Deseret News | Losing a game not always a bad thing

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Dick Harmon: Losing a game not always a bad thing

John Charity Spring | 9:59 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

The statement that losing is not always a bad thing is nothing short of outrageous. This attitude is just another symptom of the so-called politically correct view that mediocrity and laziness are perfectly acceptable. What ever happened to hard work, dedication, and striving for excellence. This Country did not become great by accepting less than a full effort.

Steve | 10:03 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Maybe they should lose a few more and then they can really improve. A loss can improve a team but it sure won't get them in a BCS game. Even if BYU wins out it is nearly impossible for them to get in a BCS game (Boise will most likely be undefeated). No BCS game will take them with a blow-out loss at home. So unless you really think that this will help all those seniors leaving school at the end of the year you must be daft.

Whittingham's chip | 10:14 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

Whittingham continues to have a chip on his shoulder, even after his most successful season ever. And the Ute fans are the same. They are only happy when they outperform BYU.

That's okay, except they always define success in terms of what BYU is doing.

I attended the Ute pep rally 2 years ago when Whittingham guaranteed a victory against BYU, and then his team lost. He has had wins since then, but he doesn't really know what success is.

Comments continue below

Oversensitive Cougars | 11:10 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

That's a lie, he never guaranteed a win over BYU in '07, or ever, for that matter. Don't you think a single reputable media outlet would have, I dunno, referenced that at some point? I guarantee you they would have if it actually happened.

We're lucky we don't define our success according to what BYU does: Their ceiling seems to be the Vegas bowl and the first round of the NCAA tourney.

Whit > Bronco | 11:18 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009

It's okay, Coogs. I'd feel threatened too if Whit, who turned down the job at BYU, is (predictably) outperforming his BYU counterpart.

While what Bronco said is true, I'm not sure a football coach is the one to point that out. Trial is essential, losing is not.

@ Whittingham's Chip | 7:42 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

That post was ridiculous, and I'm a BYU fan.

"He has had wins since then, but he doesn't really know what success is."

I think a guy who went 13-0 last year knows what success is.

MWC | 8:20 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

So far this season BYU is 2-1 and Utah is 2-1 Both teams have bad losses. Some Utah fans seem to think that the Oregon Loss did not hurt the conference but it did. Every one in the nation was watching ESPN and BSU dominate Oregon and they also watched ESPN when Utah got beat by Oregon without their running back who was lost for the season after the BSU game. The BYU loss was also an Embarrassing loss for the school and the conference. Utah had some credit because of what Utah did to Bama. BYU still has the better win to date this year over Oklahoma. Utah needs to win over Louisville to help the conference as well as TCU over Clemson. Both fan bases have some envy over the other team one way or the other. To deny this by either fan base is comical. Both coaches have major strengths and both have some glaring weaknesses. Nothing will compare to the psychological issues that both fan bases demonstrate on a daily bases. Some fans have zero class and are a bigger embarrassment to there school than anything Kyle or Bronco could ever do!!!

Rams rule | 8:53 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

How about when they lose their second in a row at home. That will be a double "good thing." Cut the philosopy and play football.

Football... | 9:04 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

is a game, folks. It's entertainment. All this, "losing in unacceptable" stuff is just drama. As if any success in life comes without failure and setback. As if anybody has a perfect run. Football fans are just delusional with this "perfect" season stuff. Of course you learn from losing. Everyone learns from mistakes. Even perfect seasons only come with a certain amount of good luck and others doing worse than you when your not playing well at all (see Utah vs. Michigan, TCU, OSU; and BYU vs. Oklahoma).

Get over it people. It's a game. If you spend all week after a loss feeling bad and frustrated or even depressed (and you are not a player or coach), then you need to get another hobby or spend more time with your family and friends.

Perspective | 9:18 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

Continuing jobless claims fell to 6,138,000. That's a lot of people out of work...stressing over homes, relationships and providing for their kids.

Aggie Fan | 10:20 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

Seriously Ute and Cougar fans, it's time to come to terms with who you really are in the college football landscape. You have outstanding programs, send players regularly to the NFL and rarely have losing seasons, YET you will never compete on a week-to-week, season-to-season basis with the SEC, Big 12, etc. and that's OK!!! What's wrong with 9-10 win seasons, being in the running for a conference championship year, and the occasional upset of a national power (i.e. Oklahoma, Alabama)? Are you really that insecure in your identity that you have to obsess over the whole BCS thing? Try taking joy in watching your team compete and enjoy the game of football. USU's program will likely improve in the coming years with Coach Anderson at the helm, but even if they don't, I will love my team just the same.

BYU losses aren't rare lately | 10:37 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

This article acts like a loss is a recent rarity for BYU. BYU has lost 3 of its last 5 games. Apparently, those losses haven't "helped" BYU to figure things out. It awaits to be seen how this loss will affect Utah.

Re: BYU losses @ 10:37 | 11:51 a.m. Sept. 24, 2009

Yes, BYU has lost 3 of the last five, but in the last 3+ seasons their record is like 34-8. That is the "rare" that I think Harmon was referring to.

Disagree | 1:50 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that you learn more when you lose than when you win. All you ever learn when you lose is what it was that made you lose. More important than learning why you lost is what it takes to win, and that can only happen by winning.

Poor article based on a flawed philosophy.

Anonymous | 2:47 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

In college football a loss is never ok. But with the way the college system works its better to lose early in the season than at the very end. You just better run the table the rest of the way.

bigutefan | 3:29 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

I love how Harmon tried to compare Whit and Bronco. The truth is Whit has an excellent record against top ranked teams, bowl games, and BCS games. Bronco does not. More often than not, BYU ruins the MWC reputation. Utah is allowed to lose now and again, but 2-24 against top ranked opponents is not the same. White and Bronco are much different.

Vegas, Baby | 4:21 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

Yes, Whittingham and Mendenhall are different coaches. BYU went through the MWC without a loss two of the last three years and Utah only once. So, I guess it depends how you make the comparison.

Searce | 4:33 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

To MWC at 8:20 AM

The possessive should be their, not there. There denotes location. Their denotes possession, therefore, you shoud have said "their school". Otherwise, your post is "right on".

Re: Whittingham's Chip | 5:58 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

B.Y.U. fans (generally speaking)slay me. Get a Grip!
GO AGGIES!

Hey Aggie Fan | 6:11 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

Amen to what you said. Well put!

Uh, | 9:57 p.m. Sept. 24, 2009

Yeah, it is...

There are more lessons learned in winning than in losing...

forget conference records | 5:43 a.m. Sept. 25, 2009

You MUST win out of conference games, or you never gain the press support to rise to the next level.

That's the football side.

Life lessons side, you learn a lot. And BYU should be getting downright brilliant with the last 5 games they've been in - they should have won 4 of the 5, instead of 2 of the 5.

G.Crowton | 7:52 a.m. Sept. 25, 2009

If anyone is qualified to write about losing it is obviously Dick Harmon. Finally a subject he knows something about

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