Official UofU homer thread

[Miggs]

The more I hear interviews from the coaching staff the more excited I get for the season. They seem really excited about their chances this year. I don't ever remember hearing Whitt this up beat about a camp.

Meh. I'd prefer the other way, the Joe Paterno way I call it, quite frankly. Downplay, criticize, keep the kids humble and hungry.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

A #1 finish is a given, right?

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[green]

The more I hear interviews from the coaching staff the more excited I get for the season. They seem really excited about their chances this year. I don't ever remember hearing Whitt this up beat about a camp.

I remember when Whitt was DC at Utah. He'd go on the radio every week and pick games for the week. And he was incredible. He knew every team and he would basically tell you what would happen on Thursday:

"UNLV vs Wyoming? Well, Wyoming likes to do A, B and C but UNLV can counterattack that with D, E and F. Should be a good game, but so and so has been playing well lately and he will get 125 yards and UNLV will win 35-24."

He would do that for every MWC/WAC game. And he was spot on.

What would then happen is that Player So and So would get 123 yards and UNLV would win 34-24.

It was incredible.

My point? Whitt knows everything about everyone. He knows every stat on every team. He knows before the season starts how it will end. The best part about it? He is an open book. He tells you like it is and tells you what will happen if you listen.

If he sounds excited....

He's not lying, hiding, over-hyping. He is telling you how it is.

We are good. Really good.

 

[UGLI baby]

I'm going to focus on this part of your post because I'm not the guy saying BYU almost won that game. We didn't.

I personally think that game was a perfect synopsis of Bronco's career against Utah. Bronco refused to treat Utah as a special game. That was a mistake. It showed on the field. EVERY YEAR. Utah came out with a great game plan and executed it. That led to great plays. Some were lucky (not even green could argue that). But that's what happens when you're that prepared. This was part of the reason I wanted Bronco to go away so badly.
Sitake has been around Whit and seen how he prepared for these games. Hopefully, he learned a lot from it and implements that.
Getting back to beating Utah and getting into the Big 12 are the only things on my Christmas list.

Utah doesn't beat byu because of a special game plan, they win every year because there is a massive talent gap between the two teams. There are maybe 2-3 byu guys that would start for Utah each year. The rivalry game factor makes some of the games close, but the two programs haven't been close since 2003.

byu is closer to Utah St than Utah. It's no longer a rivalry game on the field, but a rivalry through the fans and the culture in the state of Utah.

 

[bigb]

Utah doesn't beat byu because of a special game plan, they win every year because there is a massive talent gap between the two teams. There are maybe 2-3 byu guys that would start for Utah each year. The rivalry game factor makes some of the games close, but the two programs haven't been close since 2003.

byu is closer to Utah St than Utah. It's no longer a rivalry game on the field, but a rivalry through the fans and the culture in the state of Utah.

I know my reading and writing skills aren't on YOUR level, but I don't think I said that was the only reason.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I'm really interested to see how a Bronco-Free rivalry game is gonna shake out. Defensively, philosophies are going to be EXACTLY the same. I know BYU actually has some decent corners, but its gonna take those players a little while to master the man coverage, corners out on an island type of D that Sitake brings to the table.

Utah needs to step outside themselves offensively and test BYU deep in that game. Being only game 2 playing that defense, let's see if Utah's WR's can get past those corners and force their safeties to make some quick decisions. Utah could have a really big day passing.

 

[♪alt13]

brUtal

Dimick

Lotulelei

Mokofisi

Fitts

 

[green]

I actually think Utah goes a little different after BYU. With Patrick's size, Fulks' speed and our TE's and Sitake's aggressiveness, I think Utah goes fast, quick passes and a lot of screens and use our speed against BYU and stretch the field sideline to sideline.

 

[green]

Alt - you haven't even mentioned Pita T our best rusher. Crazy.

 

[fishonjazz]

So reading these last few pages of posts from ute fans (i know its the homer thread and green gonna green so i should take it with a grain of salt) and listening to sports talk radio it would seems that the utes would be favorites to compete for a conference championship. Best D-line and O-line ever. Offensive coordinator consistency. Whitt sounding super pleased and optimistic in every interview. Finally going to have a passing game. Etc etc.
Then on the radio yesterday i heard an interview with a national writer ranking the pac12 teams. He had it:
1.stanford
2.UCLA
3.Oregon
4.washington
5.usc
6.washington state
7.Utah

So then I googled Ranking pac12 teams for 2016 season. Most lists are very similar. One had utah ahead of washington state in 6th place. One had utes at 8 with cal ahead of them.

Seems that most every publication has the top 4 teams all being from the north. Maybe utes being in the weaker south helps their chances?

https://pac-12.com/article/2016/07/14/stanford-chosen-win-pac-12-title-preseason-media-poll
https://pac-12.com/article/2016/07/...conference-football-2016-projections-rankings
https://247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/CompositeTeamRankings?Conference=Pac-12
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/early-pac-12-football-predictions-2016
https://campusinsiders.com/news/post-spring-pac-12-football-rankings-2016-05-06-2016
This link: https://collegefootballnews.com/2016/pac-12-team-schedules-predictions Has the utes finishing 5th in the south. Only ahead of colorado.
This link is kind of a general preview for the conference:https://campusinsiders.com/news/pac-12-football-preview-2016-early-conference-lookahead-05-31-2016 and it has a category of players who deserve a bigger spotlight and players who are the best pro prospects. No utah players listed.

Seems like tons of hype for the utes right now locally. Is it deserved or is it just the usual pre-season homer hype that most every team has locally?


Where do the ute fans think that the utes should be ranked in the conference right now? Where do you think they will finish?

 

[leftyjace]

<snip>
Seems that most every publication has the top 4 teams all being from the north. Maybe utes being in the weaker south helps their chances?
<snip>
Seems like tons of hype for the utes right now locally. Is it deserved or is it just the usual pre-season homer hype that most every team has locally?
Where do the ute fans think that the utes should be ranked in the conference right now? Where do you think they will finish?

I'm not sure about the South being weaker. I think it's probably going to be on par with the North this year. Colorado is improved. Our worst will still be a lot better than their worst - Oregon State. UCLA and USC will be strong, as will Utah. Arizona schools are the wildcard.

I believe the hype is deserved - if only because of the way Kyle is acting. He's NEVER acted like this. That means it's gotta be good.

As far as where they should be ranked - who cares?? I kind of like being ranked low. Just means we go in as an underdog and maybe catch our opponents not expecting us to kill them. I'd rather sneak up on teams, especially since we play USC fairly early in the season.

This season has the potential to be a very special season, more so than any other since the Sugar Bowl season, methinks.

 

[leftyjace]

Alt - you haven't even mentioned Pita T our best rusher. Crazy.

Yep yep yep!

Alt... that post got me all hot and bothered.

I'm getting so excited!!! I really wish I could go to Fanfest this Saturday. Alas, previous obligations. <sigh>