The Good News about Playing OU
31 March 2009
Quinn Gooch
33 Comments
In a few short lines I am going to tell why we switched our game to play OU instead of ASU.
- Last year we started with a cupcake schedule and that gave our team a false sense of accomplishment. Even Coach Mendenhall admitted after the TCU game that BYU was not the team he thought they were. Playing the National Champ in your first game ON THE ROAD, that will let you know right away what kind of team you have.
- A loss will not hurt your chances at a BCS bowl (if it’s respectable). TCU got trounced on the scoreboard last year, although the action on the field was more balanced. In the end it did not hurt them. The fact that they had 2 losses hurt a little, but TCU still was in contention for a BCS spot and they finished the season ranked pretty darn high.
In short, as much as I hated the decision when it happened, I have now shifted my opinion to a win-win situation for the Cougars. We will play are hardest game all year right out the gate, and even if we fall short we still have all our goals in front of us.
Quinn, looking at OU’s offense, what is it our defense should be focusing on? Also, who did you see have the biggest improvement on the defensive side of the ball from the UNI game last year to the bowl?
But what happens if byu gets absolutely crushed. Which I believe is a very likely scenario? Still win win?
When you say National Champ do you mean Runner-up or potential national champ (at the time they signed the contract)?
BYU probably would have a better chance against Florida, though.
Looking forward to the game and the season. Not looking forward to getting beat up by a more dominant imposing team. Hope the cougs come out of it with no major injuries and without a bruised ego.
I think ESPN is a huge part of this game.
If the game weren’t tied to ABC/ESPN i don’t think it would have been as appealing.
Many Coaching Poll and AP voters admitted to NEVER watching Utah play until the Sugar bowl.
This game is a huge risk, but I think there was a clear intention to get BYU on ESPN often and early so that they can make a splash at the start of next year. If they do, voters will be forced to pay attention and find them (VS, CBS C, or the mtn) during the rest of the season.
TCU was in contention for a BCS bowl because they were 4-0 before they played OU and was around #25 in the polls. They lost and then 2-3 games later beat #7 team in BYU. Beating BYU propelled them into the top 15 instantly.
The only way BYU can acheive a ranking as high as TCU is if TCU themselves are ranked top 10 when we play them this year. Them or FSU.
I also wonder if TCU had beaten Utah and then proceeded to beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, how high they would have been ranked. I think #3-4 in the nation.
My wish is to beat OU, play and beat an undefeated FSU, TCU, and a 1 loss Utah (one loss to TCU).
Funny, but I don’t see Florida on our schedule this season.
Fran, I should have wrote #1, meaning they are the most likely candidate to be #1 in the polls next year. Sorry about that.
Art Director,
Great point about ESPN! That is another reason why this is a big game for us. FINALLY some national exposure.
I am so psyched about moving to my new house because at the new address there is a different cable provider and they carry the mtn. My current one does not.
It’s nice here in Pocatello. We get the mtn. but we don’t get vs. or cbs c. I do try to make the 3 hour drive when I can for home games. My dad brother and I try to make a trip once a year for a road game. We’re planning on being in Dallas for Labor Day weekend this year. Go Cougs!
Mars -
We’re playing Florida State, not Florida. That game is on September 19th and is our home opener. For the past three season BYU has gone undefeated at home. This will probably be the biggest test for the home field advantage these players may ever face. I think we can pull it off with some smart play calling and keeping the pace of the game; we need to use the altitude to our advantage and keeping them running all the time would do just that.
I just want to mention that in BYU’s dark days of Crowten football, when they played USC in 03(i’m not sure of the year) but it wasen’t until late in the 4th Q that USC pulled away from a 3 point lead to score more, but BYU held them to their fewest points that season. I also believe that was the year USC shared the national championship. It was also a home game. Back in those dark days BYU had a terrible home record. Back when we counted morale victories. Great points staff, thanks
My point being that BYU teams are getting better every year, and you never know. Its a long shot but BYU has beat some pretty good teams in the past. I just hope they show up to play. play hard, and have fun
Rick!
To your point Rick. I think we have a chance in this game. I think Coach Mendenhall more than any other reason wanted to test this team right out the gate. He loves giving us obstacles that seem impossible to over come and then watching us CHOOSE to overcome them.
We pride ourselves on being sharp in our execution which, if accomplished, is a huge advantage on opening day. Plus we have the fact that OU probably doesn’t respect us one bit. (See Utah v Alabama)
I hate to jump ahead, but let me bring up the whoopin’ FSU brought upon Wisconsin in their bowl game. I was waiting at Cheddars for a table with my family and they had it on the screen. FSU dominated. They were fast and the ‘Noles return almost every skill player.
Realistically we can expect to go into conference 2-2. However, I believe at the end of the season our two losses (to OU and FSU) will bear out to be to two top 10 teams.
This nonconference schedule is INVALUABLE to preparing us for the MWC, bowl game and the national stage in general. I think one of the reasons TCU did so well against last year is because they had played OU before. Yes, OU pulled away, but TCU hung with them for much of that game. Similar to Rick’s point about how we played well against USC, TCU held OU to their lowest rushing game of the season last year (25 total yards rushing, I know I know that means that had 400+ yrds throwing). TCU dared OU to beat them through the air and Bradford did. But, then the Frogs secondary was well prepared with they faced potent air attacks in us, Utah and Boise St.
At the end of the year, TCU was also in BCS mix because they had only losses to OU and Utah (both top 10 teams as well).
Kiyo –
Great points! I think we beat FSU though. Those boys won’t know what is going on when they hit the altitude. That is a drastic change and it does matter. I do agree that they looked really good towards the end of the year last year and I think they are getting back to where they were in the 90’s. But I think that we are getting better too and should be able to win that one at home. It’s not going to be easy. But it can be done.
I see OU going with 5 wide receivers on every play and BYU’s secondary playing 10 yards off. Bradford will be able to pick BYU apart with dinks and dunks until they break open a big play. I don’t see anyway in H.E. double hockey sticks that BYU’s secondary matches up with OU’s passing game. We just don’t have the athletes.
Still a long shot, but possible beat OU, FSU, two big nationally respected teams, then finish out the rest of the schedule undefeated, BYU would be in place for a championship game, one loss and there still in a BCS game. Exciting, its all layed out for BYU. Go COUGS
I’m amped about this game! Realistically I don’t see us winning this one but hey, anything can happen…. it’s BYU!!!!! need we bring up the season opener of 1990 (or ‘91?) against #1 Miami? Granted we don’t have Detmer leading the team but Max is now a 2 year starter and his record shows that he can win. In all honesty, I hate losing to Utah but I think that loss will help get Max’s head together and more prepared for what is expected of him as the leader for the team. I can not wait to see the lethal receiving and backfield corps we’ll be unleashing next year! Sooners don’t have a defense, we have a chance in this one if we come out with fire in our eyes!
Markell and Quinn —
What difference do you think a heavier Hall will be in the OU and FSU games? Having never played on the defensive side of the ball, I’ve never had to stop a 215 QB; is the added mass worth the loss of speed?
I wouldn’t say the “Soones don’t ahve a defense”, but , yeah, the Miami game was great. I was a sophomore and my younger brother was a freshman in W Hall. Went nuts, definitely in the top 10 rushes of my life after marriage, mission call, birth of child, hole-in-one, Little League champs, jumping out of an airplane, finishing a marathon, Beck-Harline, Hall-Collie.
Bronco keeps the teams grounded with consistency in his goals – MWC championship, win a bowl game. Reality is that he, the players and fans all of course want that BCS game. I completely agree that a one loss season gets us to the BCS next year – BUT that one loss has to be in our “preseason” nonconference games.
The MWC is improving each year, while other so-called “BCS” conferences are “regressing to the mean”. From now until 2012 (when I predict MWC will be an autobid) the MWC champion will be part of the BCS if they go undefeated in conference. I think it’s possible that the MWC champion will make the BCS with one conference loss. BYU could be the FIRST “mid-major” next year to bust the BCS with one loss.
And Rick has hit the good news of playing OU (and FSU) right on the nose. UPSIDE – go undefeated and you’re in the NC game. DOWNSIDE – lose a few nonconference games, see where your team is and then improve against MWC opponents and get to a bowl game after making the necessary adjustments.
Peter,
I don’t like trading size for speed unless you play NT. The bottom line is where is Max comfortable? Does he feel he can put on the weight and perform better? IF PUTTING ON THE WEIGHT DOESN’T MAKE YOU BETTER, NO MATTER WHAT POSITION…DON’T DO IT!!!! Or did he put on the weight because he drank too much hot chocolate this winter?
Max is not a really tall QB, so I would rather see him stay slim and elusive than slow. I didn’t know that he put on weight. I guess we’ll all have to “weight” and see what he looks like.
Markell,
Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought this game was more of a deal made by the athletic director. I thought Bronco was leaning toward playing an easier schedule so that they could go “undefeated”. (similar to Hawaii’s philosophy). Personally, I don’t think that a team outside the BCS can get away with that philosophy and still get the BCS votes. After all it’s all about the BCS isn’t it?
I agree with your reasons why it’s good to play this game. Is there any reason to think we can hang with them, or possibly even win? Is our offense more potent than we think, does the defense have something up its sleeve that matches well with their offense?
Appleseed,
According to the reports in the papers you are right. I have a hard time believing that Tom Holmoe would make such a drastic change without discussing it with Coach Mendenhall first.
Mark,
I think it is too early to tell. I have noted some reasons above on why I think it has the potential to be a close game. Only time will tell how this new team comes together and defines themselves. Obviously OU can be beaten…they are not untouchable by any means.
I would imagine that Coach Hill and Coach Mendenhall are taking a long look at the NC game to see what Florida did to slow them down.
BYU has a shot at this! I’m not running to Vegas and place any bets, but Halls a pretty good QB. Play calling needs to spread the ball around. Stats have shown over the last 3 seasons BYU wins games that have even run plays to pass plays. Against the yewts the run was working but BYU went away from it, like they had something to prove. To beat OU, Coaches, and Players have to bring their A game. BYU has some good talent, they need to improve on their preperation. It will be a good game, win or lose
TJ, I agree with your prediction about OU’s offensive gameplan. 5 WR’s, dunk and dink, break tackles or bust the long one. OU did something similar to TCU last year.
See Utah’s defensive gameplan against us last year for how to stop a throwing offense WITHOUT sacks. They rushed 3, contained the pocket, blocked a fair number of throws and had 5 INTs. I’m agree that we don’t have the athletes in the secondary to stop them; whereas Utah’s secondary was equal to our offensive passing challenge.
Q&M, does a nickel package or cover 2 will put enough people in the secondary that we can force OU to beat us with the run? Maybe Pendleton coming from the secondary to the linebacking corps provides an additional “DB” – guised as a LB?
Defensively, it is a tall order to stop the Sooners. The best thing is to keep it out of Bradford’s hands. In order to beat OU, our offense is going to have to put together 6 minute TD (not FG) drives. We’re going to have to establish the run, convert 3rd downs and get into the end zone.
P.S. Just called to get on the list for 11 tickets.
Well, there are other reasons for playing Oklahoma besides anything to do with football, bowl games and championships. There’s a commandment in our Church, right below “Thou shalt not murder,” and right above “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” It’s, “Thou shalt not construct a building that isn’t paid for.” Until the SAC and the Indoor Practice Facility are paid off, expect Tom Holmoe and University Administration to do what it takes to pull money into athletics.
This game is actually #5 on the list of 2009-2010 season paydays. Only a BCS berth would pay more than the $2.5M+ that BYU will get for the game. Remember, this is NOT a bowl game, so the University doesn’t have to share it with the rest of the conference.
I know everybody loves football, but remember who you are when you pay your tithing.
Doug, good reminder. $2.5 mil!
One question though, I thought the bldgs were paid for, at least it seems the church’s usual policy is a bldng doesn’t get dedicated or used till the money’s paid. Am I wrong on this?
All I know on the topic is that in 2004 Ira Fulton…the man sho fronted the money for the buildings spoke to the team for a good 30 minutes to an hour. I remember him referencing the churches policy to not build until things are paid for. That is why he fronted the remainder of the money..the biggets bulk.
Some of the promised funds on the Indoor Practice Facility fell through. Even really rich dudes can have financial difficulties.
FSU played colorado when they said altitude was going to be a big factor a few years back most of those players are still on the team….Fact is FSU will be very conditioned and able to handle the altitude hoping for a good game though because speed will be a factor
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