BeachUte

It was still hurry up, at least those first few drives. Utah was snapping the ball seconds after the last play ended.

But regardless, those drives were not run-first. Utah didn’t grind and wear Alabama out. They went for the jugular.

But I agree that I wish Utah would have employed that more…[Read more]

I might be misunderstanding you with the Sugar Bowl comment. Are you using it as an example of a non-traditional Whitt offense? Or an example of what he likes to do? Because the game vs Alabama was not a run-first offense. They ran hurry up and picked apart the Tide early through the air. I think Whitt knew he couldn’t establish the run vs their…[Read more]

Agreed. A lot if questions but that kinda makes the season exciting. To be honest, this is the first season in a long time where I have no set expectation on what will happen. I think 7-5 but a few breaks could end with 9-3… and who knows, maybe it all comes together and Utah pulls an ASU.

I can’t think of the last time Utah was coming off such…[Read more]

How doesn’t it make sense? We have a long history of Utah and BYU being on equal conference footing and when they were, the rivalry was much more competitive than it was when Utah played in the Pac-12. That’s just a fact.

In 2021, Utah had the 32nd ranked class in the nation according to 247Sports. In that same season, BYU had the 74th ranked…[Read more]

Who says I’m new? Just because my account is new, doesn’t mean I haven’t posted here multiple times in the past.

Attempting to fool someone would suggest I care whether they’re convinced of my Utah fandom. I hate to break it to you, but I’m not. Unlike you, I’m very secure in my fandom: Give it time, you’ll probably get there one day.

Utah should be improved. But Utah also has a much tougher schedule, at least on paper at this moment, than last year’s team. Last year’s schedule was their weakest since the MWC games and extremely favorable with only one really good opponent away from Salt Lake: ASU.

But injuries aside, and I’ve said this already, the losses to Arizona and…[Read more]

Why are so many Utah fans so insecure they have to claim that anyone who points out potential flaws in specific situations must be a BYU fan?

Isn’t that the whole point of this conversation? That the cycle that built a significant amount of that 11-5 record does not exist anymore?

Whittingham excelled when BYU was stuck in independence and Utah was in the Pac-12. Those dynamics aren’t at play here anymore so what Whitt did in the Pac-12 vs BYU is almost irrelevant.

Especially if…[Read more]

I like the positivity but Utah’s future is murkier than I think you’re suggesting.

1. It’s not certain Utah will bounce back big this year. They should be improved but it’s also possible that improvement only nets them sn additional win or two compared to last year.

2. Utah is not on the Big 10’s radar. Utah can try to work that Big 10 invite…[Read more]

Utah had a ridiculously easy schedule last year. It was their easiest schedule since the MWC days. They won two conference games. Yes, they were a decent QB away from maybe being in contention for the Big 12 title but that team still couldn’t take advantage of a Big 12 that didn’t have one stand-out team and all the big players, sans ASU, at home.…[Read more]

Not sure how you could put Kansas and UCLA there but not BYU. That game is generally scary even when Utah is okay (I still remember the half-assed first half of the 2018 game and the rapid, and desperate, comeback to pull out a stunning win). That game scares me because BYU has had Utah’s number the last two times they’ve played and are likely…[Read more]

What’s the definition of a pessimist here? I don’t consider myself one but I’m definitely not on board with the idea that Utah is going to win the Big 12. I think this is a 6 or 7 win team and maybe, with a few breaks, a 9 win one. Does that make me a pessimist?

If so, I guess to answer your question: I’ve rarely gone into a season where I’ve…[Read more]

I think all this depends on what you think the expectation for the rivalry going forward is and it’s perfectly acceptable, if not the appropriate move, to recalibrate those expectations.

The trend suggests Utah is not going 8-1 vs BYU over the next nine games like they did when BYU was independent and Utah was in the Pac-12.

The reality is…[Read more]

I think you’re getting confused by the points here. I never claimed BYU wasn’t the better positioned program pre-Pac-12 move. In fact, I’ve consistently said that despite Utah improving head-to-head vs BYU in the 90s, the Cougars were still the more nationally relevant program. I never claimed Utah had more money than BYU in the WAC and MWC days.…[Read more]

I mean, this changes nothing considering we’re looking at a year where BYU very likely will out-recruit Utah.

I’ll also point out that in the MWC era, the difference between Utah and BYU recruiting-wise was generally only a few spots – not as dramatic as we’ve seen from Utah in the Pac-12 era where they were out-recruiting BYU by a lot.

Just…[Read more]

I don’t think anyone should concern themselves with the idea that BYU will return to the era of Peak LaVell but it’s just silly to say the rivalry can’t change.

The dynamics of the rivalry, whether we like it or not, has changed. Utah and BYU are no longer on unequal ground like when the Utes were in the Pac-12 and BYU was independent. In that…[Read more]

Cool. Throw in 2019 and that’s basically four games in the last 20+ years Utah dominated and three of those wins involved Utah teams that went on to win 11+ games. Definitely doesn’t change the point that Utah rarely dominates, especially when the teams are generally equal.

I’m cool with just a win in Provo.

No. I mean the 90s and early 2000s when Utah started beating BYU head-to-head but weren’t at the level nationally as the Cougars, who were still winning conference titles and finishing in the top25.

The Utes did a great job stepping up in the rivalry compared to the 70s and 80s but they certainly weren’t BYU’s equal most seasons, and they rarely…[Read more]

Just a win will do. I don’t ever expect Utah to dominate BYU. I feel like I can count on one hand where the Utes dominated a game (2004, 2008 and 2011).

Just winning should be good enough, especially since I’m sure the Utes will be underdogs entering that game.