Deseret News | Wyoming selects first in coaching go-round

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Wyoming selects first in coaching go-round

Wayne from El Paso | 12:49 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Wonder why no one is interested in the BYU Offensive Coordinator?

Hi Dick! | 1:55 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

I'm impressed! You were able to write an article without mentioning how bad Michigan is this year (somehow Washington's winless season didn't get a mention each week). Also, you didn't spout off how all the hate in the BYU-Utah rivalry comes from Utah (yeah, I know, it's easier to act like you don't care that much about the rivalry because then you come off looking much better--some sort of higher ground--after your team gets creamed...kind of like the kid that loses his favorite marble on the playground and then pretends he didn't like it anyway).

Oh, but what's this? You just couldn't resist, could you:

"Unsure if he likes to onside kick up a zillion to nothing."

And BYU fans always claiming that Utah fans have a complex? Little brother syndrome? If the shoe fits, Dick...

Anonymous | 7:13 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

That onside kick really affected you, huh Dick?

Comments continue below

Wi_ _ingham? | 7:40 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

A change from Willingham to Wittingham in Washington? How would that make them better?

Lay off Dick | 7:57 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

You gotta love you Uties. You won the mountain west now you want to control the media too? Take your wins, enjoy your season and lay off the media. Read your Utie writers and revel in the glory of this year. Dick's a BYU guy everyone knows it and it makes no point for you all to change that. Just stop reading his articles if you don't like them but don't be a paranoid/stalinist and try to criticize a guys voice. Love your season, love your Utes and let love fill your red hearts this Christmas season and leave the blues alone...

Anonymous | 8:01 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

The onside kick by Whitt was as arrogant and bad a decision by a head coach as I have ever seen in college football. Whitt lost the respect of a lot of people by that stupid move. I can't wait Wyoming to exact revenge for that. Wyoming will never forget that kick, not ever.

obvious | 8:34 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Whitt deserved the one-finger-wave for that move. I am a diehard Ute, and I remember being astonished at the time. Was he trying to make enemies of our Wyoming neighbors? If so, well done...

Painful | 8:50 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

I'm just trying to read this article, and it's painful. Do you have grammar-check, Dick? Your thoughts are all over the place. Even the paragraph where you were trying to insert humor was put in its own paragraph to stand out as nothing more than confusing.

I'm glad that Dick's the BYU beat-writer. Utah fans wouldn't read him - even if he spoon-fed us everything we want to hear (like Dick obviously does).

really? | 9:01 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

John L, "jumps ship" but Anderson and his 1 YEAR at SUU is not "jumping ship" and looked at as a plus? C'mon.

Anonymous | 9:09 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

"Painful", what do you mean? You/they (Utah fans) DO read him already!

Darrell | 9:20 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

The real question Richard should be asking is whether the new Wyoming coach likes to do the Haka dance on opposing team's home fields or whether he refuses to put the scrubs in (and in fact puts starters back in to prevent a late score from the opponent) when up 58-0 against UCLA. That's class.

Re: Wayne | 9:22 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

The reason no one is interested in the BYU OC is because he's not that good! His offense consists of less than 10 plays. Sure that is fine when you are putting in a new system, but after 4 years, you have to expand. And don't give me the "execution" argument either. If you only have a few plays it doesn't matter how well you run it when the defense already knows what is coming. Sure they can run up the score against the bottom of the MWC, but against the two good defenses they played this year, they got hammered! No one is interested in a coach that is so proud to change philosophy depending on opponents. I think that is BYU's fatal flaw, and until the can change they will NEVER be elite. 10-2 is about as good as they can get.

Ute fans | 10:02 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

based on the few comments on here obviously DO SUFFER FROM LITTLE BROTHER SYNDROME. If ever there were candidates for the couch in the shrink's office it's posters like "Darrel" and "Hi Dick"... Go drink some eggnog and CHILL OUT.

I can see the weight of the world is on your shoulders and disecting Harmons articles (yeah, he's the BYU guy) is gonna send you both over the edge.

Ute fans... like someone said earlier: enjoy the fruits of your success this season and act like you've been there before. Quit complaining about Harmon and go read Mr. Sorensen.

Or the Trib.

D Bone Sam | 10:55 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Darrell, check your facts man. First off, 59-0. Second off, I was at that game, and Bronco did not put in any starters the entire 4th quarter. Typical Ute fan though, don't know the name or number of anyone, Ute or Coug.

Lastly, you Utes are so ridiculous about the Haka. I went to every BYU game this year, except the TCU game, and we do the haka at every single game. We've been doing it for years. You chumps throw a fit about us "disrespecting" your field. Come on. Get a life. There are no Ute fans, just Cougar-haters.

Jealous Kewgs | 11:07 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

BYU fans cry about everything. They act as if their program is squeaky clean. It's okay for their program to run up the score...because they have class, but if Utah beats San Diego St 63-14 then BYU all of a sudden claims Utah runs up the score....but if they would watch the game they would understand how Utah scored their last 14 points.

Little Brother | 11:19 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

First, I'm a little brother from Provo. Good season Utes. You've done well. Thanks for the money you're bringing to our conference. I'm just afraid that since you haven't beat anybody good you're about to be the 2008/09 version of last year's Hawaii. You won't stand a chance against a decent team. You'll be embarrssed...and trust me, I know what being embarrassed is (TCU and Utah games???). In the grand scheme of things we might have money, but our reputation will take a hit when the Utes get thumped. It took a lot of squeeking by average teams (OSU), a lot of luck (TCU) and a good kicker to get you to 12-0. A good team will expose you bad.

It's laughable to see Whit talked about so much as if he's a great coach. The infamous onside kick exposed his real character flaws and cemented his place in history as a classless, unethical guy. All the firesides and BCS games in the world won't clean up the milk he's already spilled. I'd love to see him bolt to Washington and become just like Dan Hawkins who left Boise for greener pastures, a nobody in a big hurry.

Snow | 11:22 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

BYU and the Haka are ridiculous. Snow College was doing the Haka long before BYU. But that aside I don't see a lot of New Zealand players on the BYU team.

Confused | 11:30 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

I have to wonder about those who claim that Utah is bringing a lot of money to the conference. I might not see the whole picture, but I was under the impression that the Utes won't get a payout unless they WIN their bowl game. Am I wrong thinking this?

While the national attention is great, I'm pretty sure neither the Utes nor the MWC will get a dime unless the Utes actually win. Am I wrong? Can someone please tell me if this is the case?

re: Confused | 11:40 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

The Payout comes from your team being invited. You make it to the BCS Bowl and you receive a cut of the TV money. Your team takes out their expenses for the game and splits the rest with its conference.

RE: Confused | 11:42 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Yes, you are confused. Both participants in all bowl games get a payout. Now, the payout may be slightly higher for the winner (I'm not sure how that works) but BOTH TEAMS in a BCS bowl game make BIG JACK and that jack is distributed amongst all conference schools. (I'm not sure how that works either. I would assume the actual BCS school gets more than the rest, but the rest share a significant portion nonetheless).

So, thanks Utah for the money but I hope you don't embarrass the conference like Hawaii did theirs last year when they actually played a good team for the first time in the season.

I know a lot of you dis on Boise State but until you actually beat a good team on a stage like that (Top 2 or 3 all time bowl games in history) just enjoy your spotlight and realize how quickly the door of celebrity can slam shut on you. (Don't mistake the Ute win against Pitt in 2004 as anything other than a boring football game against a pathetic opponent and Urban "Temporary" Meyer's ticket out of Salt Lake City.)

Anonymous | 11:44 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Harmon- get tired of it- it's old news- the on-side kick- how about Marc Wilson throwing a touchdown with less than a minute left leading 200-14. It's old news man.

Joe Schmoe | 11:46 a.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Listen Einstein!

BYU has the grandson of the Maori Chief! Bryce Mahuika! He went to Bronco in 2005 and asked if he could teach the team the dance. It was also requested that the team performs it prior to each game.

It was a way to gain unity with the team and honor Bryce's dad whom had recenly passed away!

Read this quote....from Bryce Mahuika-ï¿½Iï¿½ve never in my whole life heard that certain people can and cannot do the haka,ï¿½ said BYU wide receiver Bryce Mahuika, who is the grandson of a Maori chief. ï¿½The All Blacks [New Zealandï¿½s national rugby team] were the first to do it in a sports atmosphere. Theyï¿½ve had all kinds of different people do it like white guys, poly guys such as Tongans and Samoans who arenï¿½t even Maori. They have all kinds of different guys doing it, and theyï¿½ve always done it. If they are all doing it in New Zealand, why can't we do it here?"

BYU specifically recieved permission from the Maori tribe to perform the ritual dance!

Bishop | 12:06 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Funny that these posts appear next to an article about Mormon Church Leaders calling for sportsmanship firesides. Football is a game. Onsides kicks and running up the score is part of it. Enjoy it. It's fun. It's not a personal attack on your religion, wife or lifestyle. Kyle was a great player. He's a great coach. Bronco is a great coach. He's no Lavell Edwards (if he was, he'd be running up the score and it would be even more fun!) So please, enjoy the games. Nixon, Hall and Collie were great sports after the game. And Bronco, please drop the successories-speak and build a better team. And knock off the roadshow dance before the game. Let the Polynesian Cultural Center have the Haka.
Looking forward to next year...it will be easier to be a good sport when we win!

Re: Painful | 12:08 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

So Painful- If Harmon is so bad that you would not read him if he was the Utah writer, then why do you read him at all. You are a Utah fan, unless you are suffering from little brother syndrome don't read Harmon at all. Honestly, I can't even tell you the name of the Utah beat writed for the trib or the D News. Either you have little brother syndromo or you have a secret crush on Dick Harmon.

Also, Ute fans, give up on the Haka. Seriously, the leader of the Haka is the son of a Moari chief. When he graduates we probably won't do it anymore, but even if we do who cares? To say that only members of a certain tribe or ethnicity can do the Haka is garbage and you know it. Truthfully, you are jealous that your team did not start doing it first.

Lastly, congrats Utah on a good season. Now, go and get blown out by Texas in the Fiesta Bowl so you know what it feels like to be vastly overated (trust me, as a BYU fan I know exactly what that feels like).

to Little Bro & others like him | 12:15 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Isn't your school's ethics or whatever supposed to include forgiveness and not holding a grudge?

So when you say the Utes didn't beat any good teams. Are you admitting that your team down south was a fraud? I guess by doubling the score on them, in a rivalry game no less, must have really shown how overrated BYU was.

A lot of you TDS fans talking trash against the Utes (even when you throw in a compliment) need to remember the year your team won its N.C.(1984)in the pre-BCS, BYU barely beat a 6-5 Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl. In fact you barely squeaked out wins against Wyoming and New Mexico that year which had a combined record of 10-14. In fact over half the teams you played that year had losing records for the season.

So don't discount the Utes Undefeated 12-0 season. They're PERFECT by smacking down the doubters all season long.

GO UTES! You've already made us proud!

byu fan | 12:31 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

It's good to see the pokes try to get back in the thick of things. ever since that season where they won 10 games and didnt get to a bowl game, they have been in a rut. Hopefully this will change their fortunes.

RE:& Others like him | 12:57 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

If your Utes go 13-0 it will be by beating a top tier team. You'll have my full respect at that time. Until then, you squeeked by a mediocre OSU that just happened to get that once in a hundred day against USC, you lucked out against TCU who likely wouldn't have missed 2 chip shot field goals on any other night of the season. BYU isn't that good.

Congrats, you've proved you're the best in the MWC. The real test will now be how the MWC stacks up against the BCS leagues. Unfortunately, Hawaii last year exposed the WAC-I'm hoping you don't do the same to the MWC this year, but you'll have to play one heck of a lot better than you have in any game of the 12 you've won.

former cougar | 12:59 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Utah kicked BYU's butt.
TCU kicked BYU's butt.
10 wins and 2 butt-kickings.

I think Utah State fans would kill for a season like that (along with about 100 other D I schools).

Congrats to Kyle and the Utes, they are certainly a great team.

Congrats to Bronco and the Cougars for winning 10 games.

LaVell Edwards was a great coach, or BYU would have never beaten Utah 28 times of the last 43 times.

Bronco is a great coach because he can actually win a bowl game without some kind of miracle involved, and without losing several in between miracles.

Kyle is a great coach because he wins all his bowl games, keeps Utah in the nation's elite after Mercenary Meyer skipped town, and he has the guts to give Wyoming a taste of their own medicine.

To: Former Cougar | 1:53 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

You don't call the UCLA kicker missing a chip-shot field goal last year in the Las Vegas Bowl a "miracle"? That was one of the biggest "miracles" ever! That had nothing to do with Bronco's coaching, the cougs just got plain LUCKY! Not to mention many regular season "miracles" Bronco has received.

Re: former cougar | 1:55 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Isn't BYU only 9-2? Don't be too quick to give BYU a victory in their bowl game.

to: clueless | 1:53 p.m | 2:10 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

the kicker didn't miss the FG, BYU BLOCKED it;

BIG difference!

Unlike Utah's win vs TCU when TCU's kicker who actually MISSED TWO chip shot FGs in the last 5 minutes of the game.

Now that was LUCKY!

no, but thanks for asking | 2:23 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

10-2

Sat, Aug 30...Northern Iowa...W 41-17
Sat, Sep 6...at Washington...W 28-27
Sat, Sep 13...UCLA...W 59-0
Sat, Sep 20...Wyoming...W 44-0
Fri, Oct 3...at Utah State...W 34-14
Sat, Oct 11...New Mexico...W 21-3
Thu, Oct 16...at (11) TCU...L 7-32
Sat, Oct 25...UNLV...W 42-35
Sat, Nov 1...at Colorado State...W 45-42
Sat, Nov 8...San Diego State...W 41-12
Sat, Nov 15...at Air Force...W 38-24
Sat, Nov 22...at (6) Utah...L 24-48

Another Harmonization! | 2:25 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Wow, thanks for the news Dick! I'm glad you confirmed the rumors I first heard midday MONDAY. If you can't break the story (you can't since this is a daily newspaper) then PLEASE wait until you have concrete evidence to report...rather than wasting our time with yet more speculation!

I view Harmon's news much like my sister-in-law's blog...not a great source for reputable information!

re: Another | 3:33 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Here's a thought, if you don't like it, don't read and even more, don't post two paragraphs about it!

Seriously, some people take every chance to bash they can and never realize how stupid their bashing is. Good grief people!

ser | 4:03 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Interesting article, as usual.

Reference made about Anderson and Whit possibly using salary talks to boost salary at USU like Norm Chow did before leaving for NC State. That's the first time I have heard that. I have heard over the years that Whit used his negotiations between Utah and BYU to boost his salary before taking the Ute job, however.

Haka is no joke | 4:48 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

The Haka is a war dance, ask anybody from Hawaii to New Zealand. So do not be surprised if the opposition takes umbridge. The Haka is is also an important part of some peoples heritage and to see it used in the fasion that BYU and other Highschool teams use it is a Joke. It is a recent tradition (3-4 years?) it needs to go. There is nothing more lame then watching white kids from places like Taylorsville and Pleasant Grove do the HAKA. You are embarassing yourself and fans stop now.

RE: Haka is no joke | 5:33 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

I agree.

It has nothing to do with US or Utah or LDS Heritage.

It is nothing more than a veabal attack toward the other team.

And I thought BYU was supposed to be better than that.

RE: Haka is no joke | 5:36 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

I absolutely agree.

The haka has nothing to do with Utah or LDS hertigage or culture.

IT nothing more than a verbal assault/attack on the other team.

And I thought BYU was supposed to be better than that!

Uncle George | 6:18 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Who cares about Wyoming. They should be invited to join the Big Sky conference. Bring on a school with a real athletic program such as Boise or Fresno

chip | 8:00 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

Pleeeese allow us to read articles and enjoy them. I think everyone is about fed up with the Utah/byu bickering. Give it a rest.

Getting real | 12:47 a.m. Dec. 3, 2008

I am a BYU fan. Every year I hope they beat Utah. However, I'd love that loss to be Utah's only loss. Congrats to two great programs, coaches, administrators, and athletes who represent the state very well!

Utah will get a joke of a team, with two to three losses, from the 'Big' East or ACC; and I hope that you pound them, just like you did Pittsburgh!!! Show the country more of the joke this bSc really is!!! The MWC's top three teams can beat the champs of either of those conferences - just sad some of the blowout football that will payoff those conferences in the major bowls.

Please someone - playoff!!!

Darrell | 8:58 a.m. Dec. 3, 2008

D-Bone Sam: Don't think the difference between 59-0 and 58-0 is material. Plus, you need to check your facts (attending the game most certainly does not make you an expert on what happened). When UCLA was threatening to score in the 4th quarter, BYU absolutely, positively inserted its starters (what starters weren't already playing) back into the contest to stop UCLA from scoring a touchdown. You can ask your buddy Greg Wrubbel. And just for the record, my neighbor is a third string receiver at BYU, and he was told (when the score was 59-0) that he would not be playing because BYU would be making "a statement" that day. And as for the haka, all situations are not equal. I'm sorry, but during a rivalry game and during Senior Day, the haka was absolutely disrespectful.

Take your own advice | 10:42 a.m. Dec. 3, 2008

To those saying "to not read or comment on this or any Dick Harmon article. That's what this system is set up for. Besides the hyperlink doesn't say Dick Harmon wrote the article, it simply said "Wyoming selects first in Coaching go-round".

Unfortunately, Dick drubbed up the onside kick. He can't get over it, he's harboring it more than my friends which are Wyoming fans. He keeps bringing it up; so we get to comment about what was written.

Don't like it? Take your own advice then. Don't read our comments thread.

And Dick, you need some new material.

SSR | 8:26 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Nice that zoobs refer to Utah fans as "haters" when the Chief BYU Fan himself Mr. Dick Harmon has to take a dig at Utah in an article written about the new coach at WYOMING! The pot calling the kettle black.

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Wyoming selects first in coaching go-round

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Wyoming selects first in coaching go-round