Brett Ratliff and Travis LaTendresse led the Utes to an improbable 38-10 win over Georgia Tech in the 2005 Emerald Bowl.

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Throughout the final few days of 2009, I'll be counting down the top games of the decade. #10 was the 2003 Liberty Bowl.

Over the last eight trips to the postseason, the Utes have amassed one of the most incredible bowl records in recent football history. Some have been rather ho-hum wins (the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl comes to mind), while others helped define an era and a season. 

For the 2005 Utes, there is little question the Emerald Bowl capped off a season that looked at its most dire and reestablished Utah's footing on the national stage - even if just a little. 

You see, it was that season the Utes regressed greatly from their 2004 undefeated and BCS busting counterparts and then abruptly shifted courses to salvage what was turning out to be a horrific and catastrophic set of events that seriously jeopardized any goodwill Urban Meyer had created in his short two-year stint here. 

Then the Holy War came (we'll get to that later on the list) and Utah's season changed dramatically. The Emerald Bowl worked as the exclamation point on what turned out to be a pretty memorable first year for Kyle Whittingham.

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More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

15 days ago: Washington's Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, left, forces a fumble on California quarterback Kevin Riley in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Seattle. Cal recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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The California Golden Bears enter the Poinsettia Bowl with a pretty respectable 8-4 record. They were also ranked entering the final week of the regular season after a great win over their resurgent rival Stanford on the road. 

Yet, like Utah, there could have been so much more to this season. In fact, California started the year ranked 12th nationally and rose as high as sixth after a 3-0 start. It's been pretty much all downhill since that impressive start and it began against Oregon a week after the Utes' nation-leading winning streak was halted by those same Ducks. 

Cal saw a harder fall, undoubtedly, because expectations were extremely high entering this season. They were, after all, a potential heir to the throne if SC were to vacate it in a rebuilding year. Part of that equation happened, however, the Golden Bears failed to take advantage of the situation and instead were passed by the Oregon Ducks. 

Because of this, many fans in Berkeley are justifiably disappointed. When you're floated around as Rose Bowl material three weeks into the season (Cal last played in the Rose Bowl in 1959) and the best you can do is the Poinsettia Bowl, there certainly will be some frustration among fans.

But has this season been a success and does that success hinge on their bowl performance? 

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More photos » by Keith Johnson - AP

This is becoming an all too common scene at the Huntsman Center this season.

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Buckle up, because I think we're in for a very bumpy ride with this year's Runnin' Utes.

Tonight, as we've seen all season, they were far from consistent and dropped a very winnable home game to a fairly average Illinois State team. It was a game where the Utes trailed for a good portion of the contest and the entirety of the second half - which makes it even harder to accept because the Redbirds shouldn't be good enough to walk into our house and push us around. Yet, that's exactly what they did in handing Utah their sixth loss off the season and fourth at the Huntsman Center.

The latter might be more troubling because it was only a few years ago when no team escaped Salt Lake with a win. It just didn't happen. Now, during the Giacoletti and Boylen years, it's common to watch a mid-level mid-major program walk out of our arena pumping their fists (remember Albany, anyone?). 

Obviously this team has a long way to go before they can even hope to contend with the top-four in the Mountain West. 

Unfortunately, there are only three non-conference games left and two come on the road.

Like I said, buckle up. 

Alex Smith and Utah would roll through So. Miss. 17-0 in the 2003 Liberty Bowl

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As we say goodbye to the 00s (or whatever we call this decade), I thought it'd be interesting to look back at the biggest and best games of the last ten years. It's without question this last decade has proven to be the greatest in Utah football history. We've seen unprecedented heights and a foundation set for what very well could become a true national program.

But it wasn't always that way. In fact, the Utes welcomed a new century by tanking the 2000 season - finishing an abysmal 4-7. It was a season that would eventually lead to the firing of long-time head coach Ron McBride. It also ushered in a new era that fortunately still has its grip on the Utah football program.

Though not entirely a great game with many memorable plays or lasting national memories, the 2003 Liberty Bowl was definitive for one reason - it allowed Utah to finish ranked for the first time in nearly ten years. That was important because had they not finished ranked that season, it's questionable whether they start 2004 ranked and if that never happens, then the Utes could have joined Marshall, Miami of Ohio and BYU as teams slighted by the Bowl Championship Series. 

We know that didn't happen and a good amount of credit for that goes to the '03 Liberty Bowl.

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More photos » by Tony Avelar - AP

3 months ago: California running back Jahvid Best breaks a tackle by Maryland defensive lineman Justin Anderson in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/ Tony Avelar)

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Not that I'm surprised by this news. But does it change your predictions for the game? Best was, without a doubt, one of the best running backs of the season and his loss will not be easy to get over for a Cal team that struggled greatly at times on the offensive end this season.

While I think Utah stands a better chance of winning with Best not playing, it's still going to be an extremely tough game that comes down to whether or not the Utes can move the ball on the offensive end.

I think it's pretty much a guarantee if the Big Ten expands to twelve, the Pac Ten will follow suit. ESPN seems to back up this claim, as the conference commissioner Larry Scott once again brought up the prospects. 

Of course, as we've known for a while, Utah is atop their list. Again, made evident by this quote from an unnamed athletic director of a Pac Ten school: 

Bringing in Utah and Colorado might be a winner (Salt Lake City and Denver markets), and at least one Pac-10 athletic director said that's the most likely scenario. Of course, prying Colorado away from the Big 12 might not be easy.

I'm not sure they could get Colorado. However, if there is an expansion, I would be shocked if the Utes aren't at least one of the two teams asked. 

With it looking more inevitable that the Pac Ten will expand sooner rather than later, what happens first - Mountain West to the BCS or this? 

If there are rumblings, but nothing conclusive in terms of Mountain West inclusion, do you think Utah jumps to the Pac Ten if offered at the end of the 2011 season?

More photos » by Nick Ut - AP

4 months ago: University of Arizona head coach Mike Stoops, left, presents safety, Cam Nelson during a news conference at the Pac-10 football media day in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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I'm sure you've heard by now the Big Ten is seriously looking at expansion down the road. It's not something that'll happen the second this season wraps up - hell, it probably won't happen by 2011, either. However, it's something we'll most likely see in the next decade (so, that's a ten-year window).

Now how does this impact Utah? Well directly, it doesn't. The Big Ten ain't expanding this far west. There is a slightly better chance Tiger Woods is declared a saint by the Catholic Church than the Utes ever playing a game in a conference a thousand miles from their campus. 

But it does indirectly impact them. In fact, they face a greater impact than any non-BCS team because if either the Big 12 or Pac Ten were to ever expand, the Utes would be atop both lists. Now I'm not saying they would get an invite to either conference, but they would receive a longer look than say Colorado State or even Boise State. 

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I'm not sure if the Trucker College Green Demons qualified...

It's the holiday season again and that can only mean one thing - we're about to bombarded by the numerous bowl games that will dominate the next couple of weeks. It's as much apart of the Christmas season as eggnog, gaudy sweaters and ridiculous and tacky Christmas decorations. Which is fitting, because, much like the overblown displays we see throughout countless American suburban neighborhoods, the bowl system is just as overdone. 

It's like the Griswold house...overdone, overblown...yet oddly you can't turn away.

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Yeah, I'm not sold on the wildcat (or is it wild-indian, meh too un-PC), but I guess the coaches are.

It's not that I don't think it can be successful, it's just the Utes seem to get too comfortable running it and it loses its effectiveness. I mean, it failed against the Cougars and really hasn't been consistent or good enough this season to warrant a continuation. 

So, I've got to wonder what the hell the coaches are thinking with this one. Especially when Dave Schramm, Utah's OC, said...

"We just had some things that weren't good."

Ignoring the Palin-esque language - is he blind? The things that weren't good happen to be the entire formation! It's abysmal and the thought of this being part of the offensive game plan for the Poinsettia Bowl really makes me shudder. 

But what do I know? I'm just a fan. I'll happily eat my words if it proves effective against Cal. 

Will it, though?

More photos » by Steve Griffin - AP

11 days ago: Utah guard Jace Tavita (2) passes around Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) during first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Salt Lake City, Wednesday Dec 9, 2009. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Steve Griffin)

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Basketball more than any sport relies on fundamentals. If you lack it, you're not going to win many games. That was on full display Saturday as the Utes wilted in overtime and lost to the Oklahoma Sooners 78-73. 

Certainly they had the talent to win this game. They did, after all, lead 42-36 at the break and managed a comeback to tie and send it to overtime. Yet, when they needed points the most - whether it was to take control at the end of regulation or in overtime - they came up empty. Without question, much of this has to do with basketball intelligence, poor shot selection and even worse free throw shooting. 

I won't even begin to discuss the missed free throws at the end of regulation. Okay, I'll touch on it because I believe that's where the game was lost. Granted, Utah overcame them and forced  it beyond regulation, however, that was where they really could have taken control of the game and because of three missed free throws by Carlon Brown, they didn't.

What did cost them the most, though, was the shot selection in overtime. Utah failed to play like a team with the lead, even though they had it. Instead of slowing the tempo down after forcing a few Oklahoma turnovers, they pushed and pushed and then settled for terrible shots that ultimately did not fall. Luka Drca should not be taking a three when Utah is either up or tied with minutes left. They literally shot themselves out of the win tonight. 

That is fundamentals and something the Utes have lacked a good portion of the season. To be good and to contend with the elite of the conference, they can't afford ill-advised shots, stupid turnovers or missed free throws. In short, they must shore up their fundamentals or this team is going to get killed more often than not. 

Of course, I don't want to sound like I'm completely disappointed with this team. Utah battled a decent Oklahoma program and played well in stretches. Like I said, they have the talent to be really good. And maybe it's the inexperience that's creating a big bulk of the problems. But I can't help but look at the last ten games and see missed opportunities. There is no excuse for this team to be 5-5. At worst, they should probably be 7-3. 

Hopefully these mistakes are corrected and by January this team is playing smarter. But right now, it is very difficult watching them struggle like they do.