. Utah won 4 straight, not 3. But other than that, good points.

re: Yewt dude.... | 8:28 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Are and have always been strong academically? Please provide a link to substantiate this. Why are they then there? I grew-up in a state heavy on JC's and know their purpose. Prove me wrong (although you can't, you can play along) with facts, not opinions. Now, get busy!!

D mack | 4:33 p.m. Aug. 9, 2008

This guy has overcome alot and im sure will be the starting back. They dnt call him the MACK TRUCK for nothing. it just sucks he is just now getting the pt he should have gotten instead of POSTON who i remind u was a transfer from USC. I have played with Darrell Since i was little and when given a task he always proved himself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

daisy upuia | 4:13 p.m. Sept. 10, 2008

hey cuz,
nice game you had on saturday, send our love bye gotta go

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Utah Utes football: 2 backs, zero problem for Utes

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Cougars beat Utes, 26-23

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Utah Utes football: 2 backs, zero problem for Utes