Big sports day for Utes

by JazzyUte on May 14, 2011 1:57 PM MDT in Multiple Sports

Utah baseball can move to within a game of clinching at least a share of the Mountain West Conference title with a victory over the TCU Horned Frogs tonight. The Utes took game one 7-6 in 11 innings after Tyler Wagner struck out two potential game-winning runs to end the prolonged contest.

TCU still leads Utah by two games in the loss column and could severely dampen the Utes' hopes of winning the conference championship with a victory tonight.

The Frogs haven't lost two straight at home since falling to Cal State Fullerton in consecutive games back in February.

Other than the baseball team playing for its shot at the conference title, Utah rugby will take on Cal for a chance to play for the national championship at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The Golden Bears and Utes last met back in January and Cal walked away with an impressive 34-0 victory in a shortened match during the UCLA Tournament - so they're obviously going to be a tough foe for Utah. The Golden Bears are currently ranked 2nd nationally and Utah is 3rd.

So here's to a good day for the Utes.

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Cal will be tough

Even though I don’t understand a lot of the game, I’m kind of into the rugby thing. Utah is a national power, but Cal is always THE team to beat. They’ve won 25 national championship since 1980. They are also one of two schools that have rugby as a varsity sport and just knocked out the other, Life College. It will be a tough match. Last year, Utah did upset Cal to win the first Collegiate Sevens Championship. Think of a speedier version of the real thing, like football without linemen.

Because I’m already here on the East Coast, I’d love to travel and watch them play in this year’s Sevens Championship next month in Philly. It would be cool to be there in person for a repeat. I want to see what Thretton does. He’s a fun player to watch and I hope those skills will translate to football. If he learns the blocking schemes and nuances, he could be something special.

by UteinBrooklyn on May 14, 2011 3:21 PM MDT reply actions

Is Thretton playing?

I thought Thretton was sitting out of Rugby while he tried his hand at football? Either way, I’m with you on the Rugby thing. I’ve been watching a lot of Rugby 7s on some international sports channel and I’m hooked. I don’t know what the crap is going on half the time, but it’s still fun to watch.

You can watch the game live here.

Go Utes!

by RunninUtes30 on May 14, 2011 5:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Game linke

http://espn.go.com/espn3/index

by RunninUtes30 on May 14, 2011 5:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Thretton is playing but...

Hasn’t really done too much. The Utes are getting worked. Down 43-7 at halftime. It was 8-7 and Utah dropped a lineout and Cal picked it up and immediately got a try. It was all downhill from there.

A lot of dropped passes, indecision, and poor tackling.

by UteinBrooklyn on May 14, 2011 6:57 PM MDT up reply actions

they have ncaa national championships for rugby?

i did not know it was even popular in the states.

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by wolfmanshowlforever on May 16, 2011 12:00 PM MDT up reply actions

yes, and Cal and BYU are pretty much the only teams who have won it.

BYU actually uses Highland Rugby as a feeder. Hopefully, the U. can get more Highland players and be more competitive.

Formerly SportsInUtah
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by BigBenSportsGuy on May 16, 2011 12:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Rugby championships

sorry, byu has never won it.
Cal has won every year since 1980, except the following 5 years:

1984 Harvard,/1987 San Diego State/ 1989, 1990, and 2003 Air Force.

by rare bear on May 23, 2011 8:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Its good to hear that you have a good baseball team to go along with your football team should make for more fun and good games between the utes and beavers; because from what I’ve hear your fans are classy

oh, them beavers

by Thembevers on May 14, 2011 5:30 PM MDT reply actions

Hall

You haven’t talked to Max Hall then.

by H2O_UTE on May 14, 2011 6:30 PM MDT up reply actions

no I've not but

I heard that it got Pretty nasty between Ute fans and him; I just took that as any Rivalry talk that got out of hand

oh, them beavers

by Thembevers on May 14, 2011 6:44 PM MDT reply actions

Some are, some aren't

I think you could say that about a lot of teams. Most of the fans are good, but there are always a few people that take things a little too far when pushed or on their own. Young kids on message boards being jerks. :)

Hope to have some good games with the Beavers. I don’t know much about Utah baseball though. They are having a great year, but I don’t know much about them historically and would guess most fans are in the same boat. The team may get a larger spotlight in the PAC12.

by UteinBrooklyn on May 14, 2011 7:02 PM MDT up reply actions

Bummer day...

Utah baseball made it competitive after falling behind 0-7 in the 2nd. But the rugby team just got absolutely waxed tonight.

On top of that, the softball team, which could have won the MWC Title tonight with two victories over BYU, lost.

Damn.

by JazzyUte on May 14, 2011 10:08 PM MDT reply actions

Pac-12

Watched the Utah – Cal rugby match. All I can say is, our football team better not play like our rugby team. Sloppy play by Utah. Reminded me of the TCU football game embarrassment.

My assessment of Cal was they had the better athletes. I suspect this may the case when we play them and other Pac-12 teams in football and for that matter in all other competitive sports. Our teams in the Pac-12 need to execute and play as much mistake free ball as possible against across the board deeper talent.

As for Thretton, I hope he doesn’t play football like the way he played rugby yesterday.

by Utah-UCLA alum on May 15, 2011 5:18 PM MDT reply actions

You can't compare rugby to football...

Cal is a dominant rugby team. There is no football or basketball equivalent to their string of success. Cal Rugby is also a varsity sport, Utah rugby isn’t.

Football is an entirely different level because more teams are on an even playing field. Certainly Utah football is closer to Cal football than Utah rugby is to Cal rugby – and to put that into context, Cal rugby is still only 2nd nationally, Utah was right behind them at 3rd. In fact, I’d wager the Utes could beat any team in the nation outside Cal & BYU, both teams they just aren’t very competitive with at the moment.

No way does that ever happen in football.

by JazzyUte on May 15, 2011 9:49 PM MDT up reply actions