How 'bout that blackout?

by JazzyUte on Oct 24, 2011 11:42 PM MDT in Football

The blackout has been a source of contention for some Utah fans because a few find it a bit too gimmicky.

It probably is.

But damn, you couldn't ask for a better week to get gimmicky. The Utes are in dire need of anything to get things rolling again and the blackout should mean a far better and more inspired crowd than what we might have seen if this was just a typical 'ol regular football game.

I know it shouldn't take a blackout to energize a fan base, especially in our first year of the Pac-12, but I'm guessing Utah fans are pretty demoralized right now and entering a game that's essentially a must-win, I'll take whatever gimmick there is to get fans to the stadium and invested in the game.

This really is the season, folks. It's hard to imagine the Utes can come back from a 3-5 start, especially when the Oregon St. Beavers are supposedly one of the weaker teams remaining. If they can't get that first conference win now, I suspect it probably won't happen until they're officially eliminated from bowl contention.

Then again, with things going the way they are, maybe the blackout will act as a symbolic funeral for the regular season.

Then I guess I'll shout, "damn that blackout".

But for now, the energy it brings is much needed for a down on their luck football program.

Hopefully a good crowd and a loud stadium greet the Utes this Saturday.

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Wanna be first...

and I am. I hope the utes have a great game. I’ll be watching from my laptop as much as I can. My hope is a low scoring game, because we all know the offense can’t put points on the board and if our defense can shut OSU down, well, that’s our only chance.

I will be wearing black in spirit. May Brian Johnson on the sideline inspire confidence AND remembrance of the last time OSU came to RES. The Utes need to get their swagger back, and I have faith that they will do it.

That said… GO UTES!!!

by BetterasIgetolder on Oct 24, 2011 10:04 PM MDT reply actions

black out huh?

so the beavers should be right at home in this game then i kid i kid. No, but I do hope that you guys can start getting conf wins just not against my beavers. so good luck and here is to a good and safe game

oh, them beavers

by Thembevers on Oct 24, 2011 10:06 PM MDT reply actions

They need a yellow and greenout

We’d be too agitated to play

by scotty256 on Oct 25, 2011 2:34 AM MDT up reply actions

Utah

Should just dress up in UCLA uniforms. The Beavers also play terribly against UCLA.

by Sahr on Oct 25, 2011 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions

Typo alert!

always play terribly against UCLA.

Stupid fingers.

by Sahr on Oct 25, 2011 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions

Traveling too far to "blackout"

I have been to every black out game since it started (including the funeral against tcu last year), and I am traveling from Iowa to see my Utes play for the first time this season, and can not bring my self to wear anything but the crimson I so love seeing in rice eccles. Personally not a fan and do find it gimmicky.

by notblue19 on Oct 25, 2011 6:39 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

You should totally give me a ride.

Lol jk, but I’m a huge Utah Fans stranded out here in Iowa City. Hawkeye territory.

by Utehawk on Oct 25, 2011 12:38 PM MDT up reply actions

Also an Iowa City Ute...

I guess you, me,and my three year old make up the Iowa City contingent of the Ute Nation. lol.

by notblue19 on Oct 25, 2011 7:08 PM MDT up reply actions

glad that the game will actually be

at night this year. It was a joke last year with the game being at 1:30.

I thought the idea was cool in 2008. It really slipped the next year when it was played against the Pokes.

Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....

by BigBenSportsGuy on Oct 25, 2011 8:21 AM MDT reply actions

Not a big fan of the Blackout for two reasons

1) It’s hard not compare each blackout to the first one, which can never be topped.
2) It reminds me of last year’s visit to the woodshed.

by UU COE Alum on Oct 25, 2011 8:58 AM MDT reply actions

The blackout is awesome when...

You are not playing Wyoming, or getting paddled by TCU. It does bring a different energy into the stadium. I can still remember how loud it was last year, until the game started!! Hopefully this can be a turning point for our utes. They need it! I have never had a problem with one blackout a year, it makes it fun. I am still convinced that they need a black helmet though! The college football landscape has surpassed just the alternate uniform, it now requires a complete makeover from head to toe. Here’s to some small hope that the utes bust out the black helmets, though I doubt it happens!

by UtesFootball on Oct 25, 2011 9:29 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

Check out what Rutgers did with their helmets!!

I think a Block U on a black helmet would be amazing!! Mayber it’s just me though…

by UtesFootball on Oct 25, 2011 9:38 AM MDT up reply actions

Or this one...

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=rutgers+black+helmet&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=823&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=iGruWpIrKrTfrM:&imgrefurl=http://www.nikeblog.com/2011/05/26/black-rutgers-football-helmet-uniforms/&docid=roLTu69_ZyC0ZM&imgurl=http://www.nikeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Rutgers-Black-Uniforms-Helmet-2.jpg&w=500&h=359&ei=PNimTtzlLY3YiQLXsNGTDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=125&sig=103670561828971873538&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=187&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=106&ty=79

by UtesFootball on Oct 25, 2011 9:40 AM MDT up reply actions

Oops, I meant this one...

by UtesFootball on Oct 25, 2011 9:42 AM MDT up reply actions

The rumor is that they will have black helmets this year

Completely unsubstantiated, to my knowledge, but a rumor nonetheless. Could just be wishful thinking.

And since we’re talking about wishful thinking, I would absolutely love to see black helmets for the blackout. The red helmets with black unis look like San Diego State. They just don’t look right, IMO.

More than black helmets, I would absolutely love to see a win this weekend. But that’s probably just wishful thinking too…

Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."

Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com

by CrimsonUte on Oct 25, 2011 11:59 AM MDT up reply actions

The only reason for the energy last year...

Was the size of the matchup, two top five (ap) teams going at it for a chance at a bcs bid and maybe more. It had little to do with the color of the uniforms or shirts in stands. I feel like the color in the stands does not change the fact that it will be a match up of two teams trying to avoid the Pac 12 cellar.

by notblue19 on Oct 25, 2011 10:27 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

I realize the environment was due to the matchup...

but the blackout added a little something extra.

by UtesFootball on Oct 25, 2011 10:40 AM MDT up reply actions

Agreed

We’ll see how the energy is this Saturday, but I doubt it will come anywhere close to last year early against TCU.

Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."

Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com

by CrimsonUte on Oct 25, 2011 11:55 AM MDT up reply actions

It won't come anywhere close to the TCU game last year...

But I guarantee you there will be a bigger buzz than if this game was just a regular scheduled home contest.

Even in ’09, against a horrible Wyoming team, the blackout added some excitement to the game (that and it falling on Halloween). The crowd was more active and alive than, say, the crowd for the Louisville game earlier in the season.

by JazzyUte on Oct 25, 2011 12:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Crazy as possible helmet

We need all the recruiting help we can get after this season. Let’s add some topography swirls and any other gimmicks possible. UA, it’s time to make Maryland’s helmet look drab.

by jrj84105 on Oct 26, 2011 1:26 PM MDT up reply actions

Playing Ugly

I had three paragraphs on a game plan for OSU. But what’s the point. Jon Hays is worse than the high school QB who played on my team.

by Utah-UCLA alum on Oct 25, 2011 4:44 PM MDT reply actions

Care about the Blackout???

I used to love the blackout game right up until the lame game last year vs TCU. The camo and everything rocked…but I would much rather have us wear normal unis than get beat down. I dont really care what color combos they choose to have on Saturday…I just want a win!

I would be down for a NUDE game if it would help us win! Hey…come to think about it…dont know if Oregon players would even wanna tackle our guys if they were buck naked! Maybe we try it!

by UteCanuck on Oct 25, 2011 4:44 PM MDT reply actions

If I remember correctly...

I would be down for a NUDE game if it would help us win!

Wasn’t there that topless woman at the TCU game last year?

by scotty256 on Oct 25, 2011 9:40 PM MDT up reply actions

yes, yes there was!

I was pretty close to where she was…I saw them escort her out but missed the boobies!

by UteCanuck on Oct 26, 2011 10:09 AM MDT up reply actions

I have so little confidence in our team right now.

I don’t think we will win this Saturday. I literally think our offense belongs in FCS (Or whatever Div. II is called).

I want to win out, and at the very least make a bowl game — But I am hopeful that a bad season will lead to a few more season tickets being available for myself come next season, as this year it was nigh impossible to get a hold of those.

by jim2 on Oct 25, 2011 4:50 PM MDT reply actions

season tix?

while I need more season tix myself or at least better ones….I wouldnt trade access to those for a continuation for a crappy season.

by UteCanuck on Oct 25, 2011 5:09 PM MDT up reply actions

I agree - I continue to cheer for us to win.

But when we eventually do have a couple of down seasons, I will be as opportunistic as possible in getting myself on that permanent renewal list of season ticket holders.

For now, I can’t afford the $1000 to buy into the lottery. Sad because I have always been able to get tickets (at least since 1992 – Haven’t missed a single home game since) until this year — Just lost my spot because I became a student and joined the MUSS instead of keeping my season tickets. Of course, even without season tickets, I’ve managed to find someone trying to get rid of at least one ticket at the last second. Fate seems to want me at those games.

by jim2 on Oct 27, 2011 3:28 PM MDT up reply actions

Gimmicky but fitting..

Simply put if we lose you might as well lay us to rest with the fans dressed accordingly… The team we are playing won’t sniff a bowl appearance, if we can’t beat them than I’d say the same thing about us.Scary thing is i’m not so sure that the outcome won’t be exactly that. Offense better wake up before it’s too late!!!

by utahmanami on Oct 26, 2011 3:54 AM MDT reply actions