Rick

I need to read the Herren books.

May I add a couple of biographies to your list?

-“Bill ‘The Hill” and the Jump Hook” – memoir of Billy McGill the Ute legend. Billy and a cowriter are the authors. Terrific. I never realized just how close to the very best players in the world at that time – Chamberlain and Russell – McGill was. If he stays…[Read more]

I just read the D’News article about the day. Repeated what I posted only better along with some other quotes and information. It’s worth a read.

I’m happy to read that he didn’t dwell on the Tanuvasa stuff. Lander addressed it a little as well. He said that he was angry at first but emphasized how football has become a business and he’s not…[Read more]

That’s interesting DT. I know he’s a strong receiver as well. He’d certainly pair well with the Pula kid. Dare I suggest letting him play two-way a little if he comes our way?

Thanks for setting me straight. Perhaps that makes us a little less enticing except he probably gets an opportunity for playing time even sooner on the offensive side of the ball.

I hope he comes. If he’s thinking at all long-term Utah should be the choice given our coaching and the defense we play. Moa has all the intangibles to be an NFL free safety. Add our legacy at the safety position and we should be highly considered as long as the NIL is reasonable. I think BYU should get second consideration there given their…[Read more]

Sure we have hotspots – but largely in the West. There are significant Utah alums in LA, Orange County and San Francisco. Phoenix follows with the rest of the Western cities being a little less – Denver, Las Vegas, Boise and Portland.

Washington D.C. is right behind LA and Orange County.

I’d love to see football and basketball focus on out of…[Read more]

I don’t disagree with you Ute Dub but it will be interesting to see what Alex and staff do – or try to do.

Alex has said that he doesn’t want a “new team” every year. I’m hearing that the best way they think that’s done will be leaning into high school recruiting with a smaller mix of portal players with one-to-two years of eligibility left. I…[Read more]

Come on CC – we’re due – at least at the QB position.

Rangum,
I can tell you with certainty that what you’ve heard about Scalley wanting Arbuckle as number one choice is false. He liked Arbuckle and would have supported the hire but he wanted Whittingham to interview Beck from the start and when Arbuckle “used” the Utah position to get Oklahoma Whittingham agreed to bring in Beck.

The second guy…[Read more]

Butters,
A couple of questions for you. Garcia at center is new information to me – not that I had any insider knowledge. I’ve assumed he’d be our next great tackle. Is he a tackle-in-waiting who gets playing time backing up Kump at center or is he going to be our center of the future? Do you know?

Dillon over Fitzgerald is another projection I’m…[Read more]

I’d love it if Fotheringham finally grabbed a roster spot. I believe he’s been on the Raiders practice squad the last few seasons. He’s had some strong preseasons.

ALUF,
I think you’ve captured the floor – 7-5 is possible. I have a hard time believing Utah loses five road games. Defense travels and we’ll have a strong defense this season. I’m also sold on Dampier after watching him and talking to a few insiders about him. If he stays healthy, the offense can be special.

I like the U in the opener against…[Read more]

I’ve discussed rim-protecting with my sons a little. We do hope for someone with true center size who can protect the rim and be a nice lob threat.

Don’t you think that Dawes could play the role of rim protector? I seem to recall a few moments in the season where he came from the weak side and made some nice blocks. I realize that’s only one…[Read more]

I get it Champ. I just don’t know that it’s subterfuge. I see that it could be. I’m just saying that Whittingham was driven by knowing two things – he wanted Rising on the field if at all possible, and the U didn’t have a suitable backup.

Champ and Gator,
I don’t mean this to argue with either of you about Whitt’s handling of the Rising situation the past two seasons. I think it could have been better, especially last season more from a personnel standpoint. We simply did not have the right back up.

I do think a lot of us forget context from Coach Whitt’s perspective. I talk to…[Read more]

He’s a one – slated to start at point guard right now. Definitely a score first one.

Utah1,
You’ve got to give the BYU rhetoric a rest. I don’t love that they have embraced NIL like they have but I don’t see anything evil about it. There are existential reasons why perpetuating this wild, wild West system is a bad thing. At least I feel that way. But any program and donors choosing to play -even at lower levels, is part of that…[Read more]

22,
I can’t wait until you have to shut up about Beck using his tight ends.

Interesting perspective Caleb. I think you fit into “we suck no matter what category” with that response.

Having watched the team a little in spring and spoken with a few insiders, I think the floor is 7-5 and the ceiling is 10-2. Utah is capable of defeating everyone on our schedule and losing to five or six of them, but only if injuries become…[Read more]

Utah Man,
I don’t have great info for you other than coaches being impressed with Williams, Caldarella, Whittemore, Tia and Glover throughout spring. Of those, Williams has separated himself; but I don’t know the pecking order. I’ll see what I can find out. I would think Zipperer and Washington will get in the mix. I’d hate to see Zipperer…[Read more]