REPORT: Filiaga to sign with Utah!

According to ESPN.com and a guy on Utefans.net who heard it on the radio, 3-Star Bingham Linebacker, L.T. Filiaga, has committed to Utah. LT is the #17 MLB in the nation according to Scout.com and considered BYU, Utah, Arizona, Stanford, Washington, Arizona State, and LSU. This is a great pick-up for the Utes and their already stout linebacker core. It is also another recruit Utah grabbed over an SEC school, the first being 4 star DT Latu Heimuli who had a scholarship offer from Florida.

This also continues the bad week the Cougs have had recruiting. The Manti Te'o debacle got out of hand and now they have lost Filiaga. It is doubly painful as BYU's biggest need, arguably, is LB.

So this pick-up is continuing Utah's extremely successful recruiting effort this season and will hopefully pave the way for Xavier Su'a Filo committing as well. Rumor has it he is leaning towards the Utes.

The only bummer about recruiting is that none of this is set in stone until at least signing day next week on Feb. 4th. Players often change their mind. Let's hope they don't in Filiaga's case.

GO UTES!

Don't jump to the Pac-10; Don't expand the MWC

As a result of Utah's magnificent season, the drubbing the BCS took this past year, and the continued success of "non-BCS" teams there has been a lot of talk about making the MWC a BCS conference or the possibility of Utah and BYU jumping to the Pac-10 or Big-12. There has also been a lot of talk about the MWC adding at least Boise State this off-season to strengthen the conference. I say no to both!

First let's tackle the Pac-10 issue. It is quickly becoming apparent that the MWC is closer to BCS quality than Sun-belt quality. There is a lot of support for them to join the BCS. This would be fantastic. But it will not happen before at least 2012. It is also apparent that the powers-that-be in the BCS are greedy pricks and have no desire to open the exclusive BCS club to lesser-conferences.

As I see it, there is only one way for the BCS to win this war in the long run and that is for the Pac-10 to add BYU and Utah. These two schools are among the 5 or 6 non-BCS schools that are consistently ranked high and have great programs. By taking them out of a non-BCS conference and putting them in the Pac-10 the argument for adding another BCS conference is ignored and likely forever dead. A non-BCS conference needs at least 4 strong schools to make a legit argument. Unfortunately Hawaii and Fresno State are not consistent enough. Taking BYU and Utah out leaves only Boise State and TCU as the standard bearers for the non-BCS. Those are great standard bearers, but by themselves are not strong enough. However Utah, BYU, TCU, and BSU is, especially with a supporting cast of other decent non-BCS schools. So Utes and Cougs, don't be short-sighted, don't jump to the Pac-10.

Besides, why should there only be one major conference West of the Rockies? The Rocky Mountain region is the fastest growin in the country and those schools need to be heard and represented. The MWC would be the perfect counter-weight to the Pac-10. Utah and BYU joining the Pac-10 only adds two have-nots to the haves group. Them staying in the MWC and them becoming BCS brings along, likely, 12 schools into the BCS. Though not perfect, a great step towards college football equality.

This brings me to the argument of MWC expansion. 2008 was the first season in a new analytic cycle for the BCS. The next time the BCS will consider adding a conference will, I believe, be between 2012 and 2013. They will look at the previous 4 years of work for the conference and make a determination. The beauty of this is, they grade on the then current members previous 4 years, not just the conference. So what am I getting to?

Well, Boise State is in a terrible conference. There is no reason why they can't go undefeated every year and finish top-10, top-15 by being in the WAC. Additionally, the MWC with Utah, BYU and TCU all vying for the top spot is currently extremely difficult to go through unscathed as it is. But the strength of the conference makes it entirely possible for three members to finish top-25 every year. Making at least 4, if not 5, top-25 teams between the MWC and WAC each year

But if the MWC decides to add Boise State this year, we then have 4 teams knocking each other off, making it a ridiculously strong conference. But because they will be losing to each other, it would be feasible that only 2 finish top-25, at the most 3. Do you see the problem?

What the MWC should do is make it clear to Boise that they want them, but tell them we will add them between the 2011 and 2012 season. This way all of Boise's success from 2008 through 2010 will count for the MWC's evaluation, as will all of the current rankings of MWC teams. Once the MWC receives word from the BCS that they have an auto bid, the MWC needs to expand to 12 teams, perhaps this will be a requirement to join. If it is a requirement the MWC will need currently strong teams and/or teams with a history and/or potential.

This is what I recommend for 2011:

-Keep the current 9 teams. Each has something to offer, yes, even Wyoming. Not to mention I want a school with brown and yellow uni's in my league.
-Definitely add Boise State.
-Choose two more from between Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, Montana, SMU, or Houston.
-My order of preference: 1. Nevada 2. SMU 3. Houston 4. Montana 5. Hawaii 6. Fresno State.

Adding Nevada and SMU would be perfect in my opinion. It would add interest due to natural rivalries in conference. SMU is an historic program, that is down now, but can easily rise again, is in a major market with a great fan-base. The idea of adding Montana is also very intriguing. I am not keen at all on Hawaii or Fresno. Fresno doesn't have it in them and the travel to Hawaii is just too much, especially for TCU.

Strange Things Afoot at the U

So get this coaching carousel at the U. A few weeks ago, just following the Sugar Bowl Aaron Roderick was being courted by Washington and Steve Sarkision, his former BYU teammate I believe, to become the wide-receivers coach for the Huskies.

Coach Whittingham did not want to lose Roderick and offered he and Dave Schramm the co-offensive coordinator position, to which both accepted. That night and the next day it just did not sit well with Roderick and he felt he should take the position at Washington - the same job he had at the U with more money. So he left.

Apparently, though Roderick realized he made a mistake and approached Coach Whit about getting his old job back. Fortunately, the coach had not filled his position yet and gave it back to him. To Coach Roderick's credit he realizes he has been an idiot:

"I handled this whole thing badly," said Roderick. "But I didn't want to compound my mistakes, when where I really want to be is Utah. This was never about titles and money. This is about doing what is right for me and my family. I love coaching at the University of Utah and I am grateful that Coach Whittingham welcomed me back."

Luckily this all worked out in the end for us. Aaron Roderick has done a great job as the WR coach and is one heck of a recruiter. It's a win-win for all. Now lets just hope we land Su'a Filo and LT Filiaga to make it one heck of a great week.

Recruiting Blow

Manti T'eo, 5-star Linebacker from Punahou HS in Hawaii called Coach Mendenhall today and said he was no longer considering BYU. He now has USC, Notre Dame and UCLA (I can't even fathom why UCLA is still on his list other than the Norm Chow connection). I'm not going to criticize him. I'm sure he put a lot of thought into his decision and he's doing what he thinks is best for him. I also hope that whatever school he goes to lives up to its promise to let him serve a mission. 

I am frustrated. When will BYU ever be able to recruit someone who also has an offer from USC? I don't think we've ever landed a recruit that had a USC offer as well. Maybe Ben Olsen I could be wrong but that didn't turn out well either. Now my fear is that since he isn't coming to BYU that X and LT will sign with other schools as well. I hope at least one of them comes to the Y. Even without these recruits this is still the best recruiting class BYU has possibly ever had. So I'm still excited. It just could have been better.

Now all my hopes lie with Jake Heaps committing to BYU. He has said he will make up his mind before he starts his senior season. He did pay his own way for an unofficial BYU visit so I am hopeful.

Anyway, best of luck Manti. I hope everything turns out well for you.

Recognition for Coach Whittigham

Last week my computer had a Trojan on it that I was desperately trying to remove so it prevented me from blogging, but fortunately, I think I was mostly successful removing it (you never know though, if it was a root kit there is probably still remnants hidden on my computer). Anyway, I did not get a chance to write about Coach Whittingham.

Coach Whit was twice recognized with "Coach of the Year" awards, first from the American Football Coaches Association, where the award was voted on by all of his peers. How gratifying that must be for him to have his fellow head football coaches give him this award.

A couple of days later Coach Whit was then awarded the Paul "Bear" Bryant College Football Coach of the Year award. What a great accomplishment and my congratulations are extended to him and the entire Ute football team.

I would imagine that a lot of Ute fans feel a lot like me. Surprised in a good way. Prior to the season, I had major doubts about Kyle Whittigham. I was jealous of Bronco Mendenhall and thought he was a steal for BYU. Kyle had only been able to put together one good season, last year, prior to this season. And last year we had an UGLY loss to UNLV. Utah had a knack for losing to teams they shouldn't lose to.

But Coach Whittingham proved to all of we doubters that we're idiots. He has done a masterful job as coach of this football team. And not just because of the results on the field, but because of the atmosphere he has created at the U. He has stiriven to make it an ideal place for people of all religious persuasions and race. For the LDS player he has encouraged missionary service and made them feel part of the team. I would imagine that his work in that regard will result in Utah making a larger dent in BYU's recruiting umbrella. He has also emphasized education, dedication, loyalty, and kindness. Things that some coaches are less keen on.

All in all, I am supremely impressed with the quality of programs that the State of Utah has in BYU and Utah. And those programs successes start with great leadership from the University President, to the Athletic Director, to the coaching staff. Both schools have done great with both. Here is to Kyle Whittingham and Bronco Mendenhall staying at their respective schools for a long, long time. We are lucky to be sports fans of that state!

GO UTES!

Michigan and Bama

This will likely be the last post I do in memoriam of the 2008 season. Certainly, I will reference it when writing about 2009 and so on, but I doubt I will focus a whole post just on it. But I realized something very significant and special about this season that I had completely overlooked. That is that Utah defeated two of the most historic teams in college football history in hostile territory.

To start the season, Utah went on the road to the Big House to take on Michigan. Easily the largest crowd that Utah ever played in front of live all of whom were rooting against them. Utah dominated the first half and allowed Michigan to come back in the fourth due to some stupid penalties and turnovers, but won the game 25-23. Unfortunately, this game did little to help Utah's strength of schedule as Michigan had the worst year in the history of their program.

To end the season, the Utes destroyed the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl. A venue only about 3 hours from Bama fans and a good 20+ for Ute fans. The bowl was 85% Bama fans as well. Not only did the Utes win, but they dominated. A thing of beauty. In fact on Saturday I turned on the DVR and re-watched the entire first quarter. The greatest first-quarter in the history of football.

What a great statement those games were for the Utes. What an opportunity for those players and for we fans. If Utah keeps winning games like those, we could be on our way to building our own national power. Way to go Utes!

Guess who is sticking around? My new hope is that BYU loses by less than 3 touchdowns. go cougs!

Hurray for recruiting!

BYU just got its 4th 4 star recruit this weekend. Kyle Van Noy is a star LB from Reno, Nevada. He was in town on a major recruiting weekend. BYU's other 4 star commits are Craig Bills the safety from Timpview HS, Richard Wilson TE from Spanish Fork and Adam Timo the RB from St George. This could be one of the best years ever for BYU recruiting. Also present were 5 star LB Manti T'eo (the #1 LB in the nation), OT Xavier Su'a Filo (4 stars) and L.T. Filiaga (3 stars) a MLB from Bingham Utah. As I look at this list I am impressed by the level of talent being produced in the State of Utah. Now I think LT is going to commit. He had a great visit. I feel pretty good about X but we could lose him to Utah. I fast and pray ever Sunday that we get Manti T'eo. But I'm starting to worry about his interest level. According to Dick Harmon he is split 50/50 between BYU and USC. We'll see what happens. It would be huge to get him. He would start for sure this fall. 

Also, BYU has received serious interest from Alabama RB Shawn Southward. He runs a 4.4 and ran for 1400 yards his senior season despite being hobbled by a bad ankle early in the year. He isn't Mormon but is very religious and is looking for a good academic school with a clean living environment.

Steve I now propose something about the site. We should now change background color based either on recruiting or Basketball (it can't stay red until Sep 5th when BYU beats Oklahoma). I say recruiting until after signing day anyway. You may argue with me but I'm going blue today in light of BYU's recent success. Oh and one last item to solidify my argument. Jake Heaps, 5 star QB from Washington who is already the #1 recruit by several scouting reports for next year, was at this weekend's recruiting trip. "So what" you say? Well he payed his own way, and he didn't visit Utah while he was out here.

So long Austin, Thanks for the Good Times!

My heart broke this morning when I read that Austin Collie, BYU's star WR, will declare for the NFL draft. Austin Collie broke nearly every major WR record in BYU and MWC history in only 3 seasons as well as tying the NCAA record for most consecutive 100+ yard games at 11. He had more receiving yards and TDs than any other player in NCAA football this year. Next year's Offense was shaping up to be one of the best in BYU history but the best player on our entire team will no longer be with us. I do wish him the best. I think he will do well in the NFL.

As for the fate of BYU's O next year. Well we will still have a good RB corp, including Unga who is one of the best in the conference. We will still have Pita and George at TE so that will be solid. As for the receivers. Well it's hard to replace Collie but next year we'll see just how good Chambers is. I get the feeling he can be great. Also, we'll get McKay Jacobsen, the speedster freshman in 2006, back on the field. I hope he gets his legs back under him fast. We'll miss reed who wasn't the fastest but had sure hands and ran good routes. With Collie I think we could have averaged 40 points a game next year. We'll still be good but there is an empty spot inside me that knows how much better we could have been. So long Austin. I can't wait to watch you on Sundays!

Your #2 Utah Utes!

What an entirely amazing season. Who would've thought at the beginning of the year that the Utes would finish #2 (A.P.) in the country? I think there were very few people who thought that they even had a chance to go undefeated or win the Mountain West. Pre-season polls had the Utes below BYU, TCU, and Fresno State (what a joke that was). Utah was predicted to come in second or third in the MWC. But they had the players, the coaches, the drive, and the leadership to have the greatest year in Utah history.

A.P Top 10
1. Florida (48)
2. Utah (16)
3. USC (1)
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Alabama
7. TCU
8. Penn St.
9. Ohio St. (Note: they moved up in the poll after losing an ugly game)
10. Oregon
11. Boise St.

So, not only did Utah finish second but 16 voters chose Utah as the #1 team in the land. Before this season and seeing what I have seen I would say that a team like Utah or Boise or TCU would never have a chance at a National Title. But I think they do solely because of what Utah did this year, though it would take a lot of help and it would be a tall order, but I think they could do it. Utah and Mountain West conference have proven to be among the best conferences in the land. Just look at this top 10 - the SEC, Big 12, Pac 10, Big 10, and MWC all have 2 teams in the top 10! The highest rated ACC team is Va Tech at 15 and the Big East has Cincinatti at 17. Not only that, but BYU managed to finish the season at 25th.

I am so proud of the Utes and the MWC for what they have done this season. It has been one for the ages. And the great thing is it is something our teams can duplicate. Next year, BYU has a legitimate chance at not only a BCS game but the National Title with the schedule they have and thanks to what the Utes did this year. Utah and TCU will both be stacked and undoubtedly the MWC lower teams are getting better. The future is bright.

On another note, Kyle Whittingham (most likely) voted Utah #1 (who finished 4th!!) in the coaches poll; contrary to coaches poll rules where every voter is contractually obligated to vote the winner of the MNC game. Thanks for doing that Kyle. It was the right move. I would assume that the poll will not allow you to vote next year as a punishment, but so what? You did what was right.

Thanks for a great season Utes!

Climb on Board the Ute Train!

You gotta love Rick Reilly. Here's his ESPN article from today in toto:

Oklahoma and Florida can battle for the BCS. But we've already crowned the true national champ.

The Utes trampled Alabama to complete a perfect season. How are they not national champions?

Some gifts people give are pointless: Styling mousse to Dick Vitale. An all-you-can-eat card to Kate Moss. The BCS Championship given to Oklahoma or Florida.

It means nothing because the BCS has no credibility. Florida? Oklahoma? Who cares? Utah is the national champion.

The End. Roll credits.

Argue with this, please. I beg you. Find me anybody else that went undefeated. Thirteen-and-zero. Beat four ranked teams. Went to the Deep South and seal-clubbed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The same Alabama that was ranked No. 1 for five weeks. The same Alabama that went undefeated in the regular season. The same Alabama that Florida beat in order to get INTO the BCS Championship game in the first place.

Yeah, that's how it is now in the shameful, money-grubbing world of college football. If you're Florida and you beat Alabama, you get a seat in the title game. If you're Utah, you get a seat on your sofa.

Hey, remind me: What do they give out for one of those BCS things anyway? It's been so long since I cared. Something from Sears? This is the sixth year in the past 10 that the title has been in dispute under this cash-grab, fan-dis, monopoly that the BCS has created. Which is why the title game just doesn't matter anymore. It's like being named Miss Ogallala. Or Best Amish Electrician.

Just take a look at the teams that think they're worthy of being called national champs:

USC? Great year. Wonderful. Let's all go to SkyBar and celebrate. But it lost to Oregon State, a team Utah beat.

Texas? You think beating Ohio State by a nubby three points gets you the title? The Big Ten was 1-6 in bowl games! That's like pinning David Spade!

Florida and Oklahoma? They lost. Utah never did.

So that's it. Utah is the national champion. The Utes should probably have two now, actually. They went undefeated in 2004, too, and their coach still thinks they were the best team in the land. Smart fella named Urban Meyer. Coaches Florida now.

By the way, we're calling our title the "national" championship because it actually includes the whole nation —all 119 Division I schools—unlike the BCS, which includes 66. Yeah, the BCS somehow eliminated the middleman—the NCAA. The conferences these schools play in take their dump trucks full of cash straight from the TV networks and fairness can go suck a lemon.

Do me a favor. Call Ohio State president Gordon Gee and ask him why he won't support a playoff. He's one of the most powerful presidents in the NCAA. He could get it done. If he says anything other than, "We don't want to share the loot" then you know he's lying his bow tie off.

"This is not how we normally do things in America," says Utah president Michael Young. "In America, quality usually wins, not conspiracy. And there's a reason people usually enter into a conspiracy. It's money. You make money doing it. And those that are in on the conspiracy want to stay in and keep everybody else out."

Sure, BCS blowhards will hand you schlock about how the college football season is like a playoff, how it's an elimination tournament every week. Really? Well, how come Florida and Oklahoma weren't eliminated with their losses? Utah ran the table, beat everybody set in front of them, including Ala-damn-bama in no less than the Sugar Bowl, and gets the bagel.

Oh, by the way? It was Utah's eighth straight bowl win, the nation's longest streak. Among the losers during that run? Let's see USC, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and now the legendary Houndstooth Hats.

"What else do we have to prove?" asks Utah's magical quarterback, Brian Johnson. Good question. He and the Utes essentially whipped Alabama at home. Handed Nick Saban a garlic necklace to wear the entire offseason. Stepped on his team's neck 21-0 in the first three possessions and never looked back. Let's see. Who was it that was losing to Alabama until nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter? Oh, yeah. Florida.

What, you want the Utes to win a spelling bee? Make a prize-winning souffle? Knock up Angelina Jolie? What?

It just slays me. It really does.

Call Myles Brand, president of the asleep-at-the-wheel NCAA, and ask him if he and his greedy presidents are going to stand in defiance of president-elect Barack Obama, who wants a playoff and wants it yesterday.

Ask Brand what he's going to do if Obama starts asking the Justice Department to look into anti-trust hearings against the BCS. The Utah attorney general has already launched an investigation into that very thing. Or ask him what he'll do if Obama asks the Department of Education to consider withholding federal funds from these schools that have entered into this secret club called the BCS. You don't think playing in the title game means millions in general-fund donations for a school? That's as unfair as anything Title IX fought against.

Until all these people do the right thing, I'll be celebrating with the true national champions — the undefeated, untied Utah Utes. (Our new slogan: Utahk about a team!)

Lemonades for everybody!

The Utes won't get the trophy they really deserve, so we gave them one of our own design.

BYU to Play OU at New Cowboys Stadium

Well there will be no complaining about BYU's strength of Schedule this year. It is official that BYU will play Oklahoma (Currently #1 and playing in the title game this Thurdsay) on September 1st at the new home of the Dallas Cowboys! I'm pretty excited. In fact I plan on going. I don't expect to beat OU but we should have a great Offense and the Deffense, well it can only get better right? Seriously, another year of experience plus some key recruits/juco transfers should make a big difference. After watching the Utah v Alabama game I gotta believe that anything can happen. It will depend on some great coaching and aggressive play calling but it will be the toughest game BYU has played in at least a decade. After that game we go to Tulane then return home to play Florida State. BYU will of course also face Utah and TCU (at home!) who should both be ranked. What a great turnaround from the terribly weak schedule the cougs faced last year. Here's to hopping they're up to it!

Stick it to the BCS! Vote the Utes #1!

Look people we all hate the BCS, that is no secret and what better "stick it to the man" opportunity do the voters of the AP poll have than to vote Utah the #1 team in the country? If the AP votes for the winner of OK-FL #1 then all they have done is validated the BCS. And we all know that the AP hates the BCS as well, they volunteerly left the BCS a few years back. So make a statement and give the Utes your national championship.

The beauty of all of this is you would be perfectly justified in doing so. What makes any other school more deserving? Nothing. The Utes are the only undefeated team, beat 3 teams in the top 16 of the current BCS rankings, when the final rankings are released they will have beat two teams in the top 10 - Alabama and TCU. Not to mention BYU, Oregon State, and @Michigan. If you took the exact same schedule with the exact same results but substituted Notre Dame for Utah and Notre Dame would be in the NC game.

So do the right thing APers, vote Utah

Secondly, some of the coaches should screw the requirement that they have to vote OK or FL #1. I call for every coach of a non-BCS conference who has a vote to vote Utah #1. What is the BCS going to do? Not allow you to vote next year? Good, who needs 'em! The BCS just screws your team and conference anyway, what loyalty do you have for them. Viva la Revolucion!

ROLL UTES!! (We get this term from Bama through next season)

The Sweet Smell of Victory

Whooooooo Hoooooo!!!! 31-17!!! What a entirely satisfying game tonight. Not only did my Utes beat the Tide, they dominated them. It wasn't even close. Stat of the night (you ready for this):

Alabama sacks allowed on the season: 13
Alabama sacks allowed tonight against the Utes: 8



Incredible. We held the vaunted Alabama running game to only 31 yards total rushing. Had their quarterback guessing all night, and they couldn't stop our passing game. Everything about the Utes' gameplan was perfect. The only thing I would have done differently was run the ball a bit more in the early 4th quarter. But honestly, that is being ridiculously nitpicky.

Brian Johnson played lights out. He was accurate, mobile, and made great decisions. Freddie Brown is a beast of a WR, he opened some eyes. But the play of Paul Kruger and Stevenson Sylvester on the defensive side of the ball was nothing short of dominating. Their speed, and the speed of the whole defense, was astonishing. To play like that against "a mighty SEC" team was fantastic.



This brings me to the whole BCS joke. What a terrible, terrible system we have. Already, with two more BCS games yet to play, there are two teams with legitimate claim at the national title; USC and Utah. USC was incredible in the Rose Bowl yesterday and Utah is the only undefeated team and just dominated an SEC school that was #1 in the country for 5 weeks this year. And what happens if Texas completely dominates Ohio State (which is quite likely)? Then there are 3 teams with legitimate claim at the national title, none of whom have a shot to win it. What a complete crime and joke. I get ticked off even thinking about.

So before I get even more ticked, back to the Utes win tonight. I have never enjoyed a football game more than this. What a completely legitimate win. No trick plays (Ok one) and no real excuses from SEC fans as to why Utah won. Great game Utes! Hopefully this helps recruiting and we can be dominant again next year.

GO UTES!!!!!

Sugar Bowl Game Day!

Alright folks, the day is here. Utah has arguably the biggest challenge in Sugar Bowl tonight against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Naturally I am picking the Utes to win, so let's get that out of the way first. I am predicting a 27-25 Utah win with a last second Louie Sakoda fieldgoal to win it.

So how do the Utes get there? That is a good question and one that is not easily answered.

First, they have to contain the run; they can't stop it. So the key is getting Bama to 3rd down. If they Utes can get Bama to 3rd down and about 4 or 5, no better, then the Utes will be able to make the stop more often the not. Ideally, the Utes need to get Bama into passing situations.

Second, just because Bama gets put into passing situations doesn't mean Utah will stop them. Bama's best receiver is Julio Jones; an extremely talented freshman. Fortunately he is their only real threat at receiver; if Smith can contain him - and he should- Utah will be in good position. But don't think for a second that Bama is one-dimensional offensively.

Third, Utah needs to move the ball. All the talk the past month has been about Bama's offense vs. Utah's defense. Well it should be about Utah's O vs. Bama's D. Bama held Florida to 31 points, that is quite the feat. They are big, strong, and fast. Utah has a tall order. The key is play calling. Ludwig can be a bit, well, scary at times with his play calling (just see the TCU game). If he avoids the trickery and just keeps it normal, Utah will move the ball. It also hinges on how Brian Johnson plays. Johnson has been up and down all year. If he shows up, we are in good position. Fortunately, he steps up in big games.

Fourth, special teams. No team in the country has us on this. Sakoda is the man. If the Utes can keep it close and has the ball last it's over.

Finally, I think the loss of Andre Smith is huge for Bama, though no one is admitting it. Earlier in the season Bama played Tulane without Smith and struggled mightily. They still won the game, but it was closer than it should have been; Tulane sucks. I don't think any team can lose their best player and think that it won't have a major effect. Let's see if Utah can take advantage.

GO UTES!! 27-25!