Meyer has some strong praise for Utes

by JazzyUte on Jan 9, 2009 1:34 PM MST in Football Comment 6 comments

Got to hand it to him, he's going all out, though he did stop short of saying we deserved the national championship.

You can read the entire article here, but I'll post some of the best parts.

"Utah is not going away now," Meyer said at a beachfront hotel full of fans wearing orange and blue, the day after his Gators won their second Bowl Championship Series title in three years with a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma. "If you just go evaluate that program — I'm selling Utah," the former Utes coach said with a smile, "you keep hearing the word 'BCS conferences.' I can't think of many schools that are better than Utah. When you hear 'BCS conference' that means nothing to a lot of coaches like myself."

Meyer then mused about struggling teams among the six leagues whose conference winners automatically receive BCS bids. "You get your brains kicked in every year and you finish 3-8, you're not BCS. You might get a little bigger check at the end of the year because you're in a nice conference, but Utah is a much better program than most BCS programs. That's most."

"There's no bitterness," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a teleconference with reporters on Friday. "We're looking at this season as a positive. We feel we can play with anyone in the country."

Whittingham explained the rationale for his vote: "We played a team ranked No. 1 in the country for five weeks and decisively won the game." He said he wasn't sure if there would be any ramifications because of his vote. Members of the American Football Coaches Association who vote in the coaches poll agree to put the winner of the BCS title game as No. 1 in their final ballot. "I did what I thought was right," Whittingham said.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "It just means that it's just fantastic people associated with those programs, the resources you have at Utah and the resources you have at Florida. Everybody is in a hurry to take a new job, I'm going to go to this job, this job. It's great. Just make sure the foundation behind you has some success, and Utah certainly has that."

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Urban's praised Utah many times

Urban has been consistent in his praise for Utah many times.

I’m conflicted about Urban. He’s s great motivator and excellent football coach. His teams are prepared for big games like no other.

But Urban is all about Urban. He says and does what’s best for him. I’m still a little sore at him for leaving Utah the way he did. But had he waited a year to leave Kyle would be Cosmo’s coach now, and who knows what else would have happened?

Now that we’re the People’s National champions, I think it’s time to look forward, not back.

by Rhino95 on Jan 9, 2009 2:07 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Urban

It was tough to say goodbye to Urban after the incredible season he put together for us. I think many people were bitter because they felt that we were losing our biggest advocate in busting the BCS and felt that we would never do it again. Let’s be honest though, Urban belongs to a big time school like Florida. He has no ties here. Utah was just his introduction to the rest of the nation as one of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game. I don’t think that Kyle Whittingham would have been able to coach the Utes to another undefeated season if it wasn’t for the influence that Urban had on him. I am happy that we have an advocate in a BCS conference rooting for our team. The Utes have set the bar extremely high for the rest of the Mountain West Conference and I think the other teams will respond. Who knows?! Maybe the MWC will be the next BCS conference. I don’t think anyone can deny our talent.

by VA Loans on Jan 9, 2009 2:18 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Urban had a positive effect on the Utes football program

but Coach Whittingham took it to a new level. Best of all, Coach Whittingham is not a pretentious SOB like Urban, is an honorable man…does what he says he will do, and won’t be leaving Utah anytime soon. Coach Whittingham, we’re glad you chose Utah, and you’ll have a home here as long as you wish to stay… hopefully a long long time.

by NFCEagles on Jan 9, 2009 7:40 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

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VA Loans

When Urban came here he said he would not be leaving in two years because his kids would be at an age that would make it difficult. I’ve been trying to overcome his selfish opportunism ever since. I can understand his decision, both Notre Dame and Florida offered him a lot of money. I’ve just struggled with his integrity.

Truth is, Urban should’ve sent a big chunk of that raise to Ron McBride. Urban came here and brought discipline that was needed, but the roster was completely stacked with talent. He walked into a perfect situation.

NFCEagles

I think Lavell Edwards has been one of the major influences on Kyle Whittingham, and Kyle knows he has the chance to be to Utah football what Lavell was to Cosmo, or what Bob Devaney was to Nebraska.

by Rhino95 on Jan 9, 2009 10:28 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Good game today guys.

Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 10, 2009 5:23 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Urban

He had a great opportunity to coach a team that wouldn’t get overlooked every year like the utes do and be able to bring in recruits like harvin and tebow.. I can’t blame him too much for leaving. But Whit is our coach now and that’s all i care.

by utahmanami on Jan 12, 2009 6:16 AM MST reply actions 0 recs