Congrats Yewts | 9:35 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
The Utes looked horrible in the first half and great in the second. Congrats on beating another mediocre team.
Dave | 9:41 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
We definitely had a slow start tonight but the 2nd half showed just how dominate the UTES can be. I hope we learned a lesson on how not to start a game.

The UTES were awesome in all phases of the game in the second half. GO UTES!!!!
Saudi Cougar | 9:42 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
Way to go Utes! With TCU playing well and BYU beating a PAC10 team on the road, maybe we can get 3 MWC teams in the top 25.
Comments continue below
Tale of Two Halves | 9:42 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
As a big Ute Fan, I only wish Whittingham would somehow show some consistancy. If I could take the first half of Michigan and the second half of UNLV, we would look like a top tier team. I am happy for the victory but not happy about the Utes playing down to the competition. Why can't we play a complete game? If we want the BCS game, we need to play like a BCS team. We have the talent. We now need the coaches to step it up in practice and the games.
Utah and BYU thoughts | 9:49 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
I would say that BYU and Utah have played about the same level of schedule so far, with surprisingly similar results. I equate UNLV to Northern Iowa. The results from Utah and BYU were similar. I equate a down Michigan team with a scrappy against the wall Washington team. The results were similar. I expect two pretty good teams to play in November, with the edge going to Utah as it will be played in SLC.
Random Thoughts | 9:49 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
Just as I thought, Utah ended up thumping UNLV. Now if only this team can put 4 Q's together in one game then this team will be really hard to beat and should be the real BCS buster from the state of Utah and the MWC! I see the potential with this team, the talent but I am not sold on Wittingham & their horrible offensive coach. If these two do ok as coaches then Utah just might go unbeaten.
jd | 9:52 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
Although the Utes turned it around against a perennial doormat, I was very unimpressed with their tackling and overall speed. Utah State should be a good tune up to fix what's broke, cause after that it's Air Force, and they always give they Utes a tough game.
Nice Win! | 10:00 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
I just came over from the BYU/Washington article, where every negative comment was blamed on Ute fans numerous times. But like Utah in the second half, I'm gonna stop playing down to their level and not assume that every negative comment comes from a BYU fan. Because I've heard of google.
Everyone will agree it was a rough start for our offense. Gotta love the D though. It makes me happy to hear the BYU fans upset about their offense. Our great D + their poor offense bodes well for us.
Blue Fan! | 10:10 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
Way to go Utah, last week you squeaked by a less than mediocre Michigan team and this week you needed the second half to finally finish off a pitiful UNLV team. If we could have a rematch next year, you'd be sorry.

Go Blue!

Go Blue!

Go Blue!

Blue Fan | 10:44 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
We would love you to come to our beautiful state for a rematch! We know it will never happen because we have beat you once and you cannot afford to loose again to a great Ute football team or another MWC team.
a lot of weapons | 10:57 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
the Utes portrayed so many weapons on offense and their defense dominated everything but the first drive. Look how many offensive players touched the ball and did well.

Kruger and Misi were awesome. Entertaining football.

Go Irish, Go Utes. Be humble BYU fans you're not that great.
re: Blue Fan | 11:04 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
Huh? You needed the worst call of the year to beat the #9 team in the PAC-10 and you're rubbing it in about the Utes beating UNLV by 3 TDs? Locker made your defense look like a bunch of wussies. Your linebackers couldn't even bring him down! Your middle linebacker bounced off of him. That's a QB, mind you, not a fullback! You guys looked soft today.

You'll need your ref friends again in November if you want to beat the Utes!
GO UTES! | 11:02 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
obviously there is alot of action on the BYU board to keep the coug posters off here (and some faithful ute fans too, ha). I noticed somethin in the game that was interesting-after the Asiata pass to brooks ( i think it was brooks, i had to follow it on the net) brooks threw the ball in the air after he scored and nothin was called. So I think we can throw the "non judgement call" stuff out the window. Anyways, I hope that second half team can show up for the entire game one of these weeks and they'll drop 60 on somebody. And I like the first comment on this article, I guess we can congratulate the cougs on eeking out another win against a Pac-10 team, Go UTES!
Blue fan? | 11:13 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
First off, I couldn't figure out who Blue fan is a fan of: Michigan, Utah, or BYU. I actually thought he was a Utah fan taunting Michigan???

Utah needs to figure out how to play 4 quarters.

BYU needs to figure out how to put non-conference teams away on the road.

Both teams have work today if November 22nd is going to mean anything. Too bad no one else can challenge for a conference title (TCU?).
TC | 11:21 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
That QB at Washington is better than your QB and running backs put together. He's as big as most middle linebackers and faster than anyone on the Utah team. I love the Ute fans that keep downplaying any victory that BYU has... even though the Utes have been on the losing side of contest when they play BYU.

BYU soft? the cougars were pounding the huskies... sending them to the sidelines and local hospitals. Just keep talkin' the smack Utes... it's all you've got, you haven't been able to back it up on the football field the last few years. But please keep winning! We don't want the PAC-10 teams to keep saying we play a bunch of cupcakes.
Worst Call? | 11:27 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
The refs had to make that call. You should Rule 9, Section 2, Article 1 of the NCAA rule book.

And if you did not see it on tv, go to You Tube and watch the ball fly 20 feet in the air. Do a search on 'byu vs Washington'.
Texan | 11:28 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
As I recall last week the mighty Utes thumped Michigan in the Big House and we didn't hear enough about how dominant the Utes are...the problem is, Miami of Ohio almost beat Michigan in the Big House this week. So nice try Utes, you guys might be able to beat Miami of OHIO by touchdown. If you were to be honest about it, Michigan is maybe a little better than Washington.

BYU fans | 11:31 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
What is it with Kyle? Up three touchdowns in the 4th quarter and he does a little "razzle dazzle" for the touchdown.

Does he have no class.

And boy, does UNLV have your number.

5 straight quarter scoreless.

Utah need to watch out for tough teams this year,
BANWAGON FANS!!!! | 11:36 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
Great Job Utes you beat Las vegas community college by 21. And the Game was closer than the scoreboard portrayed. You guys are a joke live it up now but come the end of the season you guys will be going back to Sanfran to play in the Nut bowl, while TCU is playing in the Las Vegas Bowl and BYU is in the BCS game.

Why do you yewte fans give BYU so much crap about there schedule so far when you guys beat a terrible BCS team in the most overrated BCS conferance in the NCAA by 2 points and you got plenty of calls to go your way in that game as well. Then you beat Las Vegas community college by 21 NIU would probally beat UNLV by that number at least or more.

You Ute fans are a joke when you are 2-0 all of you guys are wearing that ugly red stuff all over but at the end of the season when your team is 7-5 most of you wont be caught dead in those ugly colors!!
RE:TC | 11:42 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
Yeah, that QB at Washington is better than your QB, too.

The Utes on the losing side vs BYU? Yeah, the last two years on phantom calls and hail Marys. Before that, it was all Utah for about 10 years. And before that, who cares?

Bottom line - BYU has shown me nothing so far this year. So don't start popping off about how great you are.
Call? | 11:44 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008
The call against Washington didnt take away any points so it did not benefit BYU at all. Most place kickers can chip in a attempt from that far so the play that won was the block extra point not a bad call (which it was) by the official.
TheHailstorm | 12:07 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
T C ? How old are these blue bloods that write all of the would have , should have , could haves ?
They just don't get the BIG picture..the better Utah and BYU play and win then everyone wins ! The two schools will get all that more press ,cnational exposure, and better recruits.
re TC | 12:06 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
so wait, now we are talking about the past? All we hear is that this season is what matters. And its not the last few years, its two, which will end this year.
SoCal Andy | 12:08 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Big Ute fan. Can tolerate zoobies, just not their less than knowledgeable fans.

Talk of BCS right now doesn't belong in the state of Utah. Only one non-BCS conference team will get that chance and unless the Zoobs fix the defense or the Utes find some measure of consistency it will be East Carolina or Fresno State going BSC bowling. From sunny SoCal, both of those teams look much better than the Beehive state prospects.
Utah will Destroy BYU | 12:14 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
I love watching the Utes play when they are on. In the second half they looked unstoppable. Can we all please agree though that ANDY LUDWIG needs to be FIRED! I hate watching him call the most predictable, uneffective plays.

Did anyone notice BRIAN JOHNSON'S shoulder looking like he reinjured it the last series he played? I thought so.

GO UTES!
to TC | 12:15 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Man, what game were you watching? Washington is no PAC 10 power house. They are kinda in the realm of NI. Oregon laid a huge lick on them last week they had 3rd string in. Good luck with next weeks game, UCLA.
Re: Texan | 12:36 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Michigan is by far better then Washington, really not even close. Remember Michigan beat Florida in the Gator bowl last season and finished 9-4. Yes their offence in messed up but they aren't running a new defence are they? Their defence is one of the best in the nation and probably the exact opposite of BYU whose defence looked pathetic against Washington, one of the worst teams in the pac 10. Washington was blown out last week by Oregon which is lower ranked then BYU so what happened? If BYU keeps playing like they did say goodbye to that "quest for perfection" thing. And Miami (Ohio) may not be a good team but they still won and isn't that all BYU can say about beating Washington?
re BYU fans | 12:49 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
yeah, they sure seem to have our number, especially judging by that little 35 point run there. Looks like Washington has the cougs number too. they outscored you 8-0 in the last three seconds. Watch out! And storming the field with time on the clock? Do ANY byu players have class?
watch out | 12:52 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
DONT RESPOND TO BYU FANS @ 11:31, apparently he's a troll who was posting on the byu board under the opposite moniker.
re: BYU fans | 1:06 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
in case you are wondering, the utes are 2-0 while only playing good offense for a half of each game. when my UTES play a fulll comlete game the team on that end is gonna get creamed. hopefully it comes against utah state
To GO UTES | 1:14 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Exactly, you weren't at the game. Brooks tossed the ball back over his shoulder. The Washington quarterback tossed the ball at least 20 feet in the air. The celebration rule addresses tossing the ball up in the air. And before you argue that he didn't toss high in the air, go to Youtube, watch the video. Believe me I wasn't happy with the outcome of that game, but the refs got the call right, even if the espn guys complained, maybe they should tune into youtube, or at least watch a replay before they open their mouths.
Anonymous | 1:23 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Ugly comments all over by BYU fan. Somehow BYU want convince that we are played about same. Who cares who is playing better so far. It shows how unsecure BYU fans are about the team result.
Derek | 1:28 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Great job Utes, after you finally decided to show up in the second half. They must have switched out in the locker room. If this team can get consistent they have the talent to bust the BCS this year. The Utes are due this year to take MWC champs, and especially to take down a puffed up BYU.

PS
BYU makes me sick. To you Blue fans If you are so good why does it always take a "Miracle" play (and poorly judged calls)to win games against other decent teams? Number 15? now that is truly a stretch.
RED! | 1:40 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
These zoobies are sounding a little jealous...
RE: Call et al | 1:51 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Go to your zoobie board to talk about that game. We're talking Utes here. At least we're all helping out the Mountain Worst this year...

Sleepy, weak first half. It was nice to see us start throwing the ball in the second half and put it 21 points nice and quick. And it was nice to get Johnson back as a pass and run threat, that really will open things up for an already quick offense. This team should be fun to watch!
Be real | 7:04 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Michigan will finish with no better than 4-5 wins this season. Big 10 writers have already called this the worst Michigan team to suit up in over 40 years! Washington is a bad PAC 10 team this year but I wouldn't exactly call Michigan anything more for the big 10 this year.

Utah eeeeeeeked out a win in the Big House and that is 100% due to the fact that Michigan's defense took a half to start the season. If the second half defense of Michigan shows up the first half, Utah would NOT have walked away with a win. As an avid big 10 fan, Michigan will not, I repeat will not finish in the top 2/3 of the Big 10 and they have a REAL chance to finish close to the cellar. Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue all look better not to mention OSU, Penn ST, Mich St, Iowa who will roll the Wolverines. Michigan could be hanging with Minnesota come December in the cold hard bottom cellar of the Big 10. Enjoy your win Utes but don't overestimate your accomplishments, the season is still young. You caught a storied program at its 50 year low....
Re: Re: Texan | 7:33 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Dude, what are you smoking? Michigan is not better than Washington. Their offense is horrible. Washington let a close game get away at the end against Oregon, on the road. They were playing at home and played very well. Again, BYU left points on the field with turnovers and that kept the game close. Michigan will have a losing season this year, although they may beat ND. BYU's defense did not look pathetic, at least we tackled their running backs. If UNLV had stuck with Summers in the first half, who knows what may have happened. Michigan beating Florida last season has nothing to do with this year, new coach, new QB, lost RB, great tackle and 2 awesome d-linemen. This Michigan team is not even comparable to last years.
RE; TC | 7:53 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
You act as if a player going to the hospital was a good thing.

"Well he broke his neck but we won so who cares". Pitifull.

Fortunately the BYU team doesn't think likewise and the BYU player involved in the accident was yelling for help for him immediately...why? Because they are athletes and they know the damage done by injury and a missed season and altered life.

You are not a real football fan you are an "only BYU fan" and believe that an injury is OK as long as it means a win.

Take a good hard look at yourself and realize what is a game and what is life. Sickening. Try to have some class like the teams have. Not like the feverish fans.
Great Second Half! | 8:17 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
I went to the game last night and had a blast. It was nice to get the first conference win of the year under our belts. Now if only we could combine the first half at Michigan with the second half of UNLV . . .

Our boys are coming along nicely, I'd say.

Go Utes!
Closing time | 9:27 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Re: Be real:

Big-10 writers say this is the worst Michigan team in 40 years? Do you mean Michigan fans on blogs? Where are your facts to back up your claims? I loved your UM defensive observation too. They didn't show up in the first half? You really think the UM D, which waited seven months for the season to begin, persevered through spring drills, summer weightlifting and fall camp just decided to conciously lay it down for the first half of the season? I guess for some ignorance is bliss, keep it up, man.

Re: banwagon fans-

Plenty of calls went the Utes way in the Michigan game? Please, tell me, of the 15 penalties called on Utah for over 120 yards, which of those were meant to go their way?





Dray | 9:30 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Most of the BYU fans posting above are going to be looking dumb when UCLA puts up 50+ points on your weak defense and beats you at home. Utah won, they took a minute to get going, but they blew them out. The game next week between Texas and TCU is going to show what TCU is made of. ECU and Utah are at the top of the list to bust the BCS.
True Ute | 9:37 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Go Utes!! Why are BYU fans so angry on the Ute comment blog. I guess they have to hate, which goes against their religion. I focus on my team and only my Crimson and white Utes!!!
Re: Be Real | 9:41 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
"If the second half defense of Michigan shows up the first half, Utah would NOT have walked away with a win." IF IF IF... Are you a moron? I guess you could say IF Utah's offense in the second half would have matched it's production in the first half they would have won by more. Fact is Utah won. Does it bother you so much that you have to defend the big 10 a week after the game? I am looking forward to another team from the big 10 getting blown up in the national championship game.
RE: TC @ 7:53am | 9:48 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Well said. A player was seriously injured. That's nothing to gloat about.
Don't Worry | 9:54 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
All this Byu HYPE WILL END NEXT WEEK I CAN ASSURE YOU.
This game they played proves they will not being going to the BCS this year. What a superior team they are when they can only beat washington and utah state on the road. ECU are the real BCS busters so far.
to byu fans | 10:01 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
ya im begining to think that all the cUgar fans are getting a little jealous of our utes. hey byu you haven't played any non cupcake teams either and you beat the worst team in the pac 10 by 1 along with the stupid rule and the refs. any way good game utes need to make improvements but we got the w.

HEY BYU YOUR SECONDARY GOT LIT UP BY A MEDIOCORE TEAM THAT LOST TO NO. 18 OREGON 44-10, AND YOUR RANKED 15 SO DOES THAT MEAN OREGON WOULD CRUSH YOU AS WELL BECAUSE THE LACK OF THE DEFENSIVE SECONDARY?


GO UTES
dose of realism | 10:05 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Neither BYU or Utah have beaten quality competition in quite some time so neither fan base has the right to grind it into the other. Utah relied on a poor call for a critical completion at the end of the Navy game last year to win their bowl. Calls can go either way so get over it!!

Docker said it best in the Seattle paper this morning: "the refs don't lose games for us, we lose games".

So far, both U and Y have beaten one non conference unranked team by a slim margin and beaten a patsy but not without mistakes.

I just wish Utah fans would get half as excited for Utah as they do in their hatred of BYU. You guys ought to be ashamed at the lack of support for a decent program.
RE:RE;TC | 11:00 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
Before you start spouting off about the nobility of your lame team when one the huskies went down watch the tape. I was watching the game up here in Seattle and Pitta and Unga were fist bumping each other and laughing on the sidelines while the U-dub team was praying for their injured team. Real classy.
Re: Closing Time | 11:36 a.m. Sept. 7, 2008
For those of us who live outside of Utah, we get to read writers from Minneapolis, to Chicago and Detroit. We in the big 10 know of what we talk. I'm sure from your standpoint Utah's offense was asleep in the first half of your UNLV game? Or was the offense asleep in the second half of the Michigan game? Your logic is horrible. All you can say is your team won and at times plays well (while others on the other side of the ball say that their team played bad) and the two contribute to the outcome. Michigan has gone to 33 straight bowl games and this year will break their streak. There is absolutely no way they will have a winning record. They look horrible and they haven't even entered conference play. They keep getting beat by mid level teams. Wait till Illinois, Wisconsin, OSU, Penn State and even Indiana come to town. It is going to be a great year for many to get Michigan while they are the lowest they've been in almost a half century. Utah will be lucky enough to have caught them this year also. You won, you won, be happy.
Mirror,mirror..... | 12:04 p.m. Sept. 7, 2008
on the wall,when will those cougars stop blocking that freaking ball?

I'm glad I'm not a BYU fan. My heart couldn't take it. (My Utes have given me enough heart trouble as it is).

Sooner or later their, (The Y), luck will run out. Maybe against UCLA next weak. (Sorry, I slipped. I was thinking about the Y's defense).

That SoCal dude is right about Fresno and East CaroLina.

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Andrew Allred, For the Deseret News

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson celebrates his 56-yard, first-half touchdown run against UNLV during the Utes' 42-21 victory to open Mountain West Conference play Saturday night.

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