Why Wynn now?

[cougjunkie]

This is because BYU fans are all coming forth and saying utah will get creamed based on their own parochial experiences. This is typical of the BYU fanbase, by the way.

I think Utah will get "creamed" based on the fact that TCU has creamed everyone they have played they have the number 1 ranked defense in all of a college football as well as a top 10 offense. Utah on the hand has a lot of disarray among the offense, and a defense that has yet to live up to its hype.

[LA Ute]

I think Utah will get "creamed" based on the fact that TCU has creamed everyone they have played they have the number 1 ranked defense in all of a college football as well as a top 10 offense. Utah on the hand has a lot of disarray among the offense, and a defense that has yet to live up to its hype.

Why does this sound more like a prayer than a prediction?

[cougjunkie]

Why does this sound more like a prayer than a prediction?

As hard as it is for me to say this, I want Utah to win this game. They beat TCU and I will have to put up with a few Zoots for about 2 weeks, but then if BYU can somehow beat Utah they split the conference title. All BYU fans should cheer for Utah in this game.

[ERCougar]

Once again, there are no asterisks next to "lucky" victories. Besides, I am not sure that is a conversation BYU fans want to get involved in. We might start talking about your big one-point win over fearsome Washington in 2008. :nana:

You guys keep beating the drum that Utah won last year. I'm not sure where I've disputed that. What I'm saying (and I'm mostly talking to others, as you seem to have a rational expectation here) is that if I'm trying to predict who will win a rematch of two teams, I'm going to look beyond just the final score. Yes, you won the first one, but if you guys play 10 times, I don't think you win more than 3. And that's with last year's teams.

I'll agree that we were lucky to beat Washington. In making that point, you're just echoing my sentiment that we're a lot less delusional than you (collectively) because I haven't seen a single cougar fan claim they weren't lucky to win that game last year. And that's with a box score that we dominated. You guys eke out a victory where you're outgained by 120 yds and you all, to a fan, are claiming you had it in the bag all along. This Sugar Bowl win (a win we wouldn't even be talking about if TCU kicker goes 1/2 from inside the 30 yd line) has got you all drinking the Koolaid. Don't get me wrong--last year's season was awesome for you guys. But let's not pretend you have a dynasty quite yet.

[KillerDog]

Personally, I'm proud of the Utes. I think they've really demonstrated a formula for winning football games based on excellent player development and coaching. They have a very good head coach and a dominating defense. I think their formula is simple and impressive. Now, if they could just hire a former Cougar to coach their offense they might be able to lock up a National Championship. Now that I'm on the subject, the rest of the MWC ought to hire former Cougars for their staff's as well. Looking at TTU and U of U, it is clear even the worst doormat can rise if they put Lavell trained former Cougar players in charge. Now if we can just get BYU to believe in that formula. BYU's best unit (offense) has a former Cougar running it but our D and our HC are both from lesser programs with obvious results. Someone needs to get one of our guys on the defensive side of the ball if we want to stop being used like a U of U coed at homecoming.

[ERCougar]

Clearly we have advanced beyond 10-2 & Backwater Bowl BYU-style being a wholly successful season a la BYU. Many of us said the Utes were capable of this given population base, resources, etc. During the 1960's -1980's Utah had as bad a string of terrible coaching hires as you'll find anywhere.

The more you talk, the more I think that all of your football knowledge pre-2004 comes from wikipedia. You talk like the young football fan who hasn't been through the lows and can't conceive that the current run can ever end, much like my son, who after his first football season in 2007 was shocked to discover that BYU could lose to ANYONE. Guess what, SU? Those of us who have been watching football for more than a few years know that 2 10-win seasons does not a dynasty make. Don't you find it odd that no one is talking about you? No one.

I'm done with this. You're ridiculous. And alone.

[LA Ute]

As hard as it is for me to say this, I want Utah to win this game. They beat TCU and I will have to put up with a few Zoots for about 2 weeks, but then if BYU can somehow beat Utah they split the conference title. All BYU fans should cheer for Utah in this game.

You are not talking like a miserable vomitous mass. This is unsettling.

[Portland Ute]

You guys keep beating the drum that Utah won last year. I'm not sure where I've disputed that. What I'm saying (and I'm mostly talking to others, as you seem to have a rational expectation here) is that if I'm trying to predict who will win a rematch of two teams, I'm going to look beyond just the final score. Yes, you won the first one, but if you guys play 10 times, I don't think you win more than 3. And that's with last year's teams.

I'll agree that we were lucky to beat Washington. In making that point, you're just echoing my sentiment that we're a lot less delusional than you (collectively) because I haven't seen a single cougar fan claim they weren't lucky to win that game last year. And that's with a box score that we dominated. You guys eke out a victory where you're outgained by 120 yds and you all, to a fan, are claiming you had it in the bag all along. This Sugar Bowl win (a win we wouldn't even be talking about if TCU kicker goes 1/2 from inside the 30 yd line) has got you all drinking the Koolaid. Don't get me wrong--last year's season was awesome for you guys. But let's not pretend you have a dynasty quite yet.

What constitutes a dynasty, out of curiosity?

Also, what does that have to do with Seattle Ute's post?

He says that Whit isn't satisfied with a record. He says that Whit is looking for better production from his offense. That a 7-1 record alone isn't enough to satisfy him

So what? Isn't that true? Isn't that the big criticism of Bronco Mendenhall....that he won't make changes to get to the next level of success?

Well, Whittingham has shown that he isn't content to sit on his laurels and watch the offense flounder any longer. He knows they can be better and he's not using a 7-1 record as a crutch.

[SeattleUte]

I am sorry that my serious insightful and incisive ananlysis at the top of this thread degenerated into a food fight. Shame on you all. I guess we need to go back to Utefans or CB for real football experts.

[LA Ute]

Don't get me wrong--last year's season was awesome for you guys. But let's not pretend you have a dynasty quite yet.

Granted. I am not sure that anyone in the MWC has a dynasty. One school had something like that in the 1980s, in the WAC. No longer. I do think we have the premier program in the MWC right now, at least looking at this decade.

Now, if they could just hire a former Cougar to coach their offense they might be able to lock up a National Championship. Now that I'm on the subject, the rest of the MWC ought to hire former Cougars for their staff's as well. Looking at TTU and U of U, it is clear even the worst doormat can rise if they put Lavell trained former Cougar players in charge.

Kind of reminds me of BYU's glory years in the 80s. Their offensive guru was a guy name Norm Chow, who played at . . . Their beloved AD was Glenn Tuckett, who played at . . . .

Looks like to roots of BYU's success since 1974 or so have a lot to do with . . . But we do want to give credit to the school where LaVell Edwards played and graduated:



Turning to the present, of course, Kyle W. has learned everything he knows about coaching during 20 years or so of coaching at . . . .

You're welcome.

[Portland Ute]

Granted. I am not sure that anyone in the MWC has a dynasty. One school had something like that in the 1980s, in the WAC. No longer. I do think we have the premier program in the MWC right now, at least looking at this decade.



Kind of reminds me of BYU's glory years in the 80s. Their offensive guru was a guy name Norm Chow, who played at . . . Their beloved AD was Glenn Tuckett, who played at . . . .

Looks like to roots of BYU's success since 1974 or so has a lot to do with . . . But we do want to give credit to the school where LaVell Edwards played and graduated:



Turning to the present, of course, Kyle W. has learned everything he knows about coaching during 20 years or so of coaching at . . . .

You're welcome.

So, what you are saying, essentially, is that all of our coaching staff really has coaching DNA that goes back to the U. Really, the hens have come home to roost, so to speak. We are enjoying the fruits of success...the seeds of which were sewn long before BYU started playing football in the 70's. Interesting.

[KillerDog]

What I'm saying is the most consistently excellently excellent coaches in the MWC are all former Cougar players. I think you guys are doing a great job of taking the best years of BYU football and turning them into wins for your program. I wish BYU would do the same. They have hired two head coaches since Lavell and both were dudes from "outside." With all the BYU coaching talent it is amazing to me that we are messing around with CSU and OSU coaches. Reynolds, Anae, Whittingham, Fifita-Sitake etc. if you want to win and create a tradition, take those who know what it looks like and hire them. Don't take these other dudes. With the other dudes you either get the "standard" treatement or you get their perception of what BYU is all about (mission president mode).

[LA Ute]

So, what you are saying, essentially, is that all of our coaching staff really has coaching DNA that goes back to the U. Really, the hens have come home to roost, so to speak. We are enjoying the fruits of success...the seeds of which were sewn long before BYU started playing football in the 70's. Interesting.

Actually, I am just pulling KillerDog's chain. But it is a historical fact that the U. of U. was the first university in the Intermountain West to distinguish itself athletically. The comparison is not all that fair because in the 40s, 50s, and early 60s BYU was a tiny school with a small budget. Utah was tax-supported, was the main university in the state, and could just do more. That's why the football series was so lop-sided in those days. The world is much different now. But when BYU started building its football program it had to go outside its own incubator to get the Mormon talent it needed - Utah State for LaVell, Utah for Chow and Tuckett, etc. Not a big deal, just fun facts.

[LA Ute]

What I'm saying is the most consistently excellently excellent coaches in the MWC are all former Cougar players. I think you guys are doing a great job of taking the best years of BYU football and turning them into wins for your program. I wish BYU would do the same. They have hired two head coaches since Lavell and both were dudes from "outside." With all the BYU coaching talent it is amazing to me that we are messing around with CSU and OSU coaches. Reynolds, Anae, Whittingham, Fifita-Sitake etc. if you want to win and create a tradition, take those who know what it looks like and hire them. Don't take these other dudes. With the other dudes you either get the "standard" treatement or you get their perception of what BYU is all about (mission president mode).

You are right about many things here. As I said in my post below, these things kind of swing back and forth. It's probably quite healthy to cross-pollinate. Sexual reproduction produces a better progeny than the asexual kind. (I will now sit back and watch as everyone has fun with that metaphor.)

[mUUser]

I think Utah will get "creamed" based on the fact that TCU has creamed everyone they have played they have the number 1 ranked defense in all of a college football as well as a top 10 offense. Utah on the hand has a lot of disarray among the offense, and a defense that has yet to live up to its hype.

This is the one game I'll be able to attend this year, and I agree with you. TCU is a legitimate top-10 contender, and Utah isn't a very good 7-1 team. While I am higher on the defense than you, I'll be surprised if Utah can put up 10 points on TCU in Ft. Worth. I don't expect this game to be within 17 points.

Having said that, I think KW has done a tremendous job this year eeking out victories with an offense that seems to just limp along. Honestly, this team has no business being 7-1 & ranked #14, yet there we are. It helps we haven't played anyone of note yet (except the Oregon loss, of course.)