Do the little guys belong?

              It’s no secret that the University of Utah football team has struggled during its first year of Pac-12 play.  In its inaugural season as an “AQ” team, the Utes were blown out in their first four games before finally beating Oregon State this past weekend.

                What does this tell us about “Non-AQ” teams?  Not much.          

                A lot of BCS honks and media types will claim that Utah’s struggles are evidence that non-AQ teams do not belong playing with the big boys; that they should remain where they are.  The weekly grind is too much for these “little sisters of the poor.” 

                This is completely false.

                Prior to this season, Utah was at best the third best “non-AQ” program in the land.  Boise State and TCU were both able to maintain success at a higher level for a longer period of time than the Utes.  Still, Utah was the first non-AQ team to make it to, and win, two BCS games.  In 2008, Utah rolled into the Sugar Bowl as big underdogs and basically knocked Alabama senseless. 

                Some will tell you that Alabama didn’t want to be there.  People like that have never played sports at even a slightly competitive level.  Utah was the better team, and would have won 8 out of 10 games against the Tide.

                Utah has taught us that you have to have depth to compete at the BCS-level.  Utah only had one decent quarterback when the season started.  When he went down in game #4, Utah’s offense has struggled.  And yes, the weekly grind has proven to be a factor, somewhat.  With a semi-competent quarterback, Utah would be in a better spot.

                If you were to put Boise State and TCU (even this year) into a BCS conference, they would contend.  Give them a couple of years, and they would be right there at the top.

                I am convinced that the upper non-AQ teams can compete on a week-to-week basis with the big boys.  It’s cliché to bash the BCS, but it’s a joke.  Boise State this year has no chance to reach the championship game (barring several epic collapses).  And they are arguably the best team in the nation.  A lot of people can say “oh, well they haven’t played anyone, they would get killed!”  How can you say that?  If you can’t say that Boise is the best, then you can’t say that they aren’t either; they deserve the chance to prove it.

                Utah will rise to be an upper Pac-12 team.  TCU will do well in the Big 12.  Boise deserves to be a BCS team.  And the bottom line is that non-AQ teams are narrowing the gap.  They deserve their shot to prove it. 

                

A shocking column from a BYU legend.........

Here is a story from BYU great Vai Sikahema.

In the last week, Salt Lake Tribune colmnist Gordon Monson had this to say about the same topic.  When Monson said it, I had to laugh. Jake Heaps transferring to Utah?  No way, no how.  But when a BYU legend says it?  That makes you think........

Obviously, these aren't "sources" saying that they are hearing that this is going to happen.  In fact, no one has said it at all.  These are just two guys making an observation.

Take a look at Jake Heaps.  Number one recruit in the country at QB.  Some BYU fans had him penciled in for at least one Heisman and probably a top 10 pick after his junior year.  His freshman season got off to a rocky start with the debacle that BYU used called the "two quarterback system".  Luckily, he got his shot and showed that he could lay a beat down on some of the worst teams in college football last year.  In the preseason this year, many were saying he would have a breakout year in 2011.

This year, he struggled, to put it nicely.  He was benched for ineffectiveness against Utah State, and unfortunately for him, his backup came out on fire and led the Cougars to a dramatic come-from-behind win.  Since then, he has sat the bench as his backup has throttled inferior competition.  All the fans who seemingly worshiped him have now turned their back and are now singing the praises of Riley Nelson.

Tonight's game against TCU is HUGE for Jake's future.  TCU has dominated BYU three years in a row.  (As a side note: TCU has dominated everyone not named Boise State in the last few years).  If Riley Nelson is able to win, or at the very least be semi-productive in moving the ball; Jake's season is over.  He will be relegated to mop up duty in meaningless games after the Bye week.

If Riley flops tonight, Heaps may get a chance in the second half to try and lead a comeback.  If he is at all successful, he can earn the job back and finish out the year, then go into next year as the favorite.

But if Riley is successful, he will have, barring injury, the inside track to start next year (his senior year).  That would leave Jake with a few options; play back up as a junior, then have the job for one year as a senior.  Or he can redshirt next year, then have two years once Riley is gone.  Or he can transfer, redshirt a year while he learns the new system, and have two years at a new place.

You can all but forget the middle option.  This isn't a video game.  Egos are too big to redshirt for a non-injury reason in the middle of a career.  Not happening.

That brings  in Utah.  Utah has a disaster situation at QB this year, and probably next.  Jordan Wynn, while a solid QB is unreliable due to injuries.  And there is nothing else in the cupboard.  Heaps could sit it out for a year, learn from Norm Chow, arguably the greatest offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in college football, and have two years as the man.  Plus, he is playing in the Pac-12, and not against scrubs from the WAC.

There is a lot more to it, and again, we have no idea how Jake is feeling.  Still, it's an interesting thing to think about........

How do you think this will turn out?
 

Should I raise my son to be like me?

               As I watch this world series play out, I can’t help but wish that the Red Sox were involved.

                Even though I have never been anywhere near Boston, I have always been a die-hard Red Sox fan.  My dad (who also has never been to Boston) is a die-hard Red Sox fan. 

                In fact, just last night as I watched the final innings of game 6, I became irate when they showed the Buckner play.  That always makes me mad.  For one thing, the Red Sox lost that game, and the World Series that year.  Another thing is that Buckner’s name was vilified for years over that.  Yeah, he made a mistake, but that game was not on him.  How about Bob Stanley?  Or the host of other Sox who made mistakes?  I digress.

                The point is that now I am a father.  When you see your child for the first time, your life changes forever.  All of a sudden, it’s not all about you anymore.  You want everything for your child.  You want them to always be happy and you never want them to experience heartache.  I have a deep passion for sports that I hope to share with my kids.  This past summer, before putting him to bed, I would sing to my son..,..

                Take me out to the ball game.

                Take me out to the crowd.

                Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks

                I don’t care if I never get back

                Let me root, root, root

                For the RED SOX!             

                If they don’t win it’s a shame

                For its one, two, three strikes you’re out!

                At the old, ball game!

               

                And obviously that’s where the Red Sox come in.  Recently, I have been thinking about raising my son as a fan of another team besides the Sox.  I know, I know, it sounds blasphemous and in a lot of ways it is.  But I just don’t want him to experience the almost yearly heartache that comes with being a Red Sox fan. 

                Take this year for example.  We were running away with the wildcard, we had a seemingly insurmountable lead.  Even with a handful of games left, the oddsmakers said that we had a 90+% chance of going to the playoffs.  We lost a slew of games to the Baltimore freaking Orioles. 

                I get it, it’s just sports, but I can’t help it.  I don’t want my son to have to watch as his team collapses like that. 

                But the more I think about it, the more I realize I just can’t do that.  This boy will be a Red Sox fan.  At least I’ll sure try to have it that way.  If I really want the best for my son, I’ll allow him to face some hard times, because then he will be able to appreciate the good. 

                And those good times in Boston have been great.  The 2004 comeback is still probably my favorite moment in baseball.  And 2007 was sweet as we came back against the upstart Indians to get into the WS.  It was so fun to watch all the clutch hits, the defensive gems, the thrill of home runs and strikeouts to finish the other team off.  Life as a Red Sox fan is pretty darn good. 

                The sun will come out tomorrow, the world will continue to go, and the Red Sox will once again rise to the top.  Then, all the heartache will be worth it.

               

The triumphant return of "Five for Five"!

           Welcome back to the hardest-hitting, number-crunching, wanna-be blog on the internet!  Today, I am taking a look at Runnin' Ute basketball, BYU's situation, Utah in the Pac-12 so far, the NBA Lockout, and comment boards.

Runnin’ Utes

Hard to believe, but basketball season is here! 

For the Runnin’ Utes, it’s a new beginning; in more ways than one.  This will be the team’s first year playing “big boy” ball in the Pac-12.  It is also the first year under new head coach Larry Krystkowiak. 

For a storied program like Utah, the last several years have been very frustrating.  You probably know the history.  Legendary coach Rick Majerus steps down in ’04.  The school hires Ray Giacoletti and makes a run to the sweet 16 on the shoulders of Andrew Bogut.  Bogut leaves early for the NBA, a large chunk of his supporting cast seeks greener pastures, and the program has been teetering ever since.

Ever since the MWC title run in ’08-’09, there has been constant turnover in the program.  The team would show flashes of brilliance, only to take a step back in the next game.

Now the team is starting over again.  Fresh faces have come in to play for “Coach K” and the returning players seem to have a sparkle in their eye we haven’t seen before.

What can we expect? 

Who knows.  This is a collection of players from all over and it will take time to build chemistry and rhythm.  And since there is such a large influx of new players, it is difficult to know where the overall talent level is. 

And playing in the Pac-12 will be a step up from the MWC.  Sure, the top of the MWC was probably nearly as good as the top of the Pac-12.  But there aren’t any TCUs or Wyomings in the Pac-12 to boost your record either. 

Personally, I am looking for a few things this season.  I want to see an offense that features movement.  I want to see the chemistry grow and the team to get better as the season goes along.  I want to see the players gain confidence.  I want to see consistent rebounding.  Most importantly, I don’t want to grow to love these players, only to watch them transfer in the offseason, as I have had to do over the last few years.  If they can do those things, I don’t care how many wins they have.  I know that this program will get back on track; I just want to see movement in that direction. 

BYU to the Big 12?

If you are like me, you are tired of the constant and inconsistent rumors about conference expansion.  What will the Big-12 do?  Does the Big East really want to move all the way across the country?  Will the dominoes ever stop falling? 

In one of his talks, speaker John Bytheway referenced an interesting thought:  To find out how great a country is, open up its borders completely for a while and take note.  Do people run in, or do they run out?  For instance, if Cuba was all of a sudden completely open, how many people would drown off of its coast because they are trying to escape from Florida?

Let’s apply this conference realignment.  Let’s open the borders of the Big-12, is there a rush to get in?  Sure, from smaller teams.  But let’s stick to just AQ-teams.  If you open up the conferences, do you think anyone leaves the SEC?  How about the Pac-12?  For the life of me, I just can’t see anyone jumping ship.  The Big-12 is a completely different story…..as has been demonstrated. 

Look at what you have in the Big-12.  You have the dominant program (Texas), the second dominant program (Oklahoma).  The little brothers who just take orders and do as they are told (Oklahoma State and Texas Tech).  The moochers (Baylor and Iowa State).  And the pretty good programs who will say they are invested, but they would be gone in a second if the opportunity came (Kansas and Kansas State).  You open the borders of the Big-12, and there are teams that would leave. 

I get it.  BYU could be left out in the cold.  But this independence thing is pretty darn cool for them.  They have more flexibility.  And as long as they win, ESPN will help them out with scheduling.  In other sports, the WCC is a good place to be.  If I was BYU, I would avoid the Big-12 at all costs. 

In my opinion, the best option for the Cougars (assuming they want in) is to get on board with this Big East expansion, in football only.  That would be a nice mix of regional games and national exposure across the country.  If the Big East was able to grab Boise and BYU, along with Air Force, Navy, Houston, and SMU, that is an AQ conference in my book.

The joys of the Pac-12……

Earlier, I touched on a subject about competition in the Pac-12.  The football team at Utah has found out the hard way that things aren’t as “Rosy” as they thought they might be in their new conference. 

Every week is a new challenge.  The teams are bigger, stronger, faster, and more battle hardened than the average MWC team.  Utah has to adjust.

Clearly, Utah is not as bad of a team as they have shown so far.  Utah can and will compete in this conference.  A rash of bad luck and some program mistakes have put them where they are now. 

                There are too many factors that have been discussed to the point of beating a dead horse around the internet.  To sum it up, Utah was not ready at the QB position this year.  An average QB can get you a decent spot in the MWC if you have some other things; but it doesn’t work in the Pac-12.   

                As the years go by, I think you’ll see Utah win more than their fair share of games in their new conference, but it will take some precious time.  As with basketball, fans need to be patient and continue to support their team through thick and thin.

                NBA Lockout and the casual fan

                I should be excited to watch the NBA tip off in the next week, but instead I am fed an endless supply of “information from sources” about how close and far away the NBA and players are from reaching a deal.  

                Bottom line: these guys need to come to a deal soon.  There are people whose livelihood depends on the NBA and they are tossed to the side in this battle of egos.  I don’t have time or the interest in spelling it all out, but the players are going to have to cave sooner than the owners.  That’s just the way that the leverage works.  I don’t like either side, but the owners have more resources.                 

                Just get it done, you bozos.  If you wait too long, you risk alienating the casual fan, and they might never come back.  And you come off looking bad.  Just get it done, please.

                Online comment boards….

                If you want to find the corner of the world where the lowest forms of human life hang out, you don’t need to visit your local slum, or even your nearby state prison.  Just take a gander at your local paper and the comment boards. 

                For a sampling of what I am talking about, you should read the comments on the Deseret News website.  It is an endless battle of brain bankrupt Utah and BYU fans that battle over the most trivial things.  They are constantly trying to one up each other.  You can find more maturity at your local Daycare.

                And the funny thing is, the Deseret News claims to want to create an environment where civil dialogue occurs.  Their way of doing this is to screen and approve of every comment before it gets posted.  That’s a nice idea, not exactly the most American thing I have ever seen, but I see where they are coming from. 

                Still, they fail at it.  When I posted there, I had numerous comments “rejected” because of a breach of the rules.  I never swore, I never used inflammatory words, or anything.  And yet, I have seen numerous people get posts with curse words and posts that are meant to be inflammatory across.  Anytime you put people together where they can say things anonymously and not have any consequences, you are asking for trouble.  The fact that they pre-screen and still allow all of that junk boggles my mind. 

                Great Job Des News!  You get the “Epic Fail of the Day”!   

                If you want comment boards that really have civil dialogue, check out any of the SB Nation blogs, those are the best run blogs and message boards on the World Wide Web, and they probably have a blog dedicated to your favorite team.