Tweet
So everyone says Utah and BYU each had its best recruiting year ever. Of course time will tell as to which team got the best players; much of how they develop has to do with coaching. The best quote I read was in the Tribune from an expert who said that Utah recruits not guys (like say, Manti) who can step in and make a difference as freshmen, but guys who disappear for a couple of years and emerge maybe as good as four and five stars. So some of this is just stage of development. Like the kid who doesn't read till age nine winds up the rocket scientists whereas the earlier reader just a GS15. We are dealing with boys afterall. (What a resounding comment on the quality of coaching at Utah.)
But I think Utah won its first MWC February championship this year for several reasons:
First, Scout and ESPN not counting Jucos is unforgivable. Jucos have been big stars for Utah and they comprise some of the most intriguing and likely important pickups this year.
Second, BYU's most impressive recruit turns out to be a damaged young man who may never enroll.
Third, Utah recruited three of big five poly recruits in-state that BYU coveted, the others going to UCLA and USC, even beating out Florida for one of them.
Fourth, BYU is likely benefittng from its prior two successful years, whereas the maximum effect from Utah's Sugar Bowl championship and 13-0 will be felt in the future with kids in early HS yaers or now enrolling in JC's that are still empressionable (so the experts say).
Fifth, Utah's haul is more impressive because it is more reflective of hard work and recruiting skill; yes, BYU has a more solid and entrenched recruiting base; but its recruiting fortunes are therefore more surrendipitously tied to the fecundity of that base in any given year. In fact, Utah carved into BYU's base this year as never before.
Sixth, although BYU's recruiting was up (due to its base experiencing a bumper year and partly due to two prior relatively successful years) this is the first year Utah can make a case for winning February. This should be a disturbing trend for BYU fans. Especially since the Sugar Bowl high is 1-3 years off still, and Whit appears poised to capitalize on the current momentum.
But I think Utah won its first MWC February championship this year for several reasons:
First, Scout and ESPN not counting Jucos is unforgivable. Jucos have been big stars for Utah and they comprise some of the most intriguing and likely important pickups this year.
Second, BYU's most impressive recruit turns out to be a damaged young man who may never enroll.
Third, Utah recruited three of big five poly recruits in-state that BYU coveted, the others going to UCLA and USC, even beating out Florida for one of them.
Fourth, BYU is likely benefittng from its prior two successful years, whereas the maximum effect from Utah's Sugar Bowl championship and 13-0 will be felt in the future with kids in early HS yaers or now enrolling in JC's that are still empressionable (so the experts say).
Fifth, Utah's haul is more impressive because it is more reflective of hard work and recruiting skill; yes, BYU has a more solid and entrenched recruiting base; but its recruiting fortunes are therefore more surrendipitously tied to the fecundity of that base in any given year. In fact, Utah carved into BYU's base this year as never before.
Sixth, although BYU's recruiting was up (due to its base experiencing a bumper year and partly due to two prior relatively successful years) this is the first year Utah can make a case for winning February. This should be a disturbing trend for BYU fans. Especially since the Sugar Bowl high is 1-3 years off still, and Whit appears poised to capitalize on the current momentum.
Comment