U vs. Y '12

[BoylenOver]

We got to our seats about a half hour before kickoff. I don't know what all you guys are saying about the noise. I have been to every rivalry game at RES since 2000 (except 2010), and this is by far the most subdued atmosphere I've been in. The Ute players didn't seem amped like they normally are and the crowd was flat. There were a few times during the game the crowd was loud, but still nothing compared to past games.

The crowd noise last night was 10x what it was in 2000 and 2002. And outside of the reaction to the blocked kick (and perhaps the DVC touchdown), the 2010 crowd was very subdued.

I'd even be willing to match this crowd against the 2008 crowd. I remember there being much more enthusiasm and volume for Oregon St and TCU that season.

[Omaha 680]

The crowd noise last night was 10x what it was in 2000 and 2002. And outside of the reaction to the blocked kick (and perhaps the DVC touchdown), the 2010 crowd was very subdued.

I'd even be willing to match this crowd against the 2008 crowd. I remember there being much more enthusiasm and volume for Oregon St and TCU that season.

I'll give you 2002 as the stadium wasn't even full and the game sucked. But 04/06/08 was deafening. During big plays or defensove stands I couldn't even yell at the people right next to me and be heard. Last night that didn't happen once, even duiring the biggest plays. Just going off memory here.

[Surfah]

First props.

• Utah's defense and Star. I know Star gets shine time all game long, but it is deserved. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata. And he will be that kind of player at the next level. He absolutely destroyed Blair or anyone else he lined up against last night. Even blew up a triple team once. It kills me to think that he could have/should have been a Cougar. I love him though and will continue to follow his career. The defense overall played well especially considering the guys Utah was missing. Whit had a good game plan for Riley. Utah was in Riley's passing lanes all night it seemed and our running game was terrible. Again.
  
• Ute fans (that stayed in the stands). Like DDD said, BYU could learn a thing or two from the Utes. The represented well. The stadium looked great on TV. It was Nebraska or Wisconsin-esque with that sea of red. And it was loud. Ute fans need to be commended because they affected the game big time. There were several times the cameras on TV were shaking because of the noise and ruckus being raised RES. I wish BYU could be like that. Big Mac can get like that. Why not LES?
  
• John Hays and BJ. John managed the game well. He took care of the ball, didn't force anything and took what the defense gave him which wasn't much. Hays took lots of hits and was pressured often. But he showed poise. He only got happy feet once that I recall. BJ called a nice game though I think he went too conservative too early. But he deserves props for picking on Jordan Johnson. They saw something that they could exploit there. JJ was abused all night long. They didn't even go at Hadley. But they didn't need to.
  
• Whittingham. Once again proved to everyone that he is a superior coach to Bronco. And to be fair, Whit didn't really do anything spectacular (the fake punt was nice - why wasn't BYU ready for that after the shift?). Bronco just made him look that much better because of his errors. But to this fan, it made me wish that we had Whit at the helm instead of Bronco.
  
• BYU's defense. John White or not, BYU owned the LOS. Utah couldn't do anything and I am convinced JWIV wouldn't have made much of a difference.
  
• KVN. My favorite BYU defensive player since Shay Muirbrook. KVN is everywhere. BYU rarely has playmakers. And I can't think of any on the defensive side of the ball. Yet he is one. It amazes me because teams gameplan for him and yet he still makes play after play.
  
• Ziggy. I scoffed when Goat predicted he'd have a larger role on defense. He played everywhere last night. He lined up in a four point stance at the nose. In a 3 point stance at end. In a two point stance at OLB. And he made plays. I thought he was going to be the practice legend and never contribute, but he has proven me wrong. He had a good game and he gives OL fits.
  
• Jamal Williams. He makes me tingly every time he touches the ball. I think he may be a good one.

Now the bad.

• Bronco. He wasn't outcoached as much as he just demonstrated all on his own that he's not a great head coach. I don't know why but he struggles with game and clock management. Doman too (and he's going to get his next), but as HC he needs to own part of this. Emblematic of it was the TO he called where he was watching the clock and walking to the sideline judge. He acted like it was one of those TOs a coach calls when he wants to stop the clock to attempt a FG as time expires. I was tearing my hair out over that play. But I am also tired of a BYU team that starts slow. We never seem prepared. We either come out too amped or flat. Tonight it seemed to be the former. Guys weren't staying in lanes, staying with their assignment, flying around with their heads down trying to make hits instead of the tackle, over-pursuing, etc. Why can't we ever just come out and execute like we should? Not being prepared to handle the noise is inexcusable. You were in the IPF all week. You weren't pumping in noise during practice? After the first five false starts, why don't you go under center and/or start working off a silent count? And finally as DC, how are you not prepared for Utah to take a shot after that punt return that gave them excellent field position? Everyone and their grandma knew Utah was going to take a shot. Everyone but Bronco and BYU. And lastly, Bronco has no balls. That punt in the 4th quarter that netted us 20 yards for example. So typical.
  
• Doman. Lots of people said that the first two weeks were vanilla and that Doman was going to open up the playbook this week. I didn't agree. And last night I was proved right. We didn't do anything that we did not see the first two games. I will say, that our offense is limited and vanilla by design because of Riley Nelson. There is no more playbook because Riley cannot run it. That's it. Doman's clock and game management is terrible. We saw it last year at the end of halves a few times. And again tonight when we needed to score quickly. Inside handoffs that have been averaging <2 ypc are not what we need when the clock is running out on us. Doman's insistence on the option is maddening. We do not have the personnel to run it. The option was getting stuffed all night. The play calling was pretty poor even for vanilla. Someone else pointed out the designed QB draw immediately after Riley scrambled for a big gain. WTF? We do nothing to keep defenses off balance IMO.
  
• Riley Nelson. This kid kills me. Heart of gold, head of stone. He makes the stupidest decisions. He is sub par as far as the BYU QB standard. But simply he cannot throw. My BIL is visiting and he played QB. This was the first game of Riley's he has seen. He remarked to me "This kid can't throw. He looks like I do when I throw left handed." He zeroed in on Hoff lots of times. I think Apo and Ridley were targeted just once apiece. He missed Alisa out of the backfield for an easy 5 yard gain a number of times. Compounding Riley's throwing woes is his inability to run and read the option. I feel like the kid has some hero complex where he thinks he has to do it all alone. So many times the end would commit and he didn't pitch. The only time he is really effective running is when a play breaks down and he scrambles. On designed runs he repeatedly misses his read. Senior QBs can't take the sacks he did last night. He holds onto the ball way too damn long. Even with pressure in his face he was waiting too long to do something. It nearly cost us a few more turnovers.
  
• The OL and Mark Weber. I was calling for Weber's head last year. Bronco, pull the trigger. He needs to go. Last year's OL was talented but underachieved. This OL is terrible. We need someone else coaching these guys and/or evaluating talent because they're not very good. And that is being kind.
  
• Jordan Johnson. The kid has been bringing it. But this game he did not. He was getting torched. Pathetic considering the cushion he was giving up. He missed a number of tackles too. He's much better than he showed last night. I hope that is the worst game of his career. Because I can't imagine him playing worse.

In the world of independence it is BCS or bust. Our season is busted. We're going to play the second place team from the Mountain effing West in the Poinsettia bowl 5 days before Christmas. Let Riley take on Boise because
we play Thursday. But then we have Hawaii with extra time to prepare and Utah State. I want Taysom to take over so next year isn't the clusterfuck we had last year and this year.

[LA Ute]

I'm giving him a 33% chance of playing this week, and a 100% chance of playing against USC.

I read that he suited up for the game but could not make cuts during pregame warmups because of his foot. I don't know what to make of that or if it's even true. For one thing, he was supposed to have a high ankle sprain, not a foot. Also, my son has a class with White and says he was wearing a boot Wednesday and was non-committal about whether he would play. Whatever.

[pellegrino]

First props.

• Utah's defense and Star. I know Star gets shine time all game long, but it is deserved. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata. And he will be that kind of player at the next level. He absolutely destroyed Blair or anyone else he lined up against last night. Even blew up a triple team once. It kills me to think that he could have/should have been a Cougar. I love him though and will continue to follow his career. The defense overall played well especially considering the guys Utah was missing. Whit had a good game plan for Riley. Utah was in Riley's passing lanes all night it seemed and our running game was terrible. Again.
  
• Ute fans (that stayed in the stands). Like DDD said, BYU could learn a thing or two from the Utes. The represented well. The stadium looked great on TV. It was Nebraska or Wisconsin-esque with that sea of red. And it was loud. Ute fans need to be commended because they affected the game big time. There were several times the cameras on TV were shaking because of the noise and ruckus being raised RES. I wish BYU could be like that. Big Mac can get like that. Why not LES?
  
• John Hays and BJ. John managed the game well. He took care of the ball, didn't force anything and took what the defense gave him which wasn't much. Hays took lots of hits and was pressured often. But he showed poise. He only got happy feet once that I recall. BJ called a nice game though I think he went too conservative too early. But he deserves props for picking on Jordan Johnson. They saw something that they could exploit there. JJ was abused all night long. They didn't even go at Hadley. But they didn't need to.
  
• Whittingham. Once again proved to everyone that he is a superior coach to Bronco. And to be fair, Whit didn't really do anything spectacular (the fake punt was nice - why wasn't BYU ready for that after the shift?). Bronco just made him look that much better because of his errors. But to this fan, it made me wish that we had Whit at the helm instead of Bronco.
  
• BYU's defense. John White or not, BYU owned the LOS. Utah couldn't do anything and I am convinced JWIV wouldn't have made much of a difference.
  
• KVN. My favorite BYU defensive player since Shay Muirbrook. KVN is everywhere. BYU rarely has playmakers. And I can't think of any on the defensive side of the ball. Yet he is one. It amazes me because teams gameplan for him and yet he still makes play after play.
  
• Ziggy. I scoffed when Goat predicted he'd have a larger role on defense. He played everywhere last night. He lined up in a four point stance at the nose. In a 3 point stance at end. In a two point stance at OLB. And he made plays. I thought he was going to be the practice legend and never contribute, but he has proven me wrong. He had a good game and he gives OL fits.
  
• Jamal Williams. He makes me tingly every time he touches the ball. I think he may be a good one.

Now the bad.

• Bronco. He wasn't outcoached as much as he just demonstrated all on his own that he's not a great head coach. I don't know why but he struggles with game and clock management. Doman too (and he's going to get his next), but as HC he needs to own part of this. Emblematic of it was the TO he called where he was watching the clock and walking to the sideline judge. He acted like it was one of those TOs a coach calls when he wants to stop the clock to attempt a FG as time expires. I was tearing my hair out over that play. But I am also tired of a BYU team that starts slow. We never seem prepared. We either come out too amped or flat. Tonight it seemed to be the former. Guys weren't staying in lanes, staying with their assignment, flying around with their heads down trying to make hits instead of the tackle, over-pursuing, etc. Why can't we ever just come out and execute like we should? Not being prepared to handle the noise is inexcusable. You were in the IPF all week. You weren't pumping in noise during practice? After the first five false starts, why don't you go under center and/or start working off a silent count? And finally as DC, how are you not prepared for Utah to take a shot after that punt return that gave them excellent field position? Everyone and their grandma knew Utah was going to take a shot. Everyone but Bronco and BYU. And lastly, Bronco has no balls. That punt in the 4th quarter that netted us 20 yards for example. So typical.
  
• Doman. Lots of people said that the first two weeks were vanilla and that Doman was going to open up the playbook this week. I didn't agree. And last night I was proved right. We didn't do anything that we did not see the first two games. I will say, that our offense is limited and vanilla by design because of Riley Nelson. There is no more playbook because Riley cannot run it. That's it. Doman's clock and game management is terrible. We saw it last year at the end of halves a few times. And again tonight when we needed to score quickly. Inside handoffs that have been averaging <2 ypc are not what we need when the clock is running out on us. Doman's insistence on the option is maddening. We do not have the personnel to run it. The option was getting stuffed all night. The play calling was pretty poor even for vanilla. Someone else pointed out the designed QB draw immediately after Riley scrambled for a big gain. WTF? We do nothing to keep defenses off balance IMO.
  
• Riley Nelson. This kid kills me. Heart of gold, head of stone. He makes the stupidest decisions. He is sub par as far as the BYU QB standard. But simply he cannot throw. My BIL is visiting and he played QB. This was the first game of Riley's he has seen. He remarked to me "This kid can't throw. He looks like I do when I throw left handed." He zeroed in on Hoff lots of times. I think Apo and Ridley were targeted just once apiece. He missed Alisa out of the backfield for an easy 5 yard gain a number of times. Compounding Riley's throwing woes is his inability to run and read the option. I feel like the kid has some hero complex where he thinks he has to do it all alone. So many times the end would commit and he didn't pitch. The only time he is really effective running is when a play breaks down and he scrambles. On designed runs he repeatedly misses his read. Senior QBs can't take the sacks he did last night. He holds onto the ball way too damn long. Even with pressure in his face he was waiting too long to do something. It nearly cost us a few more turnovers.
  
• The OL and Mark Weber. I was calling for Weber's head last year. Bronco, pull the trigger. He needs to go. Last year's OL was talented but underachieved. This OL is terrible. We need someone else coaching these guys and/or evaluating talent because they're not very good. And that is being kind.
  
• Jordan Johnson. The kid has been bringing it. But this game he did not. He was getting torched. Pathetic considering the cushion he was giving up. He missed a number of tackles too. He's much better than he showed last night. I hope that is the worst game of his career. Because I can't imagine him playing worse.

In the world of independence it is BCS or bust. Our season is busted. We're going to play the second place team from the Mountain effing West in the Poinsettia bowl 5 days before Christmas. Let Riley take on Boise because
we play Thursday. But then we have Hawaii with extra time to prepare and Utah State. I want Taysom to take over so next year isn't the clusterfuck we had last year and this year.

yeah! what he said!

seriously, it seems like the past two years have been the most disappointing seasons I've ever seen. I can't understand why Bronco thinks he can approach the Utah game just like any other game. He talks about Tradition, Honor, and Spirit, but the truth is that his lackadaisical approach to the rivalry game shows me that he does not Honor the Tradition of kicking Utah's ass and basking in the Spirit for the next year.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

In the world of independence it is BCS or bust. Our season is busted. We're going to play the second place team from the Mountain effing West in the Poinsettia bowl 5 days before Christmas. Let Riley take on Boise because
we play Thursday. But then we have Hawaii with extra time to prepare and Utah State. I want Taysom to take over so next year isn't the clusterfuck we had last year and this year.

It would be cool to still be in the MWC and feel there would be something to rally around. It would be cool to be in the Big East and think the BCS was still a possibility. But, many said that kind of thinking was short sighted and that BYU was getting ninety eleventy trazillion dollars from ESPN and a special semi-truck to drive to all the games.

A conference is better than not being in a conference.

[il Padrino Ute]

Utes, it seems clear now that white was blowing smoke on wednesday when he said he was 100%. How much credence do you give to the initial rumors that he may be out 2 or 3 weeks? Is there any updated word on what is wrong with him?

No idear about how long he may be out. No player who is competitive will ever say they aren't ready to go. White was saying he was 100% because he wasn't about to admit that he wasn't 100%

The word I here is that his ankle is severely sprained. That's an injury that will take a few weeks to heal completely, so I'm not expecting to see him until the USC game on Oct. 4.

[Pheidippides]

yeah! what he said!

seriously, it seems like the past two years have been the most disappointing seasons I've ever seen. I can't understand why Bronco thinks he can approach the Utah game just like any other game. He talks about Tradition, Honor, and Spirit, but the truth is that his lackadaisical approach to the rivalry game shows me that he does not Honor the Tradition of kicking Utah's ass and basking in the Spirit for the next year.

The game was won and lost on ball security, IMO. Hays managed, Nelson didn't. I do think it wasn't his fault (necessarily) when there was that botched snap for a TD.

But the team looked shocked and like crap until the fourth quarter. Utah is so far in their heads they may as well be performing brain surgery. This is true of every Utah game. The ones we've won we should have won going away. The ones we've lost we should have won or at least been more competitive. Say what you want about Kyle (and I think he's the football version of Tim Duncan, with that "who, us?!?" face), he gets his team ready to play BYU and they always start better.

Bronco sucks as a HC from a motivational perspective. Now, I know Riley isn't great and our OL sucks, but even so we are mental midgets and should have won that game last night. We didn't because we gave up the first three quarters, and that's because Bronco sucks at getting us ready to play.

This does not detract from the win by the Utes, or at least is not intended to. On a night ruled by defense, they had no major defensive gaffes and they had no turnovers. We had both.

Edit: I love my avatar. Awesome.

[Surfah]

It would be cool to still be in the MWC and feel there would be something to rally around. It would be cool to be in the Big East and think the BCS was still a possibility. But, many said that kind of thinking was short sighted and that BYU was getting ninety eleventy trazillion dollars from ESPN and a special semi-truck to drive to all the games.

A conference is better than not being in a conference.

I admit to being one of those who used to scoff at Utes who mocked saying we wouldn't have anything to play for once we lose a game. They were right. I was wrong.

[LiveCoug]

I admit to being one of those who used to scoff at Utes who mocked saying we wouldn't have anything to play for once we lose a game. They were right. I was wrong.

Independence is weird.

[Surfah]

The game was won and lost on ball security, IMO. Hays managed, Nelson didn't. I do think it wasn't his fault (necessarily) when there was that botched snap for a TD.

But the team looked shocked and like crap until the fourth quarter. Utah is so far in their heads they may as well be performing brain surgery. This is true of every Utah game. The ones we've won we should have won going away. The ones we've lost we should have won or at least been more competitive. Say what you want about Kyle (and I think he's the football version of Tim Duncan, with that "who, us?!?" face), he gets his team ready to play BYU and they always start better.

Bronco sucks as a HC from a motivational perspective. Now, I know Riley isn't great and our OL sucks, but even so we are mental midgets and should have won that game last night. We didn't because we gave up the first three quarters, and that's because Bronco sucks at getting us ready to play.

This does not detract from the win by the Utes, or at least is not intended to. On a night ruled by defense, they had no major defensive gaffes and they had no turnovers. We had both.

Edit: I love my avatar. Awesome.

Riley on the bad snap: "Blair saw my feet moving, and thought that was the sign that I was ready to take the snap. Just miscommunication."

Riley on not pouncing on the bad snap: "That's on me and Mike [Alisa]. We both have to do better in that situation."

So that was partly his fault. Not falling on the ball was definitely his fault. Alisa too. WTF was Alisa doing trying to pick it up? Just fall on the ball and wrap it up.

[Flystripper]

It would be cool to still be in the MWC and feel there would be something to rally around. It would be cool to be in the Big East and think the BCS was still a possibility. But, many said that kind of thinking was short sighted and that BYU was getting ninety eleventy trazillion dollars from ESPN and a special semi-truck to drive to all the games.

A conference is better than not being in a conference.

PREACH!!!!

[MarkGrace]

I don't think conference affiliation just for affiliation sakes is terribly worthwhile. Bcs conference? Yes. Mwc? No thanks. I'm fine being independent if the other option is the mwc and don't feel like we really have anything more or less to play for now than we did in that conference.

[Flystripper]

Independence is weird sucks.

FIFY

[Solon]

outside of the reaction to the blocked kick (and perhaps the DVC touchdown), the 2010 crowd was very subdued.

2010 was a really cold day. I think that made a difference. It's easier to be loud at a night game in September.

I think it's just Utah's turn to have the crazy games go their way.

Discounting the more lopsided scores, you guys have Doman-to-Staley, Lance Rice's pick, "Harline's still open," Magic Happens, Kanesheiro's doink. The Utes have 2010's Block and 2012's "WTF?"

(I'm not counting 2003's awful contest.)

I don't think byu fans should get too worked up. There were plenty of positives for the byu to take away from this game. Hell, Utah had only 3 first downs in the 2nd half (and two of those were 10+ yd. gains on first down, making for 4-and-out instead of 3-and-outs).

As for the Utes, I'm just glad Hays didn't throw any interceptions, and that he is committed to putting his head down and getting that extra yard (something Wynn never seemed to do). BJ learned something (I hope) about throttling down too early, and the Utes will be glad to get some starters back from injury/suspension as the PAC schedule begins.

All in all, that game last night felt like a McBride game. Uneasy about the clock, the kicking game, personal fouls, and predictable ineffective offense. Not a good feeling.