Gazing towards the red North…
I have been delaying this post for obvious reasons, but I have to be objective and give respect where respect is due. The team up north is playing good football. Their defense continues to shut down opponent’s running backs and secure good field position for their offense.
I am still not convinced that Brian Johnson is ready to shoulder the responsibility of an entire game. Instead the Ute’s running game continues to churn out great yardage, which gives BJ the comfortable position of playing second fiddle. He hasn’t stepped into the spot light and taken the offense into his hands. Even that last Air Force drive relied on Mack to make two big runs. Against TCU he will get his first major shot at being “the man”.
The Ute defense is good, but still gives up yardage in the passing game due to their aggressive style of play. It will be interesting to see how TCU attacks their pressure. I like two things about the Ute defense:
1. They play with attitude and are a little nasty -I like that in a defense.
2. Their defense adjusts well to what opponents are doing well. This is a compliment to both the Utah coaches and the Utah players.
It will be interesting to see how the red North handles this week off. Kyle Whittingham has been running around back east doing radio shows for ESPN. How will they prepare for an offense that ran up 70 points against SDSU? I don’t know, but I am glad we played UNM when we did.
To the MUSS:
Eat, drink and be merry because Nov. 22nd we are coming North and the records, statistics and streaks won’t mean one thing. That game will come down to whoever makes the last big play. I have already begun growing my finger-nails out.
Keep in mind that the same team that put 70 up on SDSU, lost to AFA 23-10 last night.
Air Force is a good team. I watched them play against Wyoming and their defense gets the job done. I didn’t get to see the AF-UNM game. So I didn’t want to talk about that game -I got to see the SDSU hightlights and well 70 points, is 70 points. It’s tough to score 70 against any team.
It’s true. I guess my point was UNM is up and down. They’ve been up for Utah the last few years, so hopefully they can give them a real test again this year.
Yewts suck… Go Everyone else!
I can’t wait to see how Utah plays against TCU…Johnson has been really on and off this season. TCU really brought down the house on the Cougs, and I’m anxious to see how many times they’re gonna sack Johnson.
I’m not sure that TCU will rack up as many points against the Utes as they did against the Cougs, but I wouldn’t expect to see a high-scoring game from the Utes.
I’m sorry, I thought this was a BYU board…. I must have typed the address incorrectly.
Quinn,
Honestly, when did you as a player start looking ahead to the game with that team up north? Is it as simple as only looking at the next game or are you able to glance ahead a little bit?
Thanks again for the break down and analisys of what goes on in and around the program. You’re doing a great job!
Quinn,
Agreed, thanks for the great work….Go Blue.
To be honest, I’m actually rooting for Utah to win until they play us. I just think it helps us if we beat an undefeated Utah team. Honestly, my blue blood runs cold to say it, but go Utes! I don’t think they are overlooking New Mexico. I do think they will have some trouble against TCU.
I have not had much to say the past couple days…I think that is because my son just came home for the first time, and well…it is a little more fun watching games with him (World Series the first night and College FBall the 2nd, plus some tonight) than it is to be on the blog…But I have been checking in…I would like to comment on two things…Looking ahead and rooting for the Utes.
1) Looking Ahead to Utah
I don’t know how many guys really “Look Ahead” to the game in terms of preparing for Utah before that week. I know I never sat down and “studied” Utah until the week of the game. But, I never want Utah to win (Read on in No.2 for more on this) and so I never miss an opportunity to potentially watch them lose.
Bottom line is this…although it is not a formal evaluation, I always watched every Utah game just to see what they were up to and what I had to look forward to. I would notice a guy here and there or maybe a play would stick out in my mind. Mostly, I would watch and see some goober celebrating a first down and think to myself…”I can’t wait to shut you up.” That game was and will always be on my calendar, but I never found it too hard to not look forward. The way I saw it, and still see it, I wanted to prove we were better than Utah every week, so any win to me just sent a message that we were coming at the end of Nov.
2) Rooting for Utah
The first time I was ever “forced” to root for Utah was probably the Fiesta Bowl (against the sorriest excuse for a football team). It was good for the conference…yada yada yada…I told my self that I was rooting for them, I even told the other people in the room, but I remember on their first or second drive a receiver going over the middle and just getting lit up by a Pitt defender. As I saw it coming, I was on the edge of my chair muttering (OK it was more like yelling) “Kill him, Kill him!” It was at that point in time that I realized I would never be able to root for Utah even when it is good for BYU. I am sorry, it is something in my blood. The two types of athletes I hate the most are ones from the Univ of Utah and Arrogant ones, and well…I think although not all rectangles are squares, all squares are rectangles…if you catch my drift.
Hatred of the Utes has been growing exponentially in my belly since the 3-0 loss in the blizzard. I am relatively new to Utah and college Football (5 1/2 years). And so hating Utah wasn’t even on my radar until then. But boy is it now. I can’t stand it when i see people even wearing red. There was some idiot on BYU campus yesterday wearing a bright red Utah Hoody and I tell you, honor code or no honor code I just looked at the guy and out loud (or thought i’m not sure that was my intention) almost yelled “What the hell??” I hope they lose all the time. I remember seeing them after the Michigan game on TV, all they could keep saying was “TOP 25 baby TOP 25!!!” I can’t wait to see Colby Clawson make BJ cry!
LOGIC…. EMOTION….LOGIC…..EMOTION….LOGIC
It is hard to allow emotion to be subjected to logic. In growing up, we are taught that there is a place for both within our lives. In all phases of our lives, these two operate. So, is it surprising that in the area of “fan-dom” some allow emotion to rule rather than logic.
Think about this. How great it would be to have Utah go thru the “hoops” of being the designated BCS buster between now and November 22. Yes they get all the “glory” for a month. Then, provided we take care of business, the “trap is sprung”.
With a win on November 22 by BYU, Utah faces years of reliving the loss and what might have been. The pain of that loss is MUCH greater with the sure knowledge of what might have been.
We should know how this feels, we are living with the same pain after TCU. But, our pain would be much greater if the loss had been to Utah.
So, I say “Go Utes”… until 6:00 PM November 22. That is when one win by BYU can administer the PAIN that lives on; Lives on FOR YEARS…
Totally with you, AncientCougarFan. It’s good for BYU to be in a conference with three powerful football teams. Assuming we’ll never get into the Pac-10, we need to build our own Pac-10 caliber conference out of the MWC (and this year, that ain’t hard). That only happens if TCU and Utah are ranked, and TCU and Utah are only ranked if they win games. Here’s hoping the Utes play great football right up until the day we destroy them on their own field.
Merry.
TCU will wipe Utah all over the field. Utah has not seen anything like the speed TCU has on defense. The only chance Utah has is if their defense shuts them out 3-0, I don’t see BJ being able to do much against TCU.
out of curiosity, who is “staff?” is it just a random player or coach or is it the same person? I see when Quinn Gooch posts but I am not sure on staff?
I am happy to see that I am not a “one man way to involved in into BYU football and disgust toward the utes” as I see others have a very hard time rooting for them…ever.
Cory,
Staff is Markell Staffieri, who I am sure you know played LB for BYU during 2004-2007.
I love’s Staff’s comments, ”I can’t wait to shut you up.”
Having graduated from both schools, I cheer on both teams. BYU has my heart completely and is and always will be my #1 team, but I do root for the Utes to win every game except against my Cougars. I want both teams to go undefeated every year and then have BYU beat Utah to 60-0 bloody pulp at the end of every season. The close rivalry games have been fun, but I want the Cougars to kick Utah’s grass this year…especially in RES.
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