If you missed it, the team social media announced the captains as Lander Barton, Logan Fano, Spencer Fano, and Jaren Kump.
Also announced the leadership council, which is the 4 captains plus Dampier, Lomu, Mokofisi, Damuni, Tao Johnson, Vimahi, Snowden, and Ritchie.
Same captains and council as for spring ball. Only difference is Landen King, who was on the council and obviously isn’t after transferring.
I was expecting to see Dampier as a captain. It seems like the QB always has a leg up in the captain-choosing because they have to be the on-the-field leader. I don’t want to read too much into that, though. Most likely, it’s just inertia, and the fact that the team chose to keep everything the same as an indication as to how good the environment has been.
Also notable, but not surprising, is that 0 offensive skill players other than Dampier are on the council. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I am feeling good about our skill rooms right now. I think Merriweather is going to be legit.
I’m in the same boat. If it motivates them to work harder and makes our team better, I’m all for it. I just don’t want everyone watching the game to know what is going to happen when certain players come on the field. The only time that should be the case is with a kicker or punter.
The only way to make BYU-Provo Campus a true missionary tool is to drop intercollegiate athletics altogether. Let’s face it: Sports bring out the worst in people. And – for better or for worse – the LDS Church will always be judged by the behavior of its members. If we’re truly thinking about our missionary purpose, why would we want to create situations for church members to be on their worst behavior…and put it on national TV for everyone to see?
BYU-Provo Campus could also help its image by putting a little more emphasis on academics and little less emphasis on being a marriage meat market, but that’s a subject for a different thread.
I tell my BYU fan friends that if they want BYU athletics to be a true “missionary tool” that they should really be targeting BYU to be not “excellent” in athletics, but “above average” in athletics. This because I think that BYU is most “loveable” to non-Mormons when they play the part of the scrappy and charismatic overachiever. If BYU were to become a “blue blood powerhouse” ala Bama, Ohio State, etc. etc., then they will appeal to only their fanbase. Look at lists of the “most-hated” CFB teams. They are all blue blood B10/SEC teams.
In fact, I think that an interesting doctoral thesis at BYU would be to study how many doors in Utah LDS missionaries get through during spans when Utah wins in the rivalry game vs. years when BYU wins. My guess is that there could be a slight increase in missionary success when Utah fans feel a little “sorry” for BYU and the missionaries. Probably there is no statistical difference, but I like to believe that BYU having a pedestrian sports record equals better missionary success.
Have experienced and witnessed pleasant respectful interactions between our fans and visiting fans from many of the schools in our new conference and perceive that gave them a positive perception of our fan base.
I commented before that their only disappointment after hearing ‘bear spray’ allegations may that they couldn’t buy a cold refreshing pint at Rice Eccles on a hot afternoon,
No doubt on that! I’ve wanted him to play a Percy Harvin role since I saw his HS Soph tape before he got on campus and I’ve got the downvotes to prove it.
Many moons ago, HS QB’s were really only suited to being the Quarterback. Now, they are typically the best athlete on the team that can also throw. And if you look at the success Whitt has had moving those types around, it’s not only helped the team but their careers. Off the top of my head: Jackson, Christopher, Hansen, Covey and Blechen all did more at their new positions than they ever would have as QB.
Johnson has all the physical tools to be a great QB. And I’m sure he’s nice to old people and dogs, even when the cameras aren’t on. But “going through progressions” has two parts, recognizing the right place to throw it and delivering a catchable ball on time. He was poised and did that against Baylor. His feet were in cement and he threw two-hoppers after that. I’ll jump out of my chair if he delivers a 40 yard ball off a reverse but I don’t ever want to see him under center unless it’s “break glass in case of emergency time”. Or someone has the bright idea to try Wilson again.,, whichever comes first.
It’s just disingenuous to say BYU has not been good the last 15 years. Have they been great? No. But I think every Utah fan would take what BYU has done the last 15 years in a heart beat, especially if it was a generic outcome not at all attached to BYU (so, win percentage, top25 finishes and NCAA Tournament berths). Hell, we’d take what USU has done.
But beyond that, again it’s weird how everyone here has to fixate on BYU. BYU was only one of a handful of teams mentioned, including USU, and every reply I’ve dealt with has been about … BYU.
The point is: Utah basketball has done nothing to separate itself from those programs I mentioned. They’ve all excelled in one way or another beyond what Utah has been able to do consistently the last fifteen years. The fact Utah fans feel slighted by being included in this conference is baffling to me when Utah basketball has often struggled since 2000.
Lots of people seem worried. I’m really not.
First, UCLA is returning 2 starting defensive players. Yikes.
Second as good as Nico May be, he didn’t wildly impress at Tennessee. He was an an amazing system that worked well for him. I don’t think he beats us. Especially in a new offense where he only is getting to work with the coaches for a few months.
I vote to replace the title of this post to “Are we worried about Wyoming”
The 6-7 pt road spread does seem odd to me. fUCLA finished with a meh record last year, but their only badish loss was probably UW. They had a 5-game skid but come on, IU-LSU-Oregon-Penn State-Minn. Seriously? Can’t blame them for dropping the Minn game (who are a pretty good team) on the back end of that stretch. Both teams will be installing new offenses. I would call this game a toss-up, with the edge to the home team. No way the team is overlooking these guys.
The good thing is some Big 12 fans from other schools are starting to see it too. At least on X. Some have even said we were right and have apologized to us as a fan base. It was only a matter of time and it took them less than a year to show their true colors.
Utah @ 
UCLA 
