To take a break here and discuss Utah hoops...

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

It seems one of the two best coaches in Utah history had almost no understanding of things LDS and managed to be ok.

He was a diamond in the rough that Utah was lucky to find and keep. If Utah can unearth another coach in the prime of his career that is willing to stay for 10 years that would work. However they appear to be 0-2 in diamonds in the rough since him.

[SeattleUte]

I don't understand your response here. You don't think that Whittingham having and understanding of the LDS culture, the rivalry, missions etc. is a great help to him at Utah? Clearly the first priority is to be able to coach, but Utah is not that much different from BYU in being a unique place to coach. You disagree with that?

I don't think the Utah job is a great job, or viewed as such nationally. I don't think the Oregon job is either, so I am not sure what you are drawing at here. The only reason Oregon might land a "name" coach is because the are willing to throw $2.5-4 million at him. If Utah is willing to do the same then they could also maybe land a someone of national interest.

The Utah job is not great compared to Texas, but it is sompared to Oregon and apparently Tennessee or Notre Dame (basketball) or USC (baskeball).

As for the job's unique challenges, you are stealing a page from my book:

http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showpo...0&postcount=30

[Mr. Crimson]

He was a diamond in the rough that Utah was lucky to find and keep. If Utah can unearth another coach in the prime of his career that is willing to stay for 10 years that would work. However they appear to be 0-2 in diamonds in the rough since him.

Well considering no one wanted to follow Rick and the guy we nearly got is currently at LSU, it was what it was.

As for Boylen, he does have a conference title, so while I am voicing my concerns its hardly proper to say he's a failure.

[SeattleUte]

He was a diamond in the rough that Utah was lucky to find and keep. If Utah can unearth another coach in the prime of his career that is willing to stay for 10 years that would work. However they appear to be 0-2 in diamonds in the rough since him.

Comrade is wrong. Majerus figured out LDS culture inside and out; he had almost an evil genius for it. The good fit need not be LDS.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

The Utah job is not great compared to Texas, but it is sompared to Oregon and apparently Tennessee or USC (baskeball).

As for the job's unique challenges, you are stealing a page from my book:

http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showpo...0&postcount=30

You think Utah could get Bruce Pearl away from Tennessee? I'll take that bet.

Also if I am stealing from your book, what did I say that you have issue with?

[SeattleUte]

You think Utah could get Bruce Pearl away from Tennessee? I'll take that bet.

Also if I am stealing from your book, what did I say that you have issue with?

Whit turned down Tenessee for Utah. That we know, but you are speculating.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Whit turned down Tenessee for Utah. That we know, but you are speculating.

Are we talking about football or basketball? When I think you are going to zig you zag, that's why you are great.

[Goatnapper'96]

Comrade is wrong. Majerus figured out LDS culture inside and out; he had almost an evil genius for it. The good fit need not be LDS.

In fact Majerus used it to his advantage brilliantly. He was respectful enough at the right times and in the right places to pacify the Mullahs, and hammered the culture in a way that reinforced the non-LDS and ALUF superiority complex that they are above the simple mormons that are so annoying to live around.

In other words, he would have been great for CUF!

It also helped that he won and beat BYU like a drum. If there is any reason why the Utah job does not have the national appeal that some Ute fans might think, IMO, it is the rise of BYU and other MWC programs. This is a conference with some rising programs. I can accept that BYU is about peaking and that is a level Utah could surpass, but if Alford stays at UNM they could be very good for a long time and I think UNLV is also very solid and potentially one hire away from returning to big time. So the draw to Utah to clean up a decade or so of neglect while competing against BYU, UNM and UNLV might not appear so attractive to an up and comer.

[SeattleUte]

Are we talking about football or basketball? When I think you are going to zig you zag, that's why you are great.

Why would the Utah football job be great but the Utah basketball job suck?

[SeattleUte]

In fact Majerus used it to his advantage brilliantly. He was respectful enough at the right times and in the right places to pacify the Mullahs, and hammered the culture in a way that reinforced the non-LDS and ALUF superiority complex that they are above the simple mormons that are so annoying to live around.

In other words, he would have been great for CUF!

It also helped that he won and beat BYU like a drum. If there is any reason why the Utah job does not have the national appeal that some Ute fans might think, IMO, it is the rise of BYU and other MWC programs. This is a conference with some rising programs. I can accept that BYU is about peaking and that is a level Utah could surpass, but if Alford stays at UNM they could be very good for a long time and I think UNLV is also very solid and potentially one hire away from returning to big time. So the draw to Utah to clean up a decade or so of neglect while competing against BYU, UNM and UNLV might not appear so attractive to an up and comer.

Please regale me about BYU's last truly national in scope post-season moment.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Why would the Utah football job be great but the Utah basketball job suck?

You are better than this. So when the Duke football job opens up it is a top 10 job?

[Goatnapper'96]

Why would the Utah football job be great but the Utah basketball job suck?

I am not so convinced the Utah football job is that great nationally, but I do think it is valued by Kyle Whittingham so it really doesn't matter. The hoops job, today, doesn't look real attractive. Sorry, just being honest! But the reasons are obvious:

1.) Lack of good players. Trust me, Marshall Henderson is a role player. No real natural recruiting base. Must be really competent at finding diamonds in the rough.

2.) Fan support sucks.

3.) Fans have unreasonable expectations.

4.) Good conference foes that pose a challenge.

5.) Being compared to a great football HC. Not to mention a certain fat man.

6.) Next to BYU, the fanbase has the highest percentage of assholes.

[Goatnapper'96]

Please regale me about BYU's last truly national in scope post-season moment.

Right now BYU can win in the tournament. That is not something Majerus faced beyond his first 3 years at Utah. UNM is on the verge of their best year ever and poised to continue to win and get national attention. Utah got snubbed for the CBI. To an outsider who has 4 years to get that rectified Utah is not as attractive as it was 4 years ago when nobody from the MWC could win in the dance other than Utah.

[SeattleUte]

You are better than this. So when the Duke football job opens up it is a top 10 job?

If anything Utah's basketball tradition is greater than its football tradition. I guess you are stuck on snapshots in time. This isn't like Duke at all. Do you suppose that Washington's basketaball program is a more desireable job than its football? The main problem with Utah is 1) its basketball program is struggling THIS YEAR (so is LSU, UCLA, North Carolina, Texas, Connecticut, Oklahoma), 2) The LDS factor. The LDS factor is present in football and basketball. If anything, Utah's football job is going to be really undesireable after Urban and Whit--two legends!

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

3.) Fans have unreasonable expectations.

5.) Being compared to a great football HC. Not to mention a certain fat man.

Those are the two biggest IMO.

There is a reason why you don't often see great football and basketball at the same school.