Where I come from: Our favorite Utes
by JazzyUte on Jul 8, 2010 11:19 AM MDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
33 comments
This post is sponsored by NCAA Football 2011 and is part of a week-long series that will further introduce Utah football.
The greatness of a team can only be achieved through the success of its players. For Utah, their best seasons could not have happened if it weren't for the special collection of talent the program has produced.
Then there are players who might not have offered up great seasons, but nevertheless were great themselves. Scott Mitchell was a fantastic quarterback at the U - but the accomplishments of the program during his time here wasn't all that great. He's probably best remembered for his 1988 Holy War performance, where the Utes thoroughly dismantled the stunned Cougars.
Unfortunately, there were no conference championships or bowl games during his stretch as Utah's quarterback. It doesn't mean, though, he was any less of a great player. Mitchell just didn't have the coaching staff and supporting cast to achieve greatness - especially on the defensive end.
So each player's role is different. It wouldn't be fair to limit one's success based on the overall performance of the program. If that were the case, Lance Rice would be considered one of the best quarterbacks in Utah football history for his 2001 performance.
With all that considered, I've probably got to go with Brian Johnson. Which is a tough decision, because the man he replaced (Alex Smith) did it first and better here at Utah. Of course, that's no knock against Johnson. It's just reality. Smith's stats and overall accomplishments are something you won't see often here. Especially being drafted number one overall. But it isn't necessarily all about ability on the field. Johnson gets the edge not because he's a better quarterback (this isn't about our greatest Utes). No, he gets the edge similar to how 2008's Utah team has the edge over their 2004 counterparts in my eyes. There is just too many good memories to not have it be my choice as favorite.
Especially when you consider his performances in the Holy War and Sugar Bowl. Then, of course, there was the whole leading Utah back from the brink twice. Those games, those moments, are ones I'll be talking about for years to come. They were certainly magical and I don't want to make it sound like I'm slighting Smith here, because I'm not. It's just Smith's success, collectivity, kind of blurs together. Outside of 2003 and maybe the Fiesta Bowl, it's hard to find a collection of games that stand out from one another. 2008 had that and more.
It also doesn't hurt that Johnson returned to Utah and is now on the coaching staff. Though Smith certainly was put in a better post-college career situation when he was drafted by the Niners.
So overall, they were both fantastic quarterbacks. I'll readily admit Smith was the better player. But Johnson is my favorite because he created the better memories.
Who's your favorite Ute?
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depends on the time period
from my younger years it is a toss-up of either Chris fumatu Ma’afala and Kevin Dyson.
from my college years it is either Alex Smith or King Louie
Currently I am a big fan of Asiata
Probably have to agree
with Jazzy, Brian Johnson is probably my top. Alex has to be close though. The crazy thing about Alex is that in 2003, he didn’t even start all games. If Brett Elliot doesn’t get hurt going for the two point conversion against Texas A&M…Alex probably wouldn’t have gotten his shot because Elliot was either the same age or just one year older in school.
But Brian Johnson…I remember when Alex bolted for the NFL, and I was talking to my dad and he was telling me how Alex’s backup was even faster than him and the option would be Johnson’s thing. Then you look at the most memorable plays Brian Johnson had and it wasn’t him running the option. It was his perfectly on target throws.
You also almost have to throw Paul Kruger into the mix too. Even though he stilll could be playing with us, he helped this team so much. He dominated the D-line and without controlling that, we probably don’t do nearly as well and have nearly as many chances on offense and we probably would have lost to TCU if it weren’t for him in 2008. He got a few HUGE sacks that knocked them out of field goal range (not that their kicker could make a field goal anyway that year).
GO UTES!!
KRUGER!
Oh man. I didn’t even think of him. Defiintely my favorite defensive player of all time for the Utes close behind Eric Weddle. He was the smartest D-player I’ve seen. He was a big leader, and was always smart about when to rush and when to hang back. He was a nightmare for offensive lines, because it often seemed like he knew what the offense was doing even more so than the O-Line.
Remember that he played QB in highschool, which I think was a big contributing factor as to why he was so good at his position. He understood the game and it showed. He also kept his cool. Always. He never got late hits. He didn’t get in fights, and was always thinking about the next play.
Kruger was awesome.
BJ #1
I was never in the group of people shouting for Brian Johnson to be benched. BUT The guy frustrated me at times. He was scared of getting injured (Can’t blame him). Part of that was having a difficult to understand offensive coordinator. Sometimes he was so bad when it seemed the game was on the line. He was DEFINITELY not as good of a QB as Alex Smith.
All that said, Brian Johnson became my football all-time hero in the comeback runs against TCU and Oregon St, and for his dismantling of the Alabama Defense in the Sugar Bowl. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I wouldn’t have picked any QB in the nation that year to be my QB in final drive with 2 minutes left. The guy was clutch.
It’s tough too, because Louis Sakoda was so good. Probably the best kicker I have ever seen play the game. Without him, the Utes wouldn’t have gone undefeated either, but based on the TCU and OSU performances in 2008, I’d have to pick Brian Johnson.
He may not be a popular pick
but my favorite was Eric Weddle. Dude played 4 full years and did everything: corner, strong safety, nickel, punt returner, wildcat RB/QB, kick holder and even punted a couple of times. He intercepted and forced fumbles like nobody’s business, and he often returned them for touchdowns. On top of that, he was a class act kind of guy and was someone the university could always be proud of. Cheers to Weddle.
Weddle coming out as QB against BYU was priceless.
I won’t ever forget when Weddle came in as the QB down in Provo and the BYU team and fans were in shock. Especially when he threw and landed a pass for 20 yards on the same play. It was priceless.
Weddle is up there...
He was our everything man in 2006. Probably the only reason we even had a chance at a bowl game.
Come to think of it, that 2006 team was awful most of the time. Surprised we managed eight wins!
Weddle would be a very popular pick if the same question were asked on utefans.net.
Weddle was a great player and is still a huge fan favorite (like him chasing down a player on a blocked kick during the spring game last year).
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Jul 8, 2010 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions
Has to be Weddle
Weddle is the epitome of Utah football. My honorable mentions would be the flash and speed of short timers Erroll Tucker and Steve Smith.
by Drum and Feathers on Jul 8, 2010 2:36 PM MDT up reply actions
Loved me some Eric Weddle...
love love love.
It would be a tough choice for me.
1) Weddle
1A) BJ
3) Alex Smith
4) Paul Kruger
5) Steve Smith
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
There are so many to choose from; I loved tons of players from both BCS busting teams. Of course, Alex Smith from the ‘04 team, but I was also a big fan for the receiving duo (Paris Warren and Steve Savoy) and the D-Line (Fifita, Fanene, Pouha, Soliai).
More recently, I’ve loved watching guys like Paul Kruger, Robert Johnson and Stevenson Sylvester play. Brian Johnson holds a special place in my heart for the thrilling comeback performances and the Sugar Bowl, but, man, he could frustrate me, too.
But, my all-time favorite is a toss-up between Eric Weddle and Louie Sakoda. Both of those guys were so versatile, reliable and dangerous. King Louie was a cold-as-ice field goal kicker and his punting was an under-appreciated weapon. Weddle, well, he did everything else, including holding the ball during place-kicks.
Man, this has got to be one of the hardest questions ever.
I’m not sure I can name a favorite player from every year I’ve been a Ute fan (since 1999, with several vying for each spot), much less my all-time favorite.
In fact, let me throw out every year’s candidates:
1999- Steve Smith (but not because of what he did at Utah, which was pretty pedestrian), Andre Dyson, Mike Anderson, Maake Kemoeautu
2000- Steve Smith again, Andre Dyson again, Doug Kaufusi, Jordan Gross, Maake again
2001- Josh Savage, Sheldon Deckart, Jordan again, Doug again, Maake again
2002- Marty Johnson (or 2003, don’t remember exactly), Brandon Warfield, Savage again, Deckart again, Jason Kaufusi, Sione Pouha
2003- Alex Smith, Jonathon Fanene, Marty again, Kaufusi again, Pouha again, Chris K, Ledbetter, Bo Nagahi, Savage again, Morgan Scalley, Warfield again
2004- Alex again, Jesse Boone, Fanene again, Steve Fifita, Quinton Ganther, Marty again, Chris K again, TLT, Ledbetter again, Nagahi again, John Madsen, Steve Savoy, Pouha again, Morgan again, Talavou (maybe its 2005), Soliai (also maybe 2005), Spencer Toone, Weddle
2005- Boone again plus little Boone, Brian Johnson, Brett Ratliff, Martail Burnett, Fifita again, Q again, Brian Hernandez, TLT again, Madsen again, Talavou and Soliai again (or maybe for the first time), Toone again, Tavo Tupola, Weddle again
2006- little Boone again, Brett, Brady, Burnett again, Casteel, Conley, Hernandez again, Mike Liti, Gabe Long, Louie Sakoda, Soliai again, Talavou again, Steve Tate, Mombroso Washington (still a damn shame what happened to him), Weddle again, Marquis Wilson (or is it 2007 the one good year)
2007- Brian again, Grady (for the UCLA game), Mack, Beadles, Casteel, Sly, Conley, Isley Filiaga, RoJo, Kruger, Brice McCain, Sean Smith, Sakoda again
2008- Brian again, Asiata, Casteel again, Sly again, RoJo again, Kruger again, Mack again, McCain again, Misi, Sakoda, Sean again
2009- Asiata again, Wide, Wynn, RoJo again, Misi again, Beadles again, Reed, Sly again, RJ Stanford, Shelby, Siliga, D. Kruger
I mean, there are some ahead of others, but man that’s a lot of choices over the past 11 years. I guess mine would be (not in any order): David Reed, Steve Smith, Eric Weddle, Brian Johnson, Alex Smith, Q, Fifita, Sean Smith, P. Kruger
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
What about Andre Miller
I agree there are alot of great Utes to love and call your favorite,… but were any greater than Andre Miller leading the utes pass defending champ Arizona and into the final four in 1998? I have to say he makes number one on my list.
I'm Torn
between Johnson and Weddle. I think they are about even.
Luther Elliss
The list already has some great players. I also have to add Luther Elliss to the mix — who was key in the early ’90s when the resurgence began.
too bad he had to play for the lions. he still managed at least one pro bowl year.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. I still will always follow the Mountain West Conference. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez and face the winner of Junior Dos Santos vs Roy Nelson where he will defeat JDS and stake his claim as pound for pound champion.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jul 10, 2010 1:31 PM MDT up reply actions
Very tough call
I can’t pick just one guy so I’ll go with my select few:
Alex Smith:
Not only did Alex help put us on the map, he may have been the best man to line up behind center just because he was on one of the greatest teams in Utah history. The fact is Smith was the engine that made the 2004 machine roll. Further than that though he was brilliant off the field too. (He was one of the best student athletes if I recall). I aslo love the fact Alex has gone on to try to maintain Utah’s name in the pro’s (yeah he’s had a lot of bumps, but he’s doing better now).
Andrew Bogut:
Right behind Keith Van Horn, Bogut was the greatest big guy to play at the U. Some would argue Van Horn should get more credit cause he played longer, got deeper in the tournament and thus far had a better overall career after college. With all respect to the 98’ squad, I wasn’t a Ute fan yet so Andrew gets the nod for me. Bottom line: without him , the sweet 16 appearance wouldn’t have happened.
Eric Weddle:
Not only was he a stud in college, I get to root for him cause he plays for my Chargers. What really made Weddle great was the fact he was a class act all the way. He was the first to congratulate John Beck when we lost to BYU in 06’ . Right behind Morgan Scalley, I’d have to say he would be my first pick at DB in my all time Ute sqaud
Just for fun my all-time Utah roster would look like this:
QB-Alex Smith
RB-Mike Anderson
WR-Steve Smith
WR-David Reed
WR-Steve Savoy
WR-Brent Casteel
OL-Zane Beadles
OL-Chris Kemoeatu
OL-Jesse Boone
OL-Maake Kemoeautu
OL Jordan Gross S. Smith
DT-Steve Fifita
DT-Sione Pouha
DE-Koa Misi
DE-Paul Kruger
LB-Stevenson Sylvester
LB-Spencer Toone
LB-Marquess Ledbetter
DB-Eric Weddle
DB-Morgan Scalley
DB-Robert Johnson
DB-Andre Dyson
K/P-Louie Sakoda
PR
KR -Scalley
They are my favorites for entirely different reasons
Zane Beadles, Kenape Eliapo, Brian Johnson and Kepa Gaison.
As a big guy, I take absolute delight in watching Zane blow up defenders. He routinely shoved guys headfirst into the turf. Nobody watches the O-line, and you’re missing a show when 68 lines up.
Kenape had this Mike Singletary look in his eyes just before drilling JPW in the Sugar Bowl. Dude was a beast.
BJ is personally responsible for the pinnacle of Utah Football. His intensity and drive during 2008 was the stuff that will go down in Ute lore as The Season. To be in the stands during those two comebacks was something I’ll treasure. But to be in the Superdome and watch him turn the tables on Alabama was something I’ll tell my grandkids about. I was freaking there, baby! That was the moment that brought us to the Pac-10.
Kepa Gaison. This is the Rudy of the Utes. He shows up as a fat punter and leaves as a defensive presence. Two sacks in the Sugar Bowl, sacking Max Hall and the heart of a lion.
But there’s another reason why these guys are the best. My wife was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer last June and I contacted some of the guys to get some stuff signed for a fundraiser to help pay for her treatments. They went the extra mile. Zane and Brian came to the fundraiser. Kepa and Kenape came to see her in the hospital to talk with her, laugh with her and pray with her. Kepa pointed to my wife in the stands after batting a pass against Utah State. Phone calls, emails and personal visits. These are upstanding men with more character than most. I remember being a young, single college kid. The world is yours for the taking, and your free time is very precious. They spent it with us, supporting us and cheering for us.
We started the Kepa Gaison fan club in W16. We made big K-E-P-A letters we’d hold up whenever he’d come up big. At first, people asked us if KEPA was a radio station! We told them it was Hard Rock all the time. But after a few weeks, people took notice. They called on us to put up the letter and give him the recognition. He’d give us a point when he took the field. He was a great friend.
Go Utes, baby.
Here’s Kepa pointing at my wife
Zane Beadles at the fundraiser
Brian Johnson at the fundraiser
Kepa and Kenape visiting us at the hospital
Man... too many to love
I guess I’ll go in a different direction than most and go with Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala. Man I loved watching the big man rumble down the field.
this is tough...
some schools have one guy you can say for sure, but for utah there is several guys:
- Brian Johnson: what more can you say that hasn’t been said
- Alex Smith: the right guy at the right time, perfect fit for urban meyer’s offense
- Louie Sakoda: the legend of king louie
- Mike Anderson: Las Vegas Bowl, i was there, as far as Bowl game performances it’s near the top of the list. Kind of started a trend for ute players coming up big in bowl games.
- Robert Johnson: his #‘s didn’t always stand out, but his spectacular plays did.
- Eric Weddle: for his versatility
One I forgot
I still have a signed picture from Jamal Anderson, I totally forgot about him.
Give the ball to Jamal!
utah has put many rb's in the nfl and you can make a case that jamal was the best of the group.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. I still will always follow the Mountain West Conference. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez and face the winner of Junior Dos Santos vs Roy Nelson where he will defeat JDS and stake his claim as pound for pound champion.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jul 10, 2010 1:32 PM MDT up reply actions
dirty bird!
i have his atl falcons jersey
You shouldhave seen the "bama
I was sitting amongst when we pulled that.
I screamed “Hook and lateral, hook and ladder baby—who pulls that out in a game like this!” They just shook their heads and agreed it was a pretty cool play and a ballsy one against their D.
All Time?
Geez, hard not to like Smith, jOhnson. Del Rodgers was hard not to absolutely love, return man Errol Tucker? Great to watch. Kevi Polson—defensive end becaus ehe worked his butt off every play, every game. No one worked harder than him. Carlton Walker—because when we sang happy birthday ot him at the retsaraunt he had to leave in tears—no one had ever sung it to him in his life.
Steve Folsom certainly ranks as high as any for me since he was a phenomenal tight end, helluva guy, and dropped one pass in his carer—just one, and he remembered it precisely like I did when I told him how awful he was (and sent me a stinky Cowboys Jersey in the mail—heh).
But all time?
In a race too close to call I’ll tell you one favorite: Jeff Griffin, defensive back. Why? That guy hit so hard you felt bad for the other guy. If they burned him or the Utes on a pass play? We very often (almost always) got a roughing call—not interference but unsportsmanlike behavior—next play because he would line up on a receiver (and he was fast) and tear the guy in half for no reason excepting he was pissed off and after that? They were very timid around him.
When he went pro I watched him ram that monster Harold Carmichael so hard on the sideline he knocked him silly—both of them sat on the ground dazed.
I loved to watch that guy. And tucker? Shouldda seen that kid return.
eric weddle had a play i think was against air force where he picked off the ball and had a spectactular
return for a td. i think it was air force? maybe n.m. i just remember him ducking a few players on his way to the endzone. his versatility is what makes him the best ute ever. i hope he wins a super bowl with the chargers.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. I still will always follow the Mountain West Conference. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez and face the winner of Junior Dos Santos vs Roy Nelson where he will defeat JDS and stake his claim as pound for pound champion.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jul 10, 2010 1:35 PM MDT up reply actions
No Better Ute than BJ
There are players with more athletic gifts than Brian Johnson in terms of football skill, but when we needed a win, he always came through. We also have to consider how much quickness he lost from the ACL tear and his arm was never the same after the shoulder injury in ’07.
Johnson’s physical talent were severly limited from injuries but he made up for it with intelligence and leadership and most of all, heart. If there’s 2:00 min left in the game and you need a touchdown, do you honestly pick Alex Smith over BJ? I don’t. My favorite athlete ever…
by GodisBrianJohnson on Jul 11, 2010 12:37 AM MDT reply actions
Just a thought...
but you should have done a poll with this one Jazzy.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
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