Utes 2011 Football Discussion

[SaltyDawg]

The good news for the Utes is it's not like the Pac12 thought they'd be good initially. The Pac12 (and everyone else) knew the Utes would struggle and it's gonna take some time before they can put a legit team out there. This was known. The Utes sucking this year is only a surprise to blind homers.

So basically, any wins these first 2-3 years is just icing on the cake. Meanwhile, the Pac12 is laughing all the way to the bank with the Utes demographic bringing in big bucks along with the womens gymnastics team.

The Pac 12 is laughing all the way to the bank with the Utes winning all of the out of conference games. Especially beating crappy independent teams by 44 points on the road.

 

[YB85]

The good news for the Utes is it's not like the Pac12 thought they'd be good initially. The Pac12 (and everyone else) knew the Utes would struggle and it's gonna take some time before they can put a legit team out there. This was known. The Utes sucking this year is only a surprise to blind homers.

I agree with this, surprisingly.

 

[SaltyDawg]

I agree with this, surprisingly.

So you think after the season we'll look back and think the Utes sucked this year (and would have sucked if Wynn stayed healthy)?

I think the Utes have lost their last game and finish with a respectable 8-4 record after an injury plagued season.

 

[YB85]

So you think after the season we'll look back and think the Utes sucked this year (and would have sucked if Wynn stayed healthy)?

I think the Utes have lost their last game and finish with a respectable 8-4 record after an injury plagued season.

Considering that I had them at 7-5 going into the season, I can't disagree with him. I also don't know that I'd consider this season "injury plagued" and if they win out that their 5-4 conference record would be anything I would feel good about.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Considering that I had them at 7-5 going into the season, I can't disagree with him. I also don't know that I'd consider this season "injury plagued" and if they win out that their 5-4 conference record would be anything I would feel good about.

If you don't consider this an injury plagued season, I guess that is the difference between our feelings on this season.

I had them losing 2-3 games going in. Several key injuries later 4 losses isn't so bad.

You had them losing 5 games going in. Several key injuries later 4 losses means they sucked.

The Utes played the last game without the starting QB, TE, and best receiver. Not even talking about all the injuries in every other game this year, but that alone was injury plagued for at least that game in my book.

 

[YB85]

If you don't consider this an injury plagued season, I guess that is the difference between our feelings on this season.

I had them losing 2-3 games going in. Several key injuries later 4 losses isn't so bad.

You had them losing 5 games going in. Several key injuries later 4 losses means they sucked.

The Utes played the last game without the starting QB, TE, and best receiver. Not even talking about all the injuries in every other game this year, but that alone was injury plagued for at least that game in my book.

Several key injuries...funny. Injuries or not, this team has sucked the past four weeks no matter how you spin it. Any team that turns the ball over like they do sucks.

No, I had them at 7-5 because I had questions regarding QB, RB, O-line, and the DB's and they were taking a step up. This team was good enough to go 10-2 in the MWC but they're not in Laramie anymore. That doesn't mean I don't think they can compete, I just didn't think they'd compete this year. Give them a couple of recruiting seasons and see where the chips fall.

 

[TroutBum]

The Pac 12 is laughing all the way to the bank with the Utes winning all of the out of conference games. Especially beating crappy independent teams by 44 points on the road.

1984.

It's also fun to note that all of a sudden, you're really riding high on all those big OOC games. Way to go!

I'd also like to point out that TheThriller is a complete moron.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Several key injuries...funny. Injuries or not, this team has sucked the past four weeks no matter how you spin it. Any team that turns the ball over like they do sucks.

No, I had them at 7-5 because I had questions regarding QB, RB, O-line, and the DB's and they were taking a step up. This team was good enough to go 10-2 in the MWC but they're not in Laramie anymore. That doesn't mean I don't think they can compete, I just didn't think they'd compete this year. Give them a couple of recruiting seasons and see where the chips fall.

I agree with you in the sense that I didn't expect the Utes to compete for the Rose Bowl this year. Not with Oregon and Stanford being so good. And I also expect the Utes to get a lot better after a few recruiting classes. We're on the same page there (I think most Ute fans are probably on the same page there).

But you honestly didn't even expect the Utes to compete for the Pac 12 South division? Look at it like this, even after all the injuries, if the Utes had beat ASU and USC, they win the division. That USC game was lost on the last play of the game, so they weren't too far off. A couple plays go the other way and Utah wins that game. ASU was a debacle, but who knows how that game turns out if the Utes are healthy.

I don't know, I just don't see how you can say the Utes suck the way you expected them to suck (which is what conan said) when they were so close to winning the division (and still have a very good chance to finish second), even though they had a bunch of injuries.

To me, a second place finish in the division is pretty good considering all the injuries.

 

[SaltyDawg]

1984.

It's also fun to note that all of a sudden, you're really riding high on all those big OOC games. Way to go!

I'd also like to point out that TheThriller is a complete moron.

1984!!! LOL!

I'm not big on all the OOC games, just the Pitt game. They're a BCS team that will finish with a winning record, and Utah beat them on the road.

The other OOC games were against scrub teams. Yeah, both will finish with a winning record. But neither is any good.

 

[YB85]

I agree with you in the sense that I didn't expect the Utes to compete for the Rose Bowl this year. Not with Oregon and Stanford being so good. And I also expect the Utes to get a lot better after a few recruiting classes. We're on the same page there (I think most Ute fans are probably on the same page there).

But you honestly didn't even expect the Utes to compete for the Pac 12 South division? Look at it like this, even after all the injuries, if the Utes had beat ASU and USC, they win the division. That USC game was lost on the last play of the game, so they weren't too far off. A couple plays go the other way and Utah wins that game. ASU was a debacle, but who knows how that game turns out if the Utes are healthy.

I don't know, I just don't see how you can say the Utes suck the way you expected them to suck (which is what conan said) when they were so close to winning the division (and still have a very good chance to finish second), even though they had a bunch of injuries.

To me, a second place finish in the division is pretty good considering all the injuries.

The problem is that they were never close to winning the division and ,besides, finishing behind Arizona State and USC does not give you a second place finish. I know USC is ineligible for anything, but they'll still be 2nd place. And second place in the PAC12 is still, what, 4th? 5th? 6th overall in the conference? The "2nd place in the division" drum is nothing to beat.

 

[TroutBum]

The problem is that they were never close to winning the division and ,besides, finishing behind Arizona State and USC does not give you a second place finish. I know USC is ineligible for anything, but they'll still be 2nd place. And second place in the PAC12 is still, what, 4th? 5th? 6th overall in the conference? The "2nd place in the division" drum is nothing to beat.

Bwahaha!

I mean, uh, 3rd place is pretty frickin' sweet.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

LOL, I don't think the Utes need to build, or will be building a "new" stadium anytime soon. RES is probably in one of the most beautiful spots for a college stadium in the nation and years of upgrades have made it more than suitable. Obviously at some point they'll want to fill in the south endzone which they estimate can add about 8,000 to 10,000 new seats. Not to mention it will make the stadium even louder.

As far as money not automatically translating into success, you are 100% right. Teams like Washington State have been getting big pay days for years and it hasn't turned into success on the field. My point with that is that Chris Hill has a great track record, I think SLC is quietly becoming a nice place to recruit kids to and I have alot of faith in Chris Hill and Utah Athletics in regards to using all of that money to only make it easier to recruit kids to Utah. (new facilities, gear, etc.) Long story short, don't expect Utah to mismanage their new found cashflow.

A new stadium does not mean you have to move it. To me if you upgrade the stadium and add seats it's like you did get a new stadium. I should have worded that better I guess.
I hope you are right about the Utes using that cash to build the program. I guess the University could use that cash to build and improve their Medical program? Who knows what they will do with it.

 

[SaltyDawg]

The problem is that they were never close to winning the division and ,besides, finishing behind Arizona State and USC does not give you a second place finish. I know USC is ineligible for anything, but they'll still be 2nd place. And second place in the PAC12 is still, what, 4th? 5th? 6th overall in the conference? The "2nd place in the division" drum is nothing to beat.

USC may finish second, may not. They still have very tough games against Stanford, Oregon and Washington. You can bet they lose all of those. That will put them in a tie with Utah (assuming Utah wins out).

So realistically, I see the Pac 12 stacking up like this (for this season):
Stanford, Oregon, ASU, Washington, USC, Utah.

So even if Utah doesn't pass USC, they are still in the top half of the conference. Not too shabby considering all the injuries. What it says to me is: even a banged up Utah team that played the worst ball we have seen from a Utah team in many years, is still one of the better teams in the Pac 12.

Haters look at that and say "they sucked like everyone expected them to" but I just don't see it that way. Being one of the better teams in a legit BCS conference, even though they've had major injury problems all season, is pretty dang good.

 

[bigb]

USC may finish second, may not. They still have very tough games against Stanford, Oregon and Washington. You can bet they lose all of those. That will put them in a tie with Utah (assuming Utah wins out).

So realistically, I see the Pac 12 stacking up like this (for this season):
Stanford, Oregon, ASU, Washington, USC, Utah.

So even if Utah doesn't pass USC, they are still in the top half of the conference. Not too shabby considering all the injuries. What it says to me is: even a banged up Utah team that played the worst ball we have seen from a Utah team in many years, is still one of the better teams in the Pac 12.

Haters look at that and say "they sucked like everyone expected them to" but I just don't see it that way. Being one of the better teams in a legit BCS conference, even though they've had major injury problems all season, is pretty dang good.

This post is awesome on so many levels. To start with, he's gone from saying Utah can compete for the division title to saying the could still finish second then listing his new predictions with Utah 3rd in the division, 6th overall. After this he says Utah is "one of the better teams in the Pac 12". All for a team he is now predicting to finish 6th (if they win out from here). Spin it baby, spin it.

 

[Archie Moses]

As a huge Ute fan, the bottom line is this, the Utes suck ***. Big time. They are a bottom feeder in the PAC 12 this year and have a horrible offense.

 

[SaltyDawg]

This post is awesome on so many levels. To start with, he's gone from saying Utah can compete for the division title to saying the could still finish second then listing his new predictions with Utah 3rd in the division, 6th overall. After this he says Utah is "one of the better teams in the Pac 12". All for a team he is now predicting to finish 6th (if they win out from here). Spin it baby, spin it.

lol, man if Utah finishes 2 wins away from the division championship (which it looks like they will) then they did compete for the division championship.

Yeah, when the facts change (which they obviously did this season with all the injuries), I change my mind. What do you do?

No spinning here. If Utah finishes the way I laid it out (which is pretty likely), then they will be one of the better teams in a legit BCS conference. And that is not too shabby for a team that supposedly everyone thought was going to suck anyway, but then they had a bunch of injuries.

 

[SaltyDawg]

As a huge Ute fan, the bottom line is this, the Utes suck ***. Big time. They are a bottom feeder in the PAC 12 this year and have a horrible offense.

The Utes have a horrible offense, no doubt. But they are definitely not bottom feeders. Oregon State, Washington State, Colorado, those are bottom feeders. The Utes will easily beat all of them in the coming weeks.

 

[Archie Moses]

The Utes have a horrible offense, no doubt. But they are definitely not bottom feeders. Oregon State, Washington State, Colorado, those are bottom feeders. The Utes will easily beat all of them in the coming weeks.

How can you call a team, who up to this point, hasn't won a game in the conference anything but a bottom feeder?

 

[Safetydan]

1984!!! LOL!

I'm not big on all the OOC games, just the Pitt game. They're a BCS team that will finish with a winning record, and Utah beat them on the road.

The other OOC games were against scrub teams. Yeah, both will finish with a winning record. But neither is any good.

Who gave Salty the Uncle Rico joke/reference??? Do you realize this is going to be repeated constantly until he dies?

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

No need to insult, I'll just tell you you're wrong.

It's already been pointed out that Utah has been turning the ball over like they were BYU in a big game. With that said, even with all those turnovers giving the opposing teams easy points, Utah is 35th in the nation in points allowed.

That absolutely is a top notch defense.

Absolutely top notch? God your homerism is nauseating. 35th out of 120 teams is hardly top notch. Great, it ranks in the top 30% of defenses when it comes to points against. That's like saying finishing 35th in the nation in the final polls is a top notch season. Solid, yes. Good? Perhaps. Top notch? Hardly.