Take a look at the article (slide show) over at Bleacher Reports.  Guess who's missing?  It's not the UTES!  I think we are in very good company and 2 of the 32 mentioned we play 2010.  Can we just move on to Spring Ball and and then the season?  I'm missing the games and teh tailgating. 

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WhatIfSports.com simulated every possible match-up in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) 100 times, and used the winning percentages from those 700,000+ games to evaluate all teams to come up with the best possible ranking of how every team compares to every other team. Look where Utah ends up along with some of our other MWC brethren and coming opponents.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/233743-college-football-season-is-almost-here-find-out-where-your-team-stands

The following is a small sample of an article written by a BYU Economics’ Professor which in my mind clearly certifies that the BcS is a monopoly and it is about the money. 

The following numbers put in perspective the degree to which NCAA bowl revenues have been concentrated over the last 10 years. In the 2008 bowl season, the SEC, Big 12, and Big 10 had bowl payout revenues of $143.2 million, which was 56% of all 2008 bowl revenue. Compare that to the $36.4 million earned in 2008 by all five non-BCS conferences and the independent teams (including Notre Dame) for a whopping 14.3% of 2008 bowl revenues. Note that 55 non-BCS teams took part in that $36.4 million, while 35 SEC, Big 12, and Big 10 teams took part in the $143 million.

Quick calculations: 55 Non-BcS Teams received $661,818 each average vs. 35 BcS Teams received $4,085,714 each average.

This is the link to the whole story. 

http://www.econosseur.com/2009/07/ncaa-bowl-finance-something-changed-in-1995.html

I came across a story in the Deseret News which I think is important for UTE Fans to read.  Storied programs have legends, artifacts and TROPHYS!  The stories around these items build the TRADITION of great programs.  As part of the rich history of UTAH Football I really think UTE Fans need to address this situation.  I know that we would need to make an appropriate donation to get The Bell back to its rightful place and to do preservation/restoration work needed.  Give the following story a read and then let’s find out how, who, and what it would take to bring this legend, this BELL back to UTAH!

Ringing out rivalry from Ute teams of long ago

Interesting that "Pro-Day" is today up at the U especially with Spring Football Practice starting tomorrow.

To that end now we get to see how the retooling of the coaching staff and the development of the players into the positions they could be playing in this fall start to be analyzed. 

Excitement from the fans standpoint and the interest in the program coming off of last year's achievements are high - vey high!  I would believe that the players are excited and it will be interesting to see who the Senior Leadership will be.  Robert Johnson, David Reed, Stevenson Sylvester - who else?  Then the Team Leaders - the guys that are going to bring their lunch pails and lead through example, attitude, and the determination to exceed expectations.  Who are they?  Misi?  Aiona? Louks?  This is where it starts to gel guys - remember one very important thing and you've heard it before - "There is NO I IN TEAM".  We need the studs but we need the TEAM. 

Looking forward to the Red and White game in April - I'll be there! 

Go UTES!

Fans of the National Football Champion Utah Utes while I am still reveling in the success of our program this past year I can’t help but look forward too.  To that point Corbin Louks, who at this point would be presumed the leading candidate to takeover the QB spot for Utah next year, has been curiously absent, and not mentioned at all.  Additionally, Utah has several other QB’s red shirted and recently received commitments from a JUCO standout, Terrence Cain, and a High School standout, Jordan Wynn.

I have watched Corbin develop and have seen the potential and yet in the last few games he has virtually disappeared.  He is the real deal but was given no playing time in the last couple of games.  Is he in the dog house?  Is he thinking of transferring?  I hope not but it sure makes me uneasy about the whereabouts of one Mr. Louks.

Hey Utah fans we have one very solid supporter of the Utes for National Champions.  Holy Smokers – this is a must read!  The Washington Post Sport Writer took it to them and is an advocate of voting the UTES #1 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010600092.html

This is the best written article I have had the pleasure of laying my eyes on since the game.  This guy hits all the buttons and then some.

To the Gentle Folks of the Alabama Crimson Tide I’m sure that there will be Ute fans that will be “over-enthusiastic” after last night’s game between our beloved teams.  I for one want to say what an honor it was to be able to play in a game with a team with such a storied history.  While both our teams go into the black period (no college football until spring practice) I know both teams have questions to answer.  For the Crimson Tide I see great things in store for your team and I believe that you will be in the hunt again next season.  For the Ute’s I believe it will be a rebuilding year next year with the lost of some key seniors and a re-tooling year with new Defensive and Offensive Coordinators coming in.  But I also believe that we will be in the mix in our conference too. 

I ask one thing as I  close the Utah Utes earned some respect last night for the non-automatic bid conferences but I request of you to encourage the automatic bid conferences to schedule non-automatic bid conference teams.  I understand the realities of only wanting home games, but I also think that to be fair home and home games should be scheduled.  Encourage your conference in this direction – all we are asking is to prove ourselves on the field anything else is just talk.

Who Am I Sir – A Utah Man Am I. GO UTES!

Just a little something I picked up cruzin' the TDS Blogg sites.  I included the link so you can check it out yourself...

Written by:

“November 15, 2008

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Let the fun begin

<!-- google_ad_section_end -->Written by: David

Filed under:

http://www.crashutah.com/byu/

…..because we all know what religion can get people to do. Bring on the heathen university to the North!”

Let the fun begin!

Who Am I Sir?  A Utah Man Am I!

Just somethings that are being written and said about the game:

Predictions 101: TCU to take care of Utah

By NBCSPORTS Commentator John Tramanaha:

Who says there isn't a "playoff" in college football? Here's a BCS
elimination game right here, with the Mountain West Conference title essentially on the line.

Utah, which has rushed for an average of 260 yards in its last two
games, will be going up against a TCU rushing defense that leads the nation, allowing just 38.9 yards per game on the ground. The Horned Frogs also rank second nationally in total defense (214.5) and third in scoring defense (10.8). Last Saturday's 44-14 win at UNLV broke a streak of four games in which the TCU defense allowed just seven points, including the 32-7 victory over BYU on Oct. 16.

As a freshman last season Horned Frog quarterback Andy Dalton attempted a whopping 45 passes versus Utah and four of them were intercepted in a 27-20 Ute victory. Recent times have been kinder and he'll enter this contest with lots of positive vibes, having thrown nine touchdown passes and no picks in the last three games.

Utah has much less momentum, having struggled its way through a 13-10 win at New Mexico last Saturday. TCU opened this season with a 26-3 victory over those same Lobos on Aug. 30 in Albuquerque.

TCU 24-20

Ft Worth Star-Telegram

Gary Patterson’: “Our guys are giddy at the prospect of playing the Utes….”

After watching the Utes play the most complete game of the season against CSU we now are in the bye week which is much needed for the stretch run.  Whittingham is now officially an ESPN darling and I believe did great things for the Utes future recruiting efforts.  If young warriors looking for a winning program, in a great environment and their parents do not have their interest peaked after Whittingham’s visit to ESPN then continuing to win and be the first 2 time BCS busters will seal the deal. 

Now to that point the Lobo’s laid some good wood on SDSU last Saturday 70-7 and then turn around and have the wheels fall off in Colorado Springs (10/23) last night.  The following are some excerpts from the ESPN recap of the game.

“The Lobos (4-5, 2-3) forced three first-quarter turnovers and were about to jump out to a 17-0” when NM fumbled and “Nobody was more relieved than Falcons freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson, who had fumbled away the ball and thrown an interception on consecutive snaps that led to 10 Lobos points”

Brian and company the offense really looked good last Saturday but take note what put AF in the hole – fumbles and pass interceptions.  Defenses drill on the art of creating fumbles and when it happens Mr. Momentum changes sides as follows:

“Kirchoff (AF) scooped up quarterback Brad Gruner's (NM) fumble at the Falcons 4 and sped down the Lobos' sideline for the second-longest fumble return in (AF) school history…The Lobos never recovered from the two-touchdown turnaround.”  "That didn't win the game for them," New Mexico coach Rocky Long insisted. "That got them back into the game."  It demoralized the Lobos, however.  "That was a killer," Lobos running back Rodney Ferguson said. "It was the killer." "It's a simple deal tonight," Long said. "If you turn the ball over and then you can't make fourth-and-short, you're going to lose."

Fumbles and interceptions, and let’s add 80 yards in penalties, in tight games which we are facing will kill the deal.  ‘Nuf said!?

I have watched all 5 games this year and I have my fears with Oregon State.  Are the Utes going to come out and play a complete game?  Is Ludwig going to open it up or fold with his play calling?  Will we hang on to the ball?  Is Johnson going to throw the ball out of bounds before he gets sacked – or better yet run it?  Are the defensive backs going to stay with their assignments?  These are some of the questions that I have and I’m not the only one asking - so are a few other folks:

 “There have been too many turnovers, too many sacks and too many stalled drives against inferior competition. In easy wins over Utah State and Weber State.  The Utes rank near the bottom in the national stats in sacks allowed at No. 103, are tied for 93rd in turnovers lost and are tied for 69th in turnover margin”. - Mike Sorensen

 Oregon State is probably licking their lips with those 2 stats.

 “Sometimes we hold the ball too long, sometimes our protection's broken down and sometimes the route structure has been very poor and we're not getting open,” - Kyle Whittingham

 Johnson, O-line, Ludwig take notes here – important stuff – the BOSS is seeing these things.

 Why the Utes will win on Thursday:

1.)   Payback for last year.

2.)    It is a BIG GAME

<3.)  They are due for a complete game

 How will they win:

1.)    Let the game come to them – it slows the action down and helps make plays

2.)    They will take a more prophylactic approach than the Trojans (had to get that in somehow)

3.)  Control the time of possession and play solid defense

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