Comments about ‘Mike Sorensen: Leftover thoughts from Utah-BYU game’

A shame indeed, unless the Utes feel too good for BYU now they are playing the blue-blooded Paciific Twelve.

Good points on the wild finish (or finishes) of Sat's game.
In the end:
--3rd straight win, 4 of 5, 8 of 11
--has anyone question Bronco on changing the FG kicker in
a chaotic situation? I know Justin Sorensen has missed 2
FGs, but rushing in a new FG did not seem to be a good
strategy at that moment.

Great point about the BYU sidelines being on the field as well.

There is a reason why we haven't seen that called before, because it should never be called. It didn't effect the outcome, BYU players and coaches were on the field as well, but really what should we expect from that officiating crew. They were awful on both sides of the ball the whole game. Truly one of the worst officiated games I've seen.

At least it was nice to see that all this talk about how the rivalry had lost its luster was clearly proven wrong by the fans. The Utah fans stormed the field 3 times in a row! The rivalry is for the fans - and clearly also for the players. The emotions were running high and everyone in that stadium was treaded to an entertaining game. Football is a game and games are there to entertain. I don't know of any other game that is more entertaining than the annual rivalry game!Keep the rivalry alive!! Don't let money and status ruin a great thing!!!

My thoughts,

Utah has proven themselves in adversity, BYU has yet to be proven against someone good.

The rivalry needs to keep going as per seeing the spirit in the state of Utah, but it's one sided at the moment.

BYU's Riley is as good of a leader as they say he is, even after having defeat in his eyes he still came back.

LOL good point on the Sunday play :)

Mike,

You forgot one thing.... Utah didn't win the game, BYU really won but handed it to the Utes on a silver platter.... just like in 2011 (54-10) and 2010 (17-16). See a trend here?

pocyute:
pac 10 plus 2 officials. anything else?

Great game. Good comments about the supposed end of the rivalry. Someone needs to get the message to his highness, Dr. in name only, Hill. I think the 45,000 ute and cougar fans at the stadium still think it's a pretty big deal, not to mention the thousands of other TV viewers. In terms of the 72 olympics. I saw that game and it was a definite fix by the referees. In this game it looks like the rules were followed at the end. To say you should ingore the rules just because it's not convienient is ridiculous. It's just like the NBA refs always ignoring fouls at the end of games because it's just not done. It's why the NBA is becomming like pro wrestling.

@Juice Box

I don't get your premise. If Utah has proven themselves in adversity then that means your claiming that BYU is good, because Utah hasn't beaten a ranked opponent except for 2 teams since 2009 (BYU this year and Pittsburgh 2010), BYU has beaten more ranked opponents since 2009 than Utah, admittedly they all happened in 2009 (against #18 Oregon State in Las Vegas Bowl 2009, #21 Utah and #3 Oklahoma). BYU will have two more chances to beat ranked teams this year (#24 Boise State and Notre Dame) and I truly believe BYU will beat one of them or both of them. Look I'm not being unreasonable, Utah won the game but I feel BYU gives Utah respect but that respect is not reciprocated back. Utah beat a good opponent in BYU. It's obvious when the fans rushed the field, usually that doesn't happen for most teams unless a huge upset happens. I think it's funny when Ute commentors on this board say they don't need the rivalry or downplay it but the actions of the game on saturday night says otherwise.

One more comment. As a BYU fan I'm impressed with the MUSS. Really they helped Utah win the game and I don't see anything wrong with that. The bad snap which resulted in a fumble recovery for a touchdown and the number of false starts aided the Utes tremendously in there win. That is what makes college football amazing is that fans can greatly contribute to the outcome of the game. I just wish BYU student section could do the same thing. Surprisingly, BYU basketball gets that loudness and intimidation to opposing teams but not BYU football.

The officals were from the BIG 12!!!

My thoughts:
BYU has a great defense
Reily Nelson still makes bad decisions under pressure.
Utah would be 3-0 (to include another possible blow out of BYU) if they could recover a fuble forced by their defense
Bronco is horrible at making good ingame adjustments
Utah's offensive line will either make or break this season for the Utes (right now I have little faith)
Star is a beast
VanNoy is a beast
Both offensive coordinators have alot to figure out
Both teams have major issues in the kicking game
And Doctor Hill is a moron for cancelling such a great Rivalry.
Thank you to both teams for providing yet again an instant classic.
Good luck to BYU
and Go UTES!
Both teams have kicking issues

One more item that would have been worthy to make this story:

Contrast the blocked field goal and team/fans rushing the field with the Utah/USC game last year. The Utes line up for a game tying field goal, it is blocked, players rush the field prematurely, and flags are thrown. But the result was quite different: USC was awarded the touchdown on returning the blocked field goal??!! Can someone explain the difference.

Great game!

ute alumni
Tengoku, UT

The officiating crew was from the Big 12. You might want to know what you are posting before you post.

The flag should never have been thrown and never by the official who thru it. Yes it is a rule, but times like that you need to look at if it effects the play. It did not.

The responsibility for the Utah sideline was that of the head linesman and the side judge. Neither of those officials thru their flag. The line judge has responsibility for the BYU sideline and the play taking place in front of him. He was correct in throwing the flag on the BYU sideline, which were on the field during the play but chose to ignore his area of coverage. At most, penalties should have been called on both teams for the same infraction. They would have been offset and the game would have been over.

Pac-12 officiating has been poor for many years and I have not seen it change yet. I can only hope for the future. We were spoiled with good Mountain West crews for many years.

Anyone else notice this? During the pregame band portion, BYU let Fui Vakapuna carry a BYU flag, run through the Utah band that was still on the field, and stand right on the U waiving it as band members dodged him trying to get off the field.

Paging Max Hall, Max Hall you are needed for a ruling.

Would you apply your phrase of CLASSLESS to this act?

Can you imainge Kyle letting an ex-player carry a Utah flag through the BYU band in pregame at LES? Would never happen.

Way to show class Cougs.

Very big shame to discontinue the game. Big mistake by Dr. Hill. As a season-ticket-holder, I was offended when my tickets last year had the words "Rivalry Game" printed on the Colorado tickets. Really? I need to be told who my rival is in some sort of manufatured rivalry? Don't tell me who my rival is, and don't cancel a 100-year Utah (I mean the state, not the team) tradition to schedule some cup cake game. I desperately hope that Dr. Hill will reconsider. The rivalry is fun and (aside from some over-the-top fans on both sides) in an ironic way brings the state together, I believe.

I really like Reiley Nelson in a lot of ways, but I don't think he’s the kind of passer to build an offense around. At least not the kind of offense BYU runs. Kind of reminds me of Tim Tebow. Leader, good athlete and can have moments of brilliance, but not a consistent passer and he makes too many mistakes trying to compensate with his athleticism (like scrambling too much). If BYU had had one of their more consistent QBs playing, the game wouldn’t have been close, because Utah doesn’t have a great team this year. Of course, I’ll add that BYU’s problems on the O-line didn’t help Nelson. I predict it won’t be long before fans start calling for one of BYU’s young arms to come in.

Golfhack20-54-10

The officials were from the PAC-12, PAC-12 teams and the out of conference teams they play are under contract to use PAC-12 officials. I am as big a Ute fan as you will find, but one bad thing about the PAC-12 are the officials. That was as bad as it gets, and believe me I am never a person to even consider the officiating. I for one cannot believe what we all went through Saturday night-it's the byu/Utah game how many personal fouls really needed to be called, it slowed down the game, and then the fiasco at the end was all caused by the refs. That blocked punt there were fans, Utah players, byu players, media, others on the field, NO CALL.