It's game day...
by JazzyUte on Sep 1, 2011 2:00 AM MDT
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The wait has not been easy for Ute fans and the excitement level certainly has added to the overall grueling nature of this offseason. However, in only a few hours, Utah will kick off its 118th year of football.
This season, though, is different than the past 117. The Utes will be rewriting conventional wisdom with their 2011 campaign. For years, media pundits have asked themselves whether programs like Utah, Boise State and TCU were good enough to handle the often demanding slate of a BCS conference.
We're about to get that answer.
Though brash, no non-BCS program has influenced the BCS quite like the Utes. They were the first from the outside to bust into the big-time back in 2004 and they were the first to do it a second time back in 2008. Now, from the inside, they get their chance to prove every program belongs - from the WAC on up.
I guess that's the most compelling thing about this season. Utah doesn't have the most to lose here. I believe they will be fine in the long run, regardless of their overall record this season. It's non-automatic qualifying conferences that will suffer the most if the Utes struggle.
So even as a member of a BCS conference, Utah finds itself still paving the way for the little guys. They need the Utes to succeed - to prove to college football that programs from the Mountain West can make the leap with ease.
Those fans might not want to admit it or even accept it, but they've got just as big of a stake in Utah's season as we do.
Fitting, then, that a program like Utah, who blazed the trail for every non-BCS program back in 2004, is still doing it - even as a member of the cartel.
This season is going to be one for the books, folks. I'm sure it's going to have wild swings, hair-pulling performances and nausea-inducing moments. But while history is rarely pretty, it's often very exciting.
Tonight, the Utes will begin to make history of their own.
And I'm ready. Are you?
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good luck with your first year in the pac
will execpt for one
go beavers!!
oh, them beavers
Great points jazzy!
You would think that most non AQ schools would secretly be hoping for the utes to have a successful season. Your logic makes sense! Hopefully we can continue to pave the way for others. I personally think that Utah, tcu, BYU, and Boise can compete with almost an school. This season will either prove me wrong or right.
by UtesFootball on Aug 31, 2011 10:54 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
It is game day, but what's the deal with the 6:00 pm start time?
I’m excited for the game tonight, but I’m not quite sure why they are having such an early start time. It seems like 7:00 pm would have been much more sensible. Don’t get me wrong, I plan on being on campus by 2:00 to start the pre game festivities, but I worry the stadium will be half full when the game starts for all those that have to work until 5:00. Anyone know why the game is so early??
by UtesFootball on Aug 31, 2011 10:58 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
Possibly for the East Coast to view it. We are one of (I think) 5 or 6 games today, and truly one of the only ones with a “storyline”.
by Hockey Beard in SLC on Sep 1, 2011 10:26 AM MDT up reply actions
That would make more sense if it was being broadcast.
Unlikely that a lot of east coast fans that aren’t already Ute fans are looking up the game on the internet stream.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Sep 1, 2011 10:33 AM MDT up reply actions
Let's go get 'em!
Absolutely thrilled, and I couldn’t agree with you more. If we meant what we have been saying for the last ten years about the BCS, we have to take our responsibility to those who will be coming after us.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Aug 31, 2011 11:17 PM MDT reply actions
Joe Montana 1988 Superbowl game winnng drive huddle - 'Wow look at all those..'
Along the same lines as we start the season and to break the tension, ’ wow that Oregon cheerleader is pretty darn cute..’
by Utah-UCLA alum on Aug 31, 2011 11:24 PM MDT reply actions
Ah, FINALLY!!!
I have a night class this semester on Thursdays. Needless to say I won’t be getting much out of the lecture tomorrow! Go Utes!!!
by dantheutahman on Sep 1, 2011 12:26 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
Classes are cancelled after 3PM
And fuck yes, the tailgate has begun!!!!
//Drunk posting for the win.
by Scholar Athlete on Sep 1, 2011 12:43 AM MDT reply actions
FUCKING AWESOME!!!!
GO UTES!!!!!!!!! I wish I could be there to tailgate, but I’m having my own all night party in Germany!
Diehard Texas fan here
and a closet Utah fan as well. Wish y’all the best of luck this in the inaugural season of the PAC-12. Hook em and go Utes!
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SECede?....Whoop(s)!!
by kriess on Sep 1, 2011 2:24 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Time to start earning it, Utes.
After this one, the load gets a lot heavier, in a big hurry.
Pac-12 won’t give you nuthin’, except fresh air (more or less) and good exercise.
Good luck! See you 10-01-11.
GAME DAY!
It’s finally here! This is the day I look forward to all year! I literally have butterflies in my stomach due to sheer excitement and anticipation. Not sure how productive I’ll be at work today…
Good luck today, and hopefully nobody (on either team) gets injured.
Make the Pac proud, boys.
"Thanks. Go Bears!" - Ernest Owusu: the next great Cal DE
Thanks
I am going to be watching this game at 37,000 feet. I hope the plane I am on has Wi-fi.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Sep 1, 2011 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions
to my fellow Ute fans
listening to Hans and OC this morning and they had an interesting discussion. Assuming that Utah wins, what is a satisfactory point margin? If its 20 points, are you going to panic a little? If its closer than it should be, will you worry?
To me, I would be satisfied with 21 or more. Anything more would be icing. Anything less would worry me.
As far as specifics:
-I want to see whoever kicks have to line up and drill a 40+ yarder.
-I want to see Wynn have at least 2 TD passes and a maximum of 1 int.
-I want to see a 100+ yard rusher, be it Harvey, Tauni, JW, or Thretton
-I want our defense to force 3+ turnovers.
What are your thoughts?
Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....
The Art of War - I mean Football
Objectives as you listed are more important than the final score. AP writers like style points, but I don’t care about those. Being in the Pac-12 conference, AP style points don’t mean much anymore.
Along those same lines, if we achieve the game objectives, the final score will take care of itself.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Sep 1, 2011 9:57 AM MDT up reply actions
Offense
I would like to see us with 2nd and short situations, rather than 2nd and 10 yards to go. That is 7 yard runs on first down would be nice!
by Utah-UCLA alum on Sep 1, 2011 10:01 AM MDT up reply actions
I will add goals.
-No special teams mistakes, ie blocked punt like ND, opponent kickoff return for a TD, etc
-10 plays that go more than 20 yards…. I want to see a big play threat and capability. I want to know we have some game breakers and home run hitters.
-Wynn have 4 passes completed over 20 yards-before YAC…. I want to see that we have a deep threat and can make a defense honest by stretching them out vertically.
-No points given up through the air…. Last year our pass defense was bad. This will be a good test before face Barkley and USC.
-No QB hits or sacks…. Wynn’s jersey shouldn’t have a single grass stain at the night’s end.
-No more than 3 punts all night… We need to get first downs and keep the chains moving. We need to sustain long drives.
-Keep MSU under 10 points. The defense needs to have a strong showing. The front seven is the strength of this team. It won’t look good to have 21 hung on us. What will USC be capable of, if that is the case?
by UteinBrooklyn on Sep 1, 2011 10:26 AM MDT up reply actions
Goals List
That is a long list, but definitely tangible and something our team should shoot for.
I think the Utah football should take on the view of a business. =)
by Utah-UCLA alum on Sep 1, 2011 12:07 PM MDT up reply actions
I'd like to see us beat the spread (28 pts).
Not because I have money on the game (never bet on your team), but because that’s a good measure of if we’re playing up to the experts’ expectations. Other than that, I want the offense to look crisp, I want to see no drops (or at least very few), and I’d like to see the kicking/punting game looking good.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Sep 1, 2011 10:36 AM MDT up reply actions
I Was Listening Too
My goals/hopes:
-Two passing TDs
-Two rushing TDs
-One defense TD
-One FG
-No missed PATs
-No TDs allowed for the cats
-NO MORE INJURIES!
I’m cool with a 38 – 6 win. Kyle won’t intentionally run up the score. Only way that happens is if the 2s and 3s keep scoring on the cats.
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
Hmm
Interesting questions:
I don’t really care about the point margin, so long as we have the second string playing in the fourth quarter. I expect a 3 score margin, though.
I want to see Wynn throw the ball nice and far, and I want to see our receivers not f***ing drop it. =]
I want to see pressure on the passer. The biggest lineman they have is 6-1 291. If we can’t hurry the passer and drop them in the backfield, we’re going to really struggle against the big fellas in the Pac-12.
I want to see forced fumbles and tipped passes, I’m okay with not too many turnovers so long as corners aren’t dropping otherwise easy INTs.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Sep 1, 2011 2:37 PM MDT up reply actions
...
-I want our defense to force 3+ turnovers.
Like to see at least one of those come from a pick by a member of the secondary.. That would help to alleviate some concerns there. but i just wanna see some good coverage tonight..
They've got
Top-notch receivers and a highly skilled quarterback. I’ll settle for good coverage, the Montana State pass offense can compete with most of the offenses we will be facing this year.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Sep 1, 2011 2:40 PM MDT up reply actions
FG kicking
This may sound stupid, but I think the offense needs to set up our FG kicker with a couple of chip shots. I almost hope a drive stalls in the redzone. Let Marsh or whoever build some confidence, and get used to the energy of the crowd when the game isn’t as critical. Like throwing a guy a cherry pick he he gets a clean lay up and calms his nerves. I don’t want him banging away a 40 yarder, because if he misses we may get a head case at the start of the year.
Red Zone Efficiency
If we get in the Redzone we need to punch it in, instead of ending up with -4 points (i.e. A Figgie)
DEFENSE AND O LINE!!!!
I want a pick six and 4 more turnovers!!!!
I don’t want to see Jordan Wynn get sacked once tonight!
GIVE EM HELL BOYS!!!!!
Stiff D, competent O
Honestly, I want us to keep MSU out of the endzone. I’m fine with 2-4 FGs, but I want to show that we can keep a lesser team out of the EZ.
On O, I just want to see some balance, but do just enough to keep control of the game from the opening kick. I don’t care if we kill them just own the game from the opening kick.
If I had my druthers, I’d like to see us go over the top for our first TD, then run it and keep it simple after that. Like I say, control the whole game. I could care less about spread.
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