Reader comments
Mike Sorensen: We're learning so much about college football

Updog | 7:52 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Don't know why you would point out that Boise State scored a late touchdown to make it look like they took care of business. BYU does that all the time. Case in point, Max Hall to Peeta with around 4 minutes to go. Late scores last year abound in an attempt to show the voters they are bettter than they are.

Anonymous | 7:54 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

It has been an entertaining season to date, no doubt. And that's what it is all about- entertaining drama and athletic competition. I would hope it stays that way. Obviously, too many teams reading their press clippings, while too many observers forgetting these are 19-23 yr olds doing amazing things under heavy scrutiny and pressure.

On the Oregon player -

Forgiveness or recanting a decision based on quick-to-jump reaction is often a good, merciful and productive thing.

However, what kind of lesson is that for other players, athletes, people? It's not like there is any doubt as to his actions.

Perhaps an assault and battery charge, arrest, speedy court date with its outcome bearing sway would be a better, fairer course of action?

Forrest | 8:33 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Good call on the MWC/WAC stuff, Sorensen. Thanks for the entertaining article. But I hope you learn to like the Cougs at least a little, and not give UNLV folks reading your spot more reason to have it out for Cougs looking for 1,000 yards.

Comments continue below

Rankings a Mess | 8:45 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

The only thing I have learned is how much a mess the rankings are. Boise St. may have only won by 18 after tacking on a late touchdown, but Va. Tech only won by 8 pts. to DUKE! Are you kidding me? And they move up past Boise? By that same logic, Florida should have moved down after surviving Tennesee.

Re: Updog | 8:46 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Looks like we have a BSU fan that's a little bitter?

Druggist | 10:04 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Va. Tech moved up because their victory over Miami became more impressive when Miami beat Oklahoma. Duke would beat UC Davis by 30 points, especially at home.

MWC | 10:35 a.m. Oct. 5, 2009

The MWC is not looking good this year. Losses to Idaho by CSU and the UNLV spanking by Nevada do nothing to help the conference and really look bad. I hope the conference improves and is able to win some bowl games at the end of this year.

bakerb | 7:07 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Rankings,

Duke is a very weak BCS Football Team. However, they ARE a Div I BCS Football Team (with associated money and Athletes).

UC Davis? Are you kidding me? Why is BSU even playing these guys? They aren't even a GOOD FBS School. Hopefully, it was scheduled to fill a last minute withdraw from a more presitigious School. The USU win over SUU is more prominent than this ugly win.

I attended BSU and consider myself a Fan, but there is no leg to stand on for BSU on this one. Any other FCS Team (to include WAC Teams) would have beat them last week.

GuateUte | 8:34 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

This was a very bad weekend for the MWC. As an avid Utah fan I have had it with this conference, other than the U, the y and TCU, we have nothing but a bunch of bottom feeders. We will not get the automatic BCS bid in four years even though I see us providing one, if not two BCS busters in that time-phrame. Poor showing on Saturday MWC. Time for Craig Thompson to go and for the University presidents to take a hard look in the mirror. The T.V. deal and lack of national exposure, lack of quality teams in the two major sports . . . time for the Utes to analyze their prospects and take any other deal available. And I don't want to hear how we as a conference give more priority to academics. Utah, BYU, and TCU are the only real quality schools academically, with UNM making strides.

RE: GuateUte | 11:31 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Thank you for actually mentioning the Y in who you are not fed up with in the conference. Many U fans (I won't say most because I don't think those that comment on these boards are representative of all Utah fans)would not admit that there are two other good programs in the conference. It is nice when fans who actually have class comment on these boards.

Here's an idea... | 11:47 p.m. Oct. 5, 2009

Why not just start a new conference with BYU, Utah, TCU, BSU as the core of the conference. Also invite pretty good teams from other non-BCS conferences, such as Houston and maybe Tulsa. Then allow some not-too-pathetic other MWC and WAC programs in, such as Fresno State, Air Force, and maybe Hawaii. Maybe allow one completely pathetic team in just to finish out the conference with ten teams and give everyone one easy conference win every season (every BCS conference seems to have at least one team that is not very good at all). I know this is not realistic, and would rather have a play-off system, but I do think if they could set up a conference like this, it could match up with most (if not all) the BCS conferences. On the other hand, it might just lead to none of these teams ever being undefeated and would just backfire. Either way, it was just a random idea that came to my head.

Sandyclaws | 6:24 a.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Updog: Are you kidding me? You're complaining about BYU trying to score with 4 minutes left in a game they were leading by 18 points? You must be a fairly new fan of football if you've never seen a team score 18 or more points in 4 minutes.

We BYU fans all fondly remember a game in which BYU scored 27 points in the last 4:30 of a game to win by 1 point. (BYU vs. SMU 1980 - The Miracle Bowl)

Concerning Boise State | 7:13 a.m. Oct. 6, 2009

After looking at Boise State for the past few years, some observations:

1. They run up the score on any team they can, especially bad teams like UC Davis.
2. Their players taunt and egg the opposing team(i.e. Hout), yet act like the victime when someone challenges them (Blount).
3. Their coach refuses to discipline his own players (Hout) when they are as guilty as the opposing players.
4. Their fans come on to other states' web sites (especially Utah's and Oregon's) and trash talk and put down the local teams. This, even after Utah had their perfect season and defeated the team (TCU) that they Boise lost to.
5. They dress in dark blue at home on their dark blue turf to confuse their opponents.
6. Their team all look (and act) like prison inmates.

Boise fans, isn't it a little obvious why the rest of the college nation doesn't particularly like your team?

I love Boise | 10:56 a.m. Oct. 6, 2009

BUT HATE THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM!!! The NCAA should make them change their turf to conform with the rest of the football world. I've been an avid college football fan for 40 years and honest to pete, have not seen anything that is so absurd as their smurf turf. Their fans have a lot to be desired as well.
(This is from a Ute fan who likes to take a nip in the stands) What goes around comes around Broncos. Just you wait.

bazooka Jim | 11:48 a.m. Oct. 6, 2009

To I love Boise...its called home field advantage. If the NCAA had a problem with the blue turf, BSU would have never been allowed to put it in, let alone change it from astro turf to field turf and still keep the blue color. Is drinking the only way to enjoy Utah? I still remember Drew Bledsoe actually running over a Ute linebacker in the 92 Copper Bowl. He lowered a shoulder and dropped that guy then stepped on him as he ran for a first down.

BSU a BCS Wannabe | 11:55 a.m. Oct. 6, 2009

There is NOOOOOO way that BSU should be ranked as high as they are. That team, with that weak schedule, is NOT the 6th best team in the nation. No way!!!! Sure, the regular rankings and BCS ranking systems aren't perfect, but this definitely shows a major flaw.

@Concerning Boise State | 12:08 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

"2. Their players taunt and egg the opposing team(i.e. Hout), yet act like the victime when someone challenges them (Blount).
3. Their coach refuses to discipline his own players (Hout) when they are as guilty as the opposing players."

I hadn't ever heard what Hout said to Blount. Do we actually know what was said, or is it just as assumption that Hout must have taunted Blount? I'd love to know what was said, if you have some inside info.

Hey updog | 12:40 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Are you referring to the late USU score against BYU? Just when do you send players on the field not to score, when they are up by 20, 30 or 40 points? Have Utah explain an on-side kick against Wyoming.

re: Grouchyute | 1:01 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Good grief, you are a quitter and a baby. Just because some lower teams haven't done much this year, that doesn't discount what they've done the last few years. Those other teams have beaten the likes of Virginia, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Arizona, and Arizona State. Add the big 3's defeat of UCLA, Oregon, Alabama, Boise State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Clemson, and Texas Tech. How is UNM making strides? Oh, it must be their 0-5 record this year. Our conference could be as pathetic as the WAC, so stop your complaining and grow up!

BSU not Top 10 | 1:37 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

That is just too funny that bsu had to leave their starters in the entire game against UC Freakin Davis. And then struggled to tag on one more TD at the end of the game to make it look more respectable. I could understand if it had been a road game for bsu but it was at Boise! No, I take that back. That wouldn't happen to a real Top 10 team even on the road. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

boise | 1:55 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

is more popular than any mountain west team and has been to more bcs games than byu will ever get to.

boise is a machine, nut'n you can do about it.

...and to think they were in the Big Sky conference just 10 yrs before winning the Fiesta Bowl

yes, thats the conference with Weber State and Montana.

@Concerning Boise State | 1:56 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Before the game blount was talking about how bad a butt whooping they would give BSU. Hout asked Blount how about the butt whooping. Something to that effect.

Boise stock report | 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Boise State, with their WEAK schedule will continue to see one-loss AQ BCS teams pass the Broncos in the polls. Bronco fans better hope that BYU beats TCU in a couple weeks, because an undefeated TCU will be a lock to pass Boise State in the final BCS rankings (that all important SOS will come back to haunt the Broncos in the computer polls). Even a one-loss BYU team could jump BSU by season's end.

Boise State could't even beat the SECOND BEST team in the MWC last season. The Broncos need to find another warm body in the WAC, another program that can provide some semblance of competition, or Boise State is going to continue to lose credibility as a one-horse league, kind of like a PAC-10 EXTREMELY light!

TCU pass BSU???? | 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

On what grounds? have you seen the records of the teams TCU has played? Not a chance.

Passing Boise | 7:11 p.m. Oct. 6, 2009

Clueless! It's not the records of the teams TCU has played, it's the records of the teams TCU still has left to play that will push TCU past Boise State if both teams run the table.

If both teams remain undefeated, pollsters will look back on that bowl game last season to bolster their opinion that TCU is more deserving of a BCS bid than Boise State.

geezer | 8:25 a.m. Oct. 7, 2009

Just a bit irnonic that some MWC fans blast Boise's schedule. Boise State has tried to upgrade its schedule by becoming a member of the MWC. They have been denied entrance into the conference. While some blast their schedule it makes me wonder if they're afraid to play them at the same time.

boise | 7:24 p.m. Oct. 7, 2009

Remember a couple years ago when boise state dominated utah and byu! maybe thats why they wont play them anymore. boise beat oregon pretty soundly and oregon is now a pretty darn good team. utah can attest to that! byu's win over oklahoma is looking less and less impressive every week! go boise do the WAC proud and see you in a BCS bowl

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