I watched a GREAT football game last night. I had it ranked as probably my second most intriguing bowl game this year behind the Poinsettia Bowl featuring TCU and Boise State. I was confident that TCU would beat Boise State but not as confident that Utah could beat Alabama. All season, I have felt that TCU was a better football team than Utah. Until last night. You may think that, as a huge college football fan and life long BYU fan, I should have been upset by last night. I'm sure that there are many, particularly in Utah, that are. I am not one to be a hater based on rivalry (there are better, legitimate reasons to be a hater, but that is topic for another post). As a BYU and UNLV fan living in Air Force country, I am also a big Mountain West Conference fan. And last night put to bed any well reasoned arguments against the strength of the conference this season. Earlier this season, when the MWC was beating up on the PAC-10, the talk was about how weak the PAC-10 was this season. Now that the PAC-10 has swept their bowl games in convincing fashion, the talk is about how strong the PAC-10 is. And we beat them 6-1 in the regular season. The fact that Utah was in last night's game means that the conference gets a lot of money. The fact that they won and won well means that the conference gets a stronger recuiting class next year.
As a BYU fan, I am definitely frustrated by their collapse. One of the big arguments against BYU is that they have an adventage because they are older and more mature. Why is it then that 18 yr old hot headed punks handle success and are able to finish a successful season than these return missionaries, husbands, and fathers. My theory is that it is a detriment. By the end of the season, BYU players are more tired and wanting to spend time with wives and kids whereas 18 yr old punks have nothing but football and an ego that is dependent on football. Despite BYU's pathetic loss to a mediocre Arizona team, there were some things for BYU fans to celebrate. Utah was able to finish and in convincing fashion (perfect 13-0 even), TCU also beat a top ten team that should have been in a BCS game and is a media darling (beating Boise State also ensured that Utah would be the only undefeated team in the league), and a former BYU quarterback, as an offensive coordinator, coached his team to a convincing win (just as I anticipated) in his last game with the team before moving on next season to be one of the youngest head coaches in the league.
I know that most of you likely to read this post are BYU fans and therefore probably at least partially predisposed to be Utah haters, but please join me in congratulating the Utes and ultimately the whole conference in a wonderful season. And next season, wouldn't it be nice to have another MWC BCS buster?
GO COUGARS!!!!!!
-Vern
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Alright, I guess we can say, "Way to go, Utes!" just this once. They had a great season afterall, and we just kind of stunk. Boo. On a happier note, I loved the video from tubing and we are all hoping for more snow soon so we can go up with you next time! That looks awesome! In addition, that song is the best and hearing Jenn laugh in the background cracks me up! Oh, and it took forever for us to get our blog looking like this, we have had it for about a year and a half now, and I am sure your's will be smokin' in a year and a half, probably sooner in fact.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see you guys online!
ReplyDeleteyes BYU is great but gotta say - the Utes played an AWESOME game! you know we are Ute fans - don't hate us - so we especially loved the game. Plus Alabama needed a little humbling. GO UTES!
ReplyDelete