Many will list the BYU 2013 as a would-have and could-have season. But for me, the season was better than I expected. They won two games that early-on I thought they would lose, Boise State and Texas. Of course, that was tempered by BYU losing two games I thought they would win, Virginia and Utah. For those expecting more than 8 wins, I have to ask if those people were dreaming. BYU just didn't have the team that would have gone into Camp Randall Stadium or Notre Dame Stadium and walked out with a win.
Offense:
Why did I say that? BYU had two things lacking on offense to be great with the hot-read offense. First, BYU doesn't have speedy receivers. They had Cody Hoffman, recognized as a good 'possession' receiver, but not a speedster. BYU had few tools that could stretch the defense on the passing game. Second, they are seeing the effects, or the consequences of recruiting smaller, faster offensive linemen. The offensive line didn't have the ability to protect Taysom Hill for long. Therefore, BYU had to force defenses to respect his running ability. Texas refused and got burned. After that, rather than over-pursue Hill in the pocket, you cover, and when the protection breaks down, you have someone hanging around the secondary to keep the gains minimal. These are the reasons that the Cougars had trouble in the red zone and on 3rd downs.
Grade: C+
Defense:
The defense was much better earlier in the season. Part of that was the level of competition, and part of that was the effect of injuries and an offense that didn't hold onto the ball very long. There were too many drives that were 3-and-out in less than a minute. BYU's defense was not deep enough to handle that toward the end of the season, where the defense wasn't good enough to keep games against Wisconsin and Washington close enough to win.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
The punting wasn't as good in 2013, but the field goal kicking was much better. But the kick-off coverage was problem-some in some games.
Grade: B-
Best Win:
Texas
Worst Loss:
Virginia
Offesnive MVP:
QB Taysom Hill
Defensive MVP:
LB Uani Unga
Special Teams MVP:
PK Justin Sorensen
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Utah Utes 2013 Season in Review.
Whether or not to declare the 2013 season a success depends on your expectations were for the season, it also depends on how you define success. There was a time, back in the 1980s, when a victory over BYU meant a successful season, even if there were only one or two other victories. It meant another chance to rub your BYU-fan neighbor's nose in it for another year. Sooner or later, victories over the Cougars and just being in the PAC-12 will no longer be enough, and that is the way that it should be.
Offense
It has been said that the Utes are a healthy, consistent quarterback away from success. With a healthy Travis Wilson, the Utes were 4-2. With problems at quarterback, the Utes were 1-5. While it remains to be seen if Wilson will be healthy next year, the Utes were just a couple of plays from beginning the season 6-0, and a possible national ranking. The offense was scoring plenty of points as well. A more consistent running game and better protection of the quarterback may have led to a more successful season.
Grade: B+
Defense
The Utah defense was not as good as they should have been. As I just said, the Utes were only a pair of plays away from beginning 6-0. It's really hard to blame losses to Oregon State and UCLA on the offense. The Utes were close to finishing 11-1, and the defense is why. There were some good games, some good plays, but there were plenty of defensive breakdowns as well.
Grade: C
Special Teams:
Converting someone from the ski team into your full-time kicker?
Grade: A
Best game of the year:
Stanford
Worst game of the year:
USC
Offensive Player of the Year:
Travis Wilson
Defensive Player of the Year:
Trevor Reilly
Special Teams Player of the Year:
Andy Phillips
Offense
It has been said that the Utes are a healthy, consistent quarterback away from success. With a healthy Travis Wilson, the Utes were 4-2. With problems at quarterback, the Utes were 1-5. While it remains to be seen if Wilson will be healthy next year, the Utes were just a couple of plays from beginning the season 6-0, and a possible national ranking. The offense was scoring plenty of points as well. A more consistent running game and better protection of the quarterback may have led to a more successful season.
Grade: B+
Defense
The Utah defense was not as good as they should have been. As I just said, the Utes were only a pair of plays away from beginning 6-0. It's really hard to blame losses to Oregon State and UCLA on the offense. The Utes were close to finishing 11-1, and the defense is why. There were some good games, some good plays, but there were plenty of defensive breakdowns as well.
Grade: C
Special Teams:
Converting someone from the ski team into your full-time kicker?
Grade: A
Best game of the year:
Stanford
Worst game of the year:
USC
Offensive Player of the Year:
Travis Wilson
Defensive Player of the Year:
Trevor Reilly
Special Teams Player of the Year:
Andy Phillips
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Southern Utah Season in Review.
Although, under coach Ed Lamb, Southern Utah has a Great West Conference title, the Thunderbirds had to join the Big Sky Conference to earn their first post-season birth. This could be the first of many in Cedar City as rival Weber State failed to lure Lamb away. Although the offense didn't exactly light up the scoreboard, the defense was spectacular.
Grades
The offense wasn't great in 2013. The only time SUU scored more than 30 points was against Division II Fort Lewis. SUU didn't often beat themselves. In their 8 wins, there were very few turnovers and sacks. Half of Aaron Cantu's turnovers were in losses to Eastern Washington and Washington State. Half of Aaron Cantu's sacks were in losses to UC Davis and Northern Arizona. Outside of those 4 games, the offense was good enough not to loose games. In 2014, perhaps a little more consistency on the part of the offense will help the team to more wins. In the losses to Northern Arizona and Stephen F. Austin, the defense was tired toward the end of the games, which put otherwise close games out of reach. The team was not built to come from behind. Cantu's best games, statistically were in losses to Sam Houston State and UC Davis. Overall, SUU was the 97th best FCS running team and the 95th best offensive team, by yards. They were 107th in touchdowns scored. Their turnover rate is the reason why I did not grade them lower.
Offensive MVP: OT Cody Burgess
Grade C+
Defense
The defense was spectacular most of the season. They had the benefit of an offense that gave away few turnover and special teams play that forced the opponents into long drives. When winning the field position game, SUU was unbeatable. Even though Zak Browning was given first team all-conference honors, it was truly a team effort in 2013.
Defensive MVP: Browning
Grade A-
Special Teams
Both punter Brock Miller and place kicker Colton Cook earned all-conference honors, with Cook earning a first-team selection. Cook make 20 of 24 field goals and 24 of 26 PATs. Miller's 43.4 average is a big reason why the Thunderbirds were able to win 8 games with a less than spectacular offense.
Grade A
Special Teams MVP: Cook
Best Game of the Season: 22-14 win at Montana State
Worst Loss of the Season: 21-3 home loss to UC Davis
Areas of work needed for 2014: More production on offense. Scoring 24 points on offense per game would have won the Thunderbirds 2 more games in 2013, and may have helped the defense get better.
Grades
The offense wasn't great in 2013. The only time SUU scored more than 30 points was against Division II Fort Lewis. SUU didn't often beat themselves. In their 8 wins, there were very few turnovers and sacks. Half of Aaron Cantu's turnovers were in losses to Eastern Washington and Washington State. Half of Aaron Cantu's sacks were in losses to UC Davis and Northern Arizona. Outside of those 4 games, the offense was good enough not to loose games. In 2014, perhaps a little more consistency on the part of the offense will help the team to more wins. In the losses to Northern Arizona and Stephen F. Austin, the defense was tired toward the end of the games, which put otherwise close games out of reach. The team was not built to come from behind. Cantu's best games, statistically were in losses to Sam Houston State and UC Davis. Overall, SUU was the 97th best FCS running team and the 95th best offensive team, by yards. They were 107th in touchdowns scored. Their turnover rate is the reason why I did not grade them lower.
Offensive MVP: OT Cody Burgess
Grade C+
Defense
The defense was spectacular most of the season. They had the benefit of an offense that gave away few turnover and special teams play that forced the opponents into long drives. When winning the field position game, SUU was unbeatable. Even though Zak Browning was given first team all-conference honors, it was truly a team effort in 2013.
Defensive MVP: Browning
Grade A-
Special Teams
Both punter Brock Miller and place kicker Colton Cook earned all-conference honors, with Cook earning a first-team selection. Cook make 20 of 24 field goals and 24 of 26 PATs. Miller's 43.4 average is a big reason why the Thunderbirds were able to win 8 games with a less than spectacular offense.
Grade A
Special Teams MVP: Cook
Best Game of the Season: 22-14 win at Montana State
Worst Loss of the Season: 21-3 home loss to UC Davis
Areas of work needed for 2014: More production on offense. Scoring 24 points on offense per game would have won the Thunderbirds 2 more games in 2013, and may have helped the defense get better.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Would BYU have been BCS bound as part of the MWC?
Dick Harmon had an interesting piece of work the the Deseret News on Saturday, claiming that if BYU was in a conference, either the Big 12 or the Mountain West, they would be in a BCS bowl this year. Well, BYU had their chance to be in a BCS bowl this year as an independent, and they did not get the job done. That point should have been obvious after Fresno State lost to San Jose State two weeks ago and Northern Illinois lost to Bowling Green this last week.
What Harmon speculated was what would have happened if BYU had been part of the Big 12. They did beat Texas, and beat them good. But BYU would have had trouble with Oklahoma State and Baylor and a win over Oklahoma would have depended on who had home field advantage. Then there would have also been questions about Texas Tech and TCU as well. At best, BYU finishes 3rd this year. At worst 7th.
But what would have happened if BYU had remained in the MWC? In my opinion, probably another trip to San Diego. But lets take a look. If BYU had remained, the MWC likely would have become a 14 team conference at the demise of the WAC which would lost too many members to Conference-USA to remain viable. I suspect the 14th team would have been UTEP, that seems the logical choice. Because BYU beat Boise State and Utah State handily, they likely would have won that division. But how about their non-conference schedule? Well, let's take a look, assuming a 14-team MWC plays a 9-game schedule.
Week 1--@ Virginia--Loss
Week 2--Texas--Win
Week 3--Air Force--Win
Week 4--Utah--Loss
Week 5--bye
Week 6--@ Utah State--Win
Week 7--UTEP (HC)--Win
Week 8--@ Wyoming--Win
Week 9--@ Nevada--Win
Week 10--Colorado State--Win
Week 11--@ New Mexico--Win
Week 12--bye
Week 13--@ UNLV--Win
Week 14--Boise State--Win
Likely, how the divisions would have finished.
Mountain Division
1. BYU
2. Utah State
3. Colorado State
4. Wyoming
5. UTEP
6. Air Force
7. New Mexico
West Division
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. San Diego State
4. UNLV
5. San Jose State
6. Nevada
7. Hawaii
I won't go into the conference championship. There is little chance that a team from the MWC with two losses gets into a BCS game. Especially with such a weak schedule. If Fresno State and Northern Illinois can't do it with one loss, how can BYU do it with two? Especially if the teams that beat you finish with losing records. However, their odds were better as an independent as the schedule was more challenging, especially if they would have been able to get wins over Wisconsin and Notre Dame. BYU is likely no worse off in independence than they were as part of a this conference. BYU would have been playing Fresno State for the right to go to Las Vegas.
I don't see BYU playing for a national title this decade, but there will be one of the big-money bowls that rotates into the National Semi-finals that will have two at-large openings every season. BYU's goal next season should be to make it to that bowl, which in 2014/15 will be the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Fresno State 24 Utah State 17
USU POW: QB Darell Garrettson
Conference Players of the Week
FBS Independents--No games scheduled. Army/Navy next week
PAC-12--Stanford RB Tyler Gaffney
MWC--Fresno State QB Derek Carr
Big Sky--Eastern Washington RB Quincy Forte
Prediction for likely bowl destinations
PAC-12
1. Stanford--Rose
2. Oregon--Fiesta
3. Arizona State--Alamo
4. UCLA--Holiday
5. USC--Sun
6. Washington--Fight Hunger
7. Arizona--Las Vegas
8. Oregon State--New Mexico
9. Washington State--Poinsettia (At-Large)
What is actually happening? (7 hours later.)
Looks like Oklahoma will get the last BCS spot.
Stanford--Rose
Oregon--Alama
Arizona State--Holiday
UCLA--Sun
Washington--Fight Hunger
USC--Las Vegas
Washington State--New Mexico
Oregon State--Hawaii (At-Large)
Arizona--Independence (At-Large)
MWC
1. Fresno State--Las Vegas
2. Utah State--Poinsettia
3. Boise State--Hawaii
4. UNLV--Armed Forces
5. San Diego State--New Mexico
6. Colorado State--Famous Potato
7. San Jose State--Heart of Dallas (At Large)
What is actually happening (7-hours later)
Fresno State--Las Vegas
Utah State--Poinsettia
Boise State--Hawaii
Colorado State--New Mexico
San Diego State--Potato
UNLV--Heart of Dallas
San Jose State--Left out.
No one knows why the MWC surrendered their Armed Forces Bowl bid.
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame--Pinstripe
2. BYU--Fight Hunger (Already accepted bid)
3. Navy--Armed Forces (Already accepted bid)
BCS Bowl Predictions
1. BCS Championship--Florida State vs. Auburn
2. Rose Bowl--Stanford vs. Michigan State
3. Fiesta Bowl--Baylor vs. Oregon
4. Orange Bowl--UCF vs. Clemson
5. Sugar Bowl--Alabama vs. Ohio State
Actually Happening (7 hours later)
1. BCS Championship--Florida State vs. Auburn
2. Rose Bowl--Stanford vs. Michigan State
3. Fiesta--UCF vs. Baylor
4. Orange--Clemson vs. Ohio State
5. Sugar--Alabama vs. Oklahoma
What Harmon speculated was what would have happened if BYU had been part of the Big 12. They did beat Texas, and beat them good. But BYU would have had trouble with Oklahoma State and Baylor and a win over Oklahoma would have depended on who had home field advantage. Then there would have also been questions about Texas Tech and TCU as well. At best, BYU finishes 3rd this year. At worst 7th.
But what would have happened if BYU had remained in the MWC? In my opinion, probably another trip to San Diego. But lets take a look. If BYU had remained, the MWC likely would have become a 14 team conference at the demise of the WAC which would lost too many members to Conference-USA to remain viable. I suspect the 14th team would have been UTEP, that seems the logical choice. Because BYU beat Boise State and Utah State handily, they likely would have won that division. But how about their non-conference schedule? Well, let's take a look, assuming a 14-team MWC plays a 9-game schedule.
Week 1--@ Virginia--Loss
Week 2--Texas--Win
Week 3--Air Force--Win
Week 4--Utah--Loss
Week 5--bye
Week 6--@ Utah State--Win
Week 7--UTEP (HC)--Win
Week 8--@ Wyoming--Win
Week 9--@ Nevada--Win
Week 10--Colorado State--Win
Week 11--@ New Mexico--Win
Week 12--bye
Week 13--@ UNLV--Win
Week 14--Boise State--Win
Likely, how the divisions would have finished.
Mountain Division
1. BYU
2. Utah State
3. Colorado State
4. Wyoming
5. UTEP
6. Air Force
7. New Mexico
West Division
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. San Diego State
4. UNLV
5. San Jose State
6. Nevada
7. Hawaii
I won't go into the conference championship. There is little chance that a team from the MWC with two losses gets into a BCS game. Especially with such a weak schedule. If Fresno State and Northern Illinois can't do it with one loss, how can BYU do it with two? Especially if the teams that beat you finish with losing records. However, their odds were better as an independent as the schedule was more challenging, especially if they would have been able to get wins over Wisconsin and Notre Dame. BYU is likely no worse off in independence than they were as part of a this conference. BYU would have been playing Fresno State for the right to go to Las Vegas.
I don't see BYU playing for a national title this decade, but there will be one of the big-money bowls that rotates into the National Semi-finals that will have two at-large openings every season. BYU's goal next season should be to make it to that bowl, which in 2014/15 will be the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Fresno State 24 Utah State 17
USU POW: QB Darell Garrettson
Conference Players of the Week
FBS Independents--No games scheduled. Army/Navy next week
PAC-12--Stanford RB Tyler Gaffney
MWC--Fresno State QB Derek Carr
Big Sky--Eastern Washington RB Quincy Forte
Prediction for likely bowl destinations
PAC-12
1. Stanford--Rose
2. Oregon--Fiesta
3. Arizona State--Alamo
4. UCLA--Holiday
5. USC--Sun
6. Washington--Fight Hunger
7. Arizona--Las Vegas
8. Oregon State--New Mexico
9. Washington State--Poinsettia (At-Large)
What is actually happening? (7 hours later.)
Looks like Oklahoma will get the last BCS spot.
Stanford--Rose
Oregon--Alama
Arizona State--Holiday
UCLA--Sun
Washington--Fight Hunger
USC--Las Vegas
Washington State--New Mexico
Oregon State--Hawaii (At-Large)
Arizona--Independence (At-Large)
MWC
1. Fresno State--Las Vegas
2. Utah State--Poinsettia
3. Boise State--Hawaii
4. UNLV--Armed Forces
5. San Diego State--New Mexico
6. Colorado State--Famous Potato
7. San Jose State--Heart of Dallas (At Large)
What is actually happening (7-hours later)
Fresno State--Las Vegas
Utah State--Poinsettia
Boise State--Hawaii
Colorado State--New Mexico
San Diego State--Potato
UNLV--Heart of Dallas
San Jose State--Left out.
No one knows why the MWC surrendered their Armed Forces Bowl bid.
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame--Pinstripe
2. BYU--Fight Hunger (Already accepted bid)
3. Navy--Armed Forces (Already accepted bid)
BCS Bowl Predictions
1. BCS Championship--Florida State vs. Auburn
2. Rose Bowl--Stanford vs. Michigan State
3. Fiesta Bowl--Baylor vs. Oregon
4. Orange Bowl--UCF vs. Clemson
5. Sugar Bowl--Alabama vs. Ohio State
Actually Happening (7 hours later)
1. BCS Championship--Florida State vs. Auburn
2. Rose Bowl--Stanford vs. Michigan State
3. Fiesta--UCF vs. Baylor
4. Orange--Clemson vs. Ohio State
5. Sugar--Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Sunday, December 1, 2013
When there is nothing to play for.
BYU fans probably long more for the old days when BYU and Utah would meet on the last game of the season. But Utah fans must admit they miss those good old days, too. The rivalry with Colorado would mean something if the two schools had met at least once after 1962. It will never take the place of the rivalry with BYU, even if the Utes and the Cougars don't meet every season. Please don't blame anyone on the coaching staff or on the field if the Utes looked a little lethargic against the Buffaloes especially in the 2nd half. But a win is a win, and the Utes need all they can get.
As for BYU, they have had little to play for since getting shown the ropes in Madison on week 9. And they offense has played like it. They followed the trip to Wisconsin with one uninspired performance after another, until the 2nd half of the game against Nevada. But what did BYU have to play for? They had already secured a bowl bid. Unless there is a 48-team NCAA playoff, there isn't much to motivate a team with only 7 victories where the biggest rivals are on the schedule in the first half of the season.
There are some Novembers to look forward to in Provo and in Salt Lake. Sure, Utah is suffering with their 2nd 5-win season in a row, but don't expect the futility to last very much longer. If you believe Ivan Maisel of ESPN, the Utes are one healthy quarterback away from doing something special in the PAC-12. It's probably not just a healthy quarterback, I would also include some speedy outside linebackers as well, but they aren't that far away. BYU needs continuity on the offensive line and a quality tight end, and yes, some meaningful games. Both teams are about 3 to 4 players away from being special again.
Meaningful Novembers will come for BYU in 2015 where the season ends at home against Fresno State and on the road against Utah State. Novembers will improve for BYU. But I certainly hope that one of these days the schedulers in the PAC-12, at BYU and at Utah will wake up and realize that the week that Notre Dame plays either Stanford or USC is a good week for BYU and Utah to meet. Utah can then play Colorado the week that USC and UCLA or Cal and Stanford meet. Colorado can finish their season against either Cal or USC. It makes sense, but except for 2018, it seems like the Republicans will win the White House first.
The season ended for both Utah and Southern Utah. The season ended last week for Weber State, but truth is, they cashed it in about week 5 of the season, therefore they are looking for a new head coach. The Cougars have their bowl game and the Aggies travel to Fresno next week for the MWC Championship game vs. Fresno State. If they win, it will be the Las Vegas Bowl. If they lose, it will be the Poinsettia Bowl.
By the way, I like the fact that USU and Wyoming are playing for Jim Bridger's Rifle. It's great that it will reside in Logan for the next year.
Beehive State POW
BYU 28 Nevada 23
BYU POW: RB Jamaal Williams
Utah 24 Colorado 17
Utah POW: RB Kelvin York
Utah State 35 Wyoming 7
USU POW: RB Joey DeMartino
Sam Houston State 51 Southern Utah 20
SUU POW: QB Aaron Cantu
Games of the Week
FBS Independents:
Stanford 27 Notre Dame 20
PAC-12
Oregon 36 Oregon State 37
MW
BYU 28 Nevada 23
Big Sky
Both BSC teams were blown out of their playoff games.
Players of the Week by Conference
FBS Independents
BYU RB Jamaal Williams
PAC-12
Washington RB Bishop Sankey
MW
San Jose State QB David Fales
Big Sky
Southern Utah QB Aaron Cantu
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
2. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl*)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl*)
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
PAC-12 (Likely Post-Season)
1. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
2. Arizona State (Alamo Bowl)
3. Oregon (Fiesta Bowl)
4. UCLA (Holiday Bowl)
5. USC (Sun Bowl)
6. Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
7. Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
8. Oregon State (New Mexico Bowl)
9. Washington State (Some other bowl)
10. Utah
11. Colorado
12. California
MW
1. Utah State (Las Vegas Bowl)
2. Fresno State (Poinsettia Bowl)
3. Boise State (Hawaii Bowl)
4. Colorado State (Armed Forces Bowl)
5. UNLV (New Mexico Bowl)
6. San Diego State (Potato Bowl)
7. San Jose State (Some other Bowl, but possibly left without an invite.)
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. New Mexico
11. Air Force
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
Eastern Washington (Still in post-season, will face South Dakota State at home on Saturday)
Montana (Still in post season and will entertain Coastal Carolina on Saturday)
3. Northern Arizona
4. Southern Utah
5. Montana State
6. Cal Poly
7. UC Davis
8. Portland State
9. Sacramento State
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Colorado
12. Weber State
13. Idaho State
Predicted Finishes
BYU:
Current Record 8-4
Projected Loss: Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Note: The Huskies should be a 7-point favorite for the bowl game. It should turn out to be, for BYU, like the Notre Dame game where the offense can't get much going because the O-Line is over-matched. The D will keep BYU in the game. More on that later.
Final Record 8-5
Utah State:
Current Record: 8-4
Projected Win: Fresno State (MWC Championship Game)
Note: According to Sagarin, USU is the better team. They played a more difficult non-conference schedule (Utah, BYU, USC and Weber State) than Fresno (Rutgers, Idaho and Cal Poly), and it should show on Saturday. It should be a close and exciting game, however. I expect the Bulldogs will be the favorite by about 7 points. But I expect that the Aggies will build an early lead and hold on. Fresno has one of the worst defenses in the country and a mediocre running game. Utah State has one of the best defenses in the country and a balanced offense. Utah State will win if they can control the clock and keep the ball out of Derek Carr's hands.
It should be pointed out that if Fresno State had not qualified for the MWC Championship game, they would have needed an NCAA exception to play in a bowl game. Their game at Colorado was canceled.
Projected Loss: Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
Note: Arizona should be a 7-point favorite in the Las Vegas Bowl. I expect that for USU, this will be like the Utah game where the Wildcats pull away late. More on this later
Final Record: 9-5
Utah finished the season at 5-7
SUU finished the season at 8-5
WSU finished the season at 2-10
One final comment:
One thing that the first round of the NCAA playoffs missed was drama. There wasn't a single game decided by 7 points or less, and the eventual victors all had leads at the end of the 3rd quarter. There were 3 cases where the road team won. (Sigh) Hopefully the second round is more exciting.
As for BYU, they have had little to play for since getting shown the ropes in Madison on week 9. And they offense has played like it. They followed the trip to Wisconsin with one uninspired performance after another, until the 2nd half of the game against Nevada. But what did BYU have to play for? They had already secured a bowl bid. Unless there is a 48-team NCAA playoff, there isn't much to motivate a team with only 7 victories where the biggest rivals are on the schedule in the first half of the season.
There are some Novembers to look forward to in Provo and in Salt Lake. Sure, Utah is suffering with their 2nd 5-win season in a row, but don't expect the futility to last very much longer. If you believe Ivan Maisel of ESPN, the Utes are one healthy quarterback away from doing something special in the PAC-12. It's probably not just a healthy quarterback, I would also include some speedy outside linebackers as well, but they aren't that far away. BYU needs continuity on the offensive line and a quality tight end, and yes, some meaningful games. Both teams are about 3 to 4 players away from being special again.
Meaningful Novembers will come for BYU in 2015 where the season ends at home against Fresno State and on the road against Utah State. Novembers will improve for BYU. But I certainly hope that one of these days the schedulers in the PAC-12, at BYU and at Utah will wake up and realize that the week that Notre Dame plays either Stanford or USC is a good week for BYU and Utah to meet. Utah can then play Colorado the week that USC and UCLA or Cal and Stanford meet. Colorado can finish their season against either Cal or USC. It makes sense, but except for 2018, it seems like the Republicans will win the White House first.
The season ended for both Utah and Southern Utah. The season ended last week for Weber State, but truth is, they cashed it in about week 5 of the season, therefore they are looking for a new head coach. The Cougars have their bowl game and the Aggies travel to Fresno next week for the MWC Championship game vs. Fresno State. If they win, it will be the Las Vegas Bowl. If they lose, it will be the Poinsettia Bowl.
By the way, I like the fact that USU and Wyoming are playing for Jim Bridger's Rifle. It's great that it will reside in Logan for the next year.
Beehive State POW
BYU 28 Nevada 23
BYU POW: RB Jamaal Williams
Utah 24 Colorado 17
Utah POW: RB Kelvin York
Utah State 35 Wyoming 7
USU POW: RB Joey DeMartino
Sam Houston State 51 Southern Utah 20
SUU POW: QB Aaron Cantu
Games of the Week
FBS Independents:
Stanford 27 Notre Dame 20
PAC-12
Oregon 36 Oregon State 37
MW
BYU 28 Nevada 23
Big Sky
Both BSC teams were blown out of their playoff games.
Players of the Week by Conference
FBS Independents
BYU RB Jamaal Williams
PAC-12
Washington RB Bishop Sankey
MW
San Jose State QB David Fales
Big Sky
Southern Utah QB Aaron Cantu
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
2. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl*)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl*)
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
PAC-12 (Likely Post-Season)
1. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
2. Arizona State (Alamo Bowl)
3. Oregon (Fiesta Bowl)
4. UCLA (Holiday Bowl)
5. USC (Sun Bowl)
6. Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
7. Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
8. Oregon State (New Mexico Bowl)
9. Washington State (Some other bowl)
10. Utah
11. Colorado
12. California
MW
1. Utah State (Las Vegas Bowl)
2. Fresno State (Poinsettia Bowl)
3. Boise State (Hawaii Bowl)
4. Colorado State (Armed Forces Bowl)
5. UNLV (New Mexico Bowl)
6. San Diego State (Potato Bowl)
7. San Jose State (Some other Bowl, but possibly left without an invite.)
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. New Mexico
11. Air Force
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
Eastern Washington (Still in post-season, will face South Dakota State at home on Saturday)
Montana (Still in post season and will entertain Coastal Carolina on Saturday)
3. Northern Arizona
4. Southern Utah
5. Montana State
6. Cal Poly
7. UC Davis
8. Portland State
9. Sacramento State
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Colorado
12. Weber State
13. Idaho State
Predicted Finishes
BYU:
Current Record 8-4
Projected Loss: Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Note: The Huskies should be a 7-point favorite for the bowl game. It should turn out to be, for BYU, like the Notre Dame game where the offense can't get much going because the O-Line is over-matched. The D will keep BYU in the game. More on that later.
Final Record 8-5
Utah State:
Current Record: 8-4
Projected Win: Fresno State (MWC Championship Game)
Note: According to Sagarin, USU is the better team. They played a more difficult non-conference schedule (Utah, BYU, USC and Weber State) than Fresno (Rutgers, Idaho and Cal Poly), and it should show on Saturday. It should be a close and exciting game, however. I expect the Bulldogs will be the favorite by about 7 points. But I expect that the Aggies will build an early lead and hold on. Fresno has one of the worst defenses in the country and a mediocre running game. Utah State has one of the best defenses in the country and a balanced offense. Utah State will win if they can control the clock and keep the ball out of Derek Carr's hands.
It should be pointed out that if Fresno State had not qualified for the MWC Championship game, they would have needed an NCAA exception to play in a bowl game. Their game at Colorado was canceled.
Projected Loss: Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
Note: Arizona should be a 7-point favorite in the Las Vegas Bowl. I expect that for USU, this will be like the Utah game where the Wildcats pull away late. More on this later
Final Record: 9-5
Utah finished the season at 5-7
SUU finished the season at 8-5
WSU finished the season at 2-10
One final comment:
One thing that the first round of the NCAA playoffs missed was drama. There wasn't a single game decided by 7 points or less, and the eventual victors all had leads at the end of the 3rd quarter. There were 3 cases where the road team won. (Sigh) Hopefully the second round is more exciting.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Who will be Weber State's Next Coach
To determine who should be the next football coach at Weber State, one needs an honest assessment of the problems that you have at Weber State's football program. And one has to determine what sacrifices the program has to make to turn the football team around.
Let's first begin by being completely honest about one fact. Weber State relies on the football program to raise revenue for the rest of the athletic department, which according to the US Department of Education, does just a little better than break even. If revenue from the football program were to disappear, then other programs would suffer as well. Therefore, unless Weber State and fill the Dee Event Center for Men's Basketball every single night, you can't cancel football. And Weber State fans, as a result, should count on the program playing 2 FBS program almost every single season.
There are some problems with this kind of scheduling. First, to make the post-season, the football team has to be nearly perfect in conference play. It will be tough to win 8 games when you give yourself at least two guaranteed losses every season. Second, the other two non-conference games have to be winnable and on the cheap, which means that you are likely to see Big Sky Conference games scheduled as non-conference games more often in the future...that is until Long Beach State, CS Northridge, CS Fullerton and Seattle U. return to the gridiron and the Big West Conference returns.
Weber State has two problems that the new football coach and the athletic department must address immediately. First, attendance has been declining in the days since Ron McBride has left. Second, there has been a dearth of Utah talent on the Weber State roster.
The second problem isn't that difficult to solve. Mike Price and Dave Arslenian would both pride themselves on the high numbers of Utah kids on their rosters. It makes marketing the team to local fans a little bit easier. Ron McBride, however, liked recruiting out of Utah. There is a big problem with recruiting Utah kids. Most are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And therefore, most go on missions. It makes managing the roster a little bit more difficult. However, recruiting local hasn't seemed to hurt the Men's basketball program a lot, in fact Randy Rahe has thrived on it. Not all of the stars on the basketball program have come from the Beehive State, but a high percentage of the roster has.
But let's compare Weber State to Southern Utah, who has arguably been more successful in recent years than Weber State has been. Of their freshmen, SUU has 20 from Utah, where Weber State has 7. And many of those freshmen come from towns like Layton, Farmington and Plain City, right from Weber State's back yard.
Southern Utah has done something else, recruiting wise, that Weber State has not done. They have successfully lured in transfers who have given up on Utah and BYU. Many of this kids may be academically ineligible, but others simply left the bigger schools hoping for some playing time, and Ed Lamb has given it to them. In fact, Brad Sorensen left BYU and used SUU as a pathway to the NFL. It a recruiting opportunity that Weber State has simply missed out on.
As far as attendance goes, more locals on the roster and winning seasons will help. But so will improving the facilities. WSU needs, more than anything, more indoor bathrooms and more permanent concessions. Fortunately, the attendance still has not yet fallen to pre-McBride levels. But giving the fans something to cheer about, and making the experience a little better will help a lot.
What are the requirements for Weber State's next head football coach?
1. Utah Ties.
With the sole exception of Mike Price, those who have succeeded at Weber State have come from another Utah school before landing in Ogden. Take a look for yourself.
WSU Coach--Record--Prior Job--Alma Mater
Wally Nadler--.500--BYU Assistant--Utah State
Sark Arslenian--.654--Dixie College Head Coach--???
Dick Gwinn--.238--Weber State Assistant under Arslenian--Oklahoma
Pete Reilman--.349--Chico State--???
Mike Price--.511--Missouri QB Coach--Washington State
Dave Arslenian--.530--Dixie State Head Coach--Weber State/Arizona State
Jerry Greybeal--.410--Eastern Washington Assistant--Idaho State
Ron McBride--.530--Utah Head Coach--San Jose State
(John L. Smith--.000--Arkansas Assistant Coach--Weber State)
Jody Sears--.174--Washington State Assistant--Washington State
2. Resume
Perhaps there was one weakness that Jody Sears had. He didn't have a good resume. He was the cornerback coach at Washington State. He did spend some time as the defensive coordinator at Eastern Washington, and when Weber needed an interim coach, he was the most experienced assistant John L. Smith left behind. However, he wasn't the best choice had he otherwise applied for the job. At EWU, he was demoted from sole defensive coordinator to co-defensive coordinator, the position he held for his last two seasons in Cheney. He did follow his head coach, Paul Wulff from Cheney to Pullman, but the Eagles have been far more successful under Beau Baldwin. And Sears was not chosen as the defensive coordinator at Washington State but he was relegated to coaching cornerbacks. Why? It is likely that Baldwin wasn't going to keep Sears at EWU and he was able to convince Wulff to hire him as a position coach.
3. Mission Program
The new head coach at Weber State doesn't need to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but it will help if he understands how this makes Weber State a unique place to coach. In fact, the only LDS men have coached at Weber State were Nadler and the Arslenians. But Mike Price and Ron McBride respected the wishes of those who wanted to serve LDS missions and worked around it and were successful for it. Sears seems to have recruited around it, like Greybeal did.
***Updated***
According to the Ogden Standard Examiner, here is the short list of candidates:
1. Brandon Doman, Former BYU Offensive Coordinator. Played Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, BYU and Skyline High School. Hometown--Salt Lake City Alma Mater--BYU. LDS?--Yes, current LDS Bishop.
According to those close to the BYU program when he was coaching there, he wasn't the best X's and O's guy, but he was highly inspirational. I would expect that as a Head Coach, his style would be like his college coach LaVell Edwards. Coach Edwards left most of the dirty work to his assistants and would supervise their work. That may not necessarily be a strength. His strength would be his ability to recruit, especially local kids. He has been out of coaching for a year, but many think that he was a fall-guy in Provo and not given a fair chance to succeed.
2. Nick Howell, Current BYU Defensive Coordinator. Weber State Alum, Ogden Native and Ben Lomond High School graduate. Hometown--Ogden Alma Mater--Weber State LDS?--Yes.
For the past several years, Howell has been tutored under one of the best defensive minds in college football in BYU's Bronco Mendenhall. One of the chief criticisms of Mendenhall's style at BYU is that not enough attention has been paid to the offense, at a school that was once known for being one of the best offensive schools in the country. The concern I have about Howell is that Bronco Mendenhall has been so hands on with the defense, that Howell hasn't really been a coordinator. Howell has been mentioned by some as the likely successor to Bronco Mendenhall when he retires.
3. Kevin McGiven, Current USU Offensive Coordinator. Hometown--Orem Alma Mater--Louisiana Tech LDS--Yes
McGiven is the popular choice on most Weber State comment sites. As the Offensive Coordinator at Montana State in 2012, he helped see the Bobcats to an 11-2 record and a trip to the FCS quarterfinals. Basically with the same offensive personnel on the field in 2013, the Bobcat production dropped off dramatically and there were no playoffs in Bozeman. The one red flag for McGiven is that he has rarely stayed in one place for long.
4. Robb Akey, Former Idaho Coach. Played at Weber State under Mike Price and Coached at Weber State under Dave Arslenian. Hometown--Colorado Springs Alma Mater--Weber State LDS--No
Not really a popular choice, but I counter that with the argument that he did lead Idaho to a bowl game and a bowl victory. Not many coaches who have stopped in Moscow in their ill-advised move to the FBS have been able to say that. That puts him in company with John L. Smith. Actually, Akey should have moved on from Idaho after the bowl game in 2008. He would likely still be coaching. It's a very difficult place to succeed.
5. Eric Price, Current Tulane Offensive Coordinator. Played at Weber State under his father Mike Price. Graduate of Ogden High School. Hometown--Ogden Alma Mater--Weber State LDS--No
Tulane has made a dramatic turn around in 2013, and Price deserves much of the credit. However, it is possible that Weber State can't afford the pay he deserves. He has also never coached in Utah, but that didn't stop his father from succeeding.
6. Ed Lamb, Southern Utah Head Coach. Hometown--Castro Valley, California Alma Mater--BYU LDS-Yes
How did his name end up on this list? Doesn't he have a good thing going in Cedar City? Likely he has family on the Wasatch Front, and Cedar City might be too far removed. Look at the SUU roster and see how many kids are from the SLC CSA, especially from cities at the North End like Layton, Plain City and even Ogden. Yep, he has recruited in Weber State's back yard. The trouble with Lamb is that his defense is usually very good, but the offense, except when Brad Sorensen was under center, hasn't been a strength. He is someone else from the LaVell Edwards Coaching tree and has a similar style. He was a GA under Edwards and Played at BYU.
7. Robin Pflugrad, Current Offensive Coordinator. Former coach at Montana. Hometown--Eugene, Oregon Alma Mater--Portland State LDS--No
Well, let see, the offense didn't exactly light it up, except in the first and last game of the season. The other question about Pflu is if he has been in Utah long enough to understand what makes this place different than Montana. He also has his hat in the ring at North Dakota. He will be a head coach again someday, but Weber State may not be the best fit.
8. Steve Moton--Current Offensive Line Coach and Associate Head Coach. Hometown--Pullman, Washginton??? Alma Mater--Washington State LDS--No
Moton has coached at Washington State, Iowa State, Stanford, USC, Nevada and San Jose State. He has coached since the late 1970s. But he hasn't been associated with a lot of successful programs in his career.
9. Matt Hammer, current coach at Weber High School and former Weber State offensive coordinator. Hometown--Clearfield Alma Mater--Southern Utah LDS--Yes
Not a very popular choice among chat sites either. Hammer was the last offensive coordinator under Ron McBride and many though that his play calling was predictable. Of course, losing Cameron Higgins had a lot to do with that. He is credited for turning Weber High around this season.
10. Dave Peck, current coach at Bingham High School. Hometown--Grace, Idaho Alma Mater--Southern Utah LDS--Yes
Peck is not only one of the most successful high school coaches in Utah, but in the United States. There is no doubt he can coach. But many successful high school coaches don't make the transition to college unless they are willing to first work as an assistant. Unlike Hammer, he has never coached at the college level. Hiring Peck would be a gamble.
Who do I think will get the job?
I saw an exchange of tweets between a couple of Deseret News reporters who thought the choice would be Doman, in fact, one guaranteed it would be Doman. The popular choice among chatters at Weber State's Big Sky Fans site is McGiven. My opinion, it will be one of those two who will get the job.
Let's first begin by being completely honest about one fact. Weber State relies on the football program to raise revenue for the rest of the athletic department, which according to the US Department of Education, does just a little better than break even. If revenue from the football program were to disappear, then other programs would suffer as well. Therefore, unless Weber State and fill the Dee Event Center for Men's Basketball every single night, you can't cancel football. And Weber State fans, as a result, should count on the program playing 2 FBS program almost every single season.
There are some problems with this kind of scheduling. First, to make the post-season, the football team has to be nearly perfect in conference play. It will be tough to win 8 games when you give yourself at least two guaranteed losses every season. Second, the other two non-conference games have to be winnable and on the cheap, which means that you are likely to see Big Sky Conference games scheduled as non-conference games more often in the future...that is until Long Beach State, CS Northridge, CS Fullerton and Seattle U. return to the gridiron and the Big West Conference returns.
Weber State has two problems that the new football coach and the athletic department must address immediately. First, attendance has been declining in the days since Ron McBride has left. Second, there has been a dearth of Utah talent on the Weber State roster.
The second problem isn't that difficult to solve. Mike Price and Dave Arslenian would both pride themselves on the high numbers of Utah kids on their rosters. It makes marketing the team to local fans a little bit easier. Ron McBride, however, liked recruiting out of Utah. There is a big problem with recruiting Utah kids. Most are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And therefore, most go on missions. It makes managing the roster a little bit more difficult. However, recruiting local hasn't seemed to hurt the Men's basketball program a lot, in fact Randy Rahe has thrived on it. Not all of the stars on the basketball program have come from the Beehive State, but a high percentage of the roster has.
But let's compare Weber State to Southern Utah, who has arguably been more successful in recent years than Weber State has been. Of their freshmen, SUU has 20 from Utah, where Weber State has 7. And many of those freshmen come from towns like Layton, Farmington and Plain City, right from Weber State's back yard.
Southern Utah has done something else, recruiting wise, that Weber State has not done. They have successfully lured in transfers who have given up on Utah and BYU. Many of this kids may be academically ineligible, but others simply left the bigger schools hoping for some playing time, and Ed Lamb has given it to them. In fact, Brad Sorensen left BYU and used SUU as a pathway to the NFL. It a recruiting opportunity that Weber State has simply missed out on.
As far as attendance goes, more locals on the roster and winning seasons will help. But so will improving the facilities. WSU needs, more than anything, more indoor bathrooms and more permanent concessions. Fortunately, the attendance still has not yet fallen to pre-McBride levels. But giving the fans something to cheer about, and making the experience a little better will help a lot.
What are the requirements for Weber State's next head football coach?
1. Utah Ties.
With the sole exception of Mike Price, those who have succeeded at Weber State have come from another Utah school before landing in Ogden. Take a look for yourself.
WSU Coach--Record--Prior Job--Alma Mater
Wally Nadler--.500--BYU Assistant--Utah State
Sark Arslenian--.654--Dixie College Head Coach--???
Dick Gwinn--.238--Weber State Assistant under Arslenian--Oklahoma
Pete Reilman--.349--Chico State--???
Mike Price--.511--Missouri QB Coach--Washington State
Dave Arslenian--.530--Dixie State Head Coach--Weber State/Arizona State
Jerry Greybeal--.410--Eastern Washington Assistant--Idaho State
Ron McBride--.530--Utah Head Coach--San Jose State
(John L. Smith--.000--Arkansas Assistant Coach--Weber State)
Jody Sears--.174--Washington State Assistant--Washington State
2. Resume
Perhaps there was one weakness that Jody Sears had. He didn't have a good resume. He was the cornerback coach at Washington State. He did spend some time as the defensive coordinator at Eastern Washington, and when Weber needed an interim coach, he was the most experienced assistant John L. Smith left behind. However, he wasn't the best choice had he otherwise applied for the job. At EWU, he was demoted from sole defensive coordinator to co-defensive coordinator, the position he held for his last two seasons in Cheney. He did follow his head coach, Paul Wulff from Cheney to Pullman, but the Eagles have been far more successful under Beau Baldwin. And Sears was not chosen as the defensive coordinator at Washington State but he was relegated to coaching cornerbacks. Why? It is likely that Baldwin wasn't going to keep Sears at EWU and he was able to convince Wulff to hire him as a position coach.
3. Mission Program
The new head coach at Weber State doesn't need to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but it will help if he understands how this makes Weber State a unique place to coach. In fact, the only LDS men have coached at Weber State were Nadler and the Arslenians. But Mike Price and Ron McBride respected the wishes of those who wanted to serve LDS missions and worked around it and were successful for it. Sears seems to have recruited around it, like Greybeal did.
***Updated***
According to the Ogden Standard Examiner, here is the short list of candidates:
1. Brandon Doman, Former BYU Offensive Coordinator. Played Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, BYU and Skyline High School. Hometown--Salt Lake City Alma Mater--BYU. LDS?--Yes, current LDS Bishop.
According to those close to the BYU program when he was coaching there, he wasn't the best X's and O's guy, but he was highly inspirational. I would expect that as a Head Coach, his style would be like his college coach LaVell Edwards. Coach Edwards left most of the dirty work to his assistants and would supervise their work. That may not necessarily be a strength. His strength would be his ability to recruit, especially local kids. He has been out of coaching for a year, but many think that he was a fall-guy in Provo and not given a fair chance to succeed.
2. Nick Howell, Current BYU Defensive Coordinator. Weber State Alum, Ogden Native and Ben Lomond High School graduate. Hometown--Ogden Alma Mater--Weber State LDS?--Yes.
For the past several years, Howell has been tutored under one of the best defensive minds in college football in BYU's Bronco Mendenhall. One of the chief criticisms of Mendenhall's style at BYU is that not enough attention has been paid to the offense, at a school that was once known for being one of the best offensive schools in the country. The concern I have about Howell is that Bronco Mendenhall has been so hands on with the defense, that Howell hasn't really been a coordinator. Howell has been mentioned by some as the likely successor to Bronco Mendenhall when he retires.
3. Kevin McGiven, Current USU Offensive Coordinator. Hometown--Orem Alma Mater--Louisiana Tech LDS--Yes
McGiven is the popular choice on most Weber State comment sites. As the Offensive Coordinator at Montana State in 2012, he helped see the Bobcats to an 11-2 record and a trip to the FCS quarterfinals. Basically with the same offensive personnel on the field in 2013, the Bobcat production dropped off dramatically and there were no playoffs in Bozeman. The one red flag for McGiven is that he has rarely stayed in one place for long.
4. Robb Akey, Former Idaho Coach. Played at Weber State under Mike Price and Coached at Weber State under Dave Arslenian. Hometown--Colorado Springs Alma Mater--Weber State LDS--No
Not really a popular choice, but I counter that with the argument that he did lead Idaho to a bowl game and a bowl victory. Not many coaches who have stopped in Moscow in their ill-advised move to the FBS have been able to say that. That puts him in company with John L. Smith. Actually, Akey should have moved on from Idaho after the bowl game in 2008. He would likely still be coaching. It's a very difficult place to succeed.
5. Eric Price, Current Tulane Offensive Coordinator. Played at Weber State under his father Mike Price. Graduate of Ogden High School. Hometown--Ogden Alma Mater--Weber State LDS--No
Tulane has made a dramatic turn around in 2013, and Price deserves much of the credit. However, it is possible that Weber State can't afford the pay he deserves. He has also never coached in Utah, but that didn't stop his father from succeeding.
6. Ed Lamb, Southern Utah Head Coach. Hometown--Castro Valley, California Alma Mater--BYU LDS-Yes
How did his name end up on this list? Doesn't he have a good thing going in Cedar City? Likely he has family on the Wasatch Front, and Cedar City might be too far removed. Look at the SUU roster and see how many kids are from the SLC CSA, especially from cities at the North End like Layton, Plain City and even Ogden. Yep, he has recruited in Weber State's back yard. The trouble with Lamb is that his defense is usually very good, but the offense, except when Brad Sorensen was under center, hasn't been a strength. He is someone else from the LaVell Edwards Coaching tree and has a similar style. He was a GA under Edwards and Played at BYU.
7. Robin Pflugrad, Current Offensive Coordinator. Former coach at Montana. Hometown--Eugene, Oregon Alma Mater--Portland State LDS--No
Well, let see, the offense didn't exactly light it up, except in the first and last game of the season. The other question about Pflu is if he has been in Utah long enough to understand what makes this place different than Montana. He also has his hat in the ring at North Dakota. He will be a head coach again someday, but Weber State may not be the best fit.
8. Steve Moton--Current Offensive Line Coach and Associate Head Coach. Hometown--Pullman, Washginton??? Alma Mater--Washington State LDS--No
Moton has coached at Washington State, Iowa State, Stanford, USC, Nevada and San Jose State. He has coached since the late 1970s. But he hasn't been associated with a lot of successful programs in his career.
9. Matt Hammer, current coach at Weber High School and former Weber State offensive coordinator. Hometown--Clearfield Alma Mater--Southern Utah LDS--Yes
Not a very popular choice among chat sites either. Hammer was the last offensive coordinator under Ron McBride and many though that his play calling was predictable. Of course, losing Cameron Higgins had a lot to do with that. He is credited for turning Weber High around this season.
10. Dave Peck, current coach at Bingham High School. Hometown--Grace, Idaho Alma Mater--Southern Utah LDS--Yes
Peck is not only one of the most successful high school coaches in Utah, but in the United States. There is no doubt he can coach. But many successful high school coaches don't make the transition to college unless they are willing to first work as an assistant. Unlike Hammer, he has never coached at the college level. Hiring Peck would be a gamble.
Who do I think will get the job?
I saw an exchange of tweets between a couple of Deseret News reporters who thought the choice would be Doman, in fact, one guaranteed it would be Doman. The popular choice among chatters at Weber State's Big Sky Fans site is McGiven. My opinion, it will be one of those two who will get the job.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Getting Ready for the Big Games.
Time to get ready for some big games...
First, even though they lost to Northern Arizona, Southern Utah was still awarded with an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs. On Saturday afternoon, SUU will travel to Huntsville, Texas to take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats of the Southland Conference. The winner of this game will get to take on McNeese State, who is the #6 seed. Hopefully, the Thunderbirds and their awesome defense will be ready for the Bearkats. Hopefully, the put aside the bad memories from the 4th quarter of the home finale against Northern Arizona.
Utah State was ready defensively for Kapri Bibbs of Colorado State who has been steamrolling through the rest of the Mountain West Conference. If Utah State beats Wyoming next week, they earn the right to travel to Fresno and try to stop the Bulldogs from their BCS destiny this season. The Cowboys should be plenty motivated, a win against the Aggies make Wyoming bowl eligible.
BYU was not ready for Notre Dame. I still though the Cougars were going to win in South Bend even though they ONLY scored 49 in the first half against Idaho State. That was going to be the topic of this blog last week, but it's hard to justify the criticism of a team that scored 49 in one half. However, if they had scored on every first half drive, they would have put up 77 on the Bengals by halftime. They should have. You can tell how ready a team is for the big games by how well they prepare for the little teams. But three drives ended in turnovers, and one drive ended in a punt. BYU, however should have little trouble with Nevada who just hasn't been Nevada this season.
Finally, congratulation to RSL for making the the MLS Cup Final. If Utah State can make a game of it in Fresno, some sports fans in the Beehive State will have a difficult choice of viewing on December 7th.
The Season is over for Weber State, they finished 2-11. I have a full review of WSU's season here.
One more week for the Utes. The good news, the coaches can spend time recruiting instead of preparing for a bowl.
Players of the Week.
Notre Dame 23 BYU 13
BYU POW: LB Craig Bills
4th quarter interception gave BYU a chance to win.
Washington State 49 Utah 37
Utah POW: WR Dres Anderson
Utah State 13 Colorado State 0
USU POW: LB Zach Vigil
1st quarter interception set the tone for the game.
Northern Arizona 20 Southern Utah 10
SUU POW: WR Levi Te'o
Weber State 36 Idaho State 7
WSU POW: RB Josh Booker
By Conference
FBS Independents
Navy QB Keenan Reynolds
PAC-12
Washington State QB Connor Halliday
MW
San Jose State QB David Fales
Big Sky
Eastern Washington QB Vernon Adams
Games of the Week
FBS Independent and MW
Navy 58 San Jose State 52
Pac-12
Arizona State 38 UCLA 33
Big Sky
Eastern Washington 42 Portland State 41
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
2. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl*)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl*)
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
PAC-12
1. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
2. Arizona State (Alamo Bowl)
3. USC (Holiday Bowl)
4. Oregon (Sun Bowl)
5. Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
6. UCLA (Fight Hunger Bowl)
7. Oregon State (New Mexico Bowl)
8. Washington (Poinsettia Bowl)
9. Washington State
10. Utah
11. Colorado
12. California
MW
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Las Vegas Bowl)
3. San Diego State (Poinsettia Bowl)
4. Boise State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. Colorado State (Armed Forces Bowl)
6. San Jose State (New Mexico Bowl)
7. UNLV (Famous Potato Bowl)]
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
(Regular Season Has Ended)
In Post Season:
#3 Seed--Eastern Washington, awaits the winner of Northern Arizona/South Dakota State
#8 Seed--Montana, awaits the winner of Bethune-Cookman/Coastal Carolina
Northern Arizona hosts South Dakota State, the winner will visit Eastern Washington
Southern Utah visits Sam Houston State, the winner will visit McNeese State
Remainder of power rankings
5. Montana State
6. Cal Poly
7. UC Davis
8. Portland State
9. Sacramento State
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Colorado
12. Weber State
13. Idaho State
Projected Finishes
BYU
Current Record: 7-4
Projected Win: Nevada
Projected Loss: UCLA (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Finish: 8-5
Utah
Current Record 4-7
Projected Win: Colorado
Projected Finish: 5-7
Utah State
Current Record 7-4
Projected Win: Wyoming
Projected Losses: Fresno State (MWC Championship), Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
Project Finish: 8-6
Southern Utah:
Current Record: 7-5
Projected Loss: Sam Houston State
Projected Finish: 7-6
First, even though they lost to Northern Arizona, Southern Utah was still awarded with an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs. On Saturday afternoon, SUU will travel to Huntsville, Texas to take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats of the Southland Conference. The winner of this game will get to take on McNeese State, who is the #6 seed. Hopefully, the Thunderbirds and their awesome defense will be ready for the Bearkats. Hopefully, the put aside the bad memories from the 4th quarter of the home finale against Northern Arizona.
Utah State was ready defensively for Kapri Bibbs of Colorado State who has been steamrolling through the rest of the Mountain West Conference. If Utah State beats Wyoming next week, they earn the right to travel to Fresno and try to stop the Bulldogs from their BCS destiny this season. The Cowboys should be plenty motivated, a win against the Aggies make Wyoming bowl eligible.
BYU was not ready for Notre Dame. I still though the Cougars were going to win in South Bend even though they ONLY scored 49 in the first half against Idaho State. That was going to be the topic of this blog last week, but it's hard to justify the criticism of a team that scored 49 in one half. However, if they had scored on every first half drive, they would have put up 77 on the Bengals by halftime. They should have. You can tell how ready a team is for the big games by how well they prepare for the little teams. But three drives ended in turnovers, and one drive ended in a punt. BYU, however should have little trouble with Nevada who just hasn't been Nevada this season.
Finally, congratulation to RSL for making the the MLS Cup Final. If Utah State can make a game of it in Fresno, some sports fans in the Beehive State will have a difficult choice of viewing on December 7th.
The Season is over for Weber State, they finished 2-11. I have a full review of WSU's season here.
One more week for the Utes. The good news, the coaches can spend time recruiting instead of preparing for a bowl.
Players of the Week.
Notre Dame 23 BYU 13
BYU POW: LB Craig Bills
4th quarter interception gave BYU a chance to win.
Washington State 49 Utah 37
Utah POW: WR Dres Anderson
Utah State 13 Colorado State 0
USU POW: LB Zach Vigil
1st quarter interception set the tone for the game.
Northern Arizona 20 Southern Utah 10
SUU POW: WR Levi Te'o
Weber State 36 Idaho State 7
WSU POW: RB Josh Booker
By Conference
FBS Independents
Navy QB Keenan Reynolds
PAC-12
Washington State QB Connor Halliday
MW
San Jose State QB David Fales
Big Sky
Eastern Washington QB Vernon Adams
Games of the Week
FBS Independent and MW
Navy 58 San Jose State 52
Pac-12
Arizona State 38 UCLA 33
Big Sky
Eastern Washington 42 Portland State 41
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
2. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl*)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl*)
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
PAC-12
1. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
2. Arizona State (Alamo Bowl)
3. USC (Holiday Bowl)
4. Oregon (Sun Bowl)
5. Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
6. UCLA (Fight Hunger Bowl)
7. Oregon State (New Mexico Bowl)
8. Washington (Poinsettia Bowl)
9. Washington State
10. Utah
11. Colorado
12. California
MW
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Las Vegas Bowl)
3. San Diego State (Poinsettia Bowl)
4. Boise State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. Colorado State (Armed Forces Bowl)
6. San Jose State (New Mexico Bowl)
7. UNLV (Famous Potato Bowl)]
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
(Regular Season Has Ended)
In Post Season:
#3 Seed--Eastern Washington, awaits the winner of Northern Arizona/South Dakota State
#8 Seed--Montana, awaits the winner of Bethune-Cookman/Coastal Carolina
Northern Arizona hosts South Dakota State, the winner will visit Eastern Washington
Southern Utah visits Sam Houston State, the winner will visit McNeese State
Remainder of power rankings
5. Montana State
6. Cal Poly
7. UC Davis
8. Portland State
9. Sacramento State
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Colorado
12. Weber State
13. Idaho State
Projected Finishes
BYU
Current Record: 7-4
Projected Win: Nevada
Projected Loss: UCLA (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Finish: 8-5
Utah
Current Record 4-7
Projected Win: Colorado
Projected Finish: 5-7
Utah State
Current Record 7-4
Projected Win: Wyoming
Projected Losses: Fresno State (MWC Championship), Arizona (Las Vegas Bowl)
Project Finish: 8-6
Southern Utah:
Current Record: 7-5
Projected Loss: Sam Houston State
Projected Finish: 7-6
Weber State Football...End of Season Review and Grades.
WSU Season in review:
SFA
The season started with a bang and faded quickly. There was some optimism in Ogden after the Wildcats put up 50 on Stephen F. Austin. The offense was clicking, and there were points scored on special teams and by the defense. As it turned out SFA was simply looking past WSU, and they nearly came all the way back in the 2nd half. SFA had cut a big WSU lead to just 7 points by the 4th quarter. The second half was an unfortunate harbinger of things to come.
Utah and Utah State
It has been the norm for WSU to take on 2 FBS opponents near the beginning of the season, but not two quality teams like Utah and Utah State. After surrendering 140 points in two weeks, while scoring only 14, the team was bruised, beat up and any confidence gained in the SFA game was gone.
Rest of the season
Up until the Idaho State game, it was one thing after another for the Wildcats. On games #2 through #11, the closest WSU had to a win was a 1 touchdown loss to Southern Utah. The rest of the games were over by the halfway point of the 3rd quarter. Often before that. For the Stephen F. Austin, Southern Utah and Idaho State games, WSU's average points for were 34 and points against were 24. That would probably get you to .500 in the Big Sky Conference. The other 9 games WSU's average points for were 10 and average points against were 47.
Jody Sears and Jerry Bovee
Sears contract states that if his team failed to win 4 games this season, he could be fired without a buyout. Sears will likely be working somewhere else next year. But much of the blame for the way the season worked out is on the back of athletic director Jerry Bovee. He needs to be shown the door as well. Football is not the only sport that is struggling right now. WSU, which is normally in contention for the Big Sky Conference President's trophy, is struggling in all sports right now, with only a couple of exceptions. There have only been three conference championships in the past two seasons. One by the Women's Soccer team and two by the Women's Cross County team. The futility in sports has been highlighted by the dismal performance in Football and in Women's basketball who failed to win a single game last season, and who still haven't defeated another Division I school since the 2011/12 season.
In Football, the athletic director is the one who sets the schedule. In recent seasons, with the two Jerrys, Graybeal and Bovee setting the schedule, the football program has been more about earning money for the rest of the athletic department than it has been about setting a realistic schedule. The entire athletic department is suffering as a result.
Offense:
There was an explosion of points in the Stephen F. Austin game at the beginning of the season, but many of those points were on special teams and on defense. There were also a lot of points in the 4th quarter of the Idaho State game. Between those high points, the offense was the definition of anemic. The starting quarterback, Jordan Adamczyk, was lost for the season. WSU was near the bottom of the FCS in nearly every offensive category. But it all began with a porous offensive line, and that is where Weber State will need to improve most over the off-season.
Grade: D-
Defense:
10 of 12 opponents that WSU faced in 2013 scored at least 30 points. 8 scored more than 40. You don't win a lot of games when teams score on you like that. With even an average FCS defense and this offense, WSU could have won perhaps 2 more games this season (Portland State and Southern Utah). This is probably the #1 reason why Jody Sears, a defensive specialist will not return in 2014.
Grade: F
Special Teams:
When the kickers got the chance to show their stuff, they were accurate, and not many were missed. And some of the few touchdowns for the team in 2013 were scored on kick returns. However, to call special teams the sole bright spot would be giving them too much credit. But, they were better than average.
Grade: B-
Outlook for next season.
WSU may have been dismal this season, but they are also young. WSU has been affected as much by the LDS mission age change as any other school, and probably won't realistically see relief until 2015, once returning missionaries have been home for a year. However, they should probably forget trying to schedule 2 FBS opponents next year, unless one of them is (sorry Vandal fans) Idaho. A lot of what could happen next season will depend on how badly WSU gets beat up in their non-conference games. They have 2 games left to schedule.
WSU graduated 12 seniors and had 20 sophomores on the roster. You will also notice that not many of the 34 freshmen on the roster are from Utah. This is a result of the LDS church change in age for missionaries. The experience the sophomores had this season will help. Of the 12 seniors, only 3 were defensive starters. WSU should be better on defense next season.
As for who should coach next year, some insiders consider, ironically, former Idaho head coach Robb Akey, a WSU alum from the Mike Price era as the front runner to coach next season. Others name SUU defensive coordinator Justin Ena, a BYU alum who played under LaVell Edwards as the most likely to come north to Ogden. I would like to see Nick Howell, a WSU alum from the Ron McBride era and Ogden native to come and turn WSU around. However, it is unlikely that WSU could pay Howell enough to take the job.
Wildcat MVPs
Offensive MVP: RB Bo Bolen (Jr.)
Defensive MVP: LB Anthony Morales (Sr.)
Special Teams MVP: PK Sean McClain (Sr.)
SFA
The season started with a bang and faded quickly. There was some optimism in Ogden after the Wildcats put up 50 on Stephen F. Austin. The offense was clicking, and there were points scored on special teams and by the defense. As it turned out SFA was simply looking past WSU, and they nearly came all the way back in the 2nd half. SFA had cut a big WSU lead to just 7 points by the 4th quarter. The second half was an unfortunate harbinger of things to come.
Utah and Utah State
It has been the norm for WSU to take on 2 FBS opponents near the beginning of the season, but not two quality teams like Utah and Utah State. After surrendering 140 points in two weeks, while scoring only 14, the team was bruised, beat up and any confidence gained in the SFA game was gone.
Rest of the season
Up until the Idaho State game, it was one thing after another for the Wildcats. On games #2 through #11, the closest WSU had to a win was a 1 touchdown loss to Southern Utah. The rest of the games were over by the halfway point of the 3rd quarter. Often before that. For the Stephen F. Austin, Southern Utah and Idaho State games, WSU's average points for were 34 and points against were 24. That would probably get you to .500 in the Big Sky Conference. The other 9 games WSU's average points for were 10 and average points against were 47.
Jody Sears and Jerry Bovee
Sears contract states that if his team failed to win 4 games this season, he could be fired without a buyout. Sears will likely be working somewhere else next year. But much of the blame for the way the season worked out is on the back of athletic director Jerry Bovee. He needs to be shown the door as well. Football is not the only sport that is struggling right now. WSU, which is normally in contention for the Big Sky Conference President's trophy, is struggling in all sports right now, with only a couple of exceptions. There have only been three conference championships in the past two seasons. One by the Women's Soccer team and two by the Women's Cross County team. The futility in sports has been highlighted by the dismal performance in Football and in Women's basketball who failed to win a single game last season, and who still haven't defeated another Division I school since the 2011/12 season.
In Football, the athletic director is the one who sets the schedule. In recent seasons, with the two Jerrys, Graybeal and Bovee setting the schedule, the football program has been more about earning money for the rest of the athletic department than it has been about setting a realistic schedule. The entire athletic department is suffering as a result.
Offense:
There was an explosion of points in the Stephen F. Austin game at the beginning of the season, but many of those points were on special teams and on defense. There were also a lot of points in the 4th quarter of the Idaho State game. Between those high points, the offense was the definition of anemic. The starting quarterback, Jordan Adamczyk, was lost for the season. WSU was near the bottom of the FCS in nearly every offensive category. But it all began with a porous offensive line, and that is where Weber State will need to improve most over the off-season.
Grade: D-
Defense:
10 of 12 opponents that WSU faced in 2013 scored at least 30 points. 8 scored more than 40. You don't win a lot of games when teams score on you like that. With even an average FCS defense and this offense, WSU could have won perhaps 2 more games this season (Portland State and Southern Utah). This is probably the #1 reason why Jody Sears, a defensive specialist will not return in 2014.
Grade: F
Special Teams:
When the kickers got the chance to show their stuff, they were accurate, and not many were missed. And some of the few touchdowns for the team in 2013 were scored on kick returns. However, to call special teams the sole bright spot would be giving them too much credit. But, they were better than average.
Grade: B-
Outlook for next season.
WSU may have been dismal this season, but they are also young. WSU has been affected as much by the LDS mission age change as any other school, and probably won't realistically see relief until 2015, once returning missionaries have been home for a year. However, they should probably forget trying to schedule 2 FBS opponents next year, unless one of them is (sorry Vandal fans) Idaho. A lot of what could happen next season will depend on how badly WSU gets beat up in their non-conference games. They have 2 games left to schedule.
WSU graduated 12 seniors and had 20 sophomores on the roster. You will also notice that not many of the 34 freshmen on the roster are from Utah. This is a result of the LDS church change in age for missionaries. The experience the sophomores had this season will help. Of the 12 seniors, only 3 were defensive starters. WSU should be better on defense next season.
As for who should coach next year, some insiders consider, ironically, former Idaho head coach Robb Akey, a WSU alum from the Mike Price era as the front runner to coach next season. Others name SUU defensive coordinator Justin Ena, a BYU alum who played under LaVell Edwards as the most likely to come north to Ogden. I would like to see Nick Howell, a WSU alum from the Ron McBride era and Ogden native to come and turn WSU around. However, it is unlikely that WSU could pay Howell enough to take the job.
Wildcat MVPs
Offensive MVP: RB Bo Bolen (Jr.)
Defensive MVP: LB Anthony Morales (Sr.)
Special Teams MVP: PK Sean McClain (Sr.)
Sunday, November 17, 2013
When is it time to pull the plug?
Weber State, at best, will finish with 2 wins. The question before athletic director Jerry Bovee right now is whether to execute the clause in Jody Sears' contract allowing him to be fired without a buyout. That contact stated he needed to gain 4 victories this year.
To be fair to Sears, he should have looked at the schedule this season before agreeing to the clause. Weber State didn't exactly get a fair shake in 2013. First, there were not one, but two FBS schools on the schedule, which has happened before. And there were two FBS schools back-to-back, which has happened for three consec utive seasons. Most FCS schools only have one money game on the schedule. Second, WSU had probably the most difficult half of the Big Sky Conference on the schedule. UC Davis, North Dakota and Northern Colorado weren't on the schedule this season.
In 2014, Weber State has two games left to schedule, and so far there are no FBS teams on the schedule. North Dakota and Northern Colorado are on the conference schedule in place of Montana and Eastern Washington. If WSU had this schedule in 2013, perhaps they would have more than 1 win.
As for the final two games, Jerry Bovee should schedule at least one game that is a realistic, confidence-building game for the Wildcats. Perhaps a Division II team, such as Humboldt State or New Mexico Highlands would be a welcome addition to the four-game home schedule. There probably will be an FBS game, but it would be nice if it fit into one of two categories.
Either it should be against a school that would so over-match WSU, that they will easily reach into their bench early in the second quarter. This game should be against one of those schools that would sell out the stadium even though Weber State is the visiting team. This would provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players. Ohio State or Alabama would fit into that category. The second category is an FBS program that would present a winnable game for WSU, such as New Mexico or (sorry to say this) Idaho.
WSU has the toughest schedule in the Big Sky Conference in 2013. Sometimes that is a good thing, but it was unrealistic this year. It doesn't work when you are rebuilding your program.
BYU 59 Idaho State 13
BYU POW: RB Jamaal Williams
Oregon 44 Utah 21
Utah POW: WR/KR Dres Anderson
Southern Utah 22 Montana State 14
SUU POW: WR Anthony Norris
Montana 36 Weber State 6
WSU POW: DB AJ Cooney
Conference Games of the Week
FBS Independent
None selected
PAC-12
USC 20 Stanford 17
MW
San Diego State 28 Hawaii 21
Big Sky
Sacramento State 43 Portland State 42
Players of the Week
FBS Independents
BYU RB Jamaal Williams
PAC-12
Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey
MW
Colorado State RB Kapri Bibbs
Big Sky
Portland State RB DJ Adams
Power Rankings
FBS Independent
1. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl)
2. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
4. Old Dominion (Not Bowl Eligible due to FBS transition)
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
PAC-12 (Post-Season)
1. Oregon (Rose Bowl)
2. UCLA (Alamo Bowl)
3. Stanford (Holiday Bowl)
4. USC (Sun Bowl)
5. Arizona State (Las Vegas Bowl)
6. Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
7. Arizona (New Mexico Bowl)
8. Oregon State (Poinsettia Bowl)
9. Utah (Bowl Eligible, but not invited)
10. Washington State
11. Colordo
12. California
MW
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Las Vegas Bowl)
3. Boise State (Poinsettia Bowl)
4. San Diego State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. Colorado State (Armed Forces Bowl)
6. San Jose State (New Mexico Bowl)
7. UNLV (Potato Bowl)
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington (First Round Bye)
2. Montana (First Round Home Game)
3. Cal Poly (First Round Home Game)
4. Southern Utah (First Round Road Game)
5. Montana State
6. Northern Arizona (First Round Road Game)
7. Sacramento State
8. UC Davis
9. Portland State
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Arizona
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Predictions
BYU
Current Record: 7-3
Projected Wins: Notre Dame, Nevada, Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Finish: 10-3
Utah
Current Record: 4-6
Projected Wins: Washington State, Colorado
Projected Finish: 6-6
Utah State
Current Record: 6-4
Projected Wins: Colorado State, Wyoming
Projected Loss: Arizona State (Las Vegas Bowl)
Projected Finish: 8-5
Southern Utah
Current Record: 8-3
Projected Win: Northern Arizona
Projected Loss: Youngstown State (FCS Playoffs)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Weber State
Current Record: 1-10
Projected Loss: Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Note: If WSU falls to Idaho State, it will be their worst season in history.
To be fair to Sears, he should have looked at the schedule this season before agreeing to the clause. Weber State didn't exactly get a fair shake in 2013. First, there were not one, but two FBS schools on the schedule, which has happened before. And there were two FBS schools back-to-back, which has happened for three consec utive seasons. Most FCS schools only have one money game on the schedule. Second, WSU had probably the most difficult half of the Big Sky Conference on the schedule. UC Davis, North Dakota and Northern Colorado weren't on the schedule this season.
In 2014, Weber State has two games left to schedule, and so far there are no FBS teams on the schedule. North Dakota and Northern Colorado are on the conference schedule in place of Montana and Eastern Washington. If WSU had this schedule in 2013, perhaps they would have more than 1 win.
As for the final two games, Jerry Bovee should schedule at least one game that is a realistic, confidence-building game for the Wildcats. Perhaps a Division II team, such as Humboldt State or New Mexico Highlands would be a welcome addition to the four-game home schedule. There probably will be an FBS game, but it would be nice if it fit into one of two categories.
Either it should be against a school that would so over-match WSU, that they will easily reach into their bench early in the second quarter. This game should be against one of those schools that would sell out the stadium even though Weber State is the visiting team. This would provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players. Ohio State or Alabama would fit into that category. The second category is an FBS program that would present a winnable game for WSU, such as New Mexico or (sorry to say this) Idaho.
WSU has the toughest schedule in the Big Sky Conference in 2013. Sometimes that is a good thing, but it was unrealistic this year. It doesn't work when you are rebuilding your program.
BYU 59 Idaho State 13
BYU POW: RB Jamaal Williams
Oregon 44 Utah 21
Utah POW: WR/KR Dres Anderson
Southern Utah 22 Montana State 14
SUU POW: WR Anthony Norris
Montana 36 Weber State 6
WSU POW: DB AJ Cooney
Conference Games of the Week
FBS Independent
None selected
PAC-12
USC 20 Stanford 17
MW
San Diego State 28 Hawaii 21
Big Sky
Sacramento State 43 Portland State 42
Players of the Week
FBS Independents
BYU RB Jamaal Williams
PAC-12
Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey
MW
Colorado State RB Kapri Bibbs
Big Sky
Portland State RB DJ Adams
Power Rankings
FBS Independent
1. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl)
2. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
4. Old Dominion (Not Bowl Eligible due to FBS transition)
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
PAC-12 (Post-Season)
1. Oregon (Rose Bowl)
2. UCLA (Alamo Bowl)
3. Stanford (Holiday Bowl)
4. USC (Sun Bowl)
5. Arizona State (Las Vegas Bowl)
6. Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
7. Arizona (New Mexico Bowl)
8. Oregon State (Poinsettia Bowl)
9. Utah (Bowl Eligible, but not invited)
10. Washington State
11. Colordo
12. California
MW
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Las Vegas Bowl)
3. Boise State (Poinsettia Bowl)
4. San Diego State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. Colorado State (Armed Forces Bowl)
6. San Jose State (New Mexico Bowl)
7. UNLV (Potato Bowl)
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington (First Round Bye)
2. Montana (First Round Home Game)
3. Cal Poly (First Round Home Game)
4. Southern Utah (First Round Road Game)
5. Montana State
6. Northern Arizona (First Round Road Game)
7. Sacramento State
8. UC Davis
9. Portland State
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Arizona
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Predictions
BYU
Current Record: 7-3
Projected Wins: Notre Dame, Nevada, Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Finish: 10-3
Utah
Current Record: 4-6
Projected Wins: Washington State, Colorado
Projected Finish: 6-6
Utah State
Current Record: 6-4
Projected Wins: Colorado State, Wyoming
Projected Loss: Arizona State (Las Vegas Bowl)
Projected Finish: 8-5
Southern Utah
Current Record: 8-3
Projected Win: Northern Arizona
Projected Loss: Youngstown State (FCS Playoffs)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Weber State
Current Record: 1-10
Projected Loss: Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Note: If WSU falls to Idaho State, it will be their worst season in history.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Was it really that bad of a sports day in Utah?
One tweet by a member of the sports staff at one of Salt Lake's prominent news stations tweeted on Saturday, "Utah State outlasts UNLV to salvage what was otherwise a bad sports Saturday in Utah." I first have to ask anyone who thinks that way, what were you expectations.
Let's begin with the Utah Jazz. To say that the Jazz had a fire sale over the summer is an understatement. They did not let their best players go for very little in return. They let them go for nothing. The Utah Jazz let Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson leave the franchise without any compensation in return. In other words, they unlocked the doors, turned off the cameras, sent the security guards home and allowed the neighbors to loot the store. Is anyone really surprised that the team is still winless?
Next, let's talk about BYU. In looking at the schedule before the season began, you knew the toughest game of the season for the Cougars was their November trip to Camp Randall Stadium to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Considering the way the season began, at respectable 10-point loss is a GOOD outcome, not a bad one.
As for the Utes, they have been outmatched in conference play all season. The last time Utah beat the ASU Sun Devils was shortly after Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the election of 1976. In the last 3 meetings with ASU, Utah has lost by an average score of 36 to 11. Even though it will not get the Utes closer to a bowl game, they are showing improvement.
There are some bright spots for Utah's sports fans. RSL is in the MLS final 4 with a pretty good chance of winning it all again. BYU will likely win out. So will Utah State. The Jazz won't be this lousy next year nor ever again. And the college basketball season is just under way with two and perhaps 3 or 4 Utah Teams will be in the round of 68. Therefore, there is not that much to be gloomy about.
Wisconsin 27 BYU 17
BYU POW
WR Cody Hoffman
7 Receptions, 113 Yards and 2 Touchdowns
Arizona State 20 Utah 19
Utah POW
WR Dres Anderson
4 Receptions, 100 Yards and 1 Touchdown
Utah State 28 UNLV 24
Utah State POW
WR Travis Reynolds
7 Receptions, 129 Yards
Southern Utah 27 Weber State 21
SUU POW
RB/QB Mike Sharp
Lots of stats
WSU POW
QB Austin Chipowetti
29/46 263 Yards and 3TDs
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona State 20 Utah 19
FBS Indy
Pittsburgh 28 Notre Dame 21
MW
Utah State 28 UNLV 24
Big Sky
Montana 31 South Dakota 27
Conference Players of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey
149 yards and 1 TD vs UCLA
FBS Indy
Navy QB Keenan Reynolds
226 Yards Rushing vs Hawaii
MW
Colorado State RB Kapri Bibbs
312 Yards and 4 TD vs. Nevada
Big Sky
Idaho State QB Justin Arias
315 Yards, 4 TDs and 1 Int vs. Portland State
Power Rankings
PAC-12 (Post-Season Projection)
1. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
2. Oregon (Sugar Bowl)
3. UCLA (Alamo Bowl)
4. Arizona State (Holiday Bowl)
5. Washington (Sun Bowl)
6. USC (Las Vegas Bowl)
7. Oregon State (Fight Hunger Bowl)
8. Arizona (New Mexico Bowl)
9. Utah (Poinsettia Bowl)
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Indy
1. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl)
2. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
3. Navy (Armed Forced Bowl)
4. Old Dominion (Not bowl eligible due to transition)
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
MW
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Armed Forces Bowl)
3. Boise State (Las Vegas Bowl)
4. San Diego State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
6. UNLV (New Mexico Bowl)
7. Colorado State (Famous Potato Bowl)
8. Wyoming (Bowl Eligible but not invited)
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington (FCS First Round Bye)
2. Montana (FCS First Round Home Game)
3. Montana State (FCS First Round Road Game)
4. Northern Arizona (FCS First Round Road Game)
5. Southern Utah
6. Cal Poly
7. Sacramento State
8. UC Davis
9. North Dakota
10. Northern Colorado
11. Portland State
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Projected Finish
Utah
Current Record: 4-5
Projected Wins: Washington State, Colorado, San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
Projected Loss: Oregon
Projected Finish: 7-6
BYU
Current Record: 6-3
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Notre Dame, Nevada, Oregon State (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Finish: 10-3
Utah State
Current Record: 6-4
Projected Wins: Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 7-3
Projected Losses: Montana State, Northern Arizona
Projected Finish: 7-5
Weber State
Current Record: 1-9
Projected Losses: Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Let's begin with the Utah Jazz. To say that the Jazz had a fire sale over the summer is an understatement. They did not let their best players go for very little in return. They let them go for nothing. The Utah Jazz let Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson leave the franchise without any compensation in return. In other words, they unlocked the doors, turned off the cameras, sent the security guards home and allowed the neighbors to loot the store. Is anyone really surprised that the team is still winless?
Next, let's talk about BYU. In looking at the schedule before the season began, you knew the toughest game of the season for the Cougars was their November trip to Camp Randall Stadium to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Considering the way the season began, at respectable 10-point loss is a GOOD outcome, not a bad one.
As for the Utes, they have been outmatched in conference play all season. The last time Utah beat the ASU Sun Devils was shortly after Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the election of 1976. In the last 3 meetings with ASU, Utah has lost by an average score of 36 to 11. Even though it will not get the Utes closer to a bowl game, they are showing improvement.
There are some bright spots for Utah's sports fans. RSL is in the MLS final 4 with a pretty good chance of winning it all again. BYU will likely win out. So will Utah State. The Jazz won't be this lousy next year nor ever again. And the college basketball season is just under way with two and perhaps 3 or 4 Utah Teams will be in the round of 68. Therefore, there is not that much to be gloomy about.
Wisconsin 27 BYU 17
BYU POW
WR Cody Hoffman
7 Receptions, 113 Yards and 2 Touchdowns
Arizona State 20 Utah 19
Utah POW
WR Dres Anderson
4 Receptions, 100 Yards and 1 Touchdown
Utah State 28 UNLV 24
Utah State POW
WR Travis Reynolds
7 Receptions, 129 Yards
Southern Utah 27 Weber State 21
SUU POW
RB/QB Mike Sharp
Lots of stats
WSU POW
QB Austin Chipowetti
29/46 263 Yards and 3TDs
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona State 20 Utah 19
FBS Indy
Pittsburgh 28 Notre Dame 21
MW
Utah State 28 UNLV 24
Big Sky
Montana 31 South Dakota 27
Conference Players of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey
149 yards and 1 TD vs UCLA
FBS Indy
Navy QB Keenan Reynolds
226 Yards Rushing vs Hawaii
MW
Colorado State RB Kapri Bibbs
312 Yards and 4 TD vs. Nevada
Big Sky
Idaho State QB Justin Arias
315 Yards, 4 TDs and 1 Int vs. Portland State
Power Rankings
PAC-12 (Post-Season Projection)
1. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
2. Oregon (Sugar Bowl)
3. UCLA (Alamo Bowl)
4. Arizona State (Holiday Bowl)
5. Washington (Sun Bowl)
6. USC (Las Vegas Bowl)
7. Oregon State (Fight Hunger Bowl)
8. Arizona (New Mexico Bowl)
9. Utah (Poinsettia Bowl)
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Indy
1. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl)
2. Notre Dame (Pinstripe Bowl)
3. Navy (Armed Forced Bowl)
4. Old Dominion (Not bowl eligible due to transition)
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
MW
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Armed Forces Bowl)
3. Boise State (Las Vegas Bowl)
4. San Diego State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
6. UNLV (New Mexico Bowl)
7. Colorado State (Famous Potato Bowl)
8. Wyoming (Bowl Eligible but not invited)
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington (FCS First Round Bye)
2. Montana (FCS First Round Home Game)
3. Montana State (FCS First Round Road Game)
4. Northern Arizona (FCS First Round Road Game)
5. Southern Utah
6. Cal Poly
7. Sacramento State
8. UC Davis
9. North Dakota
10. Northern Colorado
11. Portland State
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Projected Finish
Utah
Current Record: 4-5
Projected Wins: Washington State, Colorado, San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
Projected Loss: Oregon
Projected Finish: 7-6
BYU
Current Record: 6-3
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Notre Dame, Nevada, Oregon State (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Finish: 10-3
Utah State
Current Record: 6-4
Projected Wins: Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 7-3
Projected Losses: Montana State, Northern Arizona
Projected Finish: 7-5
Weber State
Current Record: 1-9
Projected Losses: Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Sunday, November 3, 2013
The Challenge of Staying Sharp
One team that has been decimated by injuries this season is the Utah State Aggies. Chuckie Keeton and several members of the Big Blue are watching the remainder of the season on the sidelines. In the spring, I thought that the challenge for Matt Wells in the final four regular season games would be to stay sharp and not go into the bowl game flat. And who could blame me for saying so at the time with Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State and Wyoming as the final 4 games.
The last three games of the season may prove to be more of a challenge than I thought at first. UNLV is 5-4 just like the Aggies. And USU has to play them in Las Vegas. What I am saying is that USU may only be a touchdown favorite instead of a heavy favorite. And the Rebels, who like the Aggies, are just a win from being bowl eligible, could win. This game will be a good test of how Matt Wells has matured as a head coach over the season.
USU also has the challenge of taking on Colorado State and Wyoming who are also, for a change, actually flirting with bowl eligibility. However, USU has the luck of facing them in Logan and should have big crowds for both games. The Aggies are finished with the weakest part of their schedule and now have a little bit of a challenge to finish the season.
Darell Garretson and Joey DeMartino are growing in their respective roles, and I expect that they are going to continue to improve. The future looks good in Logan. I have USU projected to the Armed Forces Bowl, mainly to avoid rematches with Utah and USC. It will be the same money no matter where USU goes and if Fresno makes it to the Fiesta Bowl, it will be good money. Going to Texas means lots of potential recruits in attendance, that will be a big plus for the Aggies. Potentially, much better for the long-term USU future than Hawaii or Las Vegas.
I have one more suggestion for Scott Barnes and Utah State University. After accepting a bid to whatever bowl game they are going to, announce that you are adding 10,000 seats to Romney Stadium, including putting in a new press box and luxury suites. It will be the best thing that can be done for the program today, if USU has any hope of remaining in the top tier of college football, considering the push to take the two Division I subdivisions and make them three.
Players of the Week
Utah State 47 Hawaii 10
USU POW: QB Darell Garretson
370 Yards Passing and 3 TDs
Portland State 45 Weber State 24
WSU POW: QB Austin Chipoletti
331 Yards Passing 2 TDs
Conference POWs
PAC-12
USC RB Javorius Allen
133 Yards Rushing and 3 TDs
FBS Independents
Notre Dame RB Tarean Folston
140 Yards Rushing and 1 TD
MWC
San Jose State RB Jarrod Lawson
187 Yards Rushing and 1TD
Big Sky
Sacramento State QB Garrett Safron
412 Yards Passing 4 Passing TDs, 93 Yards Rushing and 2 Rushing TDs
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona 33 California 28
FBS Independent
Notre Dame 38 Navy 34
MWC
San Diego State 35 New Mexico 30
Big Sky
Montana 51 Sacramento State 48 (Only 1 OT)
Power Rankings (Post Season Projection)
PAC-12
1. Oregon (BSC Championship)
2. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
3. Arizona State (Alamo Bowl)
4. UCLA (Holiday Bowl)
5. Oregon State (Sun Bowl)
6. USC (Las Vegas Bowl)
7. Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
8. Arizona (New Mexico Bowl)
9. Utah (Poinsettia Bowl)
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independents (Post Season Projection)
1. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl)
2. Notre Dame (Heart of Dallas Bowl)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
4. Old Dominion (Not bowl eligible due to 1st season in FBS)
5. New Mexico State
6. Idaho
MWC (Post Season Projection)
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Armed Forces Bowl--To avoid potential rematches)
3. Boise State (Las Vegas Bowl)
4. San Diego State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
6. UNLV (New Mexico Bowl)
7. Colorado State (Famous Potato Bowl)
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Conference (Post Season Projection)
1. Eastern Washington (1st Round Bye)
2. Montana State (1st Round Bye)
3. Montana (1st Round Home Game)
4. Cal Poly (On the bubble)
5. Sacramento State
6. Southern Utah
7. Northern Arizona
8. Portland State
9. UC Davis
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Colorado
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Record Projections
Utah
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Washington State, Colorado, San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
Projected Loss: Arizona State
Projected Pounding: Oregon
Projected Finish: 7-6
BYU
Current Record: 6-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Notre Dame, Nevada, Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Loss: Wisconsin
Projected Finish: 10-3
Utah State
Current Record: 5-4
Projected Wins: UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 6-3
Projected Win: Weber State
Projected Loss: Montana State
Too Close to Call: Northern Arizona
Projected Finish: 7-5 or 8-4
Note: If SUU wins out, they should make the FCS playoff.
Weber State
Current Record: 1-8
Projected Losses: Southern Utah, Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
The last three games of the season may prove to be more of a challenge than I thought at first. UNLV is 5-4 just like the Aggies. And USU has to play them in Las Vegas. What I am saying is that USU may only be a touchdown favorite instead of a heavy favorite. And the Rebels, who like the Aggies, are just a win from being bowl eligible, could win. This game will be a good test of how Matt Wells has matured as a head coach over the season.
USU also has the challenge of taking on Colorado State and Wyoming who are also, for a change, actually flirting with bowl eligibility. However, USU has the luck of facing them in Logan and should have big crowds for both games. The Aggies are finished with the weakest part of their schedule and now have a little bit of a challenge to finish the season.
Darell Garretson and Joey DeMartino are growing in their respective roles, and I expect that they are going to continue to improve. The future looks good in Logan. I have USU projected to the Armed Forces Bowl, mainly to avoid rematches with Utah and USC. It will be the same money no matter where USU goes and if Fresno makes it to the Fiesta Bowl, it will be good money. Going to Texas means lots of potential recruits in attendance, that will be a big plus for the Aggies. Potentially, much better for the long-term USU future than Hawaii or Las Vegas.
I have one more suggestion for Scott Barnes and Utah State University. After accepting a bid to whatever bowl game they are going to, announce that you are adding 10,000 seats to Romney Stadium, including putting in a new press box and luxury suites. It will be the best thing that can be done for the program today, if USU has any hope of remaining in the top tier of college football, considering the push to take the two Division I subdivisions and make them three.
Players of the Week
Utah State 47 Hawaii 10
USU POW: QB Darell Garretson
370 Yards Passing and 3 TDs
Portland State 45 Weber State 24
WSU POW: QB Austin Chipoletti
331 Yards Passing 2 TDs
Conference POWs
PAC-12
USC RB Javorius Allen
133 Yards Rushing and 3 TDs
FBS Independents
Notre Dame RB Tarean Folston
140 Yards Rushing and 1 TD
MWC
San Jose State RB Jarrod Lawson
187 Yards Rushing and 1TD
Big Sky
Sacramento State QB Garrett Safron
412 Yards Passing 4 Passing TDs, 93 Yards Rushing and 2 Rushing TDs
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona 33 California 28
FBS Independent
Notre Dame 38 Navy 34
MWC
San Diego State 35 New Mexico 30
Big Sky
Montana 51 Sacramento State 48 (Only 1 OT)
Power Rankings (Post Season Projection)
PAC-12
1. Oregon (BSC Championship)
2. Stanford (Rose Bowl)
3. Arizona State (Alamo Bowl)
4. UCLA (Holiday Bowl)
5. Oregon State (Sun Bowl)
6. USC (Las Vegas Bowl)
7. Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
8. Arizona (New Mexico Bowl)
9. Utah (Poinsettia Bowl)
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independents (Post Season Projection)
1. BYU (Fight Hunger Bowl)
2. Notre Dame (Heart of Dallas Bowl)
3. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
4. Old Dominion (Not bowl eligible due to 1st season in FBS)
5. New Mexico State
6. Idaho
MWC (Post Season Projection)
1. Fresno State (Fiesta Bowl)
2. Utah State (Armed Forces Bowl--To avoid potential rematches)
3. Boise State (Las Vegas Bowl)
4. San Diego State (Hawaii Bowl)
5. San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
6. UNLV (New Mexico Bowl)
7. Colorado State (Famous Potato Bowl)
8. Wyoming
9. Nevada
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Conference (Post Season Projection)
1. Eastern Washington (1st Round Bye)
2. Montana State (1st Round Bye)
3. Montana (1st Round Home Game)
4. Cal Poly (On the bubble)
5. Sacramento State
6. Southern Utah
7. Northern Arizona
8. Portland State
9. UC Davis
10. North Dakota
11. Northern Colorado
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Record Projections
Utah
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Washington State, Colorado, San Jose State (Poinsettia Bowl)
Projected Loss: Arizona State
Projected Pounding: Oregon
Projected Finish: 7-6
BYU
Current Record: 6-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Notre Dame, Nevada, Washington (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Loss: Wisconsin
Projected Finish: 10-3
Utah State
Current Record: 5-4
Projected Wins: UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 6-3
Projected Win: Weber State
Projected Loss: Montana State
Too Close to Call: Northern Arizona
Projected Finish: 7-5 or 8-4
Note: If SUU wins out, they should make the FCS playoff.
Weber State
Current Record: 1-8
Projected Losses: Southern Utah, Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Boise State, Humility or Reality
When Utah scored their famous 57-28 victory over BYU in 1988, Provo Daily Herald columnist penned an article stating it was a changing of the times in Provo. He said it was a signal of the end of BYU dominance in the WAC. They would still be good, but not just dominant.
The same kind of reality is falling into Boise this season. This weekend, Boise State dropped the first game to a team from the State of Utah since they were members of the Big Sky Conference and lost at Weber State in 1993. Boise State has been very successful in football since it's inception in 1968. The Broncos, at both the I-AA and I-A levels, have only suffered 5 losing seasons. There are not many teams in the country that have experienced that kind of success. Since 1968, BYU has endured 9 loosing campaigns. However, teams with the kind of success that the Broncos have had are a rarity.
The most successful college football team in history, the Michigan Wolverines, average 9 wins per season. Nobody wins 10 games per year every year. It just doesn't happen to anyone. No matter what happens in Boise the remainder of the season, it's simply not time to panic. I can foresee at least 3 more wins at BSU this season. If you run the kind of program where 8 wins is a bad season, you should be pretty darn happy with that. Being happy with that reality is a sign of humility.
Players of the Week
BYU 37 Boise State 20
BYU POW: QB Taysom Hill
399 Yards and 3 TDs passing, 69 Yards and 1 TD Rushing
USC 19 Utah 3
Utah POW: The Defensive Line
Held USC to 30 Net Yards Rushing with a long of only 13 yards
Southern Utah 19 Idaho State 9
SUU POW: QB Mike Sharp
178 Yards Passing 157 Yards Rushing with 1 Touchdown
By Conference
PAC-12
Washington RB Bishop Sankey
241 Yards Rushing and 2 Touchdowns
FBS Independents
BYU QB Taysom Hill
MWC
Wyoming RB Shaun Wick
234 Yards Rushing in the loss to San Jose State
Big Sky Conference
Eastern Washington QB Vernon Adams
Tossed 6 Touchdown Passes vs. Montana
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Stanford 20 Oregon State 12
FBS Independents
Navy 24 Pittsburgh 21
MWC
Fresno State 35 San Diego State 28
Big Sky
Northern Arizona 17 Cal Poly 13
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. Arizona State
4. UCLA
5. Washington
6. Oregon State
7. USC
8. Arizona
9. Utah
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Utah State
3. Boise State
4. San Diego State
5. San Jose State
6. UNLV
7. Wyoming
8. Nevada
9. Colorado State
10. New Mexico
11. Air Force
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Northern Arizona
5. Southern Utah
6. Cal Poly
7. Sacramento State
8. Portland State
9. North Dakota
10. UC Davis
11. Idaho State
12. Northern Colorado
13. Weber State
Projections
BYU
Current Record: 6-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Borderline: Notre Dame
Projected Loss: Wisconsin
Projected Finish 9-4 at worst, 10-3 at best
Utah
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Colorado
Borderline: Washington State
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Oregon
Projected Finish: 5-7 at worst, 6-6 at best
Utah State
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 6-3
Projected Win: Weber State
Borderline: Northern Arizona
Projected Loss: Montana State
Projected Finish: 7-5 at worst 8-4 at best
Weber State
Current Record: 1-8
Borderline: Idaho State
Projected Losses: Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana
Projected Finish: 1-11 at worst, 2-10 at best
Note about quarterbacks:
BYU is the only school in Utah with a quarterback who has remained healthy all season.
The same kind of reality is falling into Boise this season. This weekend, Boise State dropped the first game to a team from the State of Utah since they were members of the Big Sky Conference and lost at Weber State in 1993. Boise State has been very successful in football since it's inception in 1968. The Broncos, at both the I-AA and I-A levels, have only suffered 5 losing seasons. There are not many teams in the country that have experienced that kind of success. Since 1968, BYU has endured 9 loosing campaigns. However, teams with the kind of success that the Broncos have had are a rarity.
The most successful college football team in history, the Michigan Wolverines, average 9 wins per season. Nobody wins 10 games per year every year. It just doesn't happen to anyone. No matter what happens in Boise the remainder of the season, it's simply not time to panic. I can foresee at least 3 more wins at BSU this season. If you run the kind of program where 8 wins is a bad season, you should be pretty darn happy with that. Being happy with that reality is a sign of humility.
Players of the Week
BYU 37 Boise State 20
BYU POW: QB Taysom Hill
399 Yards and 3 TDs passing, 69 Yards and 1 TD Rushing
USC 19 Utah 3
Utah POW: The Defensive Line
Held USC to 30 Net Yards Rushing with a long of only 13 yards
Southern Utah 19 Idaho State 9
SUU POW: QB Mike Sharp
178 Yards Passing 157 Yards Rushing with 1 Touchdown
By Conference
PAC-12
Washington RB Bishop Sankey
241 Yards Rushing and 2 Touchdowns
FBS Independents
BYU QB Taysom Hill
MWC
Wyoming RB Shaun Wick
234 Yards Rushing in the loss to San Jose State
Big Sky Conference
Eastern Washington QB Vernon Adams
Tossed 6 Touchdown Passes vs. Montana
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Stanford 20 Oregon State 12
FBS Independents
Navy 24 Pittsburgh 21
MWC
Fresno State 35 San Diego State 28
Big Sky
Northern Arizona 17 Cal Poly 13
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. Arizona State
4. UCLA
5. Washington
6. Oregon State
7. USC
8. Arizona
9. Utah
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Utah State
3. Boise State
4. San Diego State
5. San Jose State
6. UNLV
7. Wyoming
8. Nevada
9. Colorado State
10. New Mexico
11. Air Force
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Northern Arizona
5. Southern Utah
6. Cal Poly
7. Sacramento State
8. Portland State
9. North Dakota
10. UC Davis
11. Idaho State
12. Northern Colorado
13. Weber State
Projections
BYU
Current Record: 6-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Fight Hunger Bowl)
Borderline: Notre Dame
Projected Loss: Wisconsin
Projected Finish 9-4 at worst, 10-3 at best
Utah
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Colorado
Borderline: Washington State
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Oregon
Projected Finish: 5-7 at worst, 6-6 at best
Utah State
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 6-3
Projected Win: Weber State
Borderline: Northern Arizona
Projected Loss: Montana State
Projected Finish: 7-5 at worst 8-4 at best
Weber State
Current Record: 1-8
Borderline: Idaho State
Projected Losses: Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana
Projected Finish: 1-11 at worst, 2-10 at best
Note about quarterbacks:
BYU is the only school in Utah with a quarterback who has remained healthy all season.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Winning the Shootout.
It's good for BYU fans to see BYU win an offensive shootout this season for more than one reason. First, off, we know that the Cougar defense is not invincible. Since the mid 2010 season, the BYU defense, for 11 games every season has been tough, but there has always been that one game where the opponent runs up the score. In 2011, it was Utah who put up 54 points, and BYU lost 54-10. Last year, it was Oregon State that found the weak link in BYU's armor. BYU lost that game too. Winning a shootout is a sign that the Cougars are improved, at least on offense.
There are two other tests for BYU to prove that this year's team is better than last years. The first comes this Friday at home against Boise State. The last two games against the Broncos have been tough, close losses for Bronco's team. After a bye week, BYU gets to play at Notre Dame. If BYU wins both of those games, then we can claim progress over last year's team and look forward to next season.
Finally, after watching BYU's game yesterday, I have a feeling that the 2015 Heisman race could be a battle between Taysom Hill and John O'Korn. Hill, at least, won round 1. Round 2 is next fall in Provo.
Players of the Week
Arizona 35 Utah 24
Utah POW QB Adam Schultz
Very efficient in coming off the bench for Travis Wilson
Utah State 41 New Mexico 10
USU POW RB Joey DeMartino
144 Yards Rushing
BYU 47 Houston 46
BYU POW QB Taysom Hill
417 Yards Passing, 128 Yards Rushing 4TD Passes
Eastern Washington 34 Southern Utah 10
SUU POW QB Aaron Kantu
Hung tough in the blowout.
Montana State 34 Weber State 16
WSU POW RB Bo Bolen
124 Yards Rushing and 1 TD
Conference Players of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey
236 Yards Rushing and 1 TD vs. Utah
FBS Independent
BYU QB Taysom Hill
MWC
Colorado State RB Kapri Biggs
201 Yards Rushing and 3TDs vs. Wyoming
Big Sky
Northern Arizona RB Zach Bauman
266 Yards Rushing and 2TDs vs. Idaho State
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona 35 Utah 24
FBS Independents
BYU 47 Houston 46
MWC
Boise State 34 Nevada 17
(Closest game in the MWC this week)
Big Sky
Montana 21 Cal Poly 14
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Arizona State
3. Stanford
4. UCLA
5. Washington
6. Oregon State
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. Washington State
10. USC
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. Utah State
4. San Diego State
5. Nevada
6. San Jose State
7. UNLV
8. Wyoming
9. Colorado State
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Northern Arizona
5. Cal Poly
6. Southern Utah
7. Sacramento State
8. North Dakota
9. Portland State
10. UC Davis
11. Idaho State
12. Northern Colorado
13. Weber State
Projected Finishes
BYU
Current Record: 5-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl)
Tossup: Boise State
Projected Losses: Notre Dame, Wisconsin
Projected record: 8-5 or 9-4
Utah
Current Record:4-3
Projected Wins: USC, Colorado, Colorado State (New Mexico Bowl)
Tossup: USC, Washington State
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Oregon
Projected Record: 7-6 at worst, 9-4 at best
Utah State
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Record: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 5-3
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Weber State
Tossup: Northern Arizona
Projected Loss: Montana State
Projected Finish: 7-5 at worst, 8-4 at best
Weber State
Current Record: 1-7
Tossup: Idaho State
Projected Losses: Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana
Projected Finish: 1-11 at worst, 2-10 at best
QB Power Rankings
I am suspending the rankings this weeks as I do not yet know if Travis Wilson will play against USC.
There are two other tests for BYU to prove that this year's team is better than last years. The first comes this Friday at home against Boise State. The last two games against the Broncos have been tough, close losses for Bronco's team. After a bye week, BYU gets to play at Notre Dame. If BYU wins both of those games, then we can claim progress over last year's team and look forward to next season.
Finally, after watching BYU's game yesterday, I have a feeling that the 2015 Heisman race could be a battle between Taysom Hill and John O'Korn. Hill, at least, won round 1. Round 2 is next fall in Provo.
Players of the Week
Arizona 35 Utah 24
Utah POW QB Adam Schultz
Very efficient in coming off the bench for Travis Wilson
Utah State 41 New Mexico 10
USU POW RB Joey DeMartino
144 Yards Rushing
BYU 47 Houston 46
BYU POW QB Taysom Hill
417 Yards Passing, 128 Yards Rushing 4TD Passes
Eastern Washington 34 Southern Utah 10
SUU POW QB Aaron Kantu
Hung tough in the blowout.
Montana State 34 Weber State 16
WSU POW RB Bo Bolen
124 Yards Rushing and 1 TD
Conference Players of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona RB Ka'Deem Carey
236 Yards Rushing and 1 TD vs. Utah
FBS Independent
BYU QB Taysom Hill
MWC
Colorado State RB Kapri Biggs
201 Yards Rushing and 3TDs vs. Wyoming
Big Sky
Northern Arizona RB Zach Bauman
266 Yards Rushing and 2TDs vs. Idaho State
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Arizona 35 Utah 24
FBS Independents
BYU 47 Houston 46
MWC
Boise State 34 Nevada 17
(Closest game in the MWC this week)
Big Sky
Montana 21 Cal Poly 14
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Arizona State
3. Stanford
4. UCLA
5. Washington
6. Oregon State
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. Washington State
10. USC
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. Utah State
4. San Diego State
5. Nevada
6. San Jose State
7. UNLV
8. Wyoming
9. Colorado State
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Northern Arizona
5. Cal Poly
6. Southern Utah
7. Sacramento State
8. North Dakota
9. Portland State
10. UC Davis
11. Idaho State
12. Northern Colorado
13. Weber State
Projected Finishes
BYU
Current Record: 5-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl)
Tossup: Boise State
Projected Losses: Notre Dame, Wisconsin
Projected record: 8-5 or 9-4
Utah
Current Record:4-3
Projected Wins: USC, Colorado, Colorado State (New Mexico Bowl)
Tossup: USC, Washington State
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Oregon
Projected Record: 7-6 at worst, 9-4 at best
Utah State
Current Record: 4-4
Projected Wins: Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Record: 9-4
Southern Utah
Current Record: 5-3
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Weber State
Tossup: Northern Arizona
Projected Loss: Montana State
Projected Finish: 7-5 at worst, 8-4 at best
Weber State
Current Record: 1-7
Tossup: Idaho State
Projected Losses: Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana
Projected Finish: 1-11 at worst, 2-10 at best
QB Power Rankings
I am suspending the rankings this weeks as I do not yet know if Travis Wilson will play against USC.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Upset City
For a couple of days, my gut has told me that an upset was brewing among our Utah 5. I wondered if it would be the Aggies with the unknown element in Logan, or if BYU would lay and egg against Georgia Tech. Perhaps the WSU wildcats would pull a game out against the Cal Poly Mustangs. But no, it was the Utes catching Stanford without a winning game plan.
That can happen, however, when a team is hungry enough. This year in the PAC-12, it's been close but no cigar for Utah. However, today, they were able to hang at the end of the game.
Whether or not this turns out to be the turnaround Ute fans have been expecting remains to be seen. The Utes have not yet played a game out of the State of Utah. They are not yet bowl eligible. There are other surprises in the conference in 2013, and a couple of them appear on Utah's schedule. They do not have time to sit back and enjoy this as they have a tough game in the desert in Tuscon next week. It's right back to work and such is life in the PAC-12.
POWs
Utah 27 Stanford 21
RB Bubba Poole
-When a close game is on the line, a good running back not only chews up yards, but chews up clock.
BYU 38 Georgia Tech 20
LB Spencer Hadley
-In the second half, this game turned into a defensive battle until the 4th quarter pick 6. When your offense can't generate anything more than a 3-and-out, the defense has to come up big. Hadley, just returned from suspension, did just that.
Boise State 34 Utah State 23
WR Travis Reynolds
-Utah State was able to make the game interesting because the quarterbacks had someone sure and steady as a target.
Southern Utah 17 Portland State 7
DB Tyree Mills
-The second quarter interception returned inside the 10 was big.
Cal Poly 47 Weber State 0
None Selected
-WSU continues to underwhelm on both sides of the ball.
Conference Players of the Week
PAC-12
Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
-336 yards in the air, 88 yards on the ground as Oregon defeated Washington.
FBS Indy
Army RB Terry Baggett
-304 yards on 18 carries as the Black Knights smothered Eastern Michigan.
MWC
San Jose State QB David Fales
-Completed 80% of his passes, threw for 431 yards and helped SJSU outlast Colorado State.
Big Sky
Northern Arizona RB Zach Bowman
-196 yards and 2 touchdowns as NAU nipped Sacramento State
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Utah 27 Stanford 21
-Stanford is the first top 5 to go down in defeat in 2013.
FBS Independent
BYU 38 Georgia Tech 20
-This game was close until a 4th quarter pick 6 by Alani Fua
MWC
UNLV 39 Hawaii 37
-The Rebels were almost victims of a Warrior comeback. They won the game on a 44-yard field goal as time expired.
Big Sky
Northern Arizona 39 Sacramento State 38
-The Lumberjacks erased a late 17 point Hornet lead.
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. UCLA
3. Arizona State
4. Oregon State
5. Stanford
6. Utah
7. Washington
8. USC
9. Washington State
10. Arizona
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Inepdendent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Army
5. Old Dominion
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. Utah State
4. San Diego State
5. Wyoming
6. UNLV
7. Nevada
8. San Jose State
9. Colorado State
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Cal Poly
4. Montana
5. Southern Utah
6. Northern Arizona
7. Sacramento State
8. North Dakota
9. UC Davis
10. Portland State
11. Northern Colorado
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Projected Finishes
BYU
Currently 4-2
Projected Wins: Houston, Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Losses: Boise State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Projected Finish: 8-5
(Houston is the projected win that could become a loss while Boise State is the projected loss that could become a win.)
Utah
Currently 4-2
Projected Wins: Arizona, USC, Washington State, Colorado
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Oregon, Fresno State (Las Vegas Bowl)
Projected Finish: 8-5
(USC is the projected win that could turn into a loss. Fresno State is the projected loss that could turn into a win)
Utah State
Currently 3-4
Projected Wins: New Mexico, Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
(UNLV and Wyoming are the most dangerous teams left on USU's schedule.)
Southern Utah
Currently 5-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Weber State, Northern Arizona
Projected Losses: Eastern Washington, Montana State
Projected Finish: 8-4
(SUU will need to defeat either EWU or Montana State to make the FCS playoffs.)
Weber State
Currently 1-6
Projected losses: Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Utah QB Power Rankings
1. Wilson
2. Hill
3. Garretson/Harrison
4. Kantu
5. Chippowetti
That can happen, however, when a team is hungry enough. This year in the PAC-12, it's been close but no cigar for Utah. However, today, they were able to hang at the end of the game.
Whether or not this turns out to be the turnaround Ute fans have been expecting remains to be seen. The Utes have not yet played a game out of the State of Utah. They are not yet bowl eligible. There are other surprises in the conference in 2013, and a couple of them appear on Utah's schedule. They do not have time to sit back and enjoy this as they have a tough game in the desert in Tuscon next week. It's right back to work and such is life in the PAC-12.
POWs
Utah 27 Stanford 21
RB Bubba Poole
-When a close game is on the line, a good running back not only chews up yards, but chews up clock.
BYU 38 Georgia Tech 20
LB Spencer Hadley
-In the second half, this game turned into a defensive battle until the 4th quarter pick 6. When your offense can't generate anything more than a 3-and-out, the defense has to come up big. Hadley, just returned from suspension, did just that.
Boise State 34 Utah State 23
WR Travis Reynolds
-Utah State was able to make the game interesting because the quarterbacks had someone sure and steady as a target.
Southern Utah 17 Portland State 7
DB Tyree Mills
-The second quarter interception returned inside the 10 was big.
Cal Poly 47 Weber State 0
None Selected
-WSU continues to underwhelm on both sides of the ball.
Conference Players of the Week
PAC-12
Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
-336 yards in the air, 88 yards on the ground as Oregon defeated Washington.
FBS Indy
Army RB Terry Baggett
-304 yards on 18 carries as the Black Knights smothered Eastern Michigan.
MWC
San Jose State QB David Fales
-Completed 80% of his passes, threw for 431 yards and helped SJSU outlast Colorado State.
Big Sky
Northern Arizona RB Zach Bowman
-196 yards and 2 touchdowns as NAU nipped Sacramento State
Games of the Week
PAC-12
Utah 27 Stanford 21
-Stanford is the first top 5 to go down in defeat in 2013.
FBS Independent
BYU 38 Georgia Tech 20
-This game was close until a 4th quarter pick 6 by Alani Fua
MWC
UNLV 39 Hawaii 37
-The Rebels were almost victims of a Warrior comeback. They won the game on a 44-yard field goal as time expired.
Big Sky
Northern Arizona 39 Sacramento State 38
-The Lumberjacks erased a late 17 point Hornet lead.
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. UCLA
3. Arizona State
4. Oregon State
5. Stanford
6. Utah
7. Washington
8. USC
9. Washington State
10. Arizona
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Inepdendent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Army
5. Old Dominion
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. Utah State
4. San Diego State
5. Wyoming
6. UNLV
7. Nevada
8. San Jose State
9. Colorado State
10. Air Force
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Cal Poly
4. Montana
5. Southern Utah
6. Northern Arizona
7. Sacramento State
8. North Dakota
9. UC Davis
10. Portland State
11. Northern Colorado
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Projected Finishes
BYU
Currently 4-2
Projected Wins: Houston, Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Losses: Boise State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Projected Finish: 8-5
(Houston is the projected win that could become a loss while Boise State is the projected loss that could become a win.)
Utah
Currently 4-2
Projected Wins: Arizona, USC, Washington State, Colorado
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Oregon, Fresno State (Las Vegas Bowl)
Projected Finish: 8-5
(USC is the projected win that could turn into a loss. Fresno State is the projected loss that could turn into a win)
Utah State
Currently 3-4
Projected Wins: New Mexico, Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Finish: 9-4
(UNLV and Wyoming are the most dangerous teams left on USU's schedule.)
Southern Utah
Currently 5-2
Projected Wins: Idaho State, Weber State, Northern Arizona
Projected Losses: Eastern Washington, Montana State
Projected Finish: 8-4
(SUU will need to defeat either EWU or Montana State to make the FCS playoffs.)
Weber State
Currently 1-6
Projected losses: Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Utah QB Power Rankings
1. Wilson
2. Hill
3. Garretson/Harrison
4. Kantu
5. Chippowetti
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Is the magical season over for Utah State?
Utah State's hope for a conference championship dimmed once Chukie Keeton went down in the 1st quarter against BYU on Friday evening. But does that mean that hopes are over for Utah State this season? I wouldn't give up on the Aggies if I were you.
First of all, let's take a look at what is going on in Boise. They are in an uncharacteristically "poor" season. But a poor season for Boise State represents the consistency that Utah State is looking for, at worst, the Broncos will finish with 8 wins. Utah State is now hoping for 9. There is some other drama happening in Boise. Chris Peterson is considered by some to be the front-runner for the opening at USC, and the program can through all the money at Peterson can imagine to get him. It will be difficult for BSU players to put that all behind them.
USU fans should also be proud of the way their team fought in the 4th quarter. First, they stopped BYU in the red zone, then they made a good long drive against the tough Cougar defense. Even when the game was out of reach, they didn't quit. Yes, Boise State is the favorite in Logan on Saturday, but not so fast. I would give the Aggies a chance against Boise State, and perhaps a place in the conference championship game.
BYU 31 USU 14
BYU MVP: WR Mitch Matthews
USU MVP: QB Craig Harrison
UCLA 34 Utah 27
Utah MVP: WR Dres Anderson
UCD 21 SUU 3
SUU MVP: QB Aaron Kantu
Eastern Washington 41 Weber State 19
WSU MVP: QB Austin Chippowetti
Conference Players of the Week
FBS Independents
Navy RB Keenan Reynolds
PAC-12
Washington State QB Connor Halliday
MWC
Nevada QB Cody Fajardo
Big Sky
Montana State RB Cody Kirk
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
PAC 12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. Arizona State
5. Washington
6. Oregon State
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. Washington State
10. USC
11. Colorado
12. California
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. San Diego State
4. Utah State
5. Nevada
6. Wyoming
7. Colorado State
8. Air Force
9. San Jose State
10. UNLV
11. Hawaii
12. New Mexico
Big Sky
1. Montana State
2. Eastern Washington
3. Montana
4. Cal Poly
5. Northern Arizona
6. North Dakota
7. Southern Utah
8. Portland State
9. Southern Utah
10. Sacramento State
11. Northern Colorado
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Beehive State QB Power Rankings
1. Travis Wilson, Utah
2. Taysom Hill, BYU
3. Craig Harrison, Utah State
4. Aaron Kantu, Southern Utah
5. Austin Chippowetti, Weber State
Projected Finishes
BYU (3-2)
Projected Wins: Georgia Tech, Houston, Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Losses: Boise State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Projected Finish 8-5
Utah State (3-3)
Projected Wins: New Mexico, Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Loss: Boise State
Projected Finish: 9-4
Utah (3-2)
Projected Wins: Arizona, USC, Colorado, Wyoming (New Mexico Bowl)
Projected Losses: Stanford, Oregon, Washington State, Arizona State
Projected Finish: 7-6
Southern Utah (4-2)
Projected Wins: Portland State, Idaho State, Weber State
Projected Losses: Eastern Washington, Montana State, Northern Arizona
Projected Finish: 7-5
Weber State (1-5)
Projected Losses: Cal Poly, Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
First of all, let's take a look at what is going on in Boise. They are in an uncharacteristically "poor" season. But a poor season for Boise State represents the consistency that Utah State is looking for, at worst, the Broncos will finish with 8 wins. Utah State is now hoping for 9. There is some other drama happening in Boise. Chris Peterson is considered by some to be the front-runner for the opening at USC, and the program can through all the money at Peterson can imagine to get him. It will be difficult for BSU players to put that all behind them.
USU fans should also be proud of the way their team fought in the 4th quarter. First, they stopped BYU in the red zone, then they made a good long drive against the tough Cougar defense. Even when the game was out of reach, they didn't quit. Yes, Boise State is the favorite in Logan on Saturday, but not so fast. I would give the Aggies a chance against Boise State, and perhaps a place in the conference championship game.
BYU 31 USU 14
BYU MVP: WR Mitch Matthews
USU MVP: QB Craig Harrison
UCLA 34 Utah 27
Utah MVP: WR Dres Anderson
UCD 21 SUU 3
SUU MVP: QB Aaron Kantu
Eastern Washington 41 Weber State 19
WSU MVP: QB Austin Chippowetti
Conference Players of the Week
FBS Independents
Navy RB Keenan Reynolds
PAC-12
Washington State QB Connor Halliday
MWC
Nevada QB Cody Fajardo
Big Sky
Montana State RB Cody Kirk
Power Rankings
FBS Independents
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. Idaho
7. New Mexico State
PAC 12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. Arizona State
5. Washington
6. Oregon State
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. Washington State
10. USC
11. Colorado
12. California
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Boise State
3. San Diego State
4. Utah State
5. Nevada
6. Wyoming
7. Colorado State
8. Air Force
9. San Jose State
10. UNLV
11. Hawaii
12. New Mexico
Big Sky
1. Montana State
2. Eastern Washington
3. Montana
4. Cal Poly
5. Northern Arizona
6. North Dakota
7. Southern Utah
8. Portland State
9. Southern Utah
10. Sacramento State
11. Northern Colorado
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Beehive State QB Power Rankings
1. Travis Wilson, Utah
2. Taysom Hill, BYU
3. Craig Harrison, Utah State
4. Aaron Kantu, Southern Utah
5. Austin Chippowetti, Weber State
Projected Finishes
BYU (3-2)
Projected Wins: Georgia Tech, Houston, Idaho State, Nevada, USC (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl)
Projected Losses: Boise State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame
Projected Finish 8-5
Utah State (3-3)
Projected Wins: New Mexico, Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming, Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
Projected Loss: Boise State
Projected Finish: 9-4
Utah (3-2)
Projected Wins: Arizona, USC, Colorado, Wyoming (New Mexico Bowl)
Projected Losses: Stanford, Oregon, Washington State, Arizona State
Projected Finish: 7-6
Southern Utah (4-2)
Projected Wins: Portland State, Idaho State, Weber State
Projected Losses: Eastern Washington, Montana State, Northern Arizona
Projected Finish: 7-5
Weber State (1-5)
Projected Losses: Cal Poly, Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana, Idaho State
Projected Finish: 1-11
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Job Security in College Football
I wasn't sure what to write about this week, but then I read about Lane Kiffin getting fired as the USC head coach last night as the team's charter plane landed at home after a loss to Arizona State. I write this as I am trying to process the entire situation.
In last week's blog, I called Provo fanstasyland. I think the same has to be said of Los Angeles, but in a different degree. The expectations this season were far too high. USC has been dealing with a rash of injuries this week, and are also dealing with a loss of scholarships players from sanctions a couple of years ago, and a rash of transfers from the program. There is much inexperience on the team. I am shocked to believe that USC had expectations of anything but a .500 season this year, especially considering the depth of the PAC-12. Every program has as 'down' season every now and again. Boosters and fans need to have a level of patience and accept reality.
Here on the Wasatch Front, one program is really struggling with the idea of realistic expectation. It's not Utah, as it seems that most people believe that Kyle Whttingham will get at least one more season to prove that the Utes can succeed in the PAC-12. It's not BYU, even as the fan base begins to grow impatient with an impotent offense. It actually Weber State.
This season, if Weber State does not win 4 games this season, Weber State can fire coach Jody Sears without a contract buyout. That seems reasonable as the Wildcats won just two games last season. A 4 win season looks like a reasonable level of improvement. The problem was the schedule is just not realistic. After surprising Stephen F. Austin the schedule became extremely unrealistic, perhaps the hardest the program has ever faced. Their non-conference schedule included Utah and Utah State as well as FCS top 10 McNeese State.
The program is unraveling fast. Since that opening game, where the Wildcats won 50-40, the team has given up 214 points while scoring only 22. This season the team has averaged 14.4 points per game, including the 50-point first game (5.5 points per game in the other 4 games) while giving up 50.8 points per game. In their homecoming game, out of 16 drives, 8 ended after only 3 plays, there were 4 fumbles, two at the end of the only 2 first half drives . The program appears to be heading to a 1-10 season before their next winnable game against perennial Big Sky cellar dweller Idaho State, and at this rate, the Bengals will be a big favorite.
I've said it before, the Weber State futility is not solely on the head of coach Jody Sears. We all know what John L. Smith did to the program. But now Sears in a sticky, syrupy mess he can't get out of. Personally, I think that athletic director Jerry Bovee is the one who deserve the pink slip in Ogden. He hired Smith and he provided WSU with their unrealistically difficult schedule. Out of everything that could be controlled that happened to Weber, it's Bovee who is responsible for a lot of it.
Players of the Week
BYU 37 Middle Tennessee 10
Player of the Game: QB Taysom Hill
Utah State 40 San Jose State 12
Player of the Game: Chuckie
Sacramento State 31 Weber State 3
Player of the Game: RB Bo Bolen
Southern Utah 27 Northern Colorado 21
Player of the Game: WR Fatu Moala
Conference Players of the Week
FBS Indy:
BYU QB Taysom Hill
PAC-12:
Washington RB Bishop Sankey
MWC:
UNLV RB Rim Cornett
Big Sky: Montana State RB Shawn Johnson
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. Washington
5. Arizona State
6. Oregon State
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. USC
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Utah State
3. Boise State
4. San Diego State
5. Nevada
6. Wyoming
7. San Jose State
8. Air Force
9. UNLV
10. Colorado State
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Conference
1. Montana State
2. Cal Poly
3. Eastern Washington
4. Montana
5. Southern Utah
6. Northern Arizona
7. Portland State
8. Sacramento State
9. North Dakota
10. Northern Colorado
11. UC Davis
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Utah QB Power Rankings
1. Chuckie Keeton, Utah State
2. Travis Wilson, Utah
3. Aaron Kantu, Southern Utah
4. Taysom Hill, BYU
5. Chippowetti/Adamczyk, Weber State
In last week's blog, I called Provo fanstasyland. I think the same has to be said of Los Angeles, but in a different degree. The expectations this season were far too high. USC has been dealing with a rash of injuries this week, and are also dealing with a loss of scholarships players from sanctions a couple of years ago, and a rash of transfers from the program. There is much inexperience on the team. I am shocked to believe that USC had expectations of anything but a .500 season this year, especially considering the depth of the PAC-12. Every program has as 'down' season every now and again. Boosters and fans need to have a level of patience and accept reality.
Here on the Wasatch Front, one program is really struggling with the idea of realistic expectation. It's not Utah, as it seems that most people believe that Kyle Whttingham will get at least one more season to prove that the Utes can succeed in the PAC-12. It's not BYU, even as the fan base begins to grow impatient with an impotent offense. It actually Weber State.
This season, if Weber State does not win 4 games this season, Weber State can fire coach Jody Sears without a contract buyout. That seems reasonable as the Wildcats won just two games last season. A 4 win season looks like a reasonable level of improvement. The problem was the schedule is just not realistic. After surprising Stephen F. Austin the schedule became extremely unrealistic, perhaps the hardest the program has ever faced. Their non-conference schedule included Utah and Utah State as well as FCS top 10 McNeese State.
The program is unraveling fast. Since that opening game, where the Wildcats won 50-40, the team has given up 214 points while scoring only 22. This season the team has averaged 14.4 points per game, including the 50-point first game (5.5 points per game in the other 4 games) while giving up 50.8 points per game. In their homecoming game, out of 16 drives, 8 ended after only 3 plays, there were 4 fumbles, two at the end of the only 2 first half drives . The program appears to be heading to a 1-10 season before their next winnable game against perennial Big Sky cellar dweller Idaho State, and at this rate, the Bengals will be a big favorite.
I've said it before, the Weber State futility is not solely on the head of coach Jody Sears. We all know what John L. Smith did to the program. But now Sears in a sticky, syrupy mess he can't get out of. Personally, I think that athletic director Jerry Bovee is the one who deserve the pink slip in Ogden. He hired Smith and he provided WSU with their unrealistically difficult schedule. Out of everything that could be controlled that happened to Weber, it's Bovee who is responsible for a lot of it.
Players of the Week
BYU 37 Middle Tennessee 10
Player of the Game: QB Taysom Hill
Utah State 40 San Jose State 12
Player of the Game: Chuckie
Sacramento State 31 Weber State 3
Player of the Game: RB Bo Bolen
Southern Utah 27 Northern Colorado 21
Player of the Game: WR Fatu Moala
Conference Players of the Week
FBS Indy:
BYU QB Taysom Hill
PAC-12:
Washington RB Bishop Sankey
MWC:
UNLV RB Rim Cornett
Big Sky: Montana State RB Shawn Johnson
Power Rankings
PAC-12
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. Washington
5. Arizona State
6. Oregon State
7. Arizona
8. Utah
9. USC
10. Washington State
11. Colorado
12. California
FBS Independent
1. Notre Dame
2. BYU
3. Navy
4. Old Dominion
5. Army
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
MWC
1. Fresno State
2. Utah State
3. Boise State
4. San Diego State
5. Nevada
6. Wyoming
7. San Jose State
8. Air Force
9. UNLV
10. Colorado State
11. New Mexico
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Conference
1. Montana State
2. Cal Poly
3. Eastern Washington
4. Montana
5. Southern Utah
6. Northern Arizona
7. Portland State
8. Sacramento State
9. North Dakota
10. Northern Colorado
11. UC Davis
12. Idaho State
13. Weber State
Utah QB Power Rankings
1. Chuckie Keeton, Utah State
2. Travis Wilson, Utah
3. Aaron Kantu, Southern Utah
4. Taysom Hill, BYU
5. Chippowetti/Adamczyk, Weber State
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Revised Outlook for the 2013 season.
BYU
Current record 1-2.
Projected wins: Middle Tennessee, Houston, Idaho State
Projected losses: Utah State, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Nevada
Likely finish 4-8
Best Case Scenario: 7-5
Worst Case Seconario: 2-10
Comments: Go fast and go hard is not going anywhere very fast, and it's been hard to watch. BYU may have lost their most exciting offensive player for the rest of the season, but possibly forever. Cody Hoffman and Kyle Van Noy must be regretting thier decisions to pass up the NFL and come back. It's time for BYU fans to embrace Women's soccer, forget football, look forward to basketball and begin the debate about who should replace Bronco Mendenhall. If Mendenhall walks the talk, he should walk away from Provo after this season is over.
Utah
Current Record 3-1
Projected wins: Colorado
Projected losses: UCLA, Stanford, Arizona, USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington State
Likely finish 4-8
Best Case Scenario: 6-6
Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
Comments: Utah has wins against other in-state teams to hang their hat on, but the PAC-12 is brutal this year. Very brutal. Even Washington State is improved. It is Utah's unfortunate luck that they don't have California on the schedule this year, or had Arizona or Washington State at home. If they did, I would feel better about a 6-6 season. If Utah is going to improve their prospects in 2013, they have to be more complete on defense. Utah fans should be thankful that Utah State can't run and BYU can't pass or their season would be a complete disaster.
Utah State
Current Record: 2-2
Projected wins: San Jose State, BYU, New Mexico, Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming
Projected losses: Boise State
Projected Bowl: Armed Forces
Likely finish: 10-3, with a bowl win
Best case scenario: 11-3, with a loss in the conference championship game and a bowl win
Worst case scenario: 6-7 with a bowl game loss
Thank goodness for the MWC and that most of the difficult part of the season is behind them. The only worries for Aggie fans should be that it is too easy after Boise State rolls into town and someone on the underside of the MWC pulls and upset and whether or not Chuckie comes back for his senior season. True, Joe Hill has been no replacement for Kerwynn Williams, but down the stretch, the Chuckie Show won't need a running game.
Southern Utah
Current record: 3-1
Projected wins: Northern Colorado, UC Davis, Portland State, Idaho State, Weber State, Northern Arizona
Projected losses: Eastern Washington, Montana State
Projected Post-Season: 1st round of NCAA FCS playoffs.
Likely finish: 8-4 with a loss in the playoffs
Best case scenario: 11-3, making it to the FCS round of 8.
Worst case scenario: 6-6
Freshman Raysean Martin is well on his way to becomming the Big Sky Conference newcommer of the year, and it is looking good for SUU to finally make the post-season for the first time in school history. Just as long as they don't end up on the losing end of a barn-burned like they had with Sacramento State. I don't think the staff in Cedar City has the experience necessary to make them winners in the post-season yet, but as long as they can continue to recruit players like Martin, the future looks for the school that is really down south.
Weber State
Current record: 1-4
Projected Wins: Sacramento State, Idaho State
Projected Losses: Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana
Likely finish: 3-9
Best case scenario: 5-7
Worst case scenario: 1-11
Weber caught Stephen F. Austin by surprise in the first game of the season. They will have to find a way to do this again if coach Jody Sears is to reach his contractural goal of 4 wins this season. They will have to find their offense again.
Which of Utah's Head Coaches will return in 2014.
Bronco Mendenhall: 50-50 chance he will be back in 2014. Someone will have to be held responsible for the debacle that is BYU's offense this year. There is a good chance that Bronco Mendenhall will fall on his own sword after this season because he is that kind of guy. I doubt that he will be fired or forced to resign. Gary Crowton got three losing seasons in a row before he was cut loose. Bronco doesn't need to worry about employment. BYU's defense is good enough that Bronco will become a defensive coordinator somewhere next year, possibly in the PAC-12 or even in the NFL.
Likely replacement if Bronco goes: Current Defensive Coordinator Nick Howell. Other potential replacements: Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Darel Bevel, Navy Head Coach Ken Nuimatalolo, Utah Defensive Kalani Sitake, Southern Utah Head Coach Ed Lamb
Kyle Whittingham: It's possible that if Utah gets a bagel in PAC-12 play that Whit will be gone. But that probably won't happen and Whit will be back in 2014. Next year will be his win or else season.
Likely replacemetnt if Whit gets the boot: Current Co-Offensive Coordinator Dennis Ericson. Other possibilities--list of all of the current offensive and defensive coordinators in upper half the PAC-12.
Matt Wells: You've got to be kidding...100% chance Matt Wells will be back at Utah State in 2014.
Ed Lamb: 65% chance he will be back in Cedar City next season. There is a good chance he will be somewhere else. That is the reality of success. Unless it's BYU, I don't think that Lamb will be a head coach somewhere else. It is more likely he will become a defensive coordinator at the FBS level and work his way up to being a head coach at the FBS level.
Likely replacement for Lamb: Offensive Coordinator Steve Clark. Other possibilities include Defensive Coordinator Justin Ena, and former successful Big Sky Conference head coaches like Paul Wulff and soon-to-be former UNLV head coach Bobby Hauck.
Jody Sears: It's in the contract, if Weber doesn't get 4 wins this season, he can be fired without a buyout. Doesn't look good right now.
Likely replacement for Sears: Possibilities include assistant coaches from around the Big Sky including Steve Clark and Justin Ena or Mountain West Conference assistant coaches or former successful Big Sky Head Coaches like Paul Wulff.
Current record 1-2.
Projected wins: Middle Tennessee, Houston, Idaho State
Projected losses: Utah State, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Nevada
Likely finish 4-8
Best Case Scenario: 7-5
Worst Case Seconario: 2-10
Comments: Go fast and go hard is not going anywhere very fast, and it's been hard to watch. BYU may have lost their most exciting offensive player for the rest of the season, but possibly forever. Cody Hoffman and Kyle Van Noy must be regretting thier decisions to pass up the NFL and come back. It's time for BYU fans to embrace Women's soccer, forget football, look forward to basketball and begin the debate about who should replace Bronco Mendenhall. If Mendenhall walks the talk, he should walk away from Provo after this season is over.
Utah
Current Record 3-1
Projected wins: Colorado
Projected losses: UCLA, Stanford, Arizona, USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington State
Likely finish 4-8
Best Case Scenario: 6-6
Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
Comments: Utah has wins against other in-state teams to hang their hat on, but the PAC-12 is brutal this year. Very brutal. Even Washington State is improved. It is Utah's unfortunate luck that they don't have California on the schedule this year, or had Arizona or Washington State at home. If they did, I would feel better about a 6-6 season. If Utah is going to improve their prospects in 2013, they have to be more complete on defense. Utah fans should be thankful that Utah State can't run and BYU can't pass or their season would be a complete disaster.
Utah State
Current Record: 2-2
Projected wins: San Jose State, BYU, New Mexico, Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado State, Wyoming
Projected losses: Boise State
Projected Bowl: Armed Forces
Likely finish: 10-3, with a bowl win
Best case scenario: 11-3, with a loss in the conference championship game and a bowl win
Worst case scenario: 6-7 with a bowl game loss
Thank goodness for the MWC and that most of the difficult part of the season is behind them. The only worries for Aggie fans should be that it is too easy after Boise State rolls into town and someone on the underside of the MWC pulls and upset and whether or not Chuckie comes back for his senior season. True, Joe Hill has been no replacement for Kerwynn Williams, but down the stretch, the Chuckie Show won't need a running game.
Southern Utah
Current record: 3-1
Projected wins: Northern Colorado, UC Davis, Portland State, Idaho State, Weber State, Northern Arizona
Projected losses: Eastern Washington, Montana State
Projected Post-Season: 1st round of NCAA FCS playoffs.
Likely finish: 8-4 with a loss in the playoffs
Best case scenario: 11-3, making it to the FCS round of 8.
Worst case scenario: 6-6
Freshman Raysean Martin is well on his way to becomming the Big Sky Conference newcommer of the year, and it is looking good for SUU to finally make the post-season for the first time in school history. Just as long as they don't end up on the losing end of a barn-burned like they had with Sacramento State. I don't think the staff in Cedar City has the experience necessary to make them winners in the post-season yet, but as long as they can continue to recruit players like Martin, the future looks for the school that is really down south.
Weber State
Current record: 1-4
Projected Wins: Sacramento State, Idaho State
Projected Losses: Eastern Washington, Cal Poly, Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Montana
Likely finish: 3-9
Best case scenario: 5-7
Worst case scenario: 1-11
Weber caught Stephen F. Austin by surprise in the first game of the season. They will have to find a way to do this again if coach Jody Sears is to reach his contractural goal of 4 wins this season. They will have to find their offense again.
Which of Utah's Head Coaches will return in 2014.
Bronco Mendenhall: 50-50 chance he will be back in 2014. Someone will have to be held responsible for the debacle that is BYU's offense this year. There is a good chance that Bronco Mendenhall will fall on his own sword after this season because he is that kind of guy. I doubt that he will be fired or forced to resign. Gary Crowton got three losing seasons in a row before he was cut loose. Bronco doesn't need to worry about employment. BYU's defense is good enough that Bronco will become a defensive coordinator somewhere next year, possibly in the PAC-12 or even in the NFL.
Likely replacement if Bronco goes: Current Defensive Coordinator Nick Howell. Other potential replacements: Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Darel Bevel, Navy Head Coach Ken Nuimatalolo, Utah Defensive Kalani Sitake, Southern Utah Head Coach Ed Lamb
Kyle Whittingham: It's possible that if Utah gets a bagel in PAC-12 play that Whit will be gone. But that probably won't happen and Whit will be back in 2014. Next year will be his win or else season.
Likely replacemetnt if Whit gets the boot: Current Co-Offensive Coordinator Dennis Ericson. Other possibilities--list of all of the current offensive and defensive coordinators in upper half the PAC-12.
Matt Wells: You've got to be kidding...100% chance Matt Wells will be back at Utah State in 2014.
Ed Lamb: 65% chance he will be back in Cedar City next season. There is a good chance he will be somewhere else. That is the reality of success. Unless it's BYU, I don't think that Lamb will be a head coach somewhere else. It is more likely he will become a defensive coordinator at the FBS level and work his way up to being a head coach at the FBS level.
Likely replacement for Lamb: Offensive Coordinator Steve Clark. Other possibilities include Defensive Coordinator Justin Ena, and former successful Big Sky Conference head coaches like Paul Wulff and soon-to-be former UNLV head coach Bobby Hauck.
Jody Sears: It's in the contract, if Weber doesn't get 4 wins this season, he can be fired without a buyout. Doesn't look good right now.
Likely replacement for Sears: Possibilities include assistant coaches from around the Big Sky including Steve Clark and Justin Ena or Mountain West Conference assistant coaches or former successful Big Sky Head Coaches like Paul Wulff.
Who will be coaching BYU and Utah next time they meet
There is one reality in college football that BYU fans need to come to terms with. As a head coach, you don't lose 4 consecutive games to your biggest rival and expect to keep your job. True, BYU does not live in the real world, anyone who has been to that campus in Provo can tell you that. Where else would you suspend one of your best players the week before the biggest game of the season on very little solid evidence he did anything wrong? But I digress. I am very amazed considering how thing have been so far this season, and how things have been since 2010 that Bronco's carcus is not firmly in the hot seat. It should be.
Utah will be celebrating this week, but even though they leave Provo's fantasyland a victor this weekend, it will not be so rosy once they are firmly in confernce play. Utah this year has 3 wins, 1 against a team that has a great quarterback but no running game, 2 an FCS team with no defense and 3 a once mighty program that has forgotten their true offensive legacy. Yes, the Utes are 3-1 right now, but getting to .500 is still an iffy prospect. Just as a reminder, Utah has UCLA, USC, Stanford, Oregon, Arizona State and Arizona coming up before they will be favored again. And by the way, Washington State no longer looks like a given for Utah, either. Same for Colorado. The PAC-12 is realityland. Utah has to win 3 of those games just to get to .500 this year and become bowl eligible. That's a tall order for this team. But I suspect that even at 3-9, Kyle will be back next season, after all he's won 4 straight against their biggest rival, and that kind of a record will save your job in college football, most of the time.
Things have to get better on The Hill because in 2014 and 2015, there will be no victories against BYU for Kyle Whittingham to fall back on. They don't play. But I suspect that small maket reality has hit the U just like it has the Jazz and just now RSL (with rumors that Jason Kreis has received an offer from the expansion NYCFC). There are four markets smaller than Salt Lake in the PAC-12, and guess how many combined Rose Bowl appearances Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State and Arizona have between them since 1978 when Arizona and Arizona State joined the PAC-10? If you guessed 5, you were right. Oregon 3 times, Washington State twice. Oregon State last played in the Rose Bowl in 1965 and Arizona has never been there. And yes, even with all of the recent success of Oregon, they have had only 3 Rose Bowl appearances since the PAC-8 became the PAC-10. The odds for Utah's success in the PAC-12 aren't good, and you simply have to look at what the other small market programs have done in recent seasons. Eventually, the Utes will smell roses, but not anytime soon, and not very often. If Utah fails to get to .500 in either 2013 or 2014, Whit will not be around for 2015.
I don't know who will be coaching either school in 2016 when BYU and Utah play again. I will probably address both situations when the other shoe gets close to falling. Right now, I am certain that Andy Reid will not be on the BYU sidelines, and I don't expect that Ty Detmer or Steve Young will be there either, even though that's what many BYU will fans wish for. Many of those same fans think that Bronco should keep his job. I suspect that BYU may get someone like Darel Bevel (Seahawks), Ken Nuimatalolo (Navy) or even Kalani Sitake (Utah). Utah probably won't get Gary Anderson or Chris Peterson to coach in Salt Lake. They don't have the money. There is a pretty good chance that Dennis Ericson will take over. If not Ericson, perhaps Noel Mazzone (UCLA) or Mike Bloomgren (Stanford) or a coordinator from one of the other PAC-12 schools will come to Salt Lake.
In the end of Bronco vs. Whittingham, Kyle won out. Good job Kyle. Enjoy this, Utah fans. It's not going to get any easier this season. Here's to hoping for the best for Utah and for the better for BYU.
Utah 20 BYU 13
BYU MVP: LB Kyle Van Noy
Utah MVP: QB Travis Wilson
USC 17 Utah State 14
USU MVP: RB Joey DeMartino
Southern Utah 24 Sacramento State 21
SUU MVP: RB Raysean Martin
McNeese State 43 Weber State 6
WSU MVP: RB Bo Bolen
PAC-12 Player of the Week: Oregon State QB Sean Mannion
FBS Indy Player of the Week: BYU LB Kyle Van Noy
MWC Player of the Week: Fresno State QB Derek Carr
Big Sky Player of the Week: Southern Utah RB Raysean Martin
PAC 12 Power Rankings
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. Washington
5. Oregon State
6. Washington State
7. USC
8. Arizona State
9. Arizona
10. Utah
11. Colorado
12. California
FCS Indy Power Rankings
1. Notre Dame
2. Navy
3. BYU
4. Army
5. Old Dominion
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
MWC Power Rankings
1. Fresno State
2. Utah State
3. Boise State
4. San Diego State
5. Air Force
6. San Jose State
7. Nevada
8. Wyoming
9. Colorado State
10. New Mexico
11. UNLV
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Power Rankings
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana
3. Southern Utah
4. Montana State
5. Cal Poly
6. Portland State
7. Northern Arizona
8. North Dakota
9. Northern Colorado
10. Weber State
11. Sacramento State
12. Idaho State
13. UC Davis
Beehive State QB Power Rankings
1. Chuckie Keeton, Utah State
2. Travis Wilson, Utah
3. Aaron Kantu, Southern Utah
4. Taysom Hill, BYU
5. Chippowetti/Adamczyk, Weber State
Utah will be celebrating this week, but even though they leave Provo's fantasyland a victor this weekend, it will not be so rosy once they are firmly in confernce play. Utah this year has 3 wins, 1 against a team that has a great quarterback but no running game, 2 an FCS team with no defense and 3 a once mighty program that has forgotten their true offensive legacy. Yes, the Utes are 3-1 right now, but getting to .500 is still an iffy prospect. Just as a reminder, Utah has UCLA, USC, Stanford, Oregon, Arizona State and Arizona coming up before they will be favored again. And by the way, Washington State no longer looks like a given for Utah, either. Same for Colorado. The PAC-12 is realityland. Utah has to win 3 of those games just to get to .500 this year and become bowl eligible. That's a tall order for this team. But I suspect that even at 3-9, Kyle will be back next season, after all he's won 4 straight against their biggest rival, and that kind of a record will save your job in college football, most of the time.
Things have to get better on The Hill because in 2014 and 2015, there will be no victories against BYU for Kyle Whittingham to fall back on. They don't play. But I suspect that small maket reality has hit the U just like it has the Jazz and just now RSL (with rumors that Jason Kreis has received an offer from the expansion NYCFC). There are four markets smaller than Salt Lake in the PAC-12, and guess how many combined Rose Bowl appearances Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State and Arizona have between them since 1978 when Arizona and Arizona State joined the PAC-10? If you guessed 5, you were right. Oregon 3 times, Washington State twice. Oregon State last played in the Rose Bowl in 1965 and Arizona has never been there. And yes, even with all of the recent success of Oregon, they have had only 3 Rose Bowl appearances since the PAC-8 became the PAC-10. The odds for Utah's success in the PAC-12 aren't good, and you simply have to look at what the other small market programs have done in recent seasons. Eventually, the Utes will smell roses, but not anytime soon, and not very often. If Utah fails to get to .500 in either 2013 or 2014, Whit will not be around for 2015.
I don't know who will be coaching either school in 2016 when BYU and Utah play again. I will probably address both situations when the other shoe gets close to falling. Right now, I am certain that Andy Reid will not be on the BYU sidelines, and I don't expect that Ty Detmer or Steve Young will be there either, even though that's what many BYU will fans wish for. Many of those same fans think that Bronco should keep his job. I suspect that BYU may get someone like Darel Bevel (Seahawks), Ken Nuimatalolo (Navy) or even Kalani Sitake (Utah). Utah probably won't get Gary Anderson or Chris Peterson to coach in Salt Lake. They don't have the money. There is a pretty good chance that Dennis Ericson will take over. If not Ericson, perhaps Noel Mazzone (UCLA) or Mike Bloomgren (Stanford) or a coordinator from one of the other PAC-12 schools will come to Salt Lake.
In the end of Bronco vs. Whittingham, Kyle won out. Good job Kyle. Enjoy this, Utah fans. It's not going to get any easier this season. Here's to hoping for the best for Utah and for the better for BYU.
Utah 20 BYU 13
BYU MVP: LB Kyle Van Noy
Utah MVP: QB Travis Wilson
USC 17 Utah State 14
USU MVP: RB Joey DeMartino
Southern Utah 24 Sacramento State 21
SUU MVP: RB Raysean Martin
McNeese State 43 Weber State 6
WSU MVP: RB Bo Bolen
PAC-12 Player of the Week: Oregon State QB Sean Mannion
FBS Indy Player of the Week: BYU LB Kyle Van Noy
MWC Player of the Week: Fresno State QB Derek Carr
Big Sky Player of the Week: Southern Utah RB Raysean Martin
PAC 12 Power Rankings
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. UCLA
4. Washington
5. Oregon State
6. Washington State
7. USC
8. Arizona State
9. Arizona
10. Utah
11. Colorado
12. California
FCS Indy Power Rankings
1. Notre Dame
2. Navy
3. BYU
4. Army
5. Old Dominion
6. New Mexico State
7. Idaho
MWC Power Rankings
1. Fresno State
2. Utah State
3. Boise State
4. San Diego State
5. Air Force
6. San Jose State
7. Nevada
8. Wyoming
9. Colorado State
10. New Mexico
11. UNLV
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Power Rankings
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana
3. Southern Utah
4. Montana State
5. Cal Poly
6. Portland State
7. Northern Arizona
8. North Dakota
9. Northern Colorado
10. Weber State
11. Sacramento State
12. Idaho State
13. UC Davis
Beehive State QB Power Rankings
1. Chuckie Keeton, Utah State
2. Travis Wilson, Utah
3. Aaron Kantu, Southern Utah
4. Taysom Hill, BYU
5. Chippowetti/Adamczyk, Weber State
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