BYU and Utah games aftermath

I'll start with BYU. I think it was a solid victory for them over TCU. The Horned Frogs had renewed enthusiasm, and I think that was the team that the media had in mind when they picked them to win the conference before the year began. They shut down Unga pretty well, and I was actually very impressed with their "All-American" defensive ends. They were tough.

But BYU was tougher. The offensive line did an incredible job protecting Max Hall, and I was impressed with Hall's short-range accuracy, hitting his tight ends over and over again. I think it was a minor turning point for BYU's mental toughness. Everyone knew all along that the Cougars had the physical talent, but they were being hampered by penalties and bad decisions. I think this was a good game for them to realize that their bye weeks are over, and every game from here on out will be a tough one.

Then on Saturday, Utah absolutely creamed the Cowboys of Wyoming. It is clear to me that Utah's defense was far underrated, and they have improved a lot. They create turnovers, they get monster hits, and they are a pretty strong group all around. The offense--which I still think is struggling a bit--is relying on the defense right now to create good field position and to create scoring opportunities. I still think it is somewhat concerning that the Utes' offense relies on so many trick plays. Maybe it is good coaching finding weaknesses in the opponents' defense, I don't know. But every Utah game I've been to has featured multiple trick plays. The reason they do these trick plays (many of them fake punts and field goals) is because their offense keeps bogging down when they play "normal" football.

As for the onside kick Utah did when leading 43-0....I think the reaction is a bit overblown. Utah was not running up the score. I think I read that they only threw one pass the entire 4th quarter. But what would concern me if I were a Utah fan would be the reaction that the team had to the comments from Wyoming's head coach, that he guaranteed a win in front of boosters. That apparently was the big motivation for the Utes. One player said that the comment was akin to being spit in the face! Whittingham said that was the reason he went for the onside kick.

C'mon, Utes!! Can't football be motivation enough? Wyoming beat you last year in a game you probably should have won; can't that motivate you to come out and prove yourself? Is it necessary to find some gimmick every game to place a chip on your shoulder? The comment from Joe Glenn wasn't that bad. It was not a spit in the face. He said it to Wyoming boosters, not to the media or to their face, and I think there's a huge difference. I will bet you any sum of money that almost every single player that plays every single game in college football tells somebody they know--in private like Glenn did--that there is no way they will lose their next game. Everybody guarantees wins in private conversations all the time. Get over it! If you have to nitpick something like that to motivate your players, then I believe something is wrong. At that level, playing a football game should be enough to get the players pumped up. They are still in the conference race. They are playing for a spot in the San Diego Bowl. They are riding a six-game winning streak. They are playing in front of their home crowd. They are playing Wyoming after losing to them last year. They are playing a team who beat nationally-ranked Virginia and they can prove that they are better. All these things can be used to motivate a team naturally. You shouldn't have to go to the press clippings every game.

Have fun in Laramie next year, Whittingham. I am pretty sure it won't be a pretty scene.