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Utah Utes football: Team now No. 7 on BCS list

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Re: to: Get Over it | 12:32 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Thank you! I am a dedicated Utah fan and I have to say that good natured banter between fans is fine, even expected. However, this gentleman, hiding behind the cloak of anonymity on these boards, is down right vile. He most certainly does not represent the tradition of BYU football or that of any team in the MWC.

I would tell him the same thing if he was a Ute fan. Again, thank you.

GO MWC!!!

Re: Get Over It | 12:34 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Are you 17 years old? Wake up boy, your dream is over and your mom just made you some pancakes.

Re: BYU rocks | 12:43 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Sounds like a bitter byu fan.

Comments continue below

Power Conference | 12:43 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Rather than have a MWC-WAC conference playoff, let's just form a power football conference. Football pays the bills anyway. UNLV or San Diego needs to stay simply due to population, recruiting and venues to host tournaments. Get rid of lower competition like Wyoming, Colorado State, Utah State, San Jose State, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico State

1. Utah
2. BYU
3. Fresno State
4. Boise State
5. TCU
6. Air Force
7. New Mexico
8. UNLV/San Diego State/Hawaii? (pick em)
9. Tulsa?

All teams must average at least 30,000 fans as well so that may eliminate New Mexico.

rvalens2 | 12:51 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Re: Lame

It's obvious you have never played organized football. It isn't like basketball or most other sports; especially at the collegiate level and higher.

When I played it took me a couple of days to recover from the pounding I received as a defensive lineman.

That is the reason there are so many breaks in play and also why football games are only played once a week.

Perhaps only rugby, wrestling and boxing are as physically demanding.

BCS today | 12:54 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

If the current standing were the final BCS standings, the following would be the likely matchups:

(only two teams per conference allowed; selection order is Fiesta, Sugar, Orange; when two bowls lose host teams, then the bowl losing the number one team may not select a replacement team from the same conference as the number two team, unless the bowl losing the number two team consents.

National Championship:
#1 Alabama vs #2 Texas Tech

Rose Bowl
#8 Penn St (BigTen Champ) vs #6 USC (Pac10 Champ)

Orange
#16 No Caro (ACC Champ) vs #7 Utah (non-BCS)

Sugar
#4 Florida (SEC Champ/at large) vs #11 Ohio State(at large)

Fiesta
#3 Texas (Big12 Champ/at large) vs #21 Pittsburgh (ACC Champ)

Boise State would have to be picked over Ohio State in order to get an at-large bid.

One again, Utah would be stuck with a mediocre BCS conference champion.

BYU dropped | 12:59 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

HAHAHAHAHA...quest for mediocrity continues as they lose to Air Force. Coogers should stop thinking about the Utes because they'll lose before that game anyway to the Falcons. Quest shirts on blowout at all the local DI's.....hahahahaha!!!! Arrogance is paying off, isn't it?

We don't "quest" | 1:02 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Dirk,

I love ya, man, but you need to know there are only two groups of people who "quest" or who are/were on a "quest." Medieval knights and BYU Coogers.

The Utes aren't on a magical quest. They're playing football games and trying to win them.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Thanks, Dirk.

Signed,

UteNation

No chance | 1:02 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Boise will play Florida or Utah play Texas. If that happened the MWC and the WAC would be embarrassed. Sorry to say...but the Big 12 and SEC top teams, would dismantle the best from the WAC and MWC. It's already happened when OK destroyed TCU.

re: Lame | 1:03 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

probably a soccer fans who prefers continuous aimless kicking the ball all over the field with rare scoring instead of brief spurts of exciting play with frequent scoring.

There's a reason why football games are played in sold out stadiums across the country and the MSL playoffs are played in half-empty stadiums.

re: lame | 1:06 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Based on your comment, I'm guessing you are a soccer fan. From that standpoint, at least when you see a football player laying on the field due to injury, there is a good chance that player is actually hurt. Too bad I can't say the same for your sport. I know an MLS trainer who says his players have a signal for him as to whether he is really hurt or not.

BCS Politics | 1:06 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

The BCS does NOT want a MWC or WAC team in the title game. The one year when it should have happened (Utah) they made them play Pittsburg.
the BCS system is fragile and do NOT want their system changed or challenged.

They loved it last year when Hawaii got demolished and are still bitter from when Boise beat OK.

Utah, Ball State, Boise etc can go undefeated all they want, the 1 and 2 loss teams from the BCS conferences, will still get first shot.

MWC/WAC play in (bad idea) | 1:07 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Why would a Mountain west fan want a play in? Dumb idea for MWC, good idea for WAC. If Utah and Boise are unbeaten, it will be the second time in 5 years that undefeated MWC gets the nod over the unbeaten WAC...With that stated, as an MWC fan, neither 04 or 08 was Boise as good as the top MWC team. 06 is a different story. I'd like to see BYU and Boise play in a bowl (which is a possibility). I think BYU handles them. That's ideal for the conference...get a team in BCS, and beat Boise in bowl game.

Bottom Feeder | 1:11 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

And to all you BCS conference elitists, our conference's second worst team (Wyoming), went on the road and beat one of your worst teams (Tenn)...boy, I'd hate to play in that conference. Those middle and bottom SEC teams scare me.

Tyler | 1:32 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

MWC does not deserve and automatic BCS bowl berth. As a matter of fact I don't believe any conference deserves one. Now to people saying we need a playoff your a half way right, but instead of a playoff you have a plus 2 system. You put the top eight teams and put them in the Fiesta, Sugar, Rose, and Orange bowls. Then after all those games are finished you picked the two best teams from the winners of those 4 bowls and have them play for the national championship game. Picking 2 out of 4 is a lot easier than 2 out of 10. This would appease both sides by keeping the bowls a major part of college football and then somewhat adding a playoff system.

Regret to say, but... | 1:32 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

I don't think the Utes deserve their 7th spot either. They have a great team but they are lacking on offensive consistency. That consistency would be the only way that we could beat a SEC or BIG 12 contender. And I totally agree with the guy a few spaces up!! The Fiesta Bowl totally feels like a home game. In 2004 we had a huge presence!

Also the Utes have an awesome fight song and BYU watch out for the MUSS!!!!

GO UTES!!!!!

Cougar hunting | 1:33 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Utes are going to spear the Cougs and all questions will be answered. Cougs don't have a chance -- so quit whinning.
GO UTES!!!

BYU | 1:33 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

could not even play with an unranked TCU.

Utah defeated #12 TCU.

To all | 1:45 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

BYU (ie Bodiddley Tech of 1984) fans and
BSU (ie Bodiddley State of 2008) fans,

We don't care if you think Utah deserves its ranking or not --they are ranked 4th in the computer, and actually ranked too low in the human polls.

SoCalUtahFan

Jay | 2:15 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

We can fight about who the better team is (isn't the fact that BYU got CRUSHED by TCU and that the Utes beat TCU settle the matter? The only stat that truly counts at the end of the day is the score) but, despite that, how can anyone say that the Cougar fight song is better than Utah Man??? Are you kidding me? Rise and Shout sounds like a hymn, not a fight song. I will agree that our mascot isn't a great choice, but Utah Man rocks!

ps- To the Utah fan who likes BYU traditions more than Utah ones, I will just remind you of one of BYU's pre-game traditions: Singing "Pop-corn Popping on the Apricot Tree."

Enough said. btw- do BYU players make the hand-signals that accompany the primary song? I always wanted to know that.

HAHAHA Crowd | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

All of the HAHAHA Crowd, BYU and Utah fans alike, act like a bunch of 2nd graders sticking their tongues out at each other.

You should all get together for a party; you know, you could have punch and cookies, and play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. You could choose the donkey by having a spitwad shooting contest. Then you could each drink your favorite colored koolaid and have a tongue-sticking-out contest for the grand finale.

Jay | 2:23 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

ps-- I think Coach Whit needs to seriously think about firing Andy Ludwig. I can't take much more of his horrible plays... Utah almost got beat by TCU because of Ludwig. We all know this.

TCU | 2:37 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

was ranked #24 in the Coaches poll on October 16th when they played BYU.

was ranked #11 in the Coaches poll on November 6th when they played Utah (mostly because of their win over BYU).

Utah was lucky to beat TCU. The Utes didn't lead during the entire game until the last minute and were only in position to win the game because of two botched, very makeable FGs by a Freshman kicker in the last 5 minutes. TCU also overthrew a wide open receiver in the end zone or the Horned Frogs would have salted the game away on that play.

Forget the standings and rankings, TCU is the best team in the MWC this season. Utah and BYU are in a close race for 2nd, with the winner to be decided on November 22nd.

BCS | 2:39 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Better to BCS and lose than not to BCS at all!!!!!
Utah has the talent to beat anyone once, now if the play calling isn't there that is what will hurt! The Utes just used up what was left of the money we made from '04 so to fill that bank account back up again and be able to go into any home in america and say the Utes have busted the BCS twice is amazing, even if they lose.

re: Jay | 3:14 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Popcorn popping is an end of game tradition played by the tuba section at the end of games while the Cougars are waiting for the final gun to celebrate another victory (18 in a row at home now).

Utah fight song? are you kidding? have you ever actually read the words to Utah Man? Utah Man was judged the 2nd Worst Fight Song ever. Here's the list:

BOTTOM 10 FIGHT SONGS
1. Wyoming
2. Utah -- "Utah Man" is a triple threat: It's stupid, stolen and sexist. Any Canadian schoolkid knows the real words to "Old Solomon Levi." Why they bother with "Utah Man" in Salt Lake City when when they have the perfectly serviceable "U-Pep" is a complete mystery.
3. Texas-El Paso
4. Alabama
5. USC
6. Nebraska
7. New Mexico State
8. Oklahoma
9. North Carolina
10. Tennessee

Hatorade... | 3:35 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

All this win did for the Utes is fill up the drinks of all the Zoobie fans hatorade. Your net better spin it any way you want. 84 NTL Champs 10% (Good) Busting the BCS twice Priceless...... Have fun being the little brother down south that never could not even dumbing down your schedules.

re:Jay | 3:37 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

BYU's 1984 Championship is "Judge" the worst, too! Just ask ESPN.

Congrats to the Utes | 3:40 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Since I predicted a Ute loss to TCU, I have to come on the boards here and congratulate the Utes. Good job pulling that game out.

As a somewhat related item - that TCU kicker must be hating himself - missing from 25 yards is pathetic, and 35 is supposed to be high-percentage also. On the other hand, Sakoda made one from 49 yards.

Regarding the "Utes for National Championship" talk. Please. Spare me. It was ridiculous when some BYU fans started talking Nat'l Championship, and it's ridiculous for Utah as well. Perhaps Utah truly is a top-10 team. But in the top 1 or 2? I don't think they're even top-5. Have you watched some of the other top teams play? Texas Tech, Texas, and Florida are all awesome this year. (Alabama is pretty good, but Florida is going to expose them as overrated.) Even OSU has turned out pretty good now that they settled on Pryor as their QB.

What we truly need is a playoff. Sigh.

See you Utes on the 22nd.

re: TCU | 3:52 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

That is WRONG! I'm tired of hearing that TCU is the better team. The better team doesn't miss two field goals. The better team converts on third downs and doesn't get sacked out of field goal range. The better team doesn't have false start after false start after false start.

Get it together Y fans and see the win for what I was. Utah is the better team. They made the plays they needed to win the game! Stop showing your Jealousy of the Utah team that beat someone that humiliated YOU.

Nothing Better | 3:53 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

than a National Championship (even if some clueless sportscasters in hindsight consider it the worst National Champion) is still the epitome of college football.

The majority of football coaches, sportswriters and sportscasters voted BYU #1 in 1984; that's all that really matters.

Busting the BCS is great, but it doesn't come close to a National Championship.

Take a look at the polls. Utah, even if they run the table, will be lucky to crack the Top 5, and the Utes have absolutely no chance of playing in the NCG (National Championship Game).

Utah 2004 would demolish Utah 2008; it wouldn't be close. Alex Smith vs Brian Johnson. Kyle Whittingham vs Urban Meyer. Are you kidding?

re: Nothing Better | 4:24 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

In 1984, BYU didn't beat a sigle team in the top 25 at the end of the season. BYU played, again, a weak schedule in a weak conference and was awarded a weak Championship. The system was broken and BYU is the proud owner of a Weak, Broken Championship. It's laughable!

Let me guess your age in 1984 . . . Umm . . . 2?

Let talk about the here and now. BYU is on the outside looking in. You should be used to that by now.

from espn | 4:29 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Mark Schlabach wrote..."Utah is the only team from a non-BCS league with an argument to claim a BCS berth. The Utes won at Air Force 30-23 and beat Oregon State, which upset then-No. 1 Southern California 27-21 on Sept. 25. Utah plays at hapless San Diego State on Saturday and closes the regular season at home against No. 17 BYU on Nov. 22..."
on Bodidley State Univ...
..."Only three of the eight FBS teams the Broncos have beaten this season currently have a winning record. In fact, their eight FBS opponents have a combined record of 37-41..."

Re: Nothing Better | 3:53pm | 4:36 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Your point is?

In 1984, there was no national championship game.

Today, BCS is all you have.
Making BCS is always better than not making it.
Making the NCG ofcourse is absolutely great. But under the current BCS, there are only 2 will get that chance.

Your writing just really took the C out of BCS.

Ciao

re: TCU | 5:12 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

the better team usually WINs the game.

Bling is the thing | 5:35 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

re: Bottom Feeder | 1:11 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Which Conference has raised the BCS Title trophy the last 2 years? It'll probably a 3peat and by a completely diferent team.

BYU-Utah fan | 5:57 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Soooooo...

Where are we at now children???

All the big kids getting their hahaha's out.

I moved in from out-of-state 3 years ago, and cracking up.

Bottom line is that Utah and BYU have both put together a decent season that either school should be happy with.

If Utah wins out great for them. All this talk about not deserving a ranking?

Utes: If you deserve a BCS Bowl, you deserve it.

BYU: If you won the National Championship in 1984, great for you.

All this moaning about controversial this and that means squat. When Utah complains about 1984, it doesn't give them a leg to stand on this year.

Of course BYU dropped in the computer polls, they played SDSU, and the same thing will happen to Utah after this weekend, because they play SDSU.

Both fan-bases need to show a little class, and give some respect to both programs. Both have earned it so far this year. Some of the best football is being played here in the State of Utah, including WSU, and were all lucky to have them all.

And quit calling names like a bunch of first graders. You are an embarassment to adults everywhere.

NC beauty contest | 6:01 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Nothing much has changed since 1984; it's still a beauty contest. Just ask undefeated USC and Auburn who were left out of the NCG.

If Florida beats Alabama in the SEC title game, a very distinct possibility, and Texas Tech loses at Oklahoma, also a very real possibility, which two one-loss teams should play for the NC?:

Alabama 11-1 who lost to Florida ?-?
Florida 12-1 who lost to Mississippi 30-31
*Texas Tech 11-1 who lost at Oklahoma ?-?
*Texas 11-1 who lost at Texas Tech 33-39
*Oklahoma 11-1 who lost to Texas 35-45
USC 11-1 who lost at Oregon St 21-27
Penn St 11-1 who lost at Iowa 23-24

*whichever team played in and won the Big 12 championship game would have 12 wins

There will never be a true national championship game until we have a national championship tournament.

If Alabama loses to Florida and Texas Tech loses to Oklahoma, this year's national championship game will be the equivalent of 7 teams playing musical chairs and the two teams in chairs #1 and #2 when the music stops get invited to the NCG.

re:Dedicated Ute Fan | 6:01 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

What the heck is a didicated Ute fan. Someone who has to tear down BYU to feel important?

Play the game.

No one knows who will win 11/22. Until then talk football, not about each other's momma.

Work your freakin' jobs, play with your kids, and watch the games.

It's a ton more fun when you enjoy it.

Ciao my butt.

Mark in Peoria | 6:03 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

re: from ESPN

Mark Schlabach also said Arkansas (based on their squeeker victory vs Tulsa) would beat Utah, Boise State, and Ball State. Uh, Mark, didn't Arkansas barely squeek by Western Illinois?

I think there is extremes on both sides. The extreme that belies in the "power conferences" always brings up the mighty SEC and Big-12, neglecting the PAC-10 and Big East. The extreme the believes in the MWC/WAC, seem to ignore past bowl games and traditions (OK BSU, you beat OU a few years back...what else?)

Bottom line is the truth lies somewhere in between. This is why Georgia can go all ballistic vs Hawaii and why Tennessee can lose at home to Wyoming. Why Texas A&M can separate BOTH of Ty Detmer's shoulders---but why Ty can light up the Texas Longhorns his freshman year.

So, if Utah or Boise makes it to a BCS bowl its about good match-ups. I'm not just talking the Utes vs the Big Easy team, but the Utes vs 'Bama or the Utes vs Penn State. Not the Utes vs Florida or the Utes vs Texas....

Duh | 6:43 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

RE:NC beauty contest. I would love to see this scenario. What a beauty that would be. I am dreaming already........

Keep Dreaming.... | 6:51 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

I am a HUGE (in enthusiasm and not size:)Utah fan and will be until I die (A Utah Man Sir am I!). However, we are just dreaming when we talk about national respect! The Utes, TCU and the TDS might all be ranked in the Top 25, but Sports Illustrated still doesn't even know the name of our conference.

Go to www(.)si(.)com and move your cursor over "College Football" and go to "Standings". Check the drop down menu and see if you can even find the Mountain West.

It appears that Utah and BYU have been moved to Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma or a flat state without anyone even telling us...

Anyway, I will be holding a polar bear plunge before the game. Any other "Midwest" conference fans who care to join, I will not see you in the Muss, but in the Mississippi.

Utah fan | 6:54 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

I dont know why we even try to be like our big brothers from down south...

They always live right, on and off the field, they always play the best teams in the nation, they have that wonderful national championship, they are not stupid enough to rush the field because they are way too good for that, and they always know who is going to win this week...

They have the greatest coach, a SUPER LOUD stadium that holds 15,000 more grandmas and babies than RES, and they get to embark on quests as a band of brothers...

Our blackout was stupid...BYU would never do that because again they are too good for that, our fans don't know anything about football, and they know things we don't know (like TCU would demolish us if they played us again, while they would beat TCU in a rematch)...

What I am trying to say, Utah fans, is that we will never be like our big brothers from BYU...they are just the coolest, smartest, and most wise people we will ever have the opportunity to hear from...Lets just keep cheering on our pathetic team up here in SLC...

Quest for perfection! | 7:00 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Go Utes! Adios Bronco!

Fight Songs | 7:14 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

All Fight songs are stupid... that's what they are meant to be, stupid. I mean, c'mon, what's up with the ra-ra-rarara goooooooooooo cougars! I feel ashamed every time the crowd does that!

1984? | 7:14 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

"Let me guess your age in 1984 . . . Umm . . . 2?"

No, but, from the way you're acting, I would guess that to be your grade in school.

If you aren't old enough to remember watching the 1984 BYU team, then you aren't old enough to make an informed judgement of what BYU accomplished in 1984.

BYU's National Championship was just as legitimate as Miami's in 1983 and Oklahoma's in 1985. BYU finished the season ranked #1 in every major poll -- AP, FWAA, NFF, USA/CNN, UPI.

BYU did what Utah has never done -- started the season ranked and climbed all the way to #1.

BYU had won 24 games in a row and BYU's 5-year record leading up to 1984:

55-8 -- 12-1, 11-2, 8-4, 11-1 and 13-0.

Utah has never come close to matching BYU's record over a 5-year period. In 1985, the year after, #9 BYU (11-3) played #11 Ohio State (9-3) in Citrus Bowl and lost 7-10.

Utah's 5-year record leading up to 2004:
39-19 -- 4-7, 8-4, 5-6, 10-2, 12-0.

In 2005, the year after, unranked Utah (7-5) played unranked Georgia Tech (7-5) in the Emerald Bowl and won 38-10.

re:1984 | 7:31 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

way to go 1984! Do you want a cookie?

BYU was good 24 years ago...

Utah has been good this decade...

Utah and BYU are good this year, we all know who the slight edge goes to right now, but that is why they also play the game...

BYU Fans | 8:09 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

You people crack me up . the U only deserves 7 wins....then how did they get 10??? BYU didn't sneak through any questionable wins I guess....so lets subtract Washington from your win column...My case for Utah belonging where they are ranked is simple. They are ranked where they are despite a system that is biased against them. The piece that has no bias is the computers which ranks them 4th. I would love to see, for once , a Cougar fan that could be objective.

Who didn't they lose to | 8:12 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Some people will always complain that BYU didn't beat anybody in 1984, but what they fail to look at is the other side of the ledger; who BYU didn't lose to in 1984 (pre-bowl AP ranking)?:

#1 BYU (13-0)
undefeated

#2 Washington (11-1)
lost to USC (9-3) 7-16
(BYU played Washington in 1985, and destroyed the Huskies, 31-3)

#3 Florida (9-1-1)
lost to Miami (8-5) 20-32;
tied LSU (8-3-1) 21-21

#4 Oklahoma (9-2-1)
tied Texas (7-4-1) 15-15;
lost to Kansas (5-6) 11-28;
lost to Washington (11-1) 17-28

#5 Nebraska (10-2)
lost to Syracuse (6-5) 9-17
lost to Oklahoma (9-2-1) 7-17

#6 Ohio State (9-3)
lost to Purdue (7-5) 23-28
lost to Wisconsin (7-4-1) 14-16
lost to USC (9-3) 17-20

So who besides BYU deserved to win the National Championship in 1984?

Washington was invited to play BYU in the Holiday Bowl, but instead chose to play Oklahoma in the more prestigious and lucrative Orange Bowl. Both the Holiday Bowl and Orange Bowl had at-large openings to fill. Oklahoma was locked into the Orange Bowl; BYU was locked into the Holiday Bowl.

Washington chose $$$ over playing for a national championship.

Correction: | 8:16 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

Oklahoma was pre-bowl AP #2; Washington was #4

Bronco vs Kyle | 8:29 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008

BYU is 37-11 the last four years under Bronco with two MWC championships and a possible 3rd MWC championship and 3rd Top 25 finish in progress.

Utah is 34-14 the last four years under Kyle with a probable 1st MWC championship and 1st Top 25 finish in progress.

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