New Whittingham contract momentous

[SeattleUte]

The new Whittingham contract is of enormous significance. Utah has gone to two BCS games in five years, the firsts non-BCS team to go to two. The first time it beat the Big East champioin 35-7, and now it will play a truly elite team, Alabama, in the SUGAR BOWL. In the past six years Utah has three MWC titles, has won 80 percent of its games, has a 10-3 record against BCS teams, and Utah has won seven bowl games in a row. Utah is 20-1 in its last 21 games, and has won 13 in a row.

Now Utah has a world class coach who wants to stay at Utah, and Utah has raised the funds to pay him a market salary per a long term contract. A fitting capstone! Utah's program and tradition will now really begin to pull away from the rest of the conference. Watch for a surge in recruiting. Early returns already suggest the best Utah recruiting class ever, and they're still beating the bushes and anticipation of 2/4/09.

[All-American]

I look forward to speaking with you on January 3rd.

[SeattleUte]

I look forward to speaking with you on January 3rd.

Classic little brother syndrome. Too bad about the Vegas bowl.

[All-American]

Classic little brother syndrome. Too bad about the Vegas bowl.

Little brother syndrome? More like somebody who's heard all that talk before and knows exactly what it's worth.

Yes, you're going to play against an elite team in an Elite bowl-- and they will do things to Utah that children under 13 should not be permitted to see. Yes, Utah has won all of its games to date (and I won't even argue that the fact that they've squeaked by in a good number of them should somehow tarnish that record), but tell me truly if the collective Ute nation hopes for anything more than a respectable defeat against Alabama.

I shouldn't have to tell you the worth of a February championship, nor the value of the claim to that particular throne made in December. And if Utah truly does begin to pull away from the rest of the conference in spite of losing a solid senior class and both coordinators, it will be truly impressive.

Utah has been fortunate enough to be able to procrastinate its first loss until the world will be able to watch every gory detail. For that, they'll get a nice check and all the glory, laud, and praise that comes with it. But your kidding yourself if you think Utah has secured long-term hegemony in the conference with this year's success.

[TripletDaddy]

Classic little brother syndrome. Too bad about the Vegas bowl.

If you want us to call it the SUGAR BOWL, please have the respect to call it the Vega$ Bowl

[il Padrino Ute]

Little brother syndrome? More like somebody who's heard all that talk before and knows exactly what it's worth.

Yes, you're going to play against an elite team in an Elite bowl-- and they will do things to Utah that children under 13 should not be permitted to see. Yes, Utah has won all of its games to date (and I won't even argue that the fact that they've squeaked by in a good number of them should somehow tarnish that record), but tell me truly if the collective Ute nation hopes for anything more than a respectable defeat against Alabama.

I shouldn't have to tell you the worth of a February championship, nor the value of the claim to that particular throne made in December. And if Utah truly does begin to pull away from the rest of the conference in spite of losing a solid senior class and both coordinators, it will be truly impressive.

Utah has been fortunate enough to be able to procrastinate its first loss until the world will be able to watch every gory detail. For that, they'll get a nice check and all the glory, laud, and praise that comes with it. But your kidding yourself if you think Utah has secured long-term hegemony in the conference with this year's success.

While I am looking at the Sugar Bowl as a terrific opportunity for the Utes, I am one to hope that the Utes will have a great game in order to keep it close and perhaps pull off the upset.

That said, your post has a hint of jealousy which is most likely caused by being a fan of Utah's rival. It matters not that the Utes had close games during the season. Bottom line is that Utah faced 12 opponents and came away with 12 wins. What happens in the Sugar Bowl remains to be seen.

I'm not going to say that Utah is going to separate itself from the rest of the conference, but I'm not going to say that next season will be disastrous. Yes, the Utes lose both coordinators and a number of key seniors, but I'm confident enough in the personnel returning to believe that Utah has a good chance of defending their conference title. Just as it was for the Y this year, the Utes should be considered the team to beat until another proves otherwise.

[TripletDaddy]

That said, your post has a hint of jealousy which is most likely caused by being a fan of Utah's rival. It matters not that the Utes had close games during the season. Bottom line is that Utah faced 12 opponents and came away with 12 wins.

This is a good point. it reminds me of SeattleUte trying to rationalize away BYU's National Championship.

[All-American]

That said, your post has a hint of jealousy which is most likely caused by being a fan of Utah's rival. It matters not that the Utes had close games during the season. Bottom line is that Utah faced 12 opponents and came away with 12 wins. What happens in the Sugar Bowl remains to be seen.

Yes, and as I said, I am not going to quibble over the quality of the twelve wins. You got 'em. Kudos.

I'm not going to say that Utah is going to separate itself from the rest of the conference, but I'm not going to say that next season will be disastrous. Yes, the Utes lose both coordinators and a number of key seniors, but I'm confident enough in the personnel returning to believe that Utah has a good chance of defending their conference title. Just as it was for the Y this year, the Utes should be considered the team to beat until another proves otherwise.

And neither did I say Utah was going to fall to pieces next year. They'll be a solid team, as Utah teams have usually been under Whittingham. But there's a lot of ball to be played before Utah can crown itself the class of the conference.

[All-American]

This is a good point. it reminds me of SeattleUte trying to rationalize away BYU's National Championship.

Yes, it is. Now find somebody who's arguing otherwise. I'm certainly not.

[TripletDaddy]

Yes, it is. Now find somebody who's arguing otherwise. I'm certainly not.

Well, SeattleUte for starters.

[il Padrino Ute]

This is a good point. it reminds me of SeattleUte trying to rationalize away BYU's National Championship.

I giggle a bit about that as well. Of course, as I've stated countless times, I was out of the country when that happened and nobody in Italy talked about it, so I'm not so sure that it actually happened.

It's kind of like the tree falling in a forest with nobody around to hear the sound. The sound waves exist, but without audible confirmation, it may or may not have made a sound.

[il Padrino Ute]

And neither did I say Utah was going to fall to pieces next year. They'll be a solid team, as Utah teams have usually been under Whittingham. But there's a lot of ball to be played before Utah can crown itself the class of the conference.

I agree 100%.

I'm not in SU's camp that Utah dominance is inevitable.

I also think that the Sugar Bowl will be a lot closer than you indicated.

[SeattleUte]

This is a good point. it reminds me of SeattleUte trying to rationalize away BYU's National Championship.

That's "National Champtionship." Let's keep in quotes, in all fairness.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

That's "National Champtionship." Let's keep in quotes, in all fairness.

I hope that if Utah wins we will also keep "#4 ranking" in quotes also.

[TripletDaddy]

I hope that if Utah wins we will also keep "#4 ranking" in quotes also.

Also, add an asterisk for the "BCS buster" invite coming on the heels of threatened legal action.