Hats off to Utah, they were certainly the better team today.
Michigan's lack of offense kept the defense on the field an obscene amount of time and Utah capitalized on it. Sheridan at QB was a joke and Threet showed he should have been the starter. UofM has a long, long way to go.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
Seeing Illinois last night I think Michigan could make a statement against them that their offense is ready. I will agree Threet demonstrated that he is the better QB.
If you liked how Utah was able to move the ball against one of the best defenses in the league, wait until Michigan gets their superior talent around the new offense. Utah ran a power run based offense before Meyer came to town. It took half of the 2003 season for the new system to catch on. Michigan will be a monster when that happens for them.
Marko
· 1 year ago
Utah is not the team they were last year. Their QB and Casteel will match up with any team in the country. They have REALLY impressed me with their poise in the first half.
They do need to work on keeping their heads into the game, Michigan almost stole that game which they had no business being close to.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
One of the reasons I am not a fan of our coaches. Lack of discipline and follow through. Stupid penalties and loosening up with a lead/surrendering with a deficit are trademarks of coaching.
We make up for it in recruiting and training. We are the same team minus the injuries that plagued us last year.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Marko, had MI's defense come out and played in the 1st half the way they played in the 2nd half, I don't UT would have scored as much as they did. As it is, were it not for MI's defense, the score could have been a lot worse. Then again, had UT not ceased in what was working for them, had they not begun to play "not to lose", and had they not contracted a case of dumn-ass late in the 4th qtr, the score might not have been as close as it was.
The good news for MI: I think RR has found his QB. Threet has a future at MI!!!
Tom_Blogical
· 1 year ago
Hey Marko, good on you to congratulate Ben and the Utes. Michigan will most likely have a down year but they'll be back soon.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
I think its a down half a year.
Bevo_Boy
· 1 year ago
OOO-TEE-NEE!!!!!!! (aka first)
Ben, not trying to take anything away from the win, but I don't think Michigan can be called a BCS power THIS YEAR. New system, new coach, I just don't see it.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Ah, ahem...That'll be $200.00 for the copy-write lisence fee on you're having used OOO-TEE-NEE!!!!!! Other that that, where ya been? We thought you got lost...or something.
grcunning
· 1 year ago
I don't think the game was that much of a surprise. It was nice to see the Utes play, as I've been hearing so much about their offense. They have a real problem with penalties, though. What was it, like 15 penalties for 150 yards? You can't beat BYU like that. They were pretty fortunate that UM had absolutely NO offense whatsoever. I can understand that RRod wants to run the WVU spread, but whatever happened to running the offense that your players are capable of running? If you have players that were brought up on smash mouth football, you run smash mouth football. Save the Pat White and Noel Devine offense until you can recruit some of those type players. Congrats to Utah...I was rooting for UM because of the whole Big 10 thing, but some part of me rejoices when Michigan loses.
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
Welcome to the Big 10(11), Rich Rod...
Did Utah try everything in the book to try and lose this one in the 4th quarter or what?
Good for you Ben! What have you got for us next week?
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
We tried to give them the start of the game too, fumbling the punt after stopping them 3 and out on the first drive.
We made mistakes and still came away with the win in an impressive manner.
Next week? Depends on Gustav.
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
Dominating the Michigan line is not a stellar accomplishment (see photo here). The Utes did a great job in playing their own game and taking it to the Michigan defense.
I agree with you that it is likely a one-week pop, but it certainly establishes the Utes as a serious contender for the MWC. And... as we've previously beat to death in other threads (hehe)... this definitely impacts how the MWC is viewed in the conference hierarchy.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
See photo where?
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
Man I'm sorry, just got back home, can't believe what I saw. Davis I think had 8 carries, Spiller 2 carries, unbelievable. Both lines got pushed around all night.
Zac
· 1 year ago
Yep, gotta adimt, the Tide had it going on all cylanders.
that is soooo awesome...I need to turn that one into a poster
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
Penalties were a problem. Utah out smash mouthed Michigan. Utah won the lines. The stats were not as close as the score. Michigan's deep talent and athleticism earned them two late long passes for TD's to make the game close.
Our defense is untested, it was sufficent to keep a very talented but confused off the board. Penalies have been a problem since Meyer left. They were a problem while Whittingham was a coordinator under McBride. We have plenty of room to improve from this game.
My point is that this game is not the all important game many Utah fans made it out to be. Starting the season with a big win is nice. Is this more impresive to voters than 41-17 win over Northern Iowa, I'll let you be the judge.
Michigan, even in a down year, is a BCS power.
As a Utah fan, we need to focus on the road ahead and not celebrate an historic victory that will pay more dividents down the road than this year in the rankings. We need to act like we have been here before.
Zac
· 1 year ago
I'm curious, was I the only one who noticed the grappling MI's RT was pulling on UT's DE when MI's Threet struck for his 1st TD in the 4th QT? It seems throughout the weekend there were lots of calls that could have been made that weren't, not to mention all too many calls that made you wonder where the ref's heads were at. (Hmm, sounds like the last 10 years, doesn't it. Never mind...)
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
It has been said that you can call holding on every play.
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
I vote that the MWC be allowed into the BCS!!!!!
(okay, can you tell that I've been drinking?)
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
Heavily. ;-0
Ramblin' Gator
· 1 year ago
Did you bring enough for everybody?
Zac
· 1 year ago
Ya know, I could just about agree, IF the MWC picked up Bosie St, Fresno St, and either Houston or Tulsa. (Relax, everyone; I've only had ti martwoni's.)
1Tomcat
· 1 year ago
What about the WAC ? and SUNBELT ? Have another my friend and remember coondawg1
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
Ok, funny everyone...
Ha Ha...
cdogg
· 1 year ago
No surprise here with UTAH winning.....michigan will be OK in about 3 years when Coach Rich can get his style of recruits in the system.
Tom_Blogical
· 1 year ago
I'm just going to be blunt. If anybody thinks the Big 10(11) was bad last year, you haven't seen anything yet. From what I saw of Michigan, Michigan St. and Illinois yesterday, the Big 10(11) S-U-C-K-S this year.
Ramblin' Gator
· 1 year ago
tOSU looked good. The Big 10/11 is acting like the Pac 10 (i.e. The Big 1 + X).
The good news for you is that The Big 10 performed better than the ACC this weekend, which ain't saying much.
1Tomcat
· 1 year ago
I have to agree with your assesment UVa, V Tech & Clemson all dissapoint Wake wins big- I saw the game, not really too impressive they beat the #12 -B12 team, young players, new coach and 5 turnovers. Remember last year everybody dogging Nebraska hey at least they beat Wake Ben Congrats on the Utes win, how many times have I heard about Utes 04 team and the big win over Texas A&M reminder Baylor also beat A&M in 04. Now the Aggies lose to Arkansas St a bigger upset than Utah over Mich New Polls #1 USC #2 Alabama #3 East Carolina #4 Alburn #5 Utah #6 Ole Miss #7 Florida #8 Bowlin Green #9 Missu #10 Texas #11 South Carolina #12 Arkansas St
You got to play somebody to get in my polls sorry OSU, UGA,OU Blow out wins against youngstown st & Chattanoogga dont coumt in my book
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
I think you have USC and Florida too high and Missouri too low.
1Tomcat
· 1 year ago
It was all just a big joke Ben, I shoulda put Stanford, TCU and Vanderbilt on my list- Oh Sh-t The La Tech Bulldogs earned a spot too
Tom_Blogical
· 1 year ago
Boeckman scares me. He's the key to a successful season or a "meh" season.
Tom_Blogical
· 1 year ago
Ben, not to take anything away from the Utes win, but I have to say that it was just an OK win for Utah. The excitement of getting a win from a big name school should be tempered with the fact that they barely beat a poor Michigan football team. With all the mistakes Utah made in that game, I'd be worried if I were a Utes fan. Utah should've come away with a convincing win on the road.
Mars
· 1 year ago
1- Michigan was Top 25 in many polls, usually at #25.
2- Yes, Utah is worse than BYU.
3- I don't see Michigan winning 8 games this year. Maybe 7.
4- This summer, I said that I pictured Utah as a #22 type of team, and that they would beat UM. Oregon State is their next big test. They look like a solid #20 right now. BYU should be #15.
5- TCU deserves some love as well, after beating New Mexico 26-3. Their game against Oklahoma is H-U-G-E this year. Last year, the Horned Frogs led Texas at halftime only to blow it in the 3rd quarter.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
I wish BYU would just shut up and beat a couple of PAC 10 teams already.... WEA, I bring you that for next week.
We won't really know who is better until November 22nd.
I agree about TCU. New Mexico should be in a bowl game come December. Why they scheduled such a strong conference game this early is beyond me.
Mars
· 1 year ago
TCU-New Mexico was scheduled by the MWC because neither team scheduled a game opening week. That's their fault.
As for "BYU shutting up", what exactly has BYU said?
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
1) Good luck with Washington and UCLA. I really want you all to win.
2) BYU got hosed by Nevada last minute. Too bad FSU was afraid to play you.
3) What has BYU said: It is a bit early to talk of a "Quest for Perfection". BYU is not a Harvard of the West (They have taken step to distanced themselves from this claim, as per the 11th paragraph of this article, but it still rings in their fanbase. )
As for their fan's:
1984 was 2 decades ago. What have you done lately? Frankly a MWC championship is nothing on the national stage.
Compare records vs BCS AQ teams since 2000: BYU 9-15, Utah 13-10.
I will grant that BYU has every right to claim the inside track on the conference title. To make a BCS claim before their next two games is ridiculous.
The same can be said of any BCS non-AQ team that has a top 25 BCS AQ team on the remaining schedule.
Marko
· 1 year ago
Michigan's defense stepped up and shut down Utah in the 2nd half, thats something positive in a game where the offense was non-existent.
Utah's veteran players stepped up but almost gave the game away. Utah needs to focus on penalties and executing thru the entire game, not just one half.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
I agree with everything Tom, Mars and Marko just said.
Actually Tom, I kind of meant to take something away from the younger zealous Utah fan's over stating the significance of the game.
Zac
· 1 year ago
The "Big Picture" for UT right now is preparing for UNLV in 7 more days. They have to get out of their system having beaten a "Big Name" program on the road, when in fact they didn't quite beat said program; they escaped. It's all about concentration, focus, and execution. They kicked a lot of FG's when TD's could have been scored. As RR has said it, as Saban was illustrated to have said it, they have to learn to FINISH!
This takes Discipline. Yes, I know; it was the 1st game for them. It was also the 1st game for MI. How many penalties did UT have, for how many yards? These are the things that kill promising drives, or plants a defense deeper in the hole. While this also involves concentration & focus, the primary ingredient is discipline and that needs to improve.
Staying with what's working, not to mention adjusting to adjustments made against what's been working: While this is more of a coaching issue, complacency cannot be allowed to set in, not against teams the caliber of MI. UT will have to learn to maintain focus, discipline, and controlled aggressiveness, not to mention play to win; not play "not to lose".
Finally, and I think Marko said it as well as anyone can, a game last 60 minutes. UT has to be willing to play the entire game, weather the storms as they come, but stick to and execute the game-plan. It's like RR used to tell his teams at WVU, "If you keep doing things to give the other team hope, eventually they will come back on ya."
TBone1966
· 1 year ago
The score could have been worse if Utah hadn't backed of from their passing game. The pass is going hurt the whole year. Utah 300+ yards and pulled up in the second half.
TampaGator
· 1 year ago
"...This is no Hawaii..."
A veiled sleight at the Gators?
The funny thing is, both Hawaii and Michigan lost talented senior classes; both are in transition; both schools are breaking in new coaches--but Hawaii attended a much more prestigous bowl last year than Mighigan, and had a much better record.
So, why is [Michigan] "...no Hawaii"?
...could it be, because Michigan is a BCS conference blue-blood power?
LMAO!
GO GATORS!!
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
No veiled slight at the gators. Simple a straightforward slight at Hawaii.
Michigan is no Florida either.
TampaGator
· 1 year ago
Very well then...
...it seems I have mis-under-interpremember-estimated the said comment concerning Hawaii.
Accordingly, I hereby formally, officially, and for the record, recant, revoke and forever un-LMAO, my heretofore previously mis-proclamied LMAO, with my humblest apologies.
GO GATORS!!
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
Dang, I just re read it. The pronoun does seem to point more towards Michigan than Utah. I meant Utah is no Hawaii.
Maybe that, and my spelling, is why I got a c in English Composition.
grcunning
· 1 year ago
Hey Ben, The Utes are officially on the map. Brian Johnson was just interviewed on College Football Live (yeah, I know we all hate ESPN, but it's massive exposure for any program). Playing on the road against a well regarded program was the best possible thing Utah could have done. Now we get to see if Fresno St can match you at Rutgers.
Ben Prather
· 1 year ago
We are on the map but have a lot to improve on.
Fresno State did their part.
I am starting to fear an undefeated Fresno State and East Carolina fill the two top 14 spots in the BCS rankings not taken by the SEC and Big 12 and the champions of the others.
grcunning
· 1 year ago
Fresno did a great job today, but Rutgers is no Wisconsin. Without Rice running the ball this year, Rutgers couldn't do anything with great field position in the first half. Wisconsin won't have that problem with PJ Hill, and Wisconsin's O-line is HUGE. I don't think that E Carolina can get by WV, Pat White showed this weekend that he can throw as well as he can run. I think the only team you have to worry about is BYU, and you can settle that on the field, the way it should be.
Marko
· 1 year ago
Utah needs to focus on defense.
Defense wins championships. With a stellar defense, the Utes can sneak into a BCS game after beating BYU which I think they will this year.
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
Let's not get all frothy over Utah either. They didn't beat anybody. You know what made Rich Rodriguez? Pat White - plain and simple. West Virginia was barely an above average team before White showed up. Players like that only come around about every twenty years. West Virginia became a very good team with that guy at QB. Michigan does not have anything even close to a Pat White. But, there gonna switch to the spread-option anyway. How lame is that, really? Is it the only formation that the guy even knows. It won't work at Michigan until they get a QB that can run the ball. In fact, it's gonna get real ugly for Michigan. I am not impressed at all by Utah barely beating this team. Let's see how they do against TCU and BYU before we start annointing this team. Same thing goes for Fresno State. As much as I love that team, this talk of BCS busters, is just plain non-sense. Fresno would have to go unbeaten to ever get in. That is not gonna happen with Wisconsin, UCLA and Boise State, as well as a very dangerous Nevada team still left to deal with. This game against Rutgers was really easy to call. Fresno State has been playin' with the real Big Boyz for a long time. Rutgers does not stack up like the Wisconsin's, Oregon's, Oklahoma's, LSU's and all of the other great teams that Fresno has been playing recently. This was just a warmup game for Fresno. Let's keep it in perspective until we see what happens with Wisconsin. We'll know alot more then.
All Comments
Michigan's lack of offense kept the defense on the field an obscene amount of time and Utah capitalized on it. Sheridan at QB was a joke and Threet showed he should have been the starter. UofM has a long, long way to go.
If you liked how Utah was able to move the ball against one of the best defenses in the league, wait until Michigan gets their superior talent around the new offense. Utah ran a power run based offense before Meyer came to town. It took half of the 2003 season for the new system to catch on. Michigan will be a monster when that happens for them.
They do need to work on keeping their heads into the game, Michigan almost stole that game which they had no business being close to.
We make up for it in recruiting and training. We are the same team minus the injuries that plagued us last year.
The good news for MI: I think RR has found his QB. Threet has a future at MI!!!
Ben, not trying to take anything away from the win, but I don't think Michigan can be called a BCS power THIS YEAR. New system, new coach, I just don't see it.
They were pretty fortunate that UM had absolutely NO offense whatsoever. I can understand that RRod wants to run the WVU spread, but whatever happened to running the offense that your players are capable of running? If you have players that were brought up on smash mouth football, you run smash mouth football. Save the Pat White and Noel Devine offense until you can recruit some of those type players.
Congrats to Utah...I was rooting for UM because of the whole Big 10 thing, but some part of me rejoices when Michigan loses.
Did Utah try everything in the book to try and lose this one in the 4th quarter or what?
Good for you Ben! What have you got for us next week?
We made mistakes and still came away with the win in an impressive manner.
Next week? Depends on Gustav.
I agree with you that it is likely a one-week pop, but it certainly establishes the Utes as a serious contender for the MWC. And... as we've previously beat to death in other threads (hehe)... this definitely impacts how the MWC is viewed in the conference hierarchy.
Our defense is untested, it was sufficent to keep a very talented but confused off the board. Penalies have been a problem since Meyer left. They were a problem while Whittingham was a coordinator under McBride. We have plenty of room to improve from this game.
My point is that this game is not the all important game many Utah fans made it out to be. Starting the season with a big win is nice. Is this more impresive to voters than 41-17 win over Northern Iowa, I'll let you be the judge.
Michigan, even in a down year, is a BCS power.
As a Utah fan, we need to focus on the road ahead and not celebrate an historic victory that will pay more dividents down the road than this year in the rankings. We need to act like we have been here before.
(okay, can you tell that I've been drinking?)
Have another my friend and remember coondawg1
Ha Ha...
The good news for you is that The Big 10 performed better than the ACC this weekend, which ain't saying much.
UVa, V Tech & Clemson all dissapoint
Wake wins big- I saw the game, not really too impressive they beat the #12 -B12 team, young players, new coach and 5 turnovers.
Remember last year everybody dogging Nebraska hey at least they beat Wake
Ben Congrats on the Utes win, how many times have I heard about Utes 04 team and the big win over Texas A&M reminder Baylor also beat A&M in 04.
Now the Aggies lose to Arkansas St a bigger upset than Utah over Mich
New Polls
#1 USC
#2 Alabama
#3 East Carolina
#4 Alburn
#5 Utah
#6 Ole Miss
#7 Florida
#8 Bowlin Green
#9 Missu
#10 Texas
#11 South Carolina
#12 Arkansas St
You got to play somebody to get in my polls sorry OSU, UGA,OU
Blow out wins against youngstown st & Chattanoogga dont coumt in my book
2- Yes, Utah is worse than BYU.
3- I don't see Michigan winning 8 games this year. Maybe 7.
4- This summer, I said that I pictured Utah as a #22 type of team, and that they would beat UM. Oregon State is their next big test. They look like a solid #20 right now. BYU should be #15.
5- TCU deserves some love as well, after beating New Mexico 26-3. Their game against Oklahoma is H-U-G-E this year. Last year, the Horned Frogs led Texas at halftime only to blow it in the 3rd quarter.
WEA, I bring you that for next week.
We won't really know who is better until November 22nd.
I agree about TCU. New Mexico should be in a bowl game come December. Why they scheduled such a strong conference game this early is beyond me.
As for "BYU shutting up", what exactly has BYU said?
2) BYU got hosed by Nevada last minute. Too bad FSU was afraid to play you.
3) What has BYU said:
It is a bit early to talk of a "Quest for Perfection".
BYU is not a Harvard of the West (They have taken step to distanced themselves from this claim, as per the 11th paragraph of this article, but it still rings in their fanbase. )
As for their fan's:
1984 was 2 decades ago. What have you done lately? Frankly a MWC championship is nothing on the national stage.
For the record, Michigan at home is better than Northern Iowa on the road.
Compare records vs BCS AQ teams since 2000: BYU 9-15, Utah 13-10.
I will grant that BYU has every right to claim the inside track on the conference title. To make a BCS claim before their next two games is ridiculous.
The same can be said of any BCS non-AQ team that has a top 25 BCS AQ team on the remaining schedule.
Utah's veteran players stepped up but almost gave the game away. Utah needs to focus on penalties and executing thru the entire game, not just one half.
Actually Tom, I kind of meant to take something away from the younger zealous Utah fan's over stating the significance of the game.
This takes Discipline. Yes, I know; it was the 1st game for them. It was also the 1st game for MI. How many penalties did UT have, for how many yards? These are the things that kill promising drives, or plants a defense deeper in the hole. While this also involves concentration & focus, the primary ingredient is discipline and that needs to improve.
Staying with what's working, not to mention adjusting to adjustments made against what's been working: While this is more of a coaching issue, complacency cannot be allowed to set in, not against teams the caliber of MI. UT will have to learn to maintain focus, discipline, and controlled aggressiveness, not to mention play to win; not play "not to lose".
Finally, and I think Marko said it as well as anyone can, a game last 60 minutes. UT has to be willing to play the entire game, weather the storms as they come, but stick to and execute the game-plan. It's like RR used to tell his teams at WVU, "If you keep doing things to give the other team hope, eventually they will come back on ya."
The pass is going hurt the whole year. Utah 300+ yards and pulled up in the second half.
A veiled sleight at the Gators?
The funny thing is, both Hawaii and Michigan lost talented senior classes; both are in transition; both schools are breaking in new coaches--but Hawaii attended a much more prestigous bowl last year than Mighigan, and had a much better record.
So, why is [Michigan] "...no Hawaii"?
...could it be, because Michigan is a BCS conference blue-blood power?
LMAO!
GO GATORS!!
Michigan is no Florida either.
...it seems I have mis-under-interpremember-estimated the said comment concerning Hawaii.
Accordingly, I hereby formally, officially, and for the record, recant, revoke and forever un-LMAO, my heretofore previously mis-proclamied LMAO, with my humblest apologies.
GO GATORS!!
Maybe that, and my spelling, is why I got a c in English Composition.
The Utes are officially on the map.
Brian Johnson was just interviewed on College Football Live (yeah, I know we all hate ESPN, but it's massive exposure for any program).
Playing on the road against a well regarded program was the best possible thing Utah could have done. Now we get to see if Fresno St can match you at Rutgers.
Fresno State did their part.
I am starting to fear an undefeated Fresno State and East Carolina fill the two top 14 spots in the BCS rankings not taken by the SEC and Big 12 and the champions of the others.
Wisconsin won't have that problem with PJ Hill, and Wisconsin's O-line is HUGE.
I don't think that E Carolina can get by WV, Pat White showed this weekend that he can throw as well as he can run.
I think the only team you have to worry about is BYU, and you can settle that on the field, the way it should be.
Defense wins championships. With a stellar defense, the Utes can sneak into a BCS game after beating BYU which I think they will this year.
Same thing goes for Fresno State. As much as I love that team, this talk of BCS busters, is just plain non-sense. Fresno would have to go unbeaten to ever get in. That is not gonna happen with Wisconsin, UCLA and Boise State, as well as a very dangerous Nevada team still left to deal with. This game against Rutgers was really easy to call. Fresno State has been playin' with the real Big Boyz for a long time. Rutgers does not stack up like the Wisconsin's, Oregon's, Oklahoma's, LSU's and all of the other great teams that Fresno has been playing recently. This was just a warmup game for Fresno. Let's keep it in perspective until we see what happens with Wisconsin. We'll know alot more then.