Utes finally win a close one against BYU
by JazzyUte on Nov 28, 2010 11:13 PM MST
in Holy War
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PrintAfter last year's overtime loss to BYU down in Provo, I opined that Kyle Whittingham's teams just weren't getting it done in the clutch against the Cougars. After BYU methodically moved the ball down the field in the closing minutes of Saturday's game, that comment rattled around in my head.
It looked like Kyle Whittingham once again would be on the losing end of a hard-fought, tightly contested Holy War.
Then Brandon Burton stepped up and saved the day. His blocked field goal washed away all the pain felt from the last few close rivalry losses.
The good guys finally won one in epic fashion. I would have been more comfortable with a blowout, but this one is a bit more enjoyable because of how tormented we've been in this series over the last few years (minus 2008).
Now it's BYU players, coaches and fans left with the dreaded feeling of what ifs for the remainder of winter, all of spring and most of summer.
For Kyle Whittingham, though, this must feel real good. There is no one more invested in this program than Coach Whittingham and he has been on the bad side of this rivalry a bit more than he probably would have liked. Especially with how each of his losses to BYU ended essentially with Utah blowing a lead late. It was the case in 2006, 2007 and yes, even 2009.
And it looked to be the case in 2010. But a remarkable comeback and the best finish in this long rivalry's history made sure those past demons weren't going to resurface.
Make no mistake about it, the Utes won this game. BYU didn't just give it to them. This wasn't a game lost because the kicker missed a field goal. This game was lost because Utah blocked that field goal. They made the play. They created the stop and prevailed because of it.
Don't let any Cougar fan try to take away what transpired Saturday night. The Utes showed heart, clawed back and finally, finally made the last stop.
It's four years in the making.
Now let Harline is Still Open, 4th and 18 and George is Still Running die.
They're irrelevant now. Utah finally won in miraculous fashion. Not BYU.
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After watching Coach Whitt’s TV show tonight, I tuned in to KSL to hear the Christ-like wisdoms of Mundanehall, what with rivalry and epic finish (MWC End of Days and all)… To no surprise of mine… They were running highlights from the 1984 BYU bowl game with Michigan. And followed it up with the Beck-to-Harline reel… Whatever.
At the RES, in the NEZ, I never doubted the team, but have to admit… The switch to Cain seemed right at the time (it worked out in a strange way).
The game seemed much less horrific as I watched it on TV last night… Our D was almost great (Whitt sure seemed proud of them). And Wynn rarely had open receivers… And they dropped a couple they shouldn’t have.
Go Utes! Go PAC 12!
by isnow1 on Nov 29, 2010 12:01 AM MST via mobile reply actions
Yeah...it wasn't as ugly as I thought when I was watching it in the stadium...
Wynn played okay and was clutch in that final quarter. It’s not easy being taken out of the game like that and then returning to essentially lead the team back from a 13 point hole.
The defense did a lot of bending, but never broke really. BYU scored only one touchdown and it was on a short field.
A Lot of Wynn's Problems are Roderick's Fault.
Too much pressure was put on Wynn. Against TCU, Notre Dame, and the first half of this game, Roderick seemed to forget that he had two stud senior runningbacks.
The move to Cain was a dumb idea, but it did cause one good thing. Since the coaches didn’t trust Cain nearly as much as they trusted Wynn, they did remember the running game. Fortunately when the better QB was put back in the game, the coaches continued to remember the running back.
I disagree with the running game
We tried to run in the first half but that D-line was stuffing us repeatedly forcing us into many 3rd and long situations. We just used more sweep runs and east/west running as opposed to running it up the gut and was able to find more success.
Fear the MUSS!!
I was dissapointed with o-line more so than the play calling…all year… But agree with your 2009 post… I wouldn’t feel bad if they upgraded from ARod in January.
by isnow1 on Nov 29, 2010 12:10 AM MST via mobile reply actions
The O-line consistently gave good pass protection
But they didn’t seem to open enough holes for the run. With both Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata returning, I thought we’d have a lot more rushing yards this year than we had. I think the O-line may be a bit undersized to open big holes. John Cullen and Tevita Stevens are both well under 300 pounds. I’d like to see them hit 300 pounds by next year.
Lots of injuries this game
Two o-line starters went down during the game (Cullen and Stevens) along with Luke Matthews and Eddie Wide. Hope they’re back for the bowl!
Utah has won close ones before...
34-31 comes to mind.
Eros, Ares, Apollo, Zeus, DIONYSUS, Priapus
"Bring on the Nublies": -- _The Stranglers_
Rice-Eccles - Site of the 1st Pac-12 CCG Go UTES!!!
And 2005...but those were long, long ago.
The Utes had dropped the last three close contests. All of which came under Kyle Whittingham. Almost all in subsequent order – with 2008 being the only Utah win (a blowout).
This was a big monkey on the back.
losing by one point with utah blocking the fg will be hard to take. i rather have won this way.
it hurts the other team more. lol.
Why do canadians stick together? The same reason why Chris Horodecki turned his body and face around in his first WEC fight.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 29, 2010 9:56 AM MST up reply actions
I think it hurts far more than what we experienced the last three losses to them...
Mostly because I’m sure, while nervous, BYU fans were confident that kick would sail through the uprights.
they lost to boise state that way too. i don't remember if it was the last seconds though.
Why do canadians stick together? The same reason why Chris Horodecki turned his body and face around in his first WEC fight.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 29, 2010 10:14 AM MST up reply actions
The only reason it hurts more
is because it is more recent. When BYU hit Harline in the endzone I was devastated. Probably as much or more-so than when Ryan Kaneshiro hit the upright back in the 90s.
This one trumps them because it is more recent, and because if those games are ever brought up, I can just say, “We won this year”.
On the flip side, I was also pretty confident the kick would sail through the uprights, but I couldn’t be happier when Burton proved me wrong.
That block saved our season. And I will be elated about it for a solid month, at least until we play the bowl game.
2002 and 2003 were also close wins for the U...
but you’re right, it does seem like BYU has pulled out too many close wins over us recently. This one certainly helps to make up for that.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Careful about the "long, long ago" quip...
I still know some Football players I used to live in the dorms with… even at 40 a 6’7" Samoan isn’t one to mess with.
Females can climax non-stop for at least 3 hours.
Females can experience over 100 distinct and separate climaxes consecutively.
A female climax can last 30 minutes.
by Ravenous Ute on Nov 30, 2010 9:51 AM MST up reply actions
The Harline catch
was the worst, since i was there to witness it and had to see all the byu fans celebrating in our stadium, that made me sick. so to go to this game and see all the byu fans dissapointed afterwards made me feel better.
I was there too...
seeing it on the field when I was there was painful enough. I hated seeing it several more times on commercials.
by CRIMSONandWHITE on Nov 29, 2010 10:48 PM MST up reply actions
Never, ever give up
My wife is dying. Literally. We expect her to pass sometime in the next 36 hours. She has fought metastatic cancer tooth and nail for two years. It left her bed-ridden and essentially paralyzed for 9 months. It left her with partial blindness and constant pain. She is only 34 years old.
Several of the Ute players, past and present, know my wife. They know what she is going through and many have said they talk about her and use her as motivation. I saw a similar determination on the field on Saturday. The Utes never gave up. The blocked FG was described as “sheer will”. That will to win is a powerful thing. My wife was so happy to hear that the Utes had won, and in what manner. She whispered as much to me on the last day before she lost consciousness and became unresponsive.
My wife hoped that the players and fans would understand just how strong will can be. The four tumors in her brain and the cancer coating her spinal cord were an immediate death sentence. She was given 8 weeks back in March. She has turned that into 8 months. She never gave up. Ever. She is still fighting now. Her brain functions are basically stopped, but her heart keeps going. There is a fight in her that humbles me and will serve as an inspiration to my kids.
The 4th quarter performance by the Utes will serve as an inspiration for them for years to come. Never give up.
Incredible story of HEART..
My condolences brother Ute..
Females can climax non-stop for at least 3 hours.
Females can experience over 100 distinct and separate climaxes consecutively.
A female climax can last 30 minutes.
by Ravenous Ute on Nov 30, 2010 9:47 AM MST up reply actions
That's horrible and I'm so sorry.
I know you mentioned briefly about your wife, but you never went into detail. I will be praying for you and your family. It’s not easy losing a loved one. Especially one who’s really in the prime of their life.
She's not suffering anymore pain...
I know that’s little consolation, but a good thing. If there is anything we can do bbmagic.
Females can climax non-stop for at least 3 hours.
Females can experience over 100 distinct and separate climaxes consecutively.
A female climax can last 30 minutes.
by Ravenous Ute on Nov 30, 2010 5:29 PM MST up reply actions
Ute brothers
So far tonight I’ve gotten a call from Kenape Eliapo and email/texts from Kepa Gaison, Zane Beadles, Lei Talamaivao and Brian Johnson’s lady, Ashley Chapman.
Kenape said he was going to try to fly out from San Fran for the services. Kepa is going to try to come out from Hawaii.
These Utes have shown so much love for my wife during this fight. They’ve come out to fundraisers, called her, signed footballs to raise money and even visited her in the hospital to pray with her.
Best group of men I’ve ever met.
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