Red, Blue And Pigskin - 2

Cliches are cliches for a reason. Three popular cliches when it comes to the Holy War are "throw out everything you know about these teams when they play each other". "Forget the records." "You never know what will happen during the Holy War."

In a rivalry whose recent history is filled with unpredictable moments and games, 2011 was no different. For once, the game didn't require a last second block, an OT catch and run, a magical 4th and 18 conversion, a final play catch, a doink off the goal post, or any number of last second plays this rivalry is famous for.

Maybe it is that history that caused many to expect this game to come to the end. Add into the equation the common feeling that many wondered if the two teams could even combine for 30 points.

That last thing anybody expected was a blowout, but that's exactly what ended up happening. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Heartbreak - noun \ˈhärt-ˌbrāk\

Definition of Heartbreak
: crushing grief, anguish, or distress

Examples of Heartbreak

• Going into Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and dominate the Longhorns in the first quarter, only to have your Offensive Coordinator, and QB go into ultra conservative mode and end up losing the game by a single point.


• Playing on the road in the Coliseum for the first conference game of your new conference, and lining up for a overtime forcing field goal, only to see your offensive line get collapsed as the kick is blocked and returned for a TD.


• Leading Michigan by 17 points going into the 4th quarter at the Big House, just to watch them score 21 points and take the lead with 72 seconds left to play. Responding by driving 61 yards in 42 seconds, scoring a TD and having the lead with 32 seconds left in the game, only to watch Michigan put up a 80 yard game winning TD drive in 30 seconds. Actually Notre Dame, this may be worse than heartbreak.

Needless to say it was a rough weekend for fans of BYU and Utah this week, as both came up just a bit short. Both teams went into the weekend still looking to answer a bunch of questions. One team started to provide some questions, while the other team still has it's fans scratching their heads.

To recover from this past weekends heartaches, the two teams play their first Non-Conference Rivalry game in 113 years. It's also the first time since 1968 these two teams play outside the month of November. This means we'll review a little bit of what last week meant to both teams, before doing the annual breakdown of the Holy War.
Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

After weeks of fall camp, and months of offseason questions looming over College Football, week one finally arrived to answer questions and clear the picture a bit.

Week one play is now over and there still not a lot I know. Things are just as muddled as ever.

Some things I know:

I know TCU was on the losing end of a game that had 98 points scored. What that means for TCU's defense, and their team this year, I don't know?

I know Utah State had the best QB by far of any local team in week one, and was oh so close to shocking defending National Champion Auburn. I don't know if that choke job at the end will linger, or if the Aggies will learn from it. But I will discuss it later.

I know Maryland sported the worst uniforms of the year. This didn't leave me with any lingering questions.

Finally, I know that Both Utah and BYU won, but they left more questions than answers. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Game week. What more is there to say. Finally after all the talk, all the projections, all the wondering, this week the "what ifs" turn into "what happened".

Utah starts the season with a tune up game at home against Division 1-AA Montana State on Thursday. Meanwhile the Cougars travel into SEC country to take on the Ole Miss Rebels.

It's been almost 9 months since either team has strapped on the pads in a live game situation. A lot has changed since then, but finally, the long nightmare is over. We can get back to football. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Finally we are getting down to business. Classes have either begun (at Utah), or will begin next week (Down South). Camps are coming to an end, and the teams are starting to get into their typical in-season practice routine. Kickoff is a mere 8-10 days away. Next week begins the break down of actual opponents. No more looking at scrimmage reports and talking about practice.

With the end of fall camps upon us, I present my annual demonstration of exactly how much knowledge I truly lack. This is the week where I step out on a limb and make predictions for the upcoming season. I present two examples of past predictions as evidence of my great prediction prowess.

Last year I predicted that Oregon State would beat either TCU or Boise State. The Beavers responded by going 0-2 in those games, losing to TCU by a score of 21-30, and to Boise State 24-37. The first two of seven loses for Oregon State.

In 2009 I predicted that Oregon and Florida State would both lose in week three to Utah and BYU respectively. Utah lost a close matchup in Autzen, while the Seminoles blasted BYU, and undid any goodwill earned from their week one upset over what turned out to be an average Oklahoma.

Before we get to the predictions, we'll do a breakdown of the season for Utah, BYU, and Utah State, but first, we'll start with some reader participation.
Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

In 1990, Ron McBride took over a program he would refer to as "soft", "underachieving", and "going nowhere". The program was so down that when it came to expectations he was told "Well, if you cannot embarrass us against BYU and be in about the middle of the league, and be respectable you can stay here as long as you want."

He didn't even have to win against BYU, just not be embarrassed. To say that the bar at Utah was set low, would be an understatement. The bar was so low, that they don't even bury dead people that low.

What Ron McBride ended up doing, was making those "middle of the league, and be respectable" expectations no longer acceptable at the University of Utah.

On September 1st, the University of Utah finishes the journey that Coach Mac Started. A journey that was picked up by Urban Meyer, and then Kyle Whittingham. But make no mistake, this turnaround, this entry in the Pac-12 got it's start in 1990 with the hiring of Coach Ron McBride.

Now that the Utes are a part of the Big Boy Club, all eyes are on them to see how they will compete. Fairly or not, this first season for Utah will be scrutinized like none before it. It is not a stretch to say that 2011 is the most important season in Utah football history. So what can we expect from this team? Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Recenty the BYU Cougars had their Football Media Day. It was a day spent in their new state of the art broadcasting center that will be used by BYUtv. From all accounts it is a very, very impressive center, rivaled only by the studios in Bristol, Connecticut. Also judging by the comments of Tom Holmoe and Bronco Mendenhall, the mere fact that they have such a nice broadcast center, means BYU is guaranteed to win a National Championship soon.

However the best quote to come out of BYU's media day wasn't made by Bronco Mendenhall, or Tom Holmoe. In fact it wasn't made by anyone related to BYU. Instead it came from Utah State Head Coach Gary Andersen, who when asked how he felt about BYU trying to stiff them by only wanting to do 2 for 1 contracts, responded by joking "Maybe Bronco and the Cougars are too afraid to make the drive through Logan Canyon".

Well fear not, because Red, Blue And Pigskin isn't afraid to make the trip, as today we will be doing just that, at least linguistically, as we'll talk about the Cougars down in Provo, and the Aggies up in Logan.

One of these two teams just so happen to have the best Running Back, and best Linebacker in the state, and it isn't really close. In fact these two players could make an argument for best two players in the state period. And it's not from the team you expect.

But first, a couple red related notes. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Do you feel it? The excitement that's been bubbling just under the surface for the last six months? The anticipation that has only been enhanced by the most momentous off season in this state's history? The tingling feeling that can mean only one thing, Football Is Back!

With the Utes reporting to camp on Thursday, and the Cougars beginning work this weekend on Saturday, the long national crisis comes to an end.

No matter how momentous an off season is, it's still just an off season, and nothing beats the actual cracking of helmets and pads.

Camps don't just bring the return of football up on the hill, or down south. It also brings about the return of Red, Blue and Pigskin.

As camps heat up will preview both seasons, and make some predictions for the upcoming football season in general. This week however we will recap the off season that saw the Utes officially join "The Cartel"the BCS, and saw the Cougars officially take the ball to go play by themselves.

Also this week I will explain, why Cougar fans must do something that goes against every fiber in their being. They must cheer and root for the Utes. Don't worry Cougar fans you aren't alone, as Boise State, and TCU Fans should also be rooting for Utah.

So without further ado, here is the first Red, Blue And Pigskin of the 2011 season. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Unfortunately, this does not signify that College Football is upon us. However, 15,000 fans came out to Rice-Eccles Stadium this past Saturday, to get their first look at these Utes, as the Utes closed spring camp with their 8th annual Red/White spring game.

There were many things for the Utes to display in the game. Who was going to be the new RB? How is the new offense coming? Is Wynn's job in danger? Will the Utes have a pass rush?

I was among those 15,000 fans, and while I came away with a face as red as the Ute jerseys, I also came away with some thoughts on these questions, and the Utes in general, as they prepare to enter the Pac-12. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

So you know all those people arguing against so many bowl games? UTEP helped prove their point? You know all those people talking about the tradition and celebration of the Bowls? UTEP helped disprove their point. 6-6 should not be enough to warrant a bowl game. Sure once in a while you get a team like BYU who struggled through their early season, and is actually better than their 6-6 record, but more often than not, you get a UTEP.

UTEP wasn't the only team embarrassed during the bowl openers as all three games were blowouts.

Meanwhile, Utah is in Vegas preparing for the Broncos, and time to discuss BYU's season. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

In a week where the only on-field action was the game between Army and Navy, most of the news this week came from off the field. For Utah, not a whole lot going on. Jordan Wynn successfully completed his shoulder surgery that will keep him out till next May. Meanwhile the rest of the team prepares for the Broncos and the Las Vegas Bowl.

BYU has a bit more news than that. Of course, they start off the bowl season on Saturday with the New Mexico bowl. But that isn't the only bit of news to come out of Provo. We now know who they'll play during their regular season next year, as well as postseason destinations for a future two years.

But first let's preview that bowl. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

So the Bowls have been announced, and contrary to popular belief, the BCS didn't get it right with their matchup. It's impossible to get it right when you are choosing only two teams. Especially when at least 3 teams are undefeated.

Meanwhile the BCS had a bad week, that started with a dominant 4 loss team earning an automatic qualifying while a 1 loss riff-raff was left out, and has continued with one of their computer rankings being shown to be incorrect, and shining a light on the fact that their is no transparency or contingency plans.

Locally the Utes got bad news, and then got their bowl announcement. The Utes will put up their 9 game win streak against the toughest opponent of the stretch. The Cougars meanwhile kick off the post season with a battle of two teams trying to get winning records. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

And thus ended the third age. And how else would this age end, than with a game going down to the wire. In a rivalry that has the most 7 point or fewer games since 1997, this year's version wasn't any different. After suffering through Harline being open, Magic Happening on 4th and 18, and the Blue Streak the last few years, Utah finally ended up with some magic of their own, thanks to mid week film study pointing out a hole in the Cougar field goal unit. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

So quick question. Who books the flights for the Utes, and why would they put the defense on a flight that didn't get to San Diego until halftime? The Utes finally woke up and shook off two and a half week's of doldrums by coming back from an early 17 point 2nd quarter deficit to beat the Aztecs. The cool thing about this game, was the I got to see my first ever Hail Mary work live as I watched the game.

The Cougars also did what was expected and dispatched of the Lobos to become bowl eligible.

But honestly who cares about all that. This week is about one thing, and one thing only. It's rivalry week. The game that defines seasons is upon us. We all know the history, and the memorable moments. We know about Doinks, Magic, Shutouts, and BCS Busting. However, due to major changes for both teams next season, this isn't just any rivalry game, this is the end of an age.

Actually we've come to the battle, or Holy War, to end the third age. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

The concern was there all week. The quotes coming out of practice spelled doom. Their enemy was wounded, but dangerous. Sure enough the Utes walked smack into the trap at South Bend. Now they are in the midst of a disastrous two game losing streak, and a 4 game slide to end the season isn't out of the question. Especially with a much improved Aztecs this week, followed by the big rivalry game against a Cougar team that seems to have found itself finally.

Meanwhile down south, with only hapless New Mexico between them and the Holy War, it's looking like BYU will get bowl eligible this week. Unfortunately do to a DVR error, I wasn't able to watch the game, so this week will be light on the Cougar talk. But you BYU fans stick around, because this week will be heavy on the Ute bashing, a past time I know you all enjoy. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"