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[TheOCUte]

First, I would like to congratulate every player and coach in the organization on this achievement.  I’ve been in the critical camp as it relates to OC Taylor, but I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the in-season improvements this year, especially given the teams annual QB and RB injury that historically has derailed an otherwise promising season.

Second, I’m in 100% disagreement with ProudUte and that’s perfectly fine, but this game with byu is so meaningless to me that truly I hope no player that sees the field in Santa Clara plays a snap against byu. I understand that’s unrealistic, but that’s where I’m at.  If Utah was undefeated or a one loss team with possible playoff aspirations then by all means go make a statement, but that’s not the case.  All I want as a fan right now is a Rose Bowl appearance and a win against byu does nothing to advance that objective, but a costly, key injury could be devastating. After all, someone is going to get hurt in this game, someone gets hurt in every game it’s football and the opponent next week is going to be highly motivated if not borderline reckless.

Maybe my feeling towards byu and this game is different because I’m no longer living in Utah and dont have to hear the myopia first had from family, friends, coworkers and every media source?

And none of this is meant as a knock on byu either, it’s just timing and reality. The rivalry still exists, but not like it did when it had an impact on a conference championship…a late November tilt was outgrown with the separation in conference affiliation. This is a September game at best for both teams.

Congrats again on the South Championship everyone…two more wins and we can celebrate a South Championship, a Pac Championship and a Rose Bowl Championship…a third win and it’s bragging rights from Nov 24th til Dec 8th…when they claim a basketball victory is more precious than one in football.

[TheOCUte]

He got better every year he was in the program, credit to him and the coaching staff for that..but, this massive jump in play is crazy.

With that said, there is something not fully functioning with the basketball program…I fear the next two months are going to be ugly (5-6 conference wins at best)…this thing is going backwards again…

glad this is primarily a football only board, because the meltdown would be epic if hoops were still the primary focus at the U.

[TheOCUte]

The only thing worse than the TO call was that explanation.

[TheOCUte]

I understand the call if you have all three timeouts and can force something other than the hope of a bad snap, but when the opponent’s kicker is inconsistent, your own defense just gave it up, why not OT? A bad call, period.

[TheOCUte]

I used to write for that website, and you nailed it…that site is all hype driven.  So good news for Kyle is that he’s on the nba’s radar…with their updated positioning I’d say he’s a first round lock.  Though take it for what it’s worth since the owner of that site went so far to name drop scouts to shout me down on my then Pac10 love of Klay Thompson and especially Nikola Vucevic telling me he’d never play a day in the NBA…so I wouldn’t put any more value on their analysis of his game then what can be found on here.

[TheOCUte]

Marshall is as close to Majerus stylistically as I’ve seen.  His kids compete for 40 minutes, they take ownership on the defensive end of the court and his team’s attention to details are impressive.  Would have loved to have had him here after he left Winthrop, prior the Larry’s hiring…and if things continue course likely again soon.  Plus, he can’t like anything about Kentucky hoops at this point so all the better.

[TheOCUte]

The 8/9 conference game debate often drives fan conversation, but the causation is where the rest of college football should be scrutinizing past decisions. We know ESPN, CBS and the NCAA all benefit from a strong college football presence in the largely pro sport void SEC footprint. Rabid sports fans with limited other sport opinions, allow for Alabama vs Arkansas Central to still draw interest, low supply/high demand, but so what?

The problem for the other conferences isn’t that Alabama destroys Jackson St in November, it’s that LSU losing to a 3-5 Miss St team in Oct isn’t catastrophic allowing LSU to remain a top 15 team when they play Bama…see any A&M team, they benefit from “high” floor losses every season. So when Minnesota wanders out to Laramie and loses, that eventually trickles up to Wisconsin, then Penn St and upward.

But here’s where this becomes the chicken or the egg conundrum…and while the SEC hype media is easy to blame, so are the other power conferences. The SEC is rarely exposed as being overrated because programs like USC, Oregon…etc continue to schedule non conference games with the SEC at “neutral” sites like the Georgia Dome or Jerry World. A couple years ago I took the time to review the SEC non conference schedule and it was shocking how infrequently the conference as a whole left it’s geographic footprint. When they do they look pedestrian just like any other conference. Great teams win on the road, everyone else struggles. So whether this is TV driving the “neutral” site narrative or if it’s poor vision by ADs I do not profess to know, but this is, in my opinion why the SEC is the SEC. Florida going to North Carolina, G Tech are more winnable games for the Gators than coming to Utah, UW or even the Pac12 murderers in LA.

[TheOCUte]

The best point guard in school history and arguably the second best both played since Soto…Jones has a LONG way to go before he belongs anywhere near a conversation that includes Andre Miller.

[TheOCUte]

But, the point is that if you’re the coach of a unit that was inconsistent last year, and looks to have regressed in terms of execution in year two with several returning players…it’s on you.  The OC hasn’t fixed any issues from last season or from games one and two.  The offense is a mess. Play calling is a portion of his job, the other part is getting his guys up to speed to properly execute those plays…it’s not happening, it’s a myriad of mistakes, by multiple players…these aren’t isolated incidents…it’s constant. And, yes he should know that his QBs miss is going to be high, and that guys are going to drop passes…he’s watched them practice daily.  Plus, I’m in utethunder’s camp about his play calling too…lacks balance.

[TheOCUte]

Odd is a great word.  I’ve been attempting to decipher the root cause since the Bay Area trip, but this thing feels dangerously close to completely coming off the rails