Red, Blue And Pigskin - 7

Okay, so I guess it could get worse. The first three losses weren't unexpected. Maybe we didn't expect them to perform as badly as they did, but Byu losing the previous three games wasn't out of the realm of expectation.

But Utah State was sitting there as the perfect get well medicine for the Cougars. After all, this is the modus operandi of the Cougars.

It's not just the loss to Utah State that was unexpected. Rivalry games have weird results.

It was the turnovers, the injuries, and the offense being flat out unprepared and inept that was so unexpected. You can't prepare for injuries, but the others can definitely be coached and prepped for.

Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Four letter word #1, four letter word #2, four letter word #3, four letter word #1 again preceded by a six letter word.

I hate playing Arizona more than any team out there right now. Since joining the Pac-12, and since they hired Rich Rod to be their coach, the Arizona wildcats are the thorn in the paw for the Utes. Even when Utah wins, Arizona screws them up. I am so glad to be done with that game. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

This must be how Phil Connors felt. Every year, different pieces, same story. No matter how dominant one team is, and no matter how hapless the other team is, when it comes to the end, the game is always on the line, waiting for something strange, and crazy to happen.

Of course, I'd rather suffer through this kind of Groundhog's Day than the one Byu fans are living through.

Note: In this analogy, 2011 is the suicide montage from the movie.

The Holy War has come and gone, and while it won't be back until next November, there still enough time to look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly for both teams and see what we can learn about both teams after the rivalry clash.

But first... Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Well.....

I've got nothing. There's really not anything of value that can come from last week. Utes played a lesser opponent, while Byu was involved in a game so horrifically and historically one sided, that it would be impossible to extrapolate anything of value from it. Let's just move on shall we.

Besides. It's Holy War week, and while my thoughts about whether this game should be played on a yearly basis has changed over the last 6 years (it shouldn't), my enjoyment of the game when it's actually here hasn't changed.

So let's get to the Holy War Breakdown. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

On September 21, 2013, when the Utes left Rice-Eccles Stadium - South after their 4th consecutive victory in the Holy War, there was a sense that when these two teams met up in 2016, one or both of the coaches would no longer be at their school.

After all, Kyle Whittingham was coming off a 5-7 season, and would end up having his second consecutive 5-7 season that year. Meanwhile Bronco Mendenhall had seemed to reach his ceiling of what could be accomplished with Byu, which was far short of fan expectations, and Mendenhall's own National Championship comments. Plus Mendenhall had never really seemed to like the Byu fans.

Last year it seemed like both coaches might be gone, as rumors of discord between Whittingham and Athletic Director Chris Hill swirled, and Bronco Mendenhall applied for the open Wisconsin job. A job that was only open, because (supposedly) Gary Andersen threw his hat in the Oregon State ring when they called him as a referral for Mendenhall.

Then on December 4th, Mendenhall announced he was going to Viriginia. It was a move that while guaranteeing the two coaches wouldn't be on the field in 2016 together, it help put in motion, wheels to get them on the field one last time. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Well, that was sure a week of hoopla, and the game on the field didn't disappoint. But this week it's out of the frying pan, and into the fire, as the Utes must wrestle with demons they haven't been able to handle lately. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

You know the joke we sometimes make about winning or losing a bye week. Well as much as it's possible the Utes completely won their bye week this year, and I couldn't be more nervous. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

So before I start talking about what was truly a shocking weekend of College Football, I ask for a moment of silence and reflection as we sit back and realize that we are already 1/3rd of the way through the College Football Regular Season. These moments are fleeting.

Okay onto last weekend, to which I offer a single piece of advice to both Utah and Byu.....

Burn the Tape. Don't watch it, don't study it, just burn it. After you've burnt the tape, take the ashes and throw it in a dirt pile (similar to the way De'Veon Smith threw Michael Davis off his back) and bury it. Whatever you do don't watch it. No good can come of it.

Obviously, the reasons are very different for each team, but the advice is the same. Burn the tape. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

In the words of the great boxer Roberto Duran: No más

Please Chuckie, No más.

It's been a great 5 years. You've had some spectacular moments. I know you'll always have regrets because you were so close to the brass ring. You're entire career will be defined by being oh so close, but please No más.

With the news that Chuckie Keeton will be out at least 4-6 weeks with a sprained knee I have to say No más.

Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

I went to bed Saturday night thinking that the worst thing I was going to have to hear about the next day was Cougar fans talking about their latest miracle. Instead I woke up Sunday and started hearing about the two Utah players who were shot.

Fortunately both are okay and expected to make a full recovery, but talk about putting a damper on things. But it does remind you that not only are these real people we obsess about but their just young kids as well. Best wishes to them as they continue on their road to recovery.

I hate when the real world interferes with my sports. Some times it feels like a real shot to the nuts. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Wow! It's amazing one what 1 second can do. After 59 minutes and 59 seconds in Lincoln the Byu Cougars were looking at not only a season opening loss, but a season opening loss where Taysom Hill got hurt (though the extent wasn't known yet.)

1 second of playtime later (about 10 seconds of real time) and Cougar nation is in pure ecstatic joy.

That play is why we love sports. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Finally, we've made it. We have survived the wasteland. We have suffered, and been tormented. At long last we are coming out of the wilderness after our proverbial 40 years (or 30ish weeks). Finally we can see the light at the end of the tunnel that is the offseason. Of course in this case that light is the headlights of a Khaki dressed bus.

Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Remember as the Utes suffered through the first couple years in the Pac-12 and the common wisdom was that Utah was lucky to have missed Oregon and Stanford during the first two year rotation, and they'd really be hurting once those two came up on the schedule?

2011 & 2012 Utes versus Cal and Washington 1-3
2013 & 2014 Utes versus Oregon and Stanford 2-2

Fortunately past results are not a guarantee of the future, or I would really be worried when Stanford drops off next year and Cal and Washington are back along with Oregon. (Let's be honest though, I'm always worried anyways.)

Meanwhile it's Senior Weekend in the state of Utah as all three Division 1-A teams play their final home game of the year. (The two Division 1-AA teams had their final home game last week, and final game this week.) For many of the seniors it's the end of a way of life. After this season most of them won't ever play organized football again.
Also for the first time since 2011 all three teams are officially bowl-eligible. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

Just another boring old weekend of football in the Beehive State where nothing at all memorable whatsoever happened.

Okay maybe not true, but it was, what has become this year, just another Saturday Night at Rice-Eccles.

Also did you know that teams from the state of Utah have now lost 5 QB's, who have started at least one game, to season ending injury. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"

November begins the way September ends with the Cougars getting a win (much needed) and the Ute fans all on a ledge with me just wanting to push them all off. Continue reading "Red, Blue And Pigskin"