Just feels like the program is snakebit as of late

[Ghost of the HEB]

Following the Pac12 championship loss in 2019, the program has undergone a series of setbacks, bad press, bad luck, and downright tragedy — dousing the momentum gained in 2019. Here’s some events we’ve seen over that span in somewhat chronological order:

– Utah DC and “HC in waiting” has 2013 text resurface that brings demotions and lots of bad press to the program.
– COVID-19 pandemic suspends 2020 Pac12 season. Extremely strict covid testing protocols are put in place. Utah becomes the last FBS program in the country to play their first game, which didn’t take place until November 21. This gave Utah’s young and inexperienced roster very little chance to gain valuable experience for 2021. QB of the future gets knocked out in the first Q of game 1, leaving Utah with a grad transfer who wasn’t good and didn’t help build for the future.
– Ty Jordan, the future face of Utah football and one of the only bright spots of the 2020 season, dies in a tragic gun accident.
– Wife of a Utah assistant coach, who is also a feature on a reality tv show, is arrested on federal fraud charges — which brings more negative press to the program.
– Highly-anticipated first game in stadium with new south end zone gets delayed for over 90 minutes due to random hurricane that hit RES. The delay happened seconds after giving up KOR TD, causing Utah to trail weber state for over 90 minutes. Also caused the already somewhat disappointing crowd to become even more sparse.
– Lost to BYU-Provo for the first time since 2009
– Grad transfer QB, who many local and national media guys, coaches, etc said would be our answer at QB, failed to live up to hype and looked lost out there. Ended up benched in a game vs MW opponent. To add insult to injury, we end up losing in triple OT after a play gets overturned by replay.
– Utah’s homecoming with new and anticipated QB becomes a somewhat regrettable experience with unseasonably warm temps (hotter than hell, actually) and EIGHT fumbles — including two inside the ten yard line. Offense struggled to move the ball and Utah trailed all game ans somehow won, but it didn’t leave anyone feeling overly positive moving forward.
– Utah DB Aaron Lowe, who was best friends with Ty Jordan, first recipient of the Ty Jordan Scholarship, and wore the number of Ty Jordan in his honor, is tragically shot and killed at a house party in SLC.
Not sure what changed after that Pac12 championship loss, but the program feels stuck in a cycle of misfortune and tragedy. Really need an extended stretch of positivity.

[Utah5410]

All programs have issues and stuff like this happens. But, we can all help by showing up to the games on time, bringing the energy, and encouraging these kids. Helping them feel loved but more importantly respected. That doesn’t mean we can’t be critical. But never @ a player and always try to look at the bright side. We will come out of this ok. I took a lot more positives out of yesterday than negatives. Then AL happened. Unreal. If I was a college athlete I would just stay within my inner circle or at least stay on campus. So crushed for the coaches, players and most importantly his family.
LLTJ LLAL.

[UteFanatic]

This post was depressing, and a very hard kick to the nuts. You’re right, this program has had some terrible luck since 2019. Here’s to hoping the bad luck streak is over. A win at the Coliseum for the first time ever would be a huge step in that direction.

Let’s hope Lowe’s death doesn’t become an albatross around the players necks for the rest of the season. Aaron wouldn’t want that.