Deseret News | Physics is big factor in outcome of U. vs. Y.

Reader comments
Physics is big factor in outcome of U. vs. Y.

Thanks for Nothing | 12:56 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

The reporter successfully managed to make an interesting game boring.

Joe | 1:07 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

A fine article, but Louie Sakoda is perhaps the best player in utilizing the pure physics of the ball, gravity, and his foot for both punting and field goal kicking.

Texas Joe | 1:14 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Physics?

I thought it came down to team chemistry...

Or whoever had the best history...

Or even statistics...

I'm sure hoping that geography doesn't affect the outcome of this one... Don't want any of that homecooking!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 1:47 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

BYU by 18

Steve | 2:52 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Wow! Who would've thought physics applied to sports. You sure have some real smart journalists at this news paper.

Groan | 4:04 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

As a science buff and former BYU physics victim--I mean student--I thought this would be more interesting.

If you want a truly hilarious article involving physics, look up The Physics of Santa Claus. Priceless!

If you want a laughable article about today's BYU-Utah game, you'll probably need to go to either the Trib or the U. student newspaper site, assuming one exists.

Empathy for the Writer | 4:41 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

You have to feel sorry for a writer assigned to write a story about the big game this late in the week. Facing a blank page and a deadline, what do you do? Any meaningful angles have long been exhausted. There is really nothing more that can be said. (It's time to just play the game already!) Still, you have to produce something. So, you think, "Maybe I can bring physics into it. That could get me by. Not many people who read sports also know something about physics. I might come across as a renaisance man."

Elsewhere on deseretnews.com there is a great piece on the Utah Utes going to Chuck-a-Rama for dinner.

What | 5:19 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

The DAY of the big game and we are getting articles like this?!? Isn't there anything more interesting to write about? I'm switching to the trib.

uh huh... | 6:08 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

As a physics grad, this article sucked.
As a football fan, this article more than sucked.

Dr. J | 6:18 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

You already lost the Ute nation on this story the first time you used a word over three syllables long.

James | 6:19 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

that was the worst wake up pill i've ever taken! and it had to come today of all days! I thought I was in class or a bad dream!

Physics Rocks! | 7:01 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Physics, chemistry, statistics--they all play a huge part in this awesome game. Without these "boring" truths, football wouldn't be nearly as fun to watch. The sportscasters wouldn't have much to say without statistics. Without chemistry, leather helmets would still be worn, and as this great article said, physics occurs innately within seconds--although it may take hours to actually crunch the numbers to numerically explain why the objects react as they do in certain situations. Great article...for the "boring" readers.

VSG | 7:45 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

"If Ute quarterback Brian Johnson has called a pass play, the outcome depends in large part on the duration of the gyroscopic torque applied to the ball. If the ball turns in a tight spiral, it will go farther and probably hit closer to the target"..... A BYU defender!

interesting? | 7:53 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Since when was football interesting? Here's the typical football game:

1-Hike the ball.
2-QB looks for someone to pass to.
3-No one open, so he runs with the ball.
4-QB gets tackled. Makes 2 or 3 yards if he's lucky.

The 2 teams take turns repeating this process through the entire game.

Thomas | 7:57 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Lest we forget, physics affects every aspect of our lives, not just football. Failure to understand the principles of physics can lead us into all kinds of disasters, including rooting for the wrong team.

Kevin in the Terrace | 8:24 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Newton would be a Y fan.

Newton | 9:59 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

I knew my theories would someday be useful!
Hail football!

Wow | 10:04 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Not a lotta love for this article!! And personally, I can see why: talk about reaching for every last angle possible!!

Know Newton Now | 10:09 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

I have to agree with those who have judged this article to be filler with no discernable content of value.

Except in one area: Impressive biographical research on Isaac Newton.

Now we know that Newton could not have predicted how his laws of motion would have affected a football and that he couldn't have found a better demonstration of those laws. The great genius was hemmed in, after all, limited in his abilities in ways that our author was able to determine.

We also know, now, that Isaac wouldn't have taken sides. This couldn't have been easy to learn or verify after the intervening centuries so hats off to the dogged reporter.

JR | 10:09 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

An object (Utah) in uniform motion tends to stay in uniform motion unless acted upon by a net external force (BYU). Sorry, Utah. Your momentum stops here. Go Cougs!

tyson | 10:13 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

utah is going to win go utes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

will | 11:07 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

BYU is the best and their going to win!

Original | 11:39 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

To all those who bag on this article, at least the author had an attempt at something original! Maybe it would have been better if he just tore apart all of *your* comments for all the stupid things *you* say.

At least the author is trying to come up with something new instead of tearing others down.

Biggest Factor to Consider | 12:33 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

The ball isn't round!!!

kburggibbs | 12:33 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

If you didn't like this article, you don't understand football. Imagine being hit or sandwiched that hard by two 225+ pound linebackers at full speed. I've been there, I know.

American Football | 1:05 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

interesting?

you could always switch to international football (soccer) if you are looking for a less interesting sports contest. sometimes they end a game 1-0! hours kicking and running with little or no excitement.

Not a football fan | 5:34 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Now can someone explain to me why a Ph.D. in physics generates about $100,000 in annual income and a football player, with often little academic capability, makes millions?

Earl | 9:13 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Science is covered in the book of Mormon, therefore there is no physics classes at BYU, which is a state sanctioned bible college and not a real school of higher learning. Utah had it easy this weekend with no real challenge, they scored at will.

Red Man | 9:32 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

I knew we would kick your butt.

ball Hawking | 10:12 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

Well momentum is involved in the game.

And it may or may not have anything to do with mommentum being the product of mass times velocity.

Anonymous | 10:18 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

re: Kevin in the Terrace | 8:24 a.m. Nov. 22, 2008

>>Newton would be a Y fan.<<

What goes up (expectations i.e. Quest for Perfection) must come down reality (Y vs TCU and Utes).

Woah... | 10:24 p.m. Nov. 22, 2008

This article had to be written by a woman...

does physics explain | 12:12 a.m. Nov. 23, 2008

How embarrassing BYU's loss was today?
And by the way, "whoa"--what in the heck kind of chauvinistic, redneck, ignorant, uneducated, and dumb comment is that?

Kate | 9:47 a.m. Nov. 23, 2008

I am pretty much sure you should marry my physics teacher. Just Kidding! I love your article. It's very well written.

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