Deseret News | Collie has made his All-American case

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Collie has made his All-American case

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Stats Speak For Themselves | 12:24 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

As the only receiver in the nation with over 1,400 yards receiving, Collie is the best WR in the country. He is extremely reliable, and makes good YAC (Yards after catch). I hope he stays next year. Go Cougars!

Utes #1 | 1:07 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Collie has not proved diddly squat. Maybe when he delivers a win over Utah, he'll be worth mentioning for an award. Brian Johnson is the MWC POY and should at least make hon mention AA this year. Collie hasn't earned it. Get back to us when you win some big games, Austin. Till then you are just another product of the system, like Wyoming's McGuffy, Yarborough, etc. Choke on that one Cougs

bigutefan | 1:38 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

If only he had lived right this year! Say want you want about his talent, when you play a strength of schedule in the 100's, is he really all that? He should have had big numbers. But ya know.. "Hall is still throwing interceptions", ha!

Comments continue below

Re: Ute #1 | 2:08 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

You're a bitter little man. Go back to your own blog. This article is about Austin and shows that he belongs with the big boys. I'd be surprised if he didn't jump to the NFL next, a place that your beloved Bran Johnson will never see. Good article, Dick. Thx

Congrats from a Utes Fan | 2:51 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Austin Collie was outstanding throughout 2008. I'll have to admit, I don't like some of his comments to the media but he is a terrific receiver and deserves to be a first team All American receiver.

I don't think he is the best receiver in the country (Michael Crabtree is), but his superior numbers and crisp routes make him one of the best in the country. Despite having only 4.6 speed, Collie is very productive after catching the ball. He is also a very good kick returner.

To: Utes #1, please stop making foolish comments. Do you not remember 4th and 18? Did you not hear Sean Smith say Collie was the best receiver he covered all year?

I'm not a fan of Collie but he is very deserving after having a great year. I hope is given 1st team All American honors. Congratulations Austin.

4th and 18 | 3:06 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

hey Utes #1.....he delivered on 4th and 18 last year against your Yewts. If you knew anything you would give him is due respect for the season he has had.

commando | 3:38 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Oh yes because his team beating Utah makes or breaks him as a receiver. The cranial capacity of a jealous Ute fan= diddly squat. Austin ate up that secondary, professor.

Provo | 4:03 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Collie will join the long list of Y WRs in the NFL. Therefore, Collie will probably have a Jerry Rice or Marvin Harrison type of career in the NFL since he has as much talent as these WRs or more

re:utes#1 | 4:44 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

hey Utes#1... 4th and 18...

RE: Utes #1 | 4:49 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Collie is awesome, regardless of the loss to Utah. Let's not forget 4th and 18, yewts. Let's not forget that. Even in the yewt loss, he gained over 100 yards. He schooled every defender the entire year. One man doth not a football team make. You can't hang a loss on one man. It was a team effort.

Collie deserves everything he gets, including All American! Go Cougs. Good Luck yewts. Even though I think your fans are very obnoxious, you are a Mtn West Conf team and I will root for you in the big game, wherever it is. You wouldn't be half the team you are today if it weren't for your headcoach, a BYU alum.

Blucougar | 5:17 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Ute #1 - you must have been one of the drunk utes who watch the game. Collie abused McCain early in the Utah game and your coaches had to switch coverage on him. If he a product of the system it doesn't say much for your cornerbacks who couldn't cover him. Remember last year?

redrockcoug | 5:29 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Utes #1 is obviously wrong. Maybe Austin didn't win this year (he is not the one who coughed up six TOs). But 4th and 18 was wide open last year.

Utes#1 in their own minds | 5:37 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Ha ha. Remember fourth and 18 ? I would say he delivered a win over the yewties that day. I can't wait for this bcs sham! Yewts r in real trouble.

Spencer | 5:44 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Austin has delivered a win over Utah. Back up your "Collie hasn't earned it." assertion with some kind of facts. This article is full of facts to the contrary.

silly utes # 1 | 5:54 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

"maybe when he delivers a win over Utah, he'll be worth mentioning for an award...?"

huh?

just a reminder...

4th and 18.

any questions?

UTE Fan in MS | 6:01 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Collie is a good receiver, but not the best in the country. Have you watched the Crabtree Kid at Texas Tech? Sorry, but he is just better.

@#$@ #1 above | 6:05 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Wrong board - get lost. He has been a lot better than your WR - So enjoy your BCS game comming up. So get lost
Go Collie and hope to see you here with BYU for another year!

Anonymous | 6:17 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Utes #1: Ummmm, last year he did deliver a win over Utah.

Ooooh, we're all choking now | 6:20 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Wow - that was a tough one. Way to get us Courgar fans. I think Austin did deliver a win over Utah a year ago...seems like it was a pretty big catch too.

Utes #1 - Reality Check | 6:21 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Are you kidding me, Utes #1? "Maybe when he delivers a win over Utah, he'll be worth mentioning for an award"? Do you have a memory problem?

Let me refresh your memory. 2007 - 4th and 18 - Collie burns TWO Utah defenders, makes the catch and BYU goes on to beat YEWTAH for the second time in a row.

Enjoy your brief respite from future Cougar whoopings - and see someone about your memory problem.

Collie had a great year and deserves a lot of respect and All-American status.

re Utes #1 | 6:24 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

any objective ute fan has to admit collie is a player. whether or not you hate byu you can still give props to individual players. i hate the utes but i still respect sakoda and johnson for being phenomenal football players.

by the way collie did deliver a ute win last year. so soon to forget? on the other hand collie routinely burnt your defensive backs all game long so i am not sure what game you were watching. you win and lose games as a team. not as individual players. collie did everything he possibly could. he deserves respect.

Anonymous | 6:31 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Collie is one of the best reciwvers in country, and if I am not mistaken delivered a big win over Utah on Collie 4:18 last year. Some players step up big every game, whereas others can only deliver 1 in countless tries (see Brian Johnson v. BYU with 1 lone victory and too many choke performances to count!!) Utah is still BYU's beaten mule. Cougars rule!

Re: Utes #1 | 6:51 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Do you recall a particular 4th and 18 in 2007? Do you recall a 45 yard TD reception against Air Force? That's just two examples. Typical Ute loser fan response. Austin Collie should have been the MWC offensive player of the year. Brian Johnson was the courtesy winner. As far as All American. Are you kidding? There are six better quarterbacks in the Big 12 alone than Brian Johnson. He wasn't even the best quarterback in the conference. The voters were just rewarding him for actually making it through a season without getting hurt.

RE: Utes # | 6:55 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Why do you have to bash him? The kid had a great year reguardless of who he played for. PS - I hope we get Alabama and not Texas.

Zordan | 6:55 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Beat Utah? been there, done that - 4th and 18. Collie is the real MWC offensive player of the year. Johnson was given an individual award based on his team's performance (He did not rank first in the conference in a single individual statistical category). Collie is the better player and should have received the awrd. Period.

Silly Yewts | 7:00 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Its amazing how fast Utah fans forget. Wasn't it just last year that Austin Collie did make a huge play to beat them. It is amazing how outright dumb some people's comments can be.

Tired of Ute Fans | 7:00 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Hasn't proved diddly squat? How quickly they forget 4th and 18. Collie is one of the best receivers in the country, his statstics prove it, he burned your pathetic excuse of a BCS team for over 100 yards. I can't wait for Utah to be smashed by whoever they play. And finally go post on your own Ute board, I still don't understand why Ute fans have this desire to get on and post about BYU articles, I could care less about stories on Utah and let alone have a desire to post on them. Collie is great and deserves to be recognized.

Wade | 7:06 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

LOL Utes #1. He has already beaten Utah. Brian Johnson as HM AA? You are kidding right? He won that award in the MWC because of the teams success alone. Collie had a much better year than any offensive player in the MWC this season.

To Diddly Squat #1 | 7:08 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Remember 4th and 18 as far as win over Utah??? Have you quite chocking, yet, on that one. You talk as if one athlete is responsible for wins when any normal person knows it is a team effort. Johnson couldn't have achieved without a good offensive line, good receivers and running backs, coaches, special teams, etc. all doing their part. Get a life!!!

Re: Utes#1 | 7:15 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

How quickly you forget 4th and 18 last year that delivered a win over Utah. Seriously. BJ had a good year that looks better because of some great 4th quarters, but Collie has dominated the field this year all year. You can't argue with 10 straight 100 yard games. It's unprecedented.

CClub | 7:16 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Collie has nothing left to prove. He should see what his stock is worth at the next level rather than run an injury risk. He does a good job.

re: Utes #1 | 7:16 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

"Maybe when he delivers a win over Utah,..."

4th and 18!

baby!

10 straight 100-yard receiving games.

Only a hate-filled, addlebrained Utah fan would refuse to recognize what Collie has accomplished this year.

I know this is hard for a biased Utah fan like you to follow, but this article is about All-American selection, which is determined by position played.

In case you didn't notice, Johnson and Collie played different positions, so what Brian did this year at QB is totally irrelevant as far as Austin's prospective All-American selection at WR.

To: Utes #1 | 7:18 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

"Maybe when he delivers a win over Utah, he'll be worth mentioning for an award."

You mean like last year (4th and 18) and the year before? Utes have such short memories.

Sorry, but winning or losing to the Utes doesn't effect the amazing year Austin had this year. Nor does it effect the great career he's had as a Cougar. I, too, hope he comes back next year.

To Utes #1 | 7:19 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Delivers a win over Utah? Hmmm, maybe 12 months ago, 4th and 18...sound familiar?

? | 7:27 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Why all the Ute fans? Go on one of your own stories and comment about McCains greatness. Collie should be All-American, no question. Where's the PR push from BYU Athletics?

Anonymous | 7:32 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

I think Dick hit the nail on the head. He's in the conversation. It's no lock at all he's number 1 in the country, but anyone BYU or Utah fan can admit, if Collie was on USC, or another BCS conference team that got more play, he'd be a finalist for that award. Collie is ridiculously good. Like him or not.
And those who "hate his comments to the media" must not've read his comments after the BYU/Utah game. He showed great class and wished the Utes the best during their BCS bid. How about showing some class back in his direction fellas?

Obsessive Coug Fans | 7:33 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Max just threw another INT. Collie didn't score a TD against Utah this year and I'm not sure what he did against TCU. Maybe next year he needs to prove that he can blow up the better defenses.

cougarcry | 7:38 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

4th and 18? What does that mean anymore? "Kruger is still open for a nice flaky max hall turnover" Along with 4 other Ute players. AHHHHH ha ha ha ha aha ha ahahahahahahahahahahahahah.... Cough ahem...ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahheeheeheeheehehehhhheeeeehhheeh...HAW.

Cougar fans response: Yeah but last year...um Quest for perfection...firesides...the refs were against us...um did I already say 4th and 18 last year...in 1984 we um...Live right on the field and off until I go in the NFL and play on sundays...If we would have won we um...Bronco says because we are Helaman warriors we um...Wah wah wah.

Collie was an outstanding MWC receiver but outside of Air Force BYU didn't beat any blue chip teams and their offense got destroyed by UTAH and TCU.

Statistics created in one conference don't transfer over to the other big conferences. The other two receivers are better than Collie... Come on BYU fans watch some college football other than just zoobie/Utah County football.

Ute fan here | 7:44 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

I'm a dyed in the wool, red-blooded Ute, but I've got to admit the Collie is the best offensive player in the MWC.
He's the best receiver I've ever seen at BYU.
I hope he goes to the NFL this spring.
Honestly, he's what makes the byu offense click, take him out and that whole offense isn't nearly as effective.

Agreed | 8:06 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

I agree with 'Ute fan here.' Much like Weddle was clearly the best player on the field a few years during the BYU-Utah game, Collie was clearly the best football player on the field in this year's BYU-Utah game.

Without Collie this year, BYU's offense would have really struggled. Just look at the two losses...Collie was the only bright spot in both of those games. Look at the close wins...Collie had big catches and plays in all of them.

I really hope he comes back next year. I'd love to see him running the wildcat offense more. With offensive skills players around him like Hall, Pitta, Unga and McKay Jacobson coming off a mission, it should be a fun year to watch.

Is Collie good enough to be considered an all-american? Not first team...maybe second team or third team. But if he comes back next year and improves as much as he did from last year, he has a legitimate shot at being first team all-american.

Re: Ute fan here | 8:12 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

i knew there were some decent ute fans out there. thanks for being level headed. even though i hate the utes i hope you do well in your bowl game.

Anonymous | 8:20 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

At least the Ute fan above can give Collie some respect unlike the rest of the classic Ute fans on here. Keep Booing Brian Johnson, I know he loves it.

McKay | 8:34 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

My fellow Cougar Fans: why do you take the bait so easily? One stupid U fan comes on here and leaves some lame post and there is 25 straight posts fighting back? Any knowledgable fan knows that Collie is the real deal, there wasn't one corner he faced this year who had the ability to cover him. The numbers don't lie. Congrats to Johnson for POY, 12-0 doesn't lie either and that's the most important statistic for a QB.

Product of the system, Pt 2 | 8:59 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

...and I was being sarcastic - Tebow is a great player and would be amazing no matter who he played for. Great players are great players, and if the system doesn't take advantage of those strengths, they're completely lame.

Cabtree vs Collie | 9:29 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

If you watch Cabtree and Collie on TV. They run very very similar routs with almost identical precision. Cabtree seems to be faster than Collie, but Collie seems to be more physical (and with that stronger). So since Cabtree has been on the Heisman watch list and is from a better conference he will take it. Sorry Collie.

Also I hate to say this, but make the jump to the NFL this year. Next year you don't have an offensive line to protect your quarterback and therefore no time to get down field.

This story is about Collie | 9:38 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

not Utah or BYU. The guy is a stud and could probably play any position other than on the line. Congrats Austin, you legacy will be a strong one.

Talented MWC receiver | 9:42 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Two things: First, I'm a Ute fan. Second, Collie is an athletic and very talented receiver.

Really though, is there any wonder that he gained as many yards and had as many catches as he did? What other WR did Hall ever throw to? Here are the top 3 finishers for receptions at the Y and the number of catches this season: 1> Collie(95), 2>Pitta(78) and 3>Unga(41). The next WR on the board is Reed with 40. Your HB had more passes thrown to him than Reed did, not to mention your TE had almost TWICE as many!!!!!
Collie gets almost 2.5x as many passes thrown his way as your next WR. Wanna know how many catches your #3 WR has? Reed White with a grand total of...(drum roll please)....7. Yes SEVEN whole catches!!!!!!!
It amuses me that Y fans can't see why Collie has so many catches/yards, other than living right of course, and why good defenses handled the Y offense this year.
Props to Collie, he is a very talented MWC WR and will do well in the next level. First team All-American though? Don't think so.

Sarah | 9:42 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

To Try Living Right,

Austin Collie is living right, right into the arms of the Humanitarian Bowl.

Ute Fan | 9:44 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

I've said it before and I'm happy to say it again -- Collie is a stud, a player the Utes would love to have.

Unga, Jorgensen, and Hall too.

I wish Collie luck at the next level. I think he can succeed there because he has that intangible drive, kind of like Eric Weddle.

What's up with the fixation of the BYU fans with one goofy comment above by supposed #1 Ute Fan?

I think there's just as good a chance the comment was "planted" by a disgruntled BYU fan, pretending to be a Ute, as by a Ute fan.

That's becuase Ute fans who know football know Collie is a great receiver. And, as we all know, there are fans of both colors, as Jan Jorgensen so aptly pointed out, who love to act like morons.

McUte | 10:11 a.m. Dec. 4, 2008

Having played against and experienced what it like to go against Austin Collie I can attest to the greatness of Austin Collie. He is by far the best wide receiver in the nation, this I know because I have been schooled by him two years in a row now.

Sincerely,

Brice McCain

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