This has been bothering me for some time. So, I am going to get it off my chest. This past three seasons I had season tickets to the Univ of Utah (Urban Meyer's reign & the first of the current coach). I decided not to renew for this upcoming season as the schedule was back to what it was 5 or so years ago - crap! I am going to the game against TCU as it should determine the conference winner. I was looking at a list of the Bowl affiliations. Shockingly, the Mtn West has at least 4 & possibly a 5th. Now, the bad news. The four that are guaranteed are before Christmas and might as well be preseason scrimmages. The games after Christmas and into the next year are the biggies. Further, the Mountain West has their games on obscure networks. Its been several years, about the time before Utah's got real good in college hoops under Majerus, a rumor was floated that Utah and Colorado were being courted by the PAC 10. BYU would replace CU in the Big 12. I don't know exactly what happened but the local schools were to afraid as I recall to make the jump. A mentality exists IMO that we're a mid major and proud of it. We have something to complain when we feel we get robbed. After all, Orrin Hatch can always reintroduce is anti-trust/anti-BCS legislation again just as he did before the Utes went to the Fiesta Bowl. If getting that bid wasn't payback on some level then I'm not quite the conspiracy theorist that I think I am. It'll be another 20 yrs IMO before anything significant in this backwater conference shocks the world again. Utah wins the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and before that BYU won the national championship in 1984. Yet, people look at me funny when I tell them my preference is with the SEC. Of course, there are those who here who still think BYU is a national power & has been since the early 80's without interruption. I love the U of U and hate BYU. Bottom line; Geography should not be the only factor to influence athletic loyalty. Rant over. Thoughts, if any?
To prove my point, U Arizona (middle of the PAC 10) barely beats BYU (upper half of MWC) last week. This week, LSU (upper half of SEC) is laying wood to Arizona at half. It proves my point in a roundabout way, but, hopefully you get the point. It won't surprise me at all if the U of Utah loses to Boise St on 9/30.
Yeah the Mountain West wasn't ever really known to be a powerhouse but they definately aren't going give any BCS sleepers this year. I think the Arizona to BYU and then to LSU comparion more so shows the difference in talent between the Pac 10 and SEC. Although I did pick LSU vs. Ohio State in the National Title game so blowing out Zone doesn't suprise me much.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>This has been bothering me for some time. So, I am going to get it off my chest. This past three seasons I had season tickets to the Univ of Utah (Urban Meyer's reign & the first of the current coach). I decided not to renew for this upcoming season as the schedule was back to what it was 5 or so years ago - crap! I am going to the game against TCU as it should determine the conference winner. I was looking at a list of the Bowl affiliations. Shockingly, the Mtn West has at least 4 & possibly a 5th. Now, the bad news. The four that are guaranteed are before Christmas and might as well be preseason scrimmages. The games after Christmas and into the next year are the biggies. Further, the Mountain West has their games on obscure networks. Its been several years, about the time before Utah's got real good in college hoops under Majerus, a rumor was floated that Utah and Colorado were being courted by the PAC 10. BYU would replace CU in the Big 12. I don't know exactly what happened but the local schools were to afraid as I recall to make the jump. A mentality exists IMO that we're a mid major and proud of it. We have something to complain when we feel we get robbed. After all, Orrin Hatch can always reintroduce is anti-trust/anti-BCS legislation again just as he did before the Utes went to the Fiesta Bowl. If getting that bid wasn't payback on some level then I'm not quite the conspiracy theorist that I think I am. It'll be another 20 yrs IMO before anything significant in this backwater conference shocks the world again. Utah wins the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and before that BYU won the national championship in 1984. Yet, people look at me funny when I tell them my preference is with the SEC. Of course, there are those who here who still think BYU is a national power & has been since the early 80's without interruption. I love the U of U and hate BYU. Bottom line; Geography should not be the only factor to influence athletic loyalty. Rant over. Thoughts, if any?</div> For the most part, they do suck, but TCU doesn't fall under that. TCU could be the team to upset the BCS this season.
I completely forgot about TCU. Yeah I agree, they have a chance to go 11-1 this season and have a nice year. There clearly the class of that conference and might even sneak into the top 15. They could be another Utah although I don't see them in the BCS.
TCU is the only potential world beater the MWC has this year. Whittingham (Utah coach) is like Wannstedt only w/ a little more personality. BYU & Utah lost last week but thumped Lesser teams this week and all is right w/ the SLC sports media. Strangely, Colorado St & Air Force have been in slumps recently and the MWC's credibility has suffered. Coincedence?
Gotta love the 31-10 whooping of the Utah Utes by the 1st time starter,Ben Olson and the UCLA Bruins!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP-33)</div><div class='quotemain'>Gotta love the 31-10 whooping of the Utah Utes by the 1st time starter,Ben Olson and the UCLA Bruins!</div> Oddly, I don't. Utah had momentum after Weddle converted that 4th dowm but Whittingham is a putz and went vanilla (see above). UCLA was having difficulty containing Urban Meyer's spread. I am not saying the Utes would have won but they had a better chance than some of my fellow Utah "fans" thought.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP-33)</div><div class='quotemain'>Gotta love the 31-10 whooping of the Utah Utes by the 1st time starter,Ben Olson and the UCLA Bruins!</div> Oddly, I don't. Utah had momentum after Weddle converted that 4th dowm but Whittingham is a putz and went vanilla (see above). UCLA was having difficulty containing Urban Meyer's spread. I am not saying the Utes would have won but they had a better chance than some of my fellow Utah "fans" thought.</div> Nah,not really.UCLA controlled the game from the get-go.Utah scored a touchdown then they replaced their quarterback who wasn't doing that great other than get that touchdown and the other guy throws a pick.Even then, the game was in the hands of UCLA they were the clearly superior team by far.
