Utah Recruiting

[Portland Ute]

I'm sure this opinion will get strafed on this thread but I'm not even trying to incite - I really think you're wrong on this.

I think Utah starts to lose ground with recruits next year.

6-5 is likely for the Utes in 2011 (I'd peg USC, BYU, Pitt, Cal and Arizona as losses, with a possible home loss vs ASU - returning 20 starters - UW or Oregon State), and with that record Utah is suddenly just like every other middle-dweller in the PAC struggling to sneak into a bowl game. Only they're a middle dweller with a colder climate, a smaller stadium and more uptight Mormon girls who couldn't get into BYU.

Once the attraction of perennial 10 win seasons wears off, most of the things that separate Utah from ASU, Arizona, UCLA, Cal and UW aren't things that favor them.

We can revisit my theory in 2014. Carry on.

What's your outlook for BYU going forward? Oh, wait. This is the Utah recruiting thread.

[oxcoug]

What's your outlook for BYU going forward? Oh, wait. This is the Utah recruiting thread.

Exactly. Hence my comments on Utah's recruiting prospects. Or should I go post those on the BYU recruiting thread?

[myboynoah]

Exactly. Hence my comments on Utah's recruiting prospects. Or should I go post those on the BYU recruiting thread?

No, post them here. PU opened the door, you should walk right through it.

[TripletDaddy]

I'm sure this opinion will get strafed on this thread but I'm not even trying to incite - I really think you're wrong on this.

I think Utah starts to lose ground with recruits next year.

6-5 is likely for the Utes in 2011 (I'd peg USC, BYU, Pitt, Cal and Arizona as losses, with a possible home loss vs ASU - returning 20 starters - UW or Oregon State), and with that record Utah is suddenly just like every other middle-dweller in the PAC struggling to sneak into a bowl game. Only they're a middle dweller with a colder climate, a smaller stadium and more uptight Mormon girls who couldn't get into BYU.

Once the attraction of perennial 10 win seasons wears off, most of the things that separate Utah from ASU, Arizona, UCLA, Cal and UW aren't things that favor them.

We can revisit my theory in 2014. Carry on.

The point of my comment (as a response to seattleutes post now that he is posting more as a result of BYUs loss to New Mexico) was to compare current and prior Utah to future Utah.

I was in no way suggesting that Utah will be challenging USC for the top recruits every year. Again, norm chow agrees with me and he already shared the same sentiment in his Utah press conference.

I'm saying that Utah will start seeing much better stuff coming across their front door as a result of the jump to the PAC and as a result of Norm Chow, specifically. I think that it was not realistic to get a significant jump up this season because Utah didn't jump until June and by that point, many players had long been in pipelines. But next season, I think Utah will be seeing an improvement in quality the likes of which they generally don't see. Whit is a good coach and has a good rep. Norm will be able to lure some talented offense. I also think that Utah's classes will generally be better than BYUs.

I could be wrong, of course.

[SeattleUte]

I'm sure this opinion will get strafed on this thread but I'm not even trying to incite - I really think you're wrong on this.

I think Utah starts to lose ground with recruits next year.

6-5 is likely for the Utes in 2011 (I'd peg USC, BYU, Pitt, Cal and Arizona as losses, with a possible home loss vs ASU - returning 20 starters - UW or Oregon State), and with that record Utah is suddenly just like every other middle-dweller in the PAC struggling to sneak into a bowl game. Only they're a middle dweller with a colder climate, a smaller stadium and more uptight Mormon girls who couldn't get into BYU.

Once the attraction of perennial 10 win seasons wears off, most of the things that separate Utah from ASU, Arizona, UCLA, Cal and UW aren't things that favor them.

We can revisit my theory in 2014. Carry on.

No one here asked for your rank speculation Mr. "pretty sure the Utes are screwed". (You know what they say about how everyone's got an opinion just like everyone has an asshole.) Come tomorrow, though, it's going to be clear who's losing ground as of tomorrow--just as you'd expect of an outcast school with a disreputable history and a code of cruel sexual morality compared to one brought to the Pac 12's sweet bosom and milk of Enlightenment and tolerance.

[old_gregg]

You know what they say about how everyone's got an opinion just like everyone has an asshole.

No, what do they say?

[BoylenOver]

I'm sure this opinion will get strafed on this thread but I'm not even trying to incite - I really think you're wrong on this.

I think Utah starts to lose ground with recruits next year.

6-5 is likely for the Utes in 2011 (I'd peg USC, BYU, Pitt, Cal and Arizona as losses, with a possible home loss vs ASU - returning 20 starters - UW or Oregon State), and with that record Utah is suddenly just like every other middle-dweller in the PAC struggling to sneak into a bowl game. Only they're a middle dweller with a colder climate, a smaller stadium and more uptight Mormon girls who couldn't get into BYU.

Once the attraction of perennial 10 win seasons wears off, most of the things that separate Utah from ASU, Arizona, UCLA, Cal and UW aren't things that favor them.

We can revisit my theory in 2014. Carry on.

Only playing 11 regular season games will hurt recruiting.

Seriously, you have us winning A road game? And you don't think Norm Chow and the SLC locale is a positive sell? Utah could remain static under a worst-case scenario, but they won't lose ground. That's delusional to say. Utah will, at minimum, continue to ge the caliber of players they've attracted over the last few years.

[oxcoug]

Only playing 11 regular season games will hurt recruiting.

Seriously, you have us winning A road game? And you don't think Norm Chow and the SLC locale is a positive sell? Utah could remain static under a worst-case scenario, but they won't lose ground. That's delusional to say. Utah will, at minimum, continue to ge the caliber of players they've attracted over the last few years.

Why is the SLC locale a positive sell? You mean in recruiting against OSU and Washington St? Really, not trying to rile Utes, I just dont see SLC as a comparatively attractive place for recruits to be vs othe PAC locales (except Corvallis and Pullman).

Also - while I genuinely wish the best for Norm I dont think he's going to be as much of an asset as imagined when two of the PAC schools he'll be recruiting against forced him out and two of the HCs and one OC he'll be recruiting against are guys hired to replace him.

Finally...

I'd guess Utah's pitch right now sounds something like: '10 win seasons every year and two BCS wins in the last six years.' Six years from now I really think that's going to be 'hey four bowl games in the last six years with that one epic win in the Holiday Bowl. Yeah, we've averaged 5 losses a year since we joined the PAC but hey kid we are IN the PAC.'

While the PAC pitch will exert a strong pull, there will be nothing that positive to differentiate Utah from the rest of mid level programs fighting to hang w SC and Oregon (and...Stanford). Head to head there will be no reason for a kid to pick Utah over Cal, UW or ASU let alone USC or Oregon.

I don't necessarily think they'll lose ground but I don't believe there will be much of a net gain.

[LA Ute]

I'm sure this opinion will get strafed on this thread but I'm not even trying to incite - I really think you're wrong on this.

I think Utah starts to lose ground with recruits next year.

6-5 is likely for the Utes in 2011 (I'd peg USC, BYU, Pitt, Cal and Arizona as losses, with a possible home loss vs ASU - returning 20 starters - UW or Oregon State), and with that record Utah is suddenly just like every other middle-dweller in the PAC struggling to sneak into a bowl game. Only they're a middle dweller with a colder climate, a smaller stadium and more uptight Mormon girls who couldn't get into BYU.

Once the attraction of perennial 10 win seasons wears off, most of the things that separate Utah from ASU, Arizona, UCLA, Cal and UW aren't things that favor them.

We can revisit my theory in 2014. Carry on.

Ox, I love you, man, but

[myboynoah]

Why is the SLC locale a positive sell? You mean in recruiting against OSU and Washington St? Really, not trying to rile Utes, I just dont see SLC as a comparatively attractive place for recruits to be vs othe PAC locales (except Corvallis and Pullman).

Also - while I genuinely wish the best for Norm I dont think he's going to be as much of an asset as imagined when two of the PAC schools he'll be recruiting against forced him out and two of the HCs and one OC he'll be recruiting against are guys hired to replace him.

Finally...

I'd guess Utah's pitch right now sounds something like: '10 win seasons every year and two BCS wins in the last six years.' Six years from now I really think that's going to be 'hey four bowl games in the last six years with that one epic win in the Holiday Bowl. Yeah, we've averaged 5 losses a year since we joined the PAC but hey kid we are IN the PAC.'

While the PAC pitch will exert a strong pull, there will be nothing that positive to differentiate Utah from the rest of mid level programs fighting to hang w SC and Oregon (and...Stanford). Head to head there will be no reason for a kid to pick Utah over Cal, UW or ASU let alone USC or Oregon.

I don't necessarily think they'll lose ground but I don't believe there will be much of a net gain.

I remember several years ago as Oregon was knocking on the door of the upper tier of the Pac 10 wondering why a California kid would go to school in Oregon. It didn't make sense to me and I blew off Oregon as a future football power because I didn't think it could compete with the other locales. I was obviously wrong. Why can't Utah do the same thing? What is it that sets Oregon apart that Utah can't do as well?

[oxcoug]

Ox, I love you, man, but

Hah well I know we're all looking forward to seeing the evidence unfold, counselor.

Tell me this - how many of you really think that Utah is going to outperform ASU, Cal, Stanford and UW over the next five years?

Maybe UW. But let's say that five years from now you're a recruit from Texas looking at those programs and Utah and that averaged over five years their performance is more or less identical.

All things being equal what possible reason does a recruit have to pick Utah?

Right now they DO have a reason - Utah is winning more and getting to the BCS and finishing ranked almost every year. But absent that why is a recruit choosing with the smallest staium and the coldest climate in the least interesting (from the perspective of a young adult) metro area?

[oxcoug]

I remember several years ago as Oregon was knocking on the door of the upper tier of the Pac 10 wondering why a California kid would go to school in Oregon. It didn't make sense to me and I blew off Oregon as a future football power because I didn't think it could compete with the other locales. I was obviously wrong. Why can't Utah do the same thing? What is it that sets Oregon apart that Utah can't do as well?

N
I
K
E

Oregon is still who they were 20 years ago without Phil Knight in the background.

[LA Ute]

Why is the SLC locale a positive sell? You mean in recruiting against OSU and Washington St? Really, not trying to rile Utes, I just dont see SLC as a comparatively attractive place for recruits to be vs othe PAC locales (except Corvallis and Pullman).

Also - while I genuinely wish the best for Norm I dont think he's going to be as much of an asset as imagined when two of the PAC schools he'll be recruiting against forced him out and two of the HCs and one OC he'll be recruiting against are guys hired to replace him.

Finally...

I'd guess Utah's pitch right now sounds something like: '10 win seasons every year and two BCS wins in the last six years.' Six years from now I really think that's going to be 'hey four bowl games in the last six years with that one epic win in the Holiday Bowl. Yeah, we've averaged 5 losses a year since we joined the PAC but hey kid we are IN the PAC.'

While the PAC pitch will exert a strong pull, there will be nothing that positive to differentiate Utah from the rest of mid level programs fighting to hang w SC and Oregon (and...Stanford). Head to head there will be no reason for a kid to pick Utah over Cal, UW or ASU let alone USC or Oregon.

I don't necessarily think they'll lose ground but I don't believe there will be much of a net gain.

Ox, are you old enough to know who this is?

[LA Ute]

Hah well I know we're all looking forward to seeing the evidence unfold, counselor.

Tell me this - how many of you really think that Utah is going to outperform ASU, Cal, Stanford and UW over the next five years?

Maybe UW. But let's say that five years from now you're a recruit from Texas looking at those programs and Utah and that averaged over five years their performance is more or less identical.

All things being equal what possible reason does a recruit have to pick Utah?

Right now they DO have a reason - Utah is winning more and getting to the BCS and finishing ranked almost every year. But absent that why is a recruit choosing with the smallest staium and the coldest climate in the least interesting (from the perspective of a young adult) metro area?

We are going to do the best we can with what we have. BYU will do the same thing. If you had told me 25 years ago (were you talking then? ) that Utah would be where it is now, I'd have said you were bonkers. So I am a believer in what that school on the hill can accomplish. We'll worry about the Utes. You worry about your Cougars. They have enough challenges of their own.

[Guest]

Tell me this - how many of you really think that Utah is going to outperform ASU, Cal, Stanford and UW over the next five years?

I do. What has ASU done the last decade? Given up 50 to Texas and Hawaii in the Holiday Bowl? Why will that change? It won't. Erickson has been there five years and only has a .500 record. Jeff Tedford can file a trademark on underachievement. Stanford? Who will be their coach in three years? Here's a fact: if Shaw is any good, he won't be. And UW? Their QB situation is no better than Utah's right now. Sark has no idea who will call the signals next season. They looked good against the Huskers the second time, but the luster is wearing off Holt and fast.

Utah's recruits will only get better. Utah plays in a bowl next season. Upper half of the PAC-12 the next five.

Edit: On the stadiums, Rice Eccles will be one of the nicer stadiums in the PAC-12. I didn't say one of the most storied or largest, but one of the nicest. It is.