Deseret News | BYU football: Destination is unknown for Cougars

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BYU football: Destination is unknown for Cougars

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Trainer | 9:58 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Beat ND? What an idiot! BYU goes 10-2 and you are willing to fire people over 10-2. The posts on this sight show the ignorance of the people in Utah!

re: David O | 10:02 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Correction: If Hall keeps his head, BYU shouldn't worry about playing teams with a defense. It's teams with an offense (particularly passing ones) that keep many of us Cougar fans awake at night.

Bragging | 10:05 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Utah fans just wish they had ANY kind of a national football championship to brag about.

BYU was more than willing to play #4 Washington (11-1) or #5 Nebraska (10-2) in the 1984 Holiday Bowl, but both teams chickened out and chose $$$ over playing the #1 team.

Michigan 1984 would have destroyed Pittsburgh 2004.

Comments continue below

Are Utes big time? | 10:08 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

They have won only 4 conference championships in 40 years-------It is about time you won another one------That is laughable compared to the Y

BYU not bowl worthy | 10:12 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

BYU may be bowl eligible but they are hardly bowl worthy after inexcusable blow out losses to TCU and Utah. These "filler" bowls mean absolutely nothing and trying to get excited for a bowl this year is impossible for fans and probably very difficult for the players. A distant third place finish in the MWC and only one note worthy win against UCLA combined with two of the worst conference losses in school history don't generate much excitement but I suppose for the seniors it is a chance to play in front of NFL scouts. Bronco has to set down and decide if he wants a team capable of playing and competing against the nations best OR if he is content in recruiting just "ok" players who give good fire side talks the night before games. BYU clearly had the worst defense in school history in 08 and is in dire need of athletes. Yes the team won 10 games this year but honestly we all know the overall feeling with the football program is BIG DISAPONTMENT! So Bronco, do you want to take the next step or just settle for medioctity???

re: You Wish | 10:13 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

"Mythical" is defined as something unverifiable as to it's existence. I can check the NCAA record books for you but they do list BYU has the national champions in 1984.

Just becuase you don't like it and are jealous because the Utes will NEVER win a national championship under the BCS system doesn't mean it did not happen. But hey, that's the one BYU accomplishment that Utah hasn't done so it must really irritate you.

Biffo | 10:14 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I would like to see a replay of that BYU fan getting beaten up badly by the Ute's cheerleader for coming on the field at Rice Eccles .. I haven't seen that on TV for years but it was very funny .. maybe we can get a repeat in whichever bowl game the Y goes to .. come on BYU fans .. jump that fence on national TV .. just once more for old time sake !!!!

Utes will get exposed!! | 10:25 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Utah is NOT the best team in the MWC - that honor belongs to TCU. TCU missed two EASY field goals plus one TD and "GAVE" the game to the Utes. Utah only got into the red zone ONE TIME in the entire game and that is playing ONE THEIR HOME FIELD! OSU was also another "gift" win for the Utes when the Beavers couldn't manage the clock with any intelligence in the last two minutes. I hope Utah wins their BSC bowl but if they meet up with someone like Texas or Texas Tech - YIKES!!!!!

bowl benefit??? | 10:33 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

The ONLY motivation for BYU underclassmen like Max Hall and Harvey Unga to play well in a "meaningless" bowl game is to set the table for next season. If Bronco can actually go out and recruit some defensive talent for next season instead of a bunch of overachieving, slow, nonathletic, smallish cast offs then the returning BYU skill players on offense (including McKay Jacobson) ought to generate some excitement for 09 especially with home games against TCU and Utah.

Cynic | 10:36 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

RE: Biffo

Hey genius the BYU fan didn't get beat up by a cheerleader at Rice-a-Roni. The incident occured at then Cougar Stadium. The same cheerleader went on to graduate from BYU. He immediately became much wiser.

Replay | 10:46 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I would like to see a replay of:

*Jim McMahon going scoreboard in 1980

*the doink 1998

*LaVell's Last Miracle 2000

*Beck to Harline 2006

*4th and 18 AND Magic Happens 2007

...just once more for old times sake!!!

how about this match up... | 10:56 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

BYU vs Timpview HS in the BYU indoor practice facility?? I would put my money on Timpview HS this year!!

conf titles? | 10:56 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Utah could care less about byu's conference titles...getting to the BCS twice is something BYU will NEVER do.

byu and notre lame | 10:59 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

let byu and notre lame duke it out in a bowl game.

both are overrated jokes so someone would have to win

does anyone remember that byu almost lost to washington? u-dub finished the season with 0 wins. LOL they lost to byu because of a bad call.

byu bowl | 11:04 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

who cares what bowl they are in...

its not the sugar bowl like utah so will we even see it on tv?

i heard byu might accept the invite to the Sunbelt Conf.

wsu | 11:11 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

weber did better at utah than byu did.

WEBER! LOL! check the box scores LOL!

Bob | 11:12 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

The Cougars have been criticized for a relative weakness in schedule. it's time to take on the biggest and best available and I don't mean Notre Dame. If Boise State is available then let's go! LV Bowl is partial to BYU cause their fans come out each year. Beating UCLA last year was no big deal as the Bruins honestly were not very good. Go elsewhere and play with the big boys.

Cali Coug | 11:14 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I get to say it again...the school in SLC is third rate and classless. It is far better to lose and be blue than to win and be red. SLC community college is a better school than the red colored,low-life, East bench living, stay at home, can't get past high school, yewets! PUT BSU in the BCS, send the yewets to the LV bowl!!

GO COUGS!!!

Conference Titles | 11:30 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

The only reason Utah fans don't care how many conference titles BYU has won, is because Utah has won so few in the last 50 years.

A couple of BCS games is impressive and something Utah fans can be proud of, but a couple of great seasons doesn't compare with the overall success of BYU's football program since LaVell took the reins in 1972.

Even with their undefeated regular season, MWC championship and BCS bid this season, Utah's record is good the past three seasons, but still not as good as BYU's record.

Since 2006*
BYU 32-6 (84%)
2 MWC championships
2-1 vs Utah
2 Top 25 finishes

Utah 29-9 (76%)
1 MWC championships
1-2 vs BYU
0 Top 25 finishes

*not including bowl games and final rankings for this season

re notyou | 11:34 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

No matter who the Utes play they are in the BCS, you are not. How does that feel?

utah grad | 11:34 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Congrats to Utah for being such a great football state & best wishes to BYU to kill whoever they play in their bowl game. I'm writing from SEC country - none of the states down here can compete with the 1-2 punch of Utah-BYU. Pretty remarkable really.

Who cares... | 11:41 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

what bowl Utah's in if it's not the national championship game?

It would be nice for Utah to get another BCS bowl win to improve the reputation of the MWC, but, unfortunately, the Utes are more than likely headed to a Hawaii-type meltdown vs. Florida, Texas or Alabama. Hopefully, the Utes will be competitive and won't embarrass themselves and undo all that the MWC has accomplished to build the reputation of the conference this season.

Vegas | 11:50 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

For you Y fans that are bitter at Utah, have fun in Vegas. You can take your 1984 championship, I'll take modern day BCS bowls over that any day. Have fun living in the past, it's the only thing that can keep your minds off of 48-24.

Kruger is STILL open

BYU Student | 11:51 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I don't get the problem. From 1996-2005, we barely make it into 3 to 4 bowl games only to get our buns spanked and have ended with mostly losing seasons. Now for 3 years in a row, we've gone to bowl games. Have won 2-3 and have finished the last 2 seasons with 10 wins and national rankings. Sheesh, when Lavell started at BYU how many years did it take him to get the program going? More than that. Getting national attention and respect is more than appearing in a BCS bowl every 4 years, its consistent winning. BYU just needs to slowly keep moving up and up. Sure we've ended in about the same place in the polls the last few years, but Utah only ends there every 4. Sure Anae's offense is a little predictable and out secondary couldn't keep up with my little sister, but we're staying fairly consistent. We can't compare our team to the steroid taking BYU teams of the 1980s. Just have some patience and support a team that has finished in the top 25 3 years in a row, something that hasn't been done in a while.

LOL? | 11:58 a.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Why don't you junior high girls get back to class?!!

re: fact checker 9:52 | 12:52 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

So you're saying Utah has the better win percentage, more victories (by 100), and better head-to-head?
By the way, your totals on the head-to-head are not correct.
Anyway, it seems clear by your own fact finding that byu is the paper tiger, not Utah.

Ernest T. Bass | 12:55 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

A sure-fire way to see who is the paper tiger is to check bowl records and W-L records against top 20 and BCS programs.
It is clear who has the better record in those measurements.
byu is 1-20 against teams who are ranked. That is sad, like their bowl record.

Trouble Playing Winners | 12:55 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

The y played two decent teams and had two blow outs. It is too bad the y has to play a 500 plus team in a bowl game. Looks like 0 and 3 for the season.

Blue man | 12:58 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Get a grip folks. Big Al was right. Both BYU and Utah had terrfic seasons. 12-0 and 10-2 are dream years for most programs. Neither team is a paper tiger. There is a stream of defeated teams behind both of these powerhouses.

Utah beat BYU this year. It is a fact - get over it. BYU has the greater national following. It is a fact - get over it.

Utah winning their bowl game would reflect well on BYU. BYU winning their bowl game would reflect well on Utah. We are joined at the hip folks whether we like it or not. So Cougars and Utes, lets cheer on each others teams and bask in the reflected glory.

Cosmo | 12:58 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Good luck to all the BYU fans and their quest for perfection. I guess you guys all achieved perfection this year, if by perfection you mean going to the Humanitarian Bowl.

byLOL | 1:01 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

byu quit bragging about ur conf titles since the 70s, one bcs bowl appearance is worth more than all ur conf titles which by the way all resulted in bowl losses.

face it, utah is much better program. 2 bcs games, nothign you can say will dis that or top that.

unless you would like to discuss when you won your national championship in 1984 when you beat big ten 5th place Michigan who finished 6-6 LOL!

Maybe Utah can play a team in the Sugar Bowl that doesnt have a winning record!!

BYU will never be a boise or utah.

Busting the BCS | 1:19 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

What is all the hype about busting into the broken BCS system anyway? Alright, so your team got VOTED in by a broken system to play in a bowl game that didn't count towards a National Championship anyway, who hoo! What would truly be amazing (for any team, BCS or non-BCS) would be to go through a playoff and beat 3 or 4 top ranked teams in a row to get that National Championship trophy! It is lame that we are even discussing these bowls and what little significance they have to determine the strength of a team. Hopefully Oklahoma crushes Missouri this Weekend and goes onto the Title game so that Texas, Texas Tech, USC, etc... will be upset and voice their outrage and cause even more turmoil in the BCS system.

Win Whereever | 1:50 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

BYU needs to win wherever they bowl this year. Those who say this is a meaningless bowl game are dead wrong for many reasons. 1. This is a rare game against a team outside the MWC, prob a BCS conf team. 2. Another chance for a win, which would mean THREE 11-2 seasons in a row, not a bad thing. 3. A win here will contribute greatly to the momentum of what the program's trying to accomplish next season. Momentum, recruiting, fan/player moral. 4. When is playing in a bowl EVER meaningless, this is what many of our players/seniors live for, and what we cheer for, OK let's face it, many of us fans live for more football as well:). 5. It's another chance to root for the team against a very good football team, and I personally still very much enjoy watching our team this year! GO COUGS!!

Boycott anything Mormon... | 1:55 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

So it seems some special interst groups are asking people to boycott anything Mormon. Although I doubt there are a lot of football fans in these groups (actually I doubt these are large groups at all) - might this impact a BYU Bowl bid? Especially in California? Just something to ponder.

Also Notre Dame - you must be kidding. BYU needs to play someone that can help them get their confidence back - now Boise State - that would be great and if BYU wins...well, this is one Ute fan that would be impressed.

Funny... | 1:59 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

It's funny how about 6 weeks ago, I was reading these comments on this exact website, and all I could see were comments from BYU fans saying they deserve a national championship bid, it was just a matter of who they would play in the national championship, and how many points they would win by.

But 6 weeks later, after being destroyed twice since then, its nice to see a little humility from these BYU fans. They aren't as high and mighty as they thougt they were after all. Welcome back to earth cougar fans.

Funny how in the course of a month or two, you go from talking about national championship to poinsettia bowl vs a WAC team.

Maybe you shouldn't talk so big that early in the season. You never heard Utah talking National Championship all season, and didn't even start talking about BCS or "Perfection", until about late October or November. Not clear back in august and september. And look where it got them. A BCS game. Take notes BYU.

Overall Bowl Records | 2:00 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

are meaningless.

An 8-4 team beating a 7-5 team in the watered-down bowls of today means NOTHING!

There are 68 bowl spots available this season. 68 out of 120 teams (57%) playing in a bowl game; basically, EVERY team that had a break even season or better. More than a dozen teams that win bowl games this season won't even be ranked in the final polls.

If you want a true guage of how programs stack up year after year, the only meaningful measurement is where they've finished in the final rankings. Final rankings measure a team's entire season, not just one or two cherry-picked games.

In 2007:

Stanford (4-8) beat #3 USC (11-2). Who had the better season, USC or Stanford?

#8 Oklahoma (11-2) lost their bowl game to #6 W.Va.
#22 Texas Tech (9-4) won their bowl game over unranked Virgina.

Who had the better season, Oklahoma or Texas Tech?

#19 Hawaii (12-1) lost their bowl game to #2 Georgia.
#13 Florida (9-4) lost their bowl game to #18 Michigan.

Who had the better season, Hawaii or Florida?

Big Picture | 2:01 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I cannot believe some of the posts by manic-depressive BYU fans: that after a 10-2 season, whatever bowl game and matchup is irrelevant because they lost big to two very good teams on the road and didn't win their conference, blah blah...

Are you kidding me?

Among many reasons I could propose, consider just this one: Conference Respectability. The MWC's record in bowl games last year was something like 4-1, setting the table for a bump in respectability going into this season. The MWC's record against BCS conferences this year (particularly the PAC-10) was outstanding, another bump in respectability. If the MWC goes 5-0, 4-1 or even 3-2 in bowl games this year, that will bode well going into next year (assuming Utah doesn't implode in its BCS bowl game).

My point is, given the current system, the ultimate goal for the MWC should be an automatic BCS bid for the conference champion. It will take several years of consistency and increasing respectability to make that happen, and bowl victories are the sort of stats that help build a case. BYU over any PAC-10 team in a bowl is a major plus.

Important Notes | 2:08 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

The BCS is a phenominal accomplishment for Utah - because it exists - why does it exist? BYU 1984 (you're welcome)

If BYU fans were delusional to be talking about a national championship we'd be talking about the one in 1996 by the one very obscure poll run by Harry Frye that listed them as champs - not the 1984 one by the majority of the polls (and computers) which is considered a consensus selection and is listed in the NCAA history books.

And while we are the most recent and only one in what is considered the modern era we are not the only current DI (FBS) team outside the BCS leagues that has won a national championship - others are...

Army 5 total (consensus-1914, 1944, 1945)
SMU 2 total (0 consensus)
BYU 1 (consensus-1984)
TCU 1 (consensus-1938)

Did I mention the BCS exists because of BYU? So once again Utah, BSU, Hawaii - BYU Nation says you are welcome. Please recognize that your accomplishment does not exist if BYU had not won the 1984 championship. The bowl allianace and BCS are as much there to require the top teams play as it is to keep others out.

re: Ernest T. Bass | 2:13 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

what RELIABLE source are you getting the stat that BYU is 1-20 against teams who are ranked? I would like to see whatever site or entity is reporting that! LOL!

I've been in a cave | 2:22 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

can someone tell me what the heck happened this season? I've been looking forward to coming back to the real world and seeing my Cougars undefeated, you know how the "Quest" t-shirts and everyone predicting a perfect season and all. Could it be possible that there were actually two teams better than the vaunted Coogs? Are we going to keep our Quest t-shirts for next year, are we predicting another perfect season in 2009?

Top 25 Rankings | 2:29 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Utah Top 25 Finishes
Year_Rec_AP#_Coach#_BCS#
1964_9-2___14___-___n/a
1994_10-3__10___8___n/a
2003_10-2__21__21___22
2004_12-0___4___5___6
2008?

BYU Top 25 Finishes
Year_Rec_AP#_Coach#_BCS#
1977_9-2___20___16___n/a
1979_11-1__13___12___n/a
1980_12-1__12___11___n/a
1981_11-2__13___11___n/a
1983_11-1___7____7___n/a
1984_13-0___1____1___n/a
1985_11-3__16___17___n/a
1989_10-3__22___18___n/a
1990_10-3__22___17___n/a
1991_8-3-2__23___23___n/a
1994_10-3__18___10___n/a
1996_14-1___5____5___n/a
2001_12-2__25___24___n/a
2006_11-2__16___15___20
2007_11-2__14___14___17
2008?

BYU 15
Utah 4

Since 1977, BYU has finished the season ranked in the Top 25 15 of 32 times (45%).

Since 1977, Utah has finished the season ranked in the Top 25 3 of 32 times (9%).

Anybody except a crimson-glasses wearing Utah fan can clearly see which program has established a national reputation and which program is just starting to emerge.

The 2000's are the first decade that Utah has been ranked more than once at the end of the season.

BYU has finished the season ranked at least twice in every decade since the 70's.

MikeB. | 2:31 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

SOB your obviously a ute fan. Maybe AFTER YOU GET RUN IN YOUR BOWL GAME AGAIN'ST A GREATER FOE THAN YOU! Your going to want to travel to Vegas and drown your soul with some Vodka, or beer. But by then it will be to late because your 20 dallors will be spent on just 1 beer at your BCS GAME BECAUSE ONLY A UTE IS STUPID ENOUGH TO SPEND THAT MUCH FOR A BEER! Next year you get to spend your rivalry week AT LES stadium with minus 75% of your starters back then we can pour the carry in beer you smuggle in over your heads. You will get an A-- KICKING next year!

Is there a difference... | 2:35 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

between Las Vegas Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl?
None whatsoever --still a disappointing season after the "Quest for Perfection" promise and BCS hopes (or was it guarantee and not hope?).

So, BYU, just sit back, so to a bowl, and enjoy the BCS money that Utah will earn for you.

enjoy this year Utah | 2:41 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Let the utes enjoy this year as this success and exposure may not come again for several years. Next year the "mighty" utes will have a depleted offense and lose some good defense players. Also, not all of their tough games will be played at home (just think of what would have happened if they played Oregon State or TCU on the road)! I would not be surprised to see another 2005 season (7-5 that's decent, right?). BYU on the other hand returns 7 of 11 starters on offense and Mckay Jacobsen comes back! On defense, well, let's just say that it won't be hard to improve upon this season. Finally, the advantage the Utes had this year...home field, will BYU's advantage next year. Bottom line, utes will go back to mediocrity and BYU will continue climbing up.

Frank Castle | 2:51 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I am just upset AZ St won & knocked UCLA from bowl contention.

I'd love to see BYU play Ga Tech and get destroyed.

Seriously, Wherever BYU plays it'll be better than New Orleans or Arizona or Miami.

Bowl games | 2:53 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I'm tired of hearing about BYU not being able to win a bowl game. At least BYU is pretty consistent about qualifying for bowl games in recent history (26 since 1974 - Utah has 14 since 1939 [11 since 1992 is a little more consistent]). And making a bowl game is indicative of a good season. It doesn't bother me that BYU has lost more bowl games than Utah has played in. What this means is we were good enough more times than Utah to deserve one.

Bowl Opponents
Utah
Pac 104 (2-2)
BigEast2 (2-0)
WAC2 (1-1)
C-USA2 (2-0)
BigTen1 (0-1)
ACC1 (1-0)
MWC1 (1-0)
Ind1 (1-0)

BYU
Big 128 (4-4)
BigTen7 (1-5-1)
Pac 105 (3-2)
C-USA2 (1-1)
BigEast1 (0-1)
ACC1 (0-1)
Ind1 (0-1)
MAC1 (0-1)

I'm sure everyone would agree that Big 12, SEC & BigTen are the best football conferences in the country. BYU has played 2 of those conferences in bowls more times than Utah has qualified for a bowl.

It is more difficult to win a bowl game when you have to play tougher competition as the conference champ.

Re: I've been in a cave | 3:00 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

1) what happened this season: BYU could not walk the talk --they failed miserably at TCU and (especially at) Utah

2) yes, there are 2 teams better than BYU in MWC.

3) you can keep "Quest" t-shirt and wear them next year --at least for the first 3, 4, 5 or 6 games until BYU loses its first game, then put it away.

That's about sum up BYU's season this year.

LOL... | 3:05 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

BYU fans are excited about LV bowl or Pointsettia Bowl...

Wins? | 3:09 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Utah has a slightly better overall winning percentage 58% to 57% and 100 more overall wins, 594 to 494

but, consider, it took Utah 31 more seasons than BYU has played to pile up 100 more wins (barely more than 3 a season)

and many of those early Utah wins were at home against high schools and other "teams" that weren't even college teams:

City High
YMCA
Crescents
LDS College
Collegiate Institute
All Hallows
9th Cavalry
Carlisle
Ogden High
Salt Lake High
Fort Douglas
National Guard
12th Infantry
Oregon Short Line
Colorado Mines
at St. Vincent's
Denver
at Occidental
at Cal-Poly Pomona
Greeley State
Santa Clara
St. Mary's CA
Fort Warren
at Honolulu All-Stars

Utah counts 8 wins against Fort Douglas:
1902 5-0
1902 35-0
1903 63-0
1904 107-5
1905 129-0
1908 11-0
1909 21-5
1913 89-6

Impressive!

At least BYU only counts actual college teams in their won/loss record.

Re: enjoy this year Utah | 3:13 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

I will definitely enjoy this year.
I will look forward to next year when either TCU or Utah will win in Provo and keep BYU out of BCS another year.

Will Utah be 12-0 next year?
I don't know (& I hope so) but did anyone know in Dec 2007 that Utah will be 12-0 in 2008? None --although there were many started to talk about BYU's perfect season in 2008 and look at where BYU is today.

So, sit back, my friend and don't be so jealous of us.

SoCalUtahFan

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