Fanblogs.com - Latest Comments in Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:52:36 -0000

I can't argue with BYU's consistency the last 3 years. They could fit in between Boise State 2004 and BYU 2007.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Glass_Joe — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:12:13 -0000

I think BYU 2006 is better than both BYU 2007 and BYU 2008. And, If we had last year's defense, or even 2006's on this year's team, we could still very well be undefeated.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:03:39 -0000

The first half of 2003 or the second half of 2003? That season saw tremendous improvement over the year while 2004 Utah was solid throughout.

This year also saw improvement throughout the year, but not as severe as in 2003. At no part in this season was Utah as bad as they were to start 2003. Utah dropped a few early games then went on a domination spree that lasted a year and a half and wrapped up 2 conference titles and 2 bowls. The early part of the season in 2003 ruined any BCS talk, also a different formula and criterion were used then.

The Utes at the end of 2003 were as good as the Utes at the start of the 2004 season. I suppose with all things considered I can't argue with your claim they were comparable to BYU 2007 in the list above.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Jared — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:19:04 -0000

Where would you rank Utah 2003 into your equation? I think ~ BYU 2007.

I ask because this year's Utah team, although undefeated, is much more often compared with the 2003 team than the 2004 team.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:16:03 -0000

I think we can agree on this:

Utah 2004 >> TCU 2005 > Utah 2008 ~ Boise State 2006 ~ TCU 2008 ~ Boise State 2008 ~ Boise State 2004 > BYU 2007 > BYU 2008 > Hawaii 2007 ~ Ball State 2008

To get 2 BCS non AQ conference members in BCS Bowls the following must all happen:

1) Big 12: Only Penn State in top 14, Ohio State and Michigan State need to lose.

2A) PAC 10: USC champion, Oregon State needs a loss
2B) PAC 10: USC not in top 14, needs 2 loses.

3) ACC: Only champion in top 14. a myriad of permutations

4) Big East: Only Champion in top 14. Don't think this can not happen.

5) Two of the following must end up in the top 25 ( in pecking order )
Utah, Boise State, TCU, BYU, Utah (1 loss to BYU ), Ball State

TCU may end up ahead of Boise State.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:54:23 -0000

Apparently not.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Tommy_Trojan — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:44:11 -0000

Ben Prather:

Congrats on another good win. The Utes can beat BYU and end up in a BCS bowl game. Going into the season, I vaguely remember, that Utah might have been picked 3rd in the MWC. They've been able to win every game that they played. I would agree that Utah should outrank Boise State. We may get two non-BCS teams into the games this year. I'm not too sure about Boise - but I sure wouldn't liken Utah to last years farce of a Hawaii team.

I know that USC can't get into the BCS National Championship game. That road looks impossible right now. So, I'll be rooting for Utah, Texas, Florida and Oregon State to "win out". Why would I want for Oregon State to win the PAC 10 Conference Championship? That's pretty easy. The last thing in the world that I want is to play in another Rose Bowl against any BIG 10 team. I'd like for Oregon State to go ahead and handle that task. Besides, it make Utah and USC look that much better. Should some kinda "miracle" happen - I would prefer that USC play Florida in the BCS Championship. With Oregon State in the Rose Bowl - USC could play in one of the other BCS bowl games. That's where Texas and Utah come in. Either will be fine. Texas more so, as the loss to Texas in 05' still stings, and the loss to Utah in 01' still needs some "pay back". It would not bother me too much if USC gets to play Utah in some other game. The Fiesta Bowl comes to mind. That sounds as if it would create quite a venue.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Cougar_Fan — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:12:48 -0000

Oh my goodness! I can't believe Utah pulled that out!!! I wanted Utah to win but I'm not sure that they're the better team, I think TCU would perform better in a BCS bowl bid!! but I guess we won't know. Go utes, I'm ok if they beat my cougars as long as we don't just roll over! Unless Boise State loses, in that cases go Cougs take em down!!

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:36:11 -0000

But then it woulda been a shoot out...

Funny how that works.

You guys are up in two weeks, after a short trip to SDSU.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Glass_Joe — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:40:54 -0000

Yep, shoulda mortgaged the house and drained the kids' college funds and put it on the under. What was I thinking?

Congrats Utes!

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Zac — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:33:58 -0000

WOW!!! Talk about a game of missed opportunities. Just when it seemed like TCU was wear'n em down, sack, boink, and UT survives another threat.

It just goes to show a quote from an ole nemesis, still trying to get his system to work...elsewhere, really does make sense. "You can't give the other team hope. You have to finish." Rich Rodriguez couldn't stand it when his (then) Mountaineers were up by 21, 28, or even 35, when the defense would yield 17 or so straight to let the other team back in the game "...giving them hope" as he would frame it. With each missed opportunity, TCU gave UT new hope, and with less than a minute to play, the Utes finally said, "Thank you very much," and cashed in. Frigg'n amazing! Congrats on the, ahem, "bad pick", Ben. I can see you're all just so broken up about it.

This game reminded me a lot of S FL/WVU last year. The guys who put up the impressive numbers didn't win it. I just hope this doesn't set to ruin TCU's fine season. They really are a good team.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:10:42 -0000

Post game analysis:

OOPS! MY BAD!!! I though TCU could kick a field goal. Apparently their kicker thinks you get bonus points for hiting the uprights.

I'll eat those delicious 17-14 words. Standing corrected never felt so sweet. I did find myself accidentally cheering for the wrong team of a second or two as the black just does not look like Utah. I hope I never see those uniforms again.

I have been holding off judgement on my team until this game. This game has come, and it is time to tell it like it is.

Utah is not a top 10 team, unless you happen to be looking at the actual rankings.

Alabama, Florida, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoam State and Penn State are head and shoulders above Utah. While I think Utah could hold their own vs Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, USC and Missouri, I think they lose more than they win against these opponents. Utah is a top 15 team and better than Boise State or any other team outside the BCS cartel. The lone exception may very well be the TCU team we just defeated.

The BCS system is very generous to cinderellas, and this should allow Utah to significantly reduce the gap between them and USC in the BCS standings. TCU will not fall lower than Ball State, and should not fall lower than BYU. One can still argue they may be better than Utah.

Utah may very well be headed to the BCS to face the #2 SEC or #2 Big 12 team. BYU might have a thing to say about that between now and then, but I like the odds of getting there. I don't like the odds once we get there, but Whittingham is excellent at getting teams up for a big game and playing Florida or the Big 12 #2 would be the biggest game in school history.

Indeed some say last night's game was the biggest in school history as Utah had never played a game where both teams were ranked in the top 15, with conference title and BCS eligibility on the line to boot.

I did have a dream this past weekend where it was the start of the third quarter in the Sugar Bowl and Utah was up by three. After convincingly holding Florida to three and out, Utah marched down the field with impunity and scored a quick TD and took all the momentum. The commentators began discussing whether Meyer was regretting his choice to leave Utah, and the perplexed look on Meyer's face was priceless.

Then I woke up. I can still dream.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

TampaGator — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:34:00 -0000

I was disappointed; I thought the game was going to be on ESPN. I also thought the Browns v. Bronx was going to be on... forgot about the No Fan Love network deal...so we were stuck with the Turks v. the Twerps.

...not that it was a bad game, but it certainly left you wanting more...

b/t/w: never go against homedog on thurday night!

...and congrats!

GO GATORS!!

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:20:40 -0000

How do you get better than the #1 run defense in the land?

I will agree, they are better than that.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Ben Prather — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:19:28 -0000

The Mountain West does not have a contract with ESPN. They turned them down to get more saturday games but they each play at least one thursday night game on Versus or CBS college sports.

You will not see a MWC team on ESPN unless they are visiting someone else.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

OU_Ron — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:16:22 -0000

I think if SC played either TCU or Utah, you would change your mind.....

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

U.of S.C.1978 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:06:24 -0000

I had to read some stories and the stats. Could not watch the game. While both of these teams are having great seasons, neither is ready for prime time.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

GotliebTX — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:50:50 -0000

With their win over TCU, Utah moves their Win Factor to 34, temporarily placing them in 2nd behind Texas at 37. The winner of the Tech-Oklahoma game will leapfrog them on Saturday, as will most of the Win Factor Top 10 (Florida, Alabama, Penn State, Boise State, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan State). The Utes will most likely be hanging around 11th or 12th on the Win Factor standings come Sunday.

Texas Tech needs to beat OSU and get some help from their downline (teams they have beaten) if they are to pass up Texas this week. They are the only team in striking distance this week and they own the Longhorn's wins for their Win Factor. Assuming Texas beats Baylor with their 2 FBS wins and gets three wins from their downline (Oklahoma, Colorado or Arkansas, Missouri) they will raise the #1 spot to 42. Tech will need 14 to get there from where they sit currently at 28. They can get 7 from beating OSU and would need all 7 of their downline teams to win to get to 42 to tie Texas for the top spot. With the tie-breaker in their possession, they would be the #1 team in the country.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Lennie Collins — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:08:43 -0000

TCU should have worn all black...their offense looked dead! Utah in black jerseys and black pants...silly.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

1Tomcat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:01:00 -0000

Hey Ben congrats to the Utes on a 4th quarter drive and a INT in the final seconds beating a good TCU team. TCU has only two losses for the season both to top ten opponents and this win along with the Oreg St win should help the Utes SOS arguement.
I heard Pete Carrols rants, however big wins over Wash and Wash st doesnt really help your team with the current system. Perhaps when the US president elect hollers for a change in CFB his influence may help teams like Utah make it to the big show in the future. Lets say that with the current system that Bama drops one and so does Texas Tech, would we see a PSU vs Utah MNC game? perhaps? leaving the powers Fla, USC,Tex, OU outside looking in
Hookem-Horns
Gigem-Aggies beat the H outa OU
Go Cowboys- did I say that
Geaux Tigers

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

1Tomcat — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:51:05 -0000

Ga-Boy need to hook up a disc or Cable for CBS college sports, good channel shows alot of C-USA and MWC games better broadcasters too than ESPN
like Bryan Jones former Texas player and Trev Alberts former Nebraska player

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Zac — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:36:49 -0000

Maybe it's just the way I'm seeing it, but I'd say TCU's defense is better than advertised. Not to mention, it looks as if their offense is beginning to impose its will. Should they hold on for the win as Ben has predicted (Brave pick, Ben.), I agree; they belong in the BCS, provided they win out.

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

GA_Boy — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:27:37 -0000

Why wouldn't ESPM put this game on? I am in GA and I would much rather see TCU and Utah play than this. Now USC 78, you want to talk irrelevant, VA Tech and Maryland, now that is irrelavant.

GO DAWGS!

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

MarkS — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:55:00 -0000

As you intimated, if a loss means Utah never goes with the black uniforms again, then I almost want a loss. They could always donate them to Georgia...

Re: Thursday Night Blackout in Utah

Glass_Joe — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:12:36 -0000

That was a Beaver coaching blunder but I think they figured they had a better chance of winning that game with a last possession in regulation than winning it in overtime. Or else they could've rundown almost all of the clock.