Anonymous | 12:03 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Deep inside he wants TCU to crush Utah... Which anyone in the Mountain West should want. Conference before team.
Dick | 12:11 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
As a Ute fan, I think Bronco answered these questions exactly right.

However, as hard as it may be for Cougar fans (and Ute fans if the roles were reversed), if a conference championship is really the #1 goal coming into a season, the logical thing would be to want Utah to beat TCU. If that happens, all BYU has to do to get a share of the championship is to win out.
RR | 12:12 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Have you WATCHED utah play?
Have you WATCHED TCU already destroy BYU on the road? utah is ZERO match for TCU. This year belongs to TCU. No doubt about it. We all need to just accept this.
Comments continue below
Cougarf@n | 12:16 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Which team Bronco is pulling for is one of those questions he really can't answer. On the one hand, we all know the entire conference wants to see TCU in a BCS game, which will do a whole lot more for BYU and Utah than a 1/3 peice of a three way tie for the MWC championship. But Bronco's goal for the year is to win the MWC, so even though he'll definitely want TCU to win, he can't say so publicly without making it look like his goal of winning the MWC championship is fluff. But anyone who knows the big picture wants TCU to win. I'm not saying all Yewt fans should hope TCU wins, but the payday and notoriety for the MWC should take a little bit of the sting off the loss.
Anonymous | 12:22 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Hmmmm...good comments from Bronco.
Win-win | 12:24 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Its a win-win scenario for Cougar fans. If TCU wins we can all be happy when BYU gets the BCS money. Plus we can have some fun with Ute fans. If Utah wins then we can look forward to the Cougars beating them in a couple of weeks and sharing the league title.
slythefly | 12:32 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
I am a Utah fan i hope this game is a good game because it is on ESPN however for the sake of our conference i prefer TCU wins this game so Utah can beat the Cougs and play Boise St in a Bowl game that would be a great game
RG | 12:47 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
As a Ute fan this is hard to want your team to loose. But we also want our conference to look good. And the money that the Utes stand to get from TCU in a BCS game is more than if we win out and go to a bowl game ourselves. Go Mountian West Conference
Not about the money | 1:05 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
All this talk about people cheering for TCU so the MWC conference can get more money is digusting to me. I know money is nice, but football should be played because of how much fun it is. Don't get caught up in the numbers and who gets what paycheck, lets just play football and cheer for your team. Football shouldn't be about the money.
Go Frogs! | 1:06 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
TCU is way ahead of the rest of the league this year. If TCU loses it will ruin any credibility the MWC has built up nationally.

Go TCU beat Utah!!
True Ute Fan | 1:20 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
No true Ute fan would want Utah to lose any game ever!
Anonymous | 1:25 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
I am very surprised at the maturity of the Utah fan comments on here. This is exactly how I felt 2 weeks ago when BYU played TCU. I wanted to see my team do better (horrible, horrible, horrible), but I would much rather see the Mountain West get more respect, than a BYU win a grudge match.
Cougar fan | 1:26 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
In 2004 and 2008 I wanted the Utes to beat the Cougars. Best thing for the conference and in the long run BYU. This year is no different. While under most circumstances I would want Utah to beat TCU. This year I would prefer TCU to win. I respect and admire the Ute program, coaches and players and wish them success. I have a hard time with a majority of Ute fans. Never been around a more hateful, arrogant, overbearing group of people.
Some else | 1:52 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
will have to bear TCU. It won't be the woeful utes.
TheHailstorm | 1:52 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
There's an awful lot of publicity in this match up. I don't think , down deep, that Utah will win the game but I believe that they'll give TCU a better game than the Ynerds from tds
Having TCU in a bowl game would be sweet for the MWC , extra money,and terrific publicity. The best part though is not having YBU go and embare ass us . We need more credibility and the Blew Bloods just doesn't execute well in the big time lime lights, also their coach calls them uneducated in football. The MWC DOESN'T NEED THAT TYPE OF PUBLICITY.
@slythefly | 2:04 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
The Utah/TCU game is on CBS C, not on ESPN.

We are only in the 4th year (I think) of the TV contract between the MWC and the mtn. I would think all college football fans in the state would know that no games played on an MWC school's home field is televised on ESPN.
Frozen Chosen | 2:04 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
If Utah wins this game I will switch my allegiance from BYU to Utah. I feel safe in saying this because Utah has ZERO chance of beating TCU. The Utes will be lucky to get on the board. I don't say this because Utah is a bad football team but because TCU's D is that good and let's face it, Utah's offense is having an off year.
@Cougarfan | 2:05 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
If Bronco really wants TCU to beat Utah, then his #1 goal of winning the MWC really isn't his #1 goal, right? His #1 goal at this point is for the conference to show well in the BCS, not for BYU to win a championship. Thus, his stated #1 goal is "fluff" if he wants TCU to win.
Execute | 2:06 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Did I miss the second page of this article? Where's Bronco's "execution" quote?
Re:Go Frogs! | 1:06 p.m | 2:12 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Not necessarily.
If Utah wins, Utah can break into top-10.
And who knows...Utah may become the first non-BCS conf team to go to a BCS with 1 loss.
Re; win-win | 2:13 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Huh? You say if Utah wins you can look forward to beating Utah and getting a share of a conference championship? Just one problem with that statement; If Utah is good enough to beat a team away that completely dominated you at home, how do you figure your team is going to beat Utah? I have a hard time understanding your logic or lack thereof.
Slythefly swatted | 2:37 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
As a Ute fan you should realize the game is not on ESPN.

Also you don't understand the MWC's bowl contracts. If TCU beats Utah, but Utah beats BYU, then Utah will be going to the Vegas Bowl -- where they will not be playing Boise State, but the Pac-10 No. 5. (Granted, the Vegas Bowl can pick who it wants and BYU obviously carries more cachet -- but Vegas would pretty much be forced to take Utah if the Utes finished No. 2 just to avoid the appearance of favortism.)

The only logical scenario for Utah to play Boise State is to lose to TCU and BYU -- which, I agree, is also the likeliest scenario. Except, why would an undefeated Boise want to drop down to play a thrice-beaten Utah team that it stomped in Rice-Eccles just a few years ago?
Win-Win? | 2:42 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
As a Ute fan I see it as a win-win for us, but for the zoobs?
Utah wins, great win for the Utes putting together a team mid-season, making chances and beating one of the best teams in the nation. It hurts the conference because the BcS will keep a more deserving Utah out so they can keep as much money in house as they can.
TCU wins, glad that someone else is able to bring positive national recognition and millions of dollars to the MWC instead of the embarrassment TDS brings only beating teams they should. If the championship is gone Utah and TDS will be playing for bragging rights and Whit will have his team ready instead of executing the "bend don’t break" plan as best they can...
And zoobs, if you really think you have a chance in he!! of beating the Utes if the upset TCU you really are as uneducated as Bronco says you are!!!! You think FSU and TCU brought pain, last years 48-24 will seem like a gift from you know who.
So ya, win-win for the Utes, lose-lose for the ZOOBS!
ATC | 2:53 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
I don't care about the money, I just want to BCS to die. If TCU wins then two years in a row a MWC team is the BCS buster, and since they are different teams it looks good for us potentially becoming a BCS conference. I also want Boise to be close but behind TCU, because it will expose the BCS when one team is at the top and can't go to a BCS bowl game.
Re: Win-Win | 2:57 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Yeah if Utah beats TCU then they would certainly lose enough skill and to lose to same BYU team that got smoked at home.
Levin | 3:00 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Re: Not about the money.

Other good reasons to want TCU to win

1. I want other teams to beat Utah.
2. I want other teams to rough up Utah before BYU plays them.
3. It improves BYU's strength of schedule when teams win that they have played.
4. TCU is a solid program, and I wish them the best regardless who they play (other than BYU).

Reason #1 why I don't want TCU to win:

Has anyone suggested that success might allow TCU to bolt for the Big 12? The old SWC rivalries, TCU's good record against the B-12 since then. As much as I love having TCU in the MWC, I've got to admit that it makes a lot of sense.
Old Cougar | 3:04 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
I'm so sick of going to Las Vegas in late Dec, So it might be fun to go to San Diego.....so TCU wins and plays Boise State in Tempe and Utah, because of speed, wins 38-37 and goes to Vegas and I get to go to San Diego....unless the Holiday Bowl is on Sunday....Never thought of that....Oh Well!!
Anonymous | 3:04 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
How can anyone compare the TCU-BYU game to how Utah will perform agains them? Based on results we know that Utah prepares better for big games much better than BYU does. TCU may very well be the better team. But how much "luck" does Utah really have in these big names? Luck would be winning a couple games of this magnitude. A team doesn't win 21 out of 23 games with luck. They win with preparing for an opponent each and every week. Utah clearly does that.
Who cares? | 3:47 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
I really think he doesn't care, because the Utes can't beat TCU in Ft. Worth and he knows it. This Ute team has been lucky, but it isn't very good. It will show on Saturday.
Some Very Stupid Comparisons | 3:47 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
One theme that appears to pop up faily often on this board is that of "if Utah beats TCU, then there is no way in he!! BYU could beat Utah" This is a stupid assesment for the following reasons

1) Utah will have the same team after the TCU game as they did before (barring injuries). If BYU doesn't have a chance against Utah now, what happens Saturday will not change that. Also, if BYU is the vastly supperior team, then Utah will be in over their head whether they beat TCU or not.

2) Comparing how 2 teams performed against a common opponent is a poor method of comparing them.

For Example: Utah was losing to Wyoming going into the fourth quarter at home 9-10. BYU on the other hand was beating Wyoming 45-0 at Wyoming going into the 4th quarter. Using the comparison theory, Utah shouldn't even suit up against the Cougars.

Clearly that is not the case. BYU and Utah both have very good teams and nothing can be decided unto the two teams hit the field in 2 1/2 weeks.

Go Cougars. BYU 31 Utah 27
Why ask Bronco? | 4:02 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

After all, Bronco gots blown out by TCU the last 2 times he played them.

And, 48-24...

Obviously, Bronco knows nothing about TCU or Utah...

Dixie Dan | 4:25 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
If you're a Bosie State fan, guess which team they want to win? If Utah wins, then BSU has a great chance of going to a BCS bowl.
Why some comparisons do work | 4:52 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Utah and TCU play the same type of football, they recruit the same type of player. If Utah is able to match the speed and athetisim that TCU has that does not look good for BYU. Everyone knows that BYU has trouble with speed and because they don't like to change their scheme for anyone than it most likely will be a long day for the cougs. Utah always plays BYU tough (some years Byu plays tough as well), but if Utah has the offense to put points up on TCU they will most definately be able to score on a much weaker defense of BYU and if Utah can control TCUs run and passing game BYU is in a lot of trouble.
To Levin | 5:11 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
TCU makes as much sense being in the Big 12 and adding Houston. A couple of good years in Football does not qualify you for the Big 12. They are interested in other sports, as well as academic and research benefits, which TCU doesn't offer.
Win Win? | 5:20 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
If TCU loses, it's only a win for BYU if we beat the TUN. While I have high hopes for that to happen, I am into counting on sure things right now.

Therefore, the best win is for TCU to win. And, as long as they lay waste to Wyo and NM, as they should, they can likely count on a #4 ranking going into the BCS Bowl assignments.

If Cincinnati wins out, they will probably leapfrog TCU. But I think the one-loss Bama or FL drops below TCU, just because of timing of the loss. The only other possible leapfrog would be 1-loss GA Tech, although they don't play anyone else from here on out. Hey, if there is any possibility for Texas to lose, I will take it. That could vault TCU into the championship game. Nobody wants to watch FL and Bama play two games in a row.
Re: Cougarf@n | 12:16 p.m.  | 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
"But Bronco's goal for the year is to win the MWC..."

Hugh? Bronco's goal was to make BYU football elite. To do that, he rolled the dice and hit the jackpot with Oklahoma (though that's not looking so good now). His goal was a NC. After a humiliating loss at home, his goal was the BCS. After ANOTHER humiliating loss at home, his goal was the MWC.

Bronco doesn't know what Bronco wants. He just keeps lowering the bar until it meets his program's capabilities.
I am surprised | 5:52 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Bronco's response to any questions regarding the TCU/UTAH match up didn't end with "execution".

Why ask Bronco anything about football? Weird..
Conference Championship? | 6:54 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Having TCU go win a BCS game will mean far more for the conference as a whole. The logical BYU fans want TCU to pound Utah into the ground. BYU is a good team, but I think TCU #1 deserves to be the outright champs this year, and bring home the money for the MWC. We can give the whole conference championship thing a try next year.
No worries | 7:13 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
If TCU were to somehow bolt to the Big 13 (not likely), then it would take exactly 30 seconds for the MWC to invite Boise State, and even less time for the Broncos to accept.

To: Some Very Stupid Comparisons

Utah shouldn't even suit up against the Cougars. They will have their pants pulled down by TCU on Saturday.
AK Cougar | 7:27 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Fun article about the TCU/Utah game. I think BYU is preparing for UNM and I hope my Utah friends are preparing for TCU. Utah fans are much more worried about this game than others. Most of the Utah fans talk about losing be less than BYU did, not winning. Why do they plan to lose? I guess this game for Utah is already in the L column.
Searce | 7:47 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
I thought of a way that the BCS and the MWC could both end up winners and would avoid BCS problems and controversy, at least for the immediate future.

1. One of the BCS conferences offers TCU the opportunity to join their conference. This is a no brainer in that TCU is located in a big market football state and a high populated area in that state.

2. The MWC quickly offers BSU the opportunity to join the MWC.

3. The BCS offers the MWC the opportunity to become a BCS conference and adds an additional BCS bowl game. This is also a no brainer, since the MWC is rated above at least one BCS conference, and maybe two.

This would really take the monkey off of the BCS conferences' backs and would make the BCS look like heros, for awhile at least, until another conference reaches parity with the BCS conferences.
Re: Why ask Bronco? | 7:52 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

He knows TCU and Utah but with his player talents, he cannot win against TCU adn Utah.
It's simple.
Berf | 8:33 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
I wish BYU would hire one of these realy smart bloggers (that know sooo much about football) as the new head coach. BYU would realy start to win the "big games". In fact they would probably be invited to play in the NFL. They would recruit the fastest players on the planet, they would creat the perfect defense against every team they played and they would have the perfect QB. Thats because unlike Bronco they would want to win every game.
Y Grad / Y Dad | 9:10 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
After the TCU beat down, I'm embarrassed to even mention the words "conference champion" and "BYU in the same paragraph.

No, no. Much better to have TCU trash an otherwise fairly ranked Utah, go BCS bowling and MAYBE even get a shot at a BCS championship.

In my perfect world, the BYU of OU and WYO vintage then dismantles the U before 65,000 partially rabid fans (including me, thanks daughter!) and gets skipped by Vegas so we can go somewhere and play someone and maybe it will be in San Diego.

Utah regroups, goes to Vegas where they discover it's not so bad beating a #5 Pac 10 team. By then, maybe it would even be Oregon.
Bear Laker | 9:36 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
Utah hasn't played anyone this year. They will lose to TCU. BYU plays a much tougher schedule than Utah every year. BYU is number 1 in my book.

Go Cougars!
Thanks Veterans. | 10:36 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
What a great country that we have the freedom have this debate. We have the freedom to speak our minds, even if we don't know football and cheer for byu. Thank you Veterans!!!
Provo Ute Fan | 10:38 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
If Utah can keep the score in the 20's they have a real chance to win.

If it's a wide-open ragged offensive track meet, TCU will dust them off.

Here's my prediction:

TCU 31
Utah 17
BYU fan 1st | 11:17 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009
MWC fan 2nd.....and all I want for christmas is for TCU to beat Utah and finish out undefeated...nothing against Utah because they have definitely looked better then us....I just can't stand bsu...so TCU winning takes bsu out of it. Anyway...TCU is looking great and will be like Utah was last year. Wish it was my Cougs but since we're out of it....I just hope one of the other guys in the conference do it.

Go Frogs, finish up strong and Go Cougs.
Go Utes!!! | 1:51 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009
Utah 24, TCU 21
Mendenhall | 2:03 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009
Glad that he's finally going to be scouting how to beat TCU.

Seems to make sense to look at Utah, who has had mores success recently defeating, or even staying remotely close to, TCU.

Maybe Mendenhall is finally figuring out that execution and trying hard and committing only fixable mistakes doesn't make up for a poor gameplan.

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