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What if......Whittingham had gone blue?

Since we're quickly approaching the Holy War, I thought I'd bring up an interesting what if scenario: What would have happened if Kyle Whittigham had chosen the BYU job over Utah?. There are several aspects to this question that make it interesting:

 

1 . Who would replaced Urban Meyer?

Mike Sanford; one of the other leading candidates to replace Meyer had already bolted to UNLV, (yeah....that worked out well). So who would have been 'the man'?. Let's not forget folks 2005 wasn't all that bad but it was still a season to forget (besides the OT win in Provo and the Emerald Bowl of course) In other words any coach (including Kyle) knew beforehand that the Utah job was a rebuilding task.  I really can't think of anyone else who would have stepped up.

 

2: Had K-Whitt taken the BYU job, how well would he have fared?

When I said Utah was a rebuilding job, the same goes here. BYU was a mess thanks to the horrible Gary Crowton era nevertheless BYU did have some talent to work with. (for starters, they didn't have to break in a new QB like Utah). I honestly believe Coach Whitt would have done just fine at BYU. 12-0 good? I'm a little more hesitant to give him that much credit. Another aspect that Utah fans can be thankful for is that if Kyle went blue, he most likely would have taken Gary Anderson with him. (thus our defense would have taken a huge hit). 

 

3. Would 13-0 even have happened if Kyle left?

Was Kyle Whittingham lucky?, was the Utes magical run in 2008 more the product of all the right chips falling into place (mediocre high profile opponent, our biggest games were at home and a Div II team on our OOC schedule) or was the Utes great run a reflection of good coaching?. In all honesty I have to say it was a little bit of both. I don't wish to take anything away from Kyle Whittinghams achievements but we did catch some real lucky breaks last year (case and point: TCU practically gave us a game with missed field goals) but on the same token Utah 2008 showed they could really play ( case and point: the OSU thriller and the Sugar Bowl domination).  In the end I have to admit 13-0 would not have happened if Kyle left.

Looking back, I remember going though the 2004 offseason wishing and hoping Coach Whitt would have stayed with us. At the time there was a part of me that really thought that he would become the Cougars coach. Luckily he proved me wrong and I have to say despite the bumps in Coach Whitt's coaching road (7-5 in his first year, the UNLV loss and two strait losses to BYU) I have to say I don't regret his path choice one bit.

Kyle Whittingham is the man!!!

GO UTES!!!!

 

       


Poll
Do you think Kyle Whittingham would have succeeded if he had taken the BYU job?
Yes
52 votes
No
9 votes

61 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 7 comments

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Comments

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Whittingham is a good coach.

He’d succeed anywhere.

As for the original question, what if Whitt had gone to BYU…I don’t dare entertain that thought.

by JazzyUte on Nov 23, 2009 5:40 PM MST reply actions   0 recs

i actually think the honor code would have put a damper on things.

in fact that might have been the main reason why he choose utah.

yes i am obsessive, obnoxious, in your face and all about covering the spread. those are my good qualities.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 24, 2009 1:55 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I think

Recruiting to BUYU period is tough. They will never get enough talent to move ot the level of competing for a BCS bowl. That Utah has done it twice in four years is remarkable.

by MeanBobMean on Nov 25, 2009 2:48 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't like that thought either.

That is too much to think about and now that we have ahd these 5 seasons with Kyle, I’m glad he chose the Utes. If he had bolted, Utah would be left with no one. Like you said, Sanford left and Kyle would have taken Gary….that leaves us with who? We probably would have brought someone new in. Might not have been horrible but….I don’t even want to think about it ha.

GO UTES!!

by Jman87 on Nov 23, 2009 11:19 PM MST reply actions   0 recs

My thoughts

1. Dan Mullen would’ve been hired as Utah’s HC.

2. Whittingham’s career arc would probably be slightly better at BYU than it was at Utah. Crowton recruited very well, and he left a great stable of players there in 2007. My guess is they go 11-1 or even 12-0 in 2007.

3. It’s hard to say how the dominoes would’ve fallen at Utah with Mullen as HC. I don’t know if 13-0 happens.

St Louis Game Time: Let's Go Blues!
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by BoylenOver on Nov 24, 2009 1:54 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

He didn't.

And I don’t wanna think about it.

BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter

by utesfan100 on Nov 24, 2009 7:23 AM MST reply actions   0 recs

plus whittingham is here to stay. he is loyal unlike franchoine, hawkins, koeuter and petrino etc etc

kyle whittingham is a class act, a great coach and we are loaded for next year. with no major injuries we have the schedule pitt and n.d. and byu and tcu at home. byu loses pitta hall and i’ll bet unga. tcu losses there three best defensive players and half their rb’s. tcu will do the mwc proud in this years bcs bowl since texas was in a dogfight with a&m i really think nebraska’s defense can contain mccoy. utah will be getting it’s third bcs bid in 6 years. count on it.

yes i am obsessive, obnoxious, in your face and all about covering the spread. those are my good qualities.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 26, 2009 10:01 PM MST up reply actions   0 recs

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