Adversity sucks!
by JazzyUte on Oct 6, 2011 2:07 PM MDT
in Football
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PrintNew bumpersticker right there.
But yeah, adversity does suck. It's not fun. Oh sure, I bet there are a few go-getters who thrive off the challenge. I don't, though. I don't like adversity in life and I certainly don't like it in my football.
Unfortunately, that's life and you've still got to deal with it.
For Utah football, this is the first time since the '07 season that things have gone so wrong so fast. In that season, the Utes started 1-3, lost their starting running back, their starting quarterback for a few games and then experienced arguably the most embarrassing loss in program history.
Utah bounced back nicely, of course, winning 21 of their next 22 games - including a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.
I don't anticipate a similar run over the next season and a half for these Utes, but if '07 taught us anything, it's that no matter how bad things may seem, the ship can be righted rather quickly.
After Utah's shutout loss to UNLV, most Ute fans, or at least a loud minority, openly questioned the direction of the football program and it didn't look like the season could be salvaged. It wasn't until a bit later, maybe after the Louisville game, where fans started believing that maybe things were improving enough where the team could challenge for a bowl berth.
Are we in store for something similar this time around?
I'm hopeful because I believe in Kyle Whittingham. I think he's a great coach and very capable of bringing teams back from the brink.
I don't know if that's going to start this week or next, but until the Utes sit at seven losses, I'm not going to concede a losing season and definitely won't give up on them (regardless of how negative my posting may seem in the wake of a bad loss).
But a lot is going to depend on Saturday afternoon. I'm not suggesting Utah needs to win, but they need to be competitive. If they're blown out once more, in their second consecutive home game, it's going to be hard getting on board with the idea that things, a bit down the road, will kick it into gear and the Utes will cruise to a respectable finish and receive a bowl bid for the ninth consecutive year.
So get out to the stadium this Saturday and cheer on the Utes in a very important home game.
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I'm there for the Utes
I am at the games, rain or shine. Sickness or health. Win or lose.
Section W16. You’ll see me with the big ‘44’ sign for Dave Kruger (he runs up to our section and gives us some love when the Utes storm the field) and a “S-T-A-R” sign for big 92. When either guy comes up big, you’ll see the signs.
Too bad I don’t have a Shelby sign. I have a feeling he’s going to own the freshman RT that ASU is starting this week. Sack, baby, sack.
Call me an optimist,
But I think there is still a lot to play for this season. Looking at the rest of the schedule makes me think that we will have at least a bowl game to look forward to, if nothing else.
ASU is still ASU. Out here where I live we call a team that inconsistent Clemson (disregard this year). It’s at home and they can’t prepare for our offensive scheme with Hays. If the Utes manage to pull this one off, the South division is there for the taking. @ Cal and @ Wash St will both be tough games, but those are the toughest ones left on the schedule. I see 4 more fairly sure wins (Oregon St, Arizona, UCLA and Colorado) with 2 toss ups (@ Pitt and @ Wash St) and 2 tough games (ASU and @ Cal). So, worst case scenario, I see a 7-5 season (winning one of the toss ups) and a bid in the Vegas Bowl. Now that isn’t great or even very good, but there is some upside.
If Hays gets some confidence from a tough, hard-fought home win over ASU on Saturday, I feel good about @ Pitt and @ Cal turns into a toss up (depends on how Cal looks tonight against Oregon). If the Utes squeak through those games, the last 5 games will become very manageable. That leaves ASU with at least 2 losses (Utah and Oregon) and we have the tie-break. So our best case scenario is a matchup with Stanford/Oregon in the Pac12 Championship. I would consider that a very successful first year in the Pac-12.
Reality? That will probably fall somewhere in between (8-4 with losses to ASU and Cal). But as a Ute fan, I am just thrilled to be playing such quality opponents week in and week out. BRING ON THE REST OF THE PAC-12!
I've upped my attituded....
Frankly, win or lose, I’ve decided to just chill.
We’re in the Pac and if things are tough this year, with this bunch of coaches it will get better because they can out recruit anybody so now that we are on a level playing field with the best teams, watch out.
And we kick you know who in the you know where, 54-10, and that will keep me warm all winter regardless.
Correct Me If I'm Wrong . . .
But isn’t an 8-4 season considered at least fairly good by most PAC standards? I mean, outside the conf champ, it seems that reaching 9 wins is a solid season.
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
Last year, 6-6 came in third.
We in Husky-land thought it was a GREAT season.
This conference, YOUR conference, is a meat grinder.
It was only great
because it was the first bowl game season in 8 years for us. But, yeah, it was a third place conference finish and the Pac was a lot better over all last year.
8-4 would mean we lose only 2 more games. Depending on where those losses come from, we could only lose 1 more game in conference and be 2nd or 3rd in the south (like Jazzy said, right where we were projected). I don’t think that is a disappointment at all.
Now, depending on the nature of the losses, if we go on to barely win our games but get blown out in our losses…sure, I can see myself being a bit disappointed with the nature of our play, but not with our final record.
by Hockey Beard in SLC on Oct 6, 2011 4:40 PM MDT up reply actions
I too believe in Whitt, but..
I disagree about Saturday. It doesn’t do us any good to go into that game and just be competitive, we need to win that game, or we are 0-3 in conference travelling across the whole country to play Pitt and most likely get blown out. If we win the ASU game, we gain some confidence back and go make the Pitt game a good one, plus we have a chance to compete for the South division, as ASU plays Oregon this year and has a good chance to lose that game. To us Ute fans, a competitive game might be a “moral victory,” but to those on the outside, namely recruits and other Pac12 teams, they just see that we lost and continue to give us no respect.
Jazzy?
What in the hell are you saying? How many teams enter a game with the goal of being competitive? Losers think that way and I caution you to not think that way. This team allowed opportunities to score slip away and the result was a big loss. This team is good enough to win, our talent is good enough to compete and win every game and our coaching staff is good enough to bounce back. Our defense will be ready to play and, if Hays’ plays well, we will win…not compete.
Utes 24 ASU 13.
I’ll wait for your upbeat post after the win…I mean competitive performance.
Who said anything about the goal just being to compete?
Did you read what I put? I never said Utah won’t win Saturday or that they’ll be lucky to keep the game competitive. I only mentioned that this isn’t a must-win. If any of you think this game is a must-win, you’re already setting up the season for a huge failure.
ASU is a very talented team. By no means am I expecting a loss Saturday, however, I’m not foolish to blindly believe this team, one that is 0-2 in conference play, and without its starting QB, is assured victory.
But of course, that wasn’t the point. It’s cute that you’re making it the point, but the overall point of the post is that the season IS NOT LOST and even losing Saturday won’t doom us.
You easily ignore that part, though, and suggest that the only way this season will be salvageable is if they win Saturday. Well I think that’s unfair to Utah. Even before the loss to Washington, we knew this game was going to be one of the harder ones on the schedule.
But now I’m supposed to agree that the season hinges on, not competing in this game, mind you, but outright winning? I disagree. If Utah comes up just short, though I won’t be happy, I’ll feel better about this team and their chances because ASU is the most difficult opponent remaining on the schedule.
If you feel the season is won or loss with this game, then you’re really setting up massive expectations that very well might not be met. Of course, a win is possible, but I’m not ready to suggest this season ends if Utah fails to beat ASU Saturday.
It appears you are, though.
Sad.
I think people are backing themselves into the corner by calling this a must-win...
Must-win solely in our division hopes, but the season won’t end if Utah loses Saturday.
I know, I know, be a true fan! Believe in your team! Well I do. But I’m not going to blindly believe they’re going to win.
I believe they can win, sure, but right now, no one knows what this team is capable of doing. If you think you do, you’re wrong. We haven’t seen this offense under Hays (second half against Washington doesn’t count) and if we’re going to tie the whole season to one game, honestly, I think we’re all setting ourselves up for a giant disappointment if, unfortunately, they don’t win.
This season isn’t just one game. Yes, I’m hoping Utah wins and I think they definitely have a shot, but I’m not going to rope myself into believing if they don’t, we’re screwed and just pack it in.
Which, ironically, I guess, is a pretty positive point of view for someone who has been called very negative the past week.
Great Work
Nice job Jazzy, from what I’ve caught this past week your blogs are subjectively written and wish some of the other Utah fans would follow suit. In almost every article or blog I’ve visited this past week, a lot of fans have hung their hat on Hays performance in 2nd half. Don’t know how they could garner so much confidence from such a small sample size. I think this week will be the tell of how well Hays adjusts to the big time.
On another note, why don’t the Utes make a run for Garrett Gilbert? He got an unconditional release from Texas yesterday.
by DevilishFratter on Oct 6, 2011 6:44 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't know who's doing the hat hanging in your observations...
because most of the Ute fans I know are extremely concerned about the QB situation. I’m reserving judgment until Hays has a couple games under his belt, and although I know success isn’t contingent to the number of stars following your name, it’s hard to shake the fact that he was headed to play FCS football before we picked him up.
What most of us DO like is the aggressiveness and moxie he showed in the UW game (not to mention some decent velocity and a pretty tight spiral on his throws). I look at it more like seeing the silver lining…
I get what you’re saying, but I think Utah fans have shown many times in the past they put a lot of “must win” outlooks on games, but still show up to the next game with a “must win” attitudes. Everyone said TCU last year was a must win, but before the game was over fans were already looking ahead to Notre Dame as a must win, and with that loss, fans still said SDSU was must win and of course the Holy War was a must win. And every game in 08 was a must win, even the Sugar Bowl game was a must win for the then seemingly delusional fans. It’s just kind of how a large amount of Ute fans are.
I think it’s just reflective of a fan base that has largely grown during the years of all or nothing success. Where every game meant proving yourself, and one slip up meant people stopped paying attention to our beloved team. I’m not trying to bash anyone here, I’m a die hard kool-aid drinking fan, but the “all or nothing” attitude of fans is everywhere. We haven’t adapted to the BCS conference mindset. Washington was 6-6 last year and played Nebraska in the holiday bowl, thats pretty damn good in my opinion.
So even though every game feels like a must win, cause Utah fans are still mentally transferring to a BCS conference, the success of this season won’t rest on one game. It will just seem that way for many fans until Utah gains the reputation so they can afford to start losing a game or two before disappearing from the rankings, or not showing up in them at all. With the added exposure Root has over the MTN (yes its much better, but still not great), and of course, next years deal, Utah should be able to establish much more respect nationally in the near future.
Big Difference is...
…TCU WAS a must win.
All our hopes and dreams for that season died before the clock counted down on that game.
This season, their is still a lot we can accomplish, even if we lose tomorrow. This game is probably a Must Win if we want to make the Pac-12 Championship, and therefore have a shot at the Rose Bowl, but even if we lose, there is a lot we can accomplish.
Relax
Hey Utes, you lost a conference game, it happens. I am 42 years old. I was born and raised in the Seattle area. My first to sports memories are the Sonics 1979 NBA title, screw Oklahoma City, and the 1978/1979 Warren Moon led Washington Husky winning Rose Bowl team. In my life time, I have seen the Huskies go to 7 Rose Bowls, winning 5 if them, win an Orange Bowl, and win a National Championship. The thing is, I have only seen my Huskies go undefeated once in Pac 10, now Pac 12, conference play. It is very hard to do. I have also seen UDub go 0 and 12. Which really sucked, but these things cycle. Now we are on our way back. I guess my point is that BCS conferences are tough; however, in the long run, you all will be better off for it. You have a good program, with good administrators, and a good coach. Now you are in a conference in which you will be able to succeed and be recognized at the highest level. Be patient, be fans, your time will come. Heck, even Oregon got good after being doormats for decades upon decades.
by astanfi on Oct 6, 2011 6:36 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Even the Beavers got good for a while
and we were the dustbunnies underneath the doormats!
I expect we play well on Saturday
May or not win but I expect us to give ASU all they’ve got. Coming and trying to beat us in our home stadium used to be difficult in the past for road teams, i think the TCU game might have got us into a funk a little bit but I think we can get ourselves out of it and back to the way it used to be. I don’t see a better game than the one this weekend. Like in the past when we hosted a pac-10 team and nothing but a W was expected and that’s the way it was… It’s time to get back to that kind of football on our home field.
Jon Freakin Hays dude
Jon Hays showed guts in the Washington game, especially after a shaky start. Hays dived helmet first for a 1st down, he side stepped a defender and moved up into the pocket where he kept his eyes down field and found Andersen when he came back, and he looked good rolling out of the pocket to buy extra time before he found Christopher. He had 3 bad plays in the red zone, but I think that TD pass to Rodgers was big for him and will translate to next game. He showed a “do or die” attitude last game and I think it can make a difference. This offense has been given #1 priority to protect Wynn since the season started, so while Hays can’t make the reads that Wynn can, thats what extra coaching/scouting is for, and maybe thats what this offense needs, a chance to play a little more “do or die”.
And in some ways I’m starting to think, and I’m wondering what everyone else thinks about this is, does this team play better as the underdogs? If so, I actually have some confidence this week and win or lose I’ll be rooting the whole way.
After surviving the 80s and 90s...
We are gonna have to have to lose A LOT of games and lose a lot of recruits to BYU before I get too down on this team.
Also, I scored some guest tickets to the MUSS this game, so I will be there cheering us on. And I expect to win, even if that expectation is based primarily on hope. I think we are gonna come out motivated. We are not used to losing, and neither are the players, so that bodes well for us.
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