Sugar Bowl v. Cowboys Classic

[TripletDaddy]

The most insightful point made in this thread was SU pointing out the total realignment of loyalties and groupings that occurs once football begins. Normally the more conservative/traditional members of the church an in the minority and spend a lot of time out numbered or on the run most of the year. Then football starts and mullahs to apostates align under the flags of alma mater for both schools, and we Utes are outnumbered/on the run. So basically, LA, you never get to be in the big group. Sorry.

Me, SU, IPU and LA all standing in the same tent. Indy, ER, AA and BlueHair all standing in the same tent. Real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes! The dead rising from the grave! Dr. Peter Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Good times. But mostly fun watching who the BYU tent can hold.

cut and paste.

boo!

[LA Ute]

True you scheduled Weber state instead.

It was just a favor for Ron McBride. And if you keep tweaking me this way I may be forced to start calling you a warthog-faced buffoon. We don't want things to sink to that level, do we?

[LA Ute]

So basically, LA, you never get to be in the big group. Sorry.

That's OK. I stay because I know how much this board needs me.

[SoCalCoug]

I posted some of this Saturday night but it was buried in the flurry of happy posts that evening.

I missed most of the middle part of the game because I was on a plane, but during the drive home from the airport I listened to - gasp! - ESPN Radio. The host of the show was amazingly favorable to the MWC and to BYU's achievement, arguing that "anyone who really knows college football" knows that the MWC is a conference on the rise and that BYU, Utah and TCU are "three of the finest football programs in the country right now." He pointed out that this season, BYU would have to run the table to make it to the BCS and said that if they did that, they'd deserve the bid - and an NC shot - because they would have to beat Utah and TCU to get there. He mentioned the Sugar Bowl prominently and said he hopes that at the end of the season people "remember what happened." How can our conference get better props than that?

Hey, even Bronco (as many of you know, not my favorite coach), was asked on the air what this win meant for his program. He said time would tell about that, but that the win was important for "our league," which "deserves respect," or words pretty close to those. So good for Bronco. Maybe I will ease up on him a little . . . .

Anyway, everybody in the MWC, but especially the top three programs, looks good here. And we Utes have a chance to beat the now nationally-prominent and respected Cougs at the end of the season. The rivalry game may well mean a lot. So all MWC fans, and especially Ute fans, ought to be feeling just fine about BYU's fine, hard-fought victory.

Having said that, the two wins are comparable in terms of the notoriety they bring to the conference, but otherwise are apples and oranges. One was the culmination of a truly historic season, the other is the sensational beginning of a season. Both are games for the ages, that's for sure.

Very well said. I agree completely.

[cougjunkie]

It was just a favor for Ron McBride. And if you keep tweaking me this way I may be forced to start calling you a warthog-faced buffoon. We don't want things to sink to that level, do we?

How about Northern Arizona in 2006?

Also you have to play Utah State every year, no reason to schedule multiple D-1AA teams.

[LA Ute]

Very well said. I agree completely.

Well, thanks, it's nice to get a little credit around here for a change.

[LA Ute]

How about Northern Arizona in 2006?

Also you have to play Utah State every year, no reason to schedule multiple D-1AA teams.

You have now moved beyond warthog-faced buffoon status and are a miserable, vomitous mass as well. (Yes, I watched the movie again with my daughter last night.)

I don't think we are playing the Aggies again for a couple of years. Maybe we can find room in our schedule for some "directional universities" like the kind the Kitties Cougars play.

[TripletDaddy]

Well, thanks, it's nice to get a little credit around here for a change.

What? I give you little credit all the time!

[U-Ute]

Along those lines, it would be interesting to see Utah play Miami.

First, it would be interesting because Utah never schedules OOC teams like Miami, unless were are talking Miami (OH).

Well, we tried to schedule Miami, but their parole officers won't let them travel outside their time zone. At least, that's the story they are going with.

You forget about the body bag games Utah played at places like Nebraska in the early 90's. With an expanded stadium and some national cachet, we are now able to add home games like Pitt and Notre Dame on the schedule. Things are looking up in that department.

Second, I wonder how the Miami fans would react to the excellent explanation given for the differing U hand gestures.

You're assuming they can read said explanation.

In all seriousness, I lean towards what I think SU was trying to say in that the BYU game can't be judged until after the season is over. If Oklahoma goes on to win the Big-12, the game will be judged as a monumental victory. Given the expectation levels of Oklahoma this year, it starts in that realm, then moves from there as the season goes on. If, however, Oklahoma goes 8-4, it'll be viewed as a nice victory against a good team. I suspect history will judge it somewhere in between the Pitt and Miami victories.

The judgement is in on the Utah/Alabama game since it was the last game of the season. It was a monumental victory against a proven opponent. Whether or not they "wanted" to be there is irrelevant. Scoreboard.

The Utah/Michigan game is a nice victory for the Utes, but there were no realistic expectation levels in Ann Arbor (sure, the Wolverine fans had high expectations), it started out as that and pretty much stayed as such: a nice win, but nothing particularly special.

If you want to go on about how many times the Utes have beaten a top 10 opponent, I'll just ask about BYU's bowl history. Rankings are just popularity contests. Bowl games are what matters.

U-Ute

[All-American]

Herbstreit on ESPN right now. He said that two or three years ago, the debate was if a team like BYU went undefeated, whether they should get in a BCS game. Now the debate is whether an undefeated BYU should play in the title game. He had BYU ranked in the top 5 and believes if they go undefeated, they should be in the title game.

The way the discussion has changed has a lot to do with what Boise State, TCU, and Utah have done.

[SoCalCoug]

Do you also have the will power to turn down Famke whatever her last name is?

Famke Janssen? I can answer that - NO. I've had a thing for her since I was in college.

[FMCoug]

The best thing that could happen to the BCS would be for BYU to make it to the title game this year. Win or lose doesn't matter. But they can foever say "See, the system includes everyone."

[DU Ute]

I always thought it was funny that Miami would gravitate towards using the U from University. They seem genuinely surprised and pleased that they've achieved University status. Good for them!

[YOhio]

Good times. But mostly fun watching who the BYU tent can hold.

UtahDan loves to watch BYU fans pitch tents.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Well, thanks, it's nice to get a little credit around here for a change.

We all love you, LA.

I am just hurt that you ignored my offer to meet you for lunch.