2012 football schedule released - Utes to open season on Thursday against Northern Colorado
by JazzyUte on Jan 4, 2012 2:15 PM MST
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Utah football has released its 2012 football schedule and the Utes are set to open the season, once again, on a Thursday against a FCS team - this time Northern Colorado.
They'll open the Pac-12 season on the road again, though this time against the Arizona St. Sun Devils, who'll be breaking in a new coaching staff.
Utah hosts USC after their bye-week on a Thursday (suggesting it'll certainly be a nationally televised game) and end the season at Colorado on Black Friday.
In between, there's a two-game road swing through UCLA and Oregon State, but Utah ends the conference season with three of their final five games coming at home - California, Washington State and Arizona.
Thoughts?
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The OOC Schedule sucks
I would have preferred a game against another AQ Team. Even if said team was a Duke, UConn, Iowa State, or Indiana. But that’s going to be a problem we face, especially if we want to keep TDS and USU on our schedule.
I fully support keeping TDS on the schedule.
This is why we need to alternate USU and TurDS every year.
There’s really no good reason (other than it’s fun for the fans and it supposedly makes some cash) to play BYU every year. I’d really like to put USU on an equal rival level with BYU… if for no other reason than it will piss off the zoobs.
by -FeloniousMonk on Jan 4, 2012 5:43 PM MST up reply actions
no good reason to play the TDS every year?
how the hell can you actually say that? its a rivalry. you would never hear a fan from michigan, osu, alabama, auburn, etc. say that they don’t need to play their rivals. this attitude among fans disgusts me beyond belief. so many of you are so ready to just toss away tradition for no good reason
by khaostheory117 on Jan 4, 2012 6:15 PM MST up reply actions
and no way in hell is USU on par with BYU as a rival.
by khaostheory117 on Jan 4, 2012 6:17 PM MST up reply actions
For the better part of the last century,
USU WAS the bigger rival. The BYU game just isn’t as big of a deal to me anymore. All I know is that there are 9, maybe 10, games I’m looking forward to more next season. I think the fat lady has sung. That’s my opinion, deal with it.
by -FeloniousMonk on Jan 4, 2012 8:06 PM MST up reply actions
No, I don't want to see a good rivalry like Utah/BYU go away. That makes no sense.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
At first glance, I like this schedule. A bye week before playing USC at home is about as much as someone can wish for. For now, that is the game of the year.
USC also has a BYE
I think there may be some rule requiring a BYE before thursday games.
That's my understanding also
"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson
Northern Colorado is atrocious scheduling.
An 0-11 Div 1-AA team. Just terrible.
It is a bad game, but I'll take it...
Breaking in a new OC and potentially bringing Wynn back from an injury, I want something light.
There's a different between something light...
.. And something of even less value than a spring game.
Na'...
I think we need a scrimmage-like game. We see a gradual increase in competition leading up to the USC game, unlike last year, where we we went from easy game to the pits of the Pac-12 fire in one week.
Difference is last year you could actually glean something of value from Montana State game.
There is absolutely nothing remotely positive that can be taken away from playing Northern Colorado. The only thing that can happen is something extremely negative, such as an injury.
This is football prostitution at it’s worst.
But we don't need to take anything away from that game...
Especially when we don’t jump right into Pac-12 play a week later. With USU on tap the very next week, we’ll have a chance to work out some kinks and then head into a far more winnable game than what we saw after the Montana State game.
Well you and I disagree on how good USU is/was
But that’s not a debate to rehash.
Although it is a game we should win, I would just prefer it not to have been our first actual bit of action.
Corrected for you:
I want something light 400 rushing yards.
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
Not really worried about it.
an FCS team is an FCS team in most people’s eyes. Either way if we go into the game against USC undefeated I’d guess we’d be in the top 25 for sure.
Like everyone else said too, it’s a good tune-up game.
It's not a good tune-up game.
Simply because you can’t trust anything you’ve tuned up. That’s like saying that Fall camp is a good indicator for how good an offense can be, even though you can’t really hit the Quarterback.
I don’t have a problem with an FCS team, as long as the FCS team is even an average FCS team. Not a team that failed to win a single game last year.
In reality, FCS is FCS
Might as well get one of the worst, they are looked at the same as the best ones (which make games closer and don’t look as good). Then again, it does hurt our SOS ranking, not that it matters much to us these days…
I'm not worried about Strength of Schedule and perception.
I’m more worried about a game that can actually benefit the team by giving them something concrete to look at on tape the following week.
Neither is Whit
I think it’ll be fine. We played one of the best FCS teams in the country this year. Next year, not so much… we’ve got plenty on our schedule to impress the pollsters.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 4, 2012 8:40 PM MST up reply actions
Watch them Lumberjacks or Black Bears or whatever the hell they are...
kick our asses. Never discount an opponent. Just ask Michigan.
by -FeloniousMonk on Jan 4, 2012 5:45 PM MST up reply actions
premium game?
Last year they said every game was a premium game and the same price. Northern Colorado is not a team I care to pay to see in my season tickets. Sucks and they have to do it on a Thursday so tailgating will suck. Again.
by BBKiks on Jan 4, 2012 6:49 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
Love the bye week before USC
They’ll be the team to beat in the South, the division won’t benefit from their ineligibility this time around.
I anticipate that will be a potential blackout game...
Since, with it being on Thursday, we know it’ll be at night. Though, I should point out the blackout games have, in the past, come at the end of the season.
2008: November
2009: Halloween
2010: November
2011: October
They have a bye the week before too.
So it sort of cancels out.
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
I read every team has a bye-week before a Thursday night conference game.
Well, those teams that have a Thursday game.
USC has a bye the week before they play us too
But, I still think if Utah plays as well as we all know they can, and Wynn stays healthy, there is no reason why they shouldn’t go 10-2 with that schedule
Full schedule, for the click-lazy:
Thur., Aug. 30 – Northern Colorado at Utah
Sat. Sept. 8 – Utah at Utah State
Sat., Sept. 15 – BYU at Utah
Sat., Sept. 22 – Utah at Arizona State
Thurs., Oct. 4 – USC at Utah
Sat., Oct. 13 – Utah at UCLA
Sat., Oct. 20 – Utah at Oregon State
Sat., Oct. 27 – California at Utah
Sat., Nov. 3 – Washington State at Utah
Sat., Nov. 10 – Utah at Washington
Sat., Nov. 17 – Arizona at Utah
Fri., Nov. 23 – Utah at Colorado
The Pac-12 Championship Game will be Friday, Nov. 30
I swear someone typed this up in a fanpost already.
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
They come up here to Seattle in November
Weather will have just turned to dark and soggy. Right in the middle of the quarter so I won’t be too distracted by studying for finals. Can’t wait!
The game will be at
Century Link field (where the Seahawks play) as well……can’t wait
I hope we "rumble"
all over their Buff faces! I’m definitely looking forward to wiping out that embarrassing loss.
I still couldn't care less about that game.
Even with their upset of us this past season.
Final Thought
The home schedule could be pretty epic this year. The TDS and USC (on a Thursday night no less). Then Cal in a revenge game. Finally, the Dread Pirate on 11/3 and Rich Rod’s Wildcats as the finale. If those coaches can turn around Wazzu and Zona, and I see no reason why they can’t, RES will see a nice share of formidable opponents and we’ll be glad we got them at home…
Arizona not only coming here, but coming here in the middle of November.
November’s in Utah are a bit different than November’s in Arizona.
I like this schedule
Especially since the UW game is on a 3 day weekend for me. I like my chances of being able to go back to Seattle for that one.
Also any word on TV? I assume the USC game is slated for ESPN. What about the other games? With the new TV deal will we have more advanced notice on game times?
It says all the games will be Nationally televised.
Not quite sure what that means though.
All games will be on national tv.
Either an ESPN Network, Fox, or FX, or the Pac-12 Network.
It definitely means no more Root Sports, and no more KJZZ.
Ain't nothing free in life, son.
It’ll be interesting to see if Comcast will put it in the regular package up here in Seattle (which is, obviously, Pac-12 country) or if I’ll have to pay for the extended sports package (which I would have to do if I wanted the B1G Station or the Red Zone Channel).
The Big-10 network is 'free' in Seattle on Comcast
If you sign up for the basic TV package. I get this channel.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 4, 2012 3:41 PM MST up reply actions
Really?
I have the basic extended package and if I want the B1G I need to pony up an extra $5-7 bucks a monthfor the sports package to get it and some of the other non-HD regional Fox Sports channels (I did this last year to get FCS so I could see the Utes-Iowa St game).
I am in Woodinville (when I am not in LA)
and with the Xfinity package ($185/month) with TV, phone, internet I get the Big-10 channel as part of the basic package.
To watch the Utah – AF game last year I added the CBS sports channel – that was an extra $7.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 4, 2012 4:26 PM MST up reply actions
Interesting
I live in Redmond and I had to pay for the sports package to get the big 10 channel and I have comcst
I believe that each area's regional version has to be part of basic package.
So in Utah/Colorado the Pac-12 Mountain Channel must be part of the cable carriers basic tier, while the other 6 can be part of an premium sports package.
You'll probably end up with the U-Dub/Wazzu Channell
And have to pay more for the Utah channel.
Considering that Comcast is a partner with the Pac-12
The PAC-12 network is going to be headquartered in the Comcast building in San Francisco, so I would be surprised if at least the regional network isn’t part of the basic package in the footprint. With the National network and maybe the other regionals available on the sports tier.
I’m more concerned with it’s availability outside the footprint. I’m also with a non partner company, Verizon FIOS, and I don’t think I will change just to get the pac-12 network. Hopefully they make an agreement with them. Considering that I get the B1G network, and the Longhorn Network!, I would be very annoyed if they don’t make a deal. I did make the change before to DirecTV for the MTN, but I don’t think I would be willing to do that again. FIOS is just so much better than DirecTV or any cable company I’ve dealt with. I suppose I can go to a bar for the games if need be.
by East Coast Ute on Jan 5, 2012 7:01 AM MST up reply actions
Every Pac 12 region should get 2 channels as part of the basic package I believe
I think that was part of the deal they already have signed with the cable companies when they announced the Networks.
Get the Pac 12 Network plus whatever regional network will be in your area. I’m pretty sure all the football games will be on both the national channel and the regional channel.
That sounds great.....
I can’t believe only two years ago Utah played on the mountain. The perks of the Pac just keep on coming.
by notblue19 on Jan 4, 2012 3:40 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
USC
I like all of the scheduling except for the USC game on Thursday. I would need to burn two vacation days to fly in for this match-up. I may come in for the tds game instead.
If playing a more then likely top 5 USC team
on national television isn’t reason enough to “burn two vacation days,” then I don’t know what is????
How about burning two vacations to go to Hawaii with a babe.
I find that slightly more rewarding.
Nevertheless, as of this moment year I plan to be at one Utah home game, the Utah-UW game and UCLA-Utah.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 4, 2012 3:37 PM MST up reply actions
I guess I hold football in a higher premium then you.
Especially when it’s USC’s first visit to RES. Besides, I think you’d get more out of a topical vacation in the winter.
Though living in Seattle,
I more then understand the plight of the our of state fan.
Yes, if I was in Utah I would definitely be at the USC game
I was at the 2011 game at the LA coliseum and the Utah fan contingent was out in force.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 4, 2012 4:27 PM MST up reply actions
Apparently
After seeing some of your other comments, we both live in Seattle or Woodinville in your case.
by tpb125 on Jan 4, 2012 5:15 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
U-Dub
hopefully we can win our first ever game against the Huskies.
I’ll be at Qwest Field for this one.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 4, 2012 5:31 PM MST up reply actions
Don't forget oregon state!
I am planning to go to that one as well since it is only a few hours away. I went to Eugene for the Utes a few years ago and it wasn’t a bad drive from Seattle. Corvalis is closer.
I watched that Oregon game
Terrance Cain started that game. We hung around but couldn’t take the upper hand.
Yeah, I should check out Corvallis while I am still up here in Seattle.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 5, 2012 9:45 AM MST up reply actions
We almost pulled that one off
We were down by 2 TDs in the 4th when we picked them off and ran in for a TD. We ended up stopping them the next drive and had a chance to tie but couldn’t convert. I also believe after that game is when Wynn took over as the starter. Kind of sucked though because we had a 17 game win streak going into it.
Wynn Didn't become starter for about 3 more games
Wynn took over halftime of Wyoming. His first official start was against New Mexico.
I went to that game.
Fun trip. Missed opportunity for Utah, though.
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
I'm heading to that game as well
Hopefully I’ll make it to the washington game too. Being in Portland they’re both not that far away. Every time I see the schedule we have now I still have to double check to make sure it’s reality.
by motes on Jan 5, 2012 7:10 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
Awesome
I like the Thursday night ESPN game against USC. Best of all is that every single game is on national TV with PAC-12 network picking up anything not on ESPN or Fox. No more KJZZ crap broadcast teams and we get ASU early – also hearing that Osweiller is considering the NFL.
If the first season in the PAC taught me anything it's that
circling wins and losses ahead of time is a pointless exercise. After the first week warm-up, each and every one of those games is going to be exciting. I love the home schedule. I love Utah playing in this conference!
by UU COE Alum on Jan 4, 2012 3:11 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I like our chances
To go 3-0 in OOC games again in 2012. Would like to see a B1G team on the 2013 slate and beyond though. Don’t care if we drop USU to make it happen, but definitely NEVER drop BYU. Must prove our superiority every year to those a-holes.
I personally like playing both USU and TDS.
I wouldn’t want the Holy War to go anywhere as its on the best rivalries in the country, but I don’t think Utah has anything to prove to tds.
MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS!!!
Here are mine:
WIN Thur., Aug. 30 – Northern Colorado at Utah
WIN Sat. Sept. 8 – Utah at Utah State
WIN Sat., Sept. 15 – BYU at Utah
LOSS Sat., Sept. 22 – Utah at Arizona State
WIN Thurs., Oct. 4 – USC at Utah
WIN Sat., Oct. 13 – Utah at UCLA
WIN Sat., Oct. 20 – Utah at Oregon State
LOSS Sat., Oct. 27 – California at Utah
WIN Sat., Nov. 3 – Washington State at Utah
LOSS Sat., Nov. 10 – Utah at Washington
WIN Sat., Nov. 17 – Arizona at Utah
WIN Fri., Nov. 23 – Utah at Colorado
Mine
WIN Thur., Aug. 30 – Northern Colorado at Utah
WIN Sat. Sept. 8 – Utah at Utah State
WIN Sat., Sept. 15 – BYU at Utah
WIN Sat., Sept. 22 – Utah at Arizona State
LOSS Thurs., Oct. 4 – USC at Utah
WIN Sat., Oct. 13 – Utah at UCLA
WIN Sat., Oct. 20 – Utah at Oregon State
WIN Sat., Oct. 27 – California at Utah
WIN Sat., Nov. 3 – Washington State at Utah
LOSS Sat., Nov. 10 – Utah at Washington
WIN Sat., Nov. 17 – Arizona at Utah
WIN Fri., Nov. 23 – Utah at Colorado
MINE:
14-0.
National Champions.
You heard it here first.
Jim-2. The first to say it.
by jim2 on Jan 4, 2012 9:03 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Geeze, Dude. Show some optimism, huh???
Why not put us down for the Lombardi trophy too.
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women. Especially BYU. - Conan the Barbarian (ok, maybe he didn't say the BYU part)
And Heisman for Wynn
Go Cuse. Go Utes. Go Kings (hockey version). Go Panthers (hockey version). Go Marlins. Go Dodgers. I despise the NFL and NBA, so don't bore me.
by LeftCoastMan on Jan 5, 2012 12:54 AM MST up reply actions
No way we beat USC
Matt Barkley is back with a stronger team. USC might be a title contender, even without 4 or 5 scholarships. I’d be happy if we don’t lose by 4 touchdowns.
Go Cuse. Go Utes. Go Kings (hockey version). Go Panthers (hockey version). Go Marlins. Go Dodgers. I despise the NFL and NBA, so don't bore me.
by LeftCoastMan on Jan 5, 2012 12:56 AM MST up reply actions
...
You say the Utes beat one of the best teams in the conference (USC) at home, then turn around and lose to likely one of the worst teams in the conference (Cal)?
Something’s off there.
I don't read the script. The script reads me.
I don't think Cal is one of the worst.
Mid tier team, but as for them losing? On any given saturday. I just don’t think we will lose since it is home.
Forget this season?
Do you remember how we played against both teams this year? That is why I am saying that…we can beat USC at home if things go our way. The way CAL dominated us last year I think it will still be a difficult matchup.
Love it. Absolutely love it.
Some great games at Rice-Eccles.
Best home sched in the history of Utah football
USC, BYU, Cal. Even AZ with Rich Rod and WSU with Mike Leach have a lot of intrigue.
In the meantime, the poor zoobies don’t even have us this year to shore up their home sched. They shoulda thought of that before joining the WAC.
I have already started planning the trip back...
To Utah for the Usc game. Looks to be another exciting year in the Pac.
by notblue19 on Jan 4, 2012 4:11 PM MST via mobile reply actions
I really want to try to make it out for the USC game.
Looks like it will be impossible though with it being a thursday game. I can’t miss classes.
It was known
We are on a 6 year rotation schedule with the Pac-12 North.
We will get them starting next year for 4 years straight..
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 4, 2012 5:10 PM MST up reply actions
Also Known:
I can’t remember where I heard this, and it could be wrong, but we don’t play Stanford and UW in 2014, and we’re not playing Cal and Oregon State in 2015.
To see the future PAC-12 rotation
http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032901aaa.html
We get Stanford in 2013-14, but miss them again 2015-16. We miss them more often than other North-ites because of the special Cali school arrangement.
I was wrong:
See http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032901aaa.html
2011-2012 No Stanford/Oregon
2013-2014 No Washington State, Cal
2015-2016 No Stanford, Washington
2017-2018 No Oregon St., Cal
Notice how in any given year we’ll only play either Stanford and Cal. That’s due to the special considerations given to the California schools so they’ll play each other every year, and us being in a different division.
Perhaps Stanford is lucky to dodge Utah
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s a premature prediction. But with how much they’re losing on offense, we might be able to taunt the trees that they didn’t have to play the best defense in the conference.
Hey, I can hope, right?
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
Hard to believe Stanford will be near as strong as they were this season...
In fact, without Luck, I think you could make the case Utah is on near, or equal, footing as the Cardinal.
Did you see the Fiesta Bowl? The Furd is GOOD.
It’s not just Luck. They mash. I can’t see them going away any time soon.
Based on Middy-U’s most Excellent Tier system…
Tier 0… Oregon, most definitely. And probably USC.
Tier 1… Probably empty, but if there’s anybody here, it’s Stanford. Call them Tier 1.5.
Tier 2… Washington, Cal, and Utah. but all three start in the Tier 2.5 range.
Tier 3… Virtually everybody else, at least potentially. UCLA and Wazzu seem solid here.
Tier 4 and 5… The teams that might have some extra work to do, to get to Average? Colorado and the Zona schools. Maybe OSU.
Tier 6 and 7. Well, somebody always slides, and gets beat to shit. But it’s hard to see just who that will be. I would guess one of the Zona’s and maybe the Buffs. But at the same time, they could all easily surprise. The way Colorado hung tough last year against a murderous schedule and a thousand injuries was pretty impressive.
Tier 0? Tiers 6 and 7? I'm not really following you
I think if it in three tiers.
Next year, I anticipate USC and Oregon being in the top tier. I think everyone else is in the middle tier, with the exception of CU (how the hell did we lose that game!?) and probably Wazzu.
Stanford could maybe stay in the top tier, but losing the Heisman runner up, especially if it’s a senior QB, is a big deal. I also agree with you that we may see UofA take a significant dip next year. I think Rich Rod will do good things with them, but it will take a year or two to get it up and running.
by fountainofute on Jan 5, 2012 4:18 PM MST up reply actions
The Furd without Luck is average.
They’re losing a lot, and their coach isn’t that great.
Outside of heisman-caliber and #1 overall pick Luck, they’re also losing a decent LB (Bergen), several members of their defensive backfield (Bademosi, Thomas, Howell are all starters plus Bernard is the top backup), a top DE, plus at least one and maybe two offensive linemen, their top TE, their top WR, etc. They have some work to do next season. Oregon and USC are scary next year, Stanford will be rebuilding.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
My point exactly
I’ve never insinuated they’ll be the PAC doormat next year, just that they’ll likely fall to the middle. The O-linemen and the TE alone make up a sizable chunk of their offense. Similar things could be said about USC if they lost Barkley, Woods, and half their O-linemen.
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
They aren't losing just luck.
They are also losing a couple solid Offensive Linemen.
I'm so psyched for next year already!
Now everything depends on where I go to college… And if I do go to the U I can’t decide if I should keep my season tickets in the north endzone or be in the MUSS. I guess I’ll be in the MUSS regardless of whether I keep my seats…
Keep your season tix
You won’t be in the MUSS forever, and good luck getting season tix when you graduate…
Also, I kept my NEZ seats when I upgraded to Crimson Club and sold them for 3x my cost last year. That’ll help pay for some books.
Definitely keep you season tickets
Even if you have have to simply sell them in the after market for the years you are in school. You’ll want them when you get out of school.
Not saying it will stay that way, but remember, Season tickets did not open up to general public for sell this year.
I'll definitely keep them!
Even if I go to USC!
by taggert.butler on Jan 5, 2012 12:28 PM MST up reply actions
Looks good!
We’ll see the Ducks in December!
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 4, 2012 8:41 PM MST reply actions
Technically no we don't.
We simply need to end up with a better conference record.
That said, USC will obviously be the favorite, but a Utah win isn’t completely out of the question.
The USC Game
Seems tailor-made for a Utah win: USC coming into SLC for the first time, national primetime showcase, early October. Those are the kind of games that have kept SC out of the title hunt in recent years.
Big, big game
Stating the obvious, but having USC in SLC will be awesome. I have been watching the Trojans and their student body right play since I was a little kid. Having them in town will be like our own little Super Bowl.
Now we just need our players to not get caught up in all the hype and instead play good, mistake free football.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 5, 2012 2:32 PM MST up reply actions
How many starters does Utah st return?
trap game, if they are any better than this year.
by rbmw263 on Jan 5, 2012 10:25 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
They lost their NFL running back
but many of the other players return. Their QB is maybe good enough to make up for it, but that RB was something else. They still need to learn to play defense… that early in the season, Wynn will probably still be in one piece.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 5, 2012 10:37 AM MST up reply actions
Robert Turbin wasn't the only weapon on the ground for the Aggies.
Turbin was far and away their best player, but Michael Smith and Kerwyn Williams both averaged over 6 yards per carry.
Smith had over 800 yards and 9 TD’s on the ground, and Williams had over 500 yards and 3 TD’s.
Both QB’s also approached 300 yards on the ground.
That’s a whole lot of production on the ground for the Aggies.
The good news of course is that Utah had a very stout run d this year, and it should carry over.
they weren't that stout against G-Tech until the end of the game
but the D came through when it had to.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Jan 5, 2012 11:55 AM MST up reply actions
I think our run D was good
On average in that game. We gave up a ton of yards, but most of those came on a handful of very painful long plays up the middle. I’m not sure whether it was coaching or missed assignments, but the safeties weren’t covering the middle the way they ought to have been. Once we got that fixed, the run D looked very good.
I said before the game that I was worried we would get beat around the edge… I guess the coaches and players were worried about that too, as we left the middle wide open.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 5, 2012 12:16 PM MST up reply actions
It took them a bit to cover the pitch man
And Rowe had a particularly rough game, but All in All the Utes held the GT rushing offense to right around their season average.
There were some bad plays (Hit the freaking fullback would ya), but Option rushing stats are not the same as normal rushing stats.
they did the smart thing
And attacked our worst defender on the field. When you play assignment based defense you can be exploited like that. The 4th quarter d was something beautiful though
by motes on Jan 5, 2012 7:26 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
Disagree on Rowe being our worst defender.
But he was just flat out confused by the Option attack.
once they started playing assignment ball in the second half
they did better. In the first half they were biting on the second option. Also as for the big plays, the Utah interior lineman were just getting blocked on the first option with a result their FB was busting big runs. Our safety didn’t play his assignment, which really hurt on those big plays.
The Utes have never had pure, shut down, low-volume defenses.
Our good defenses tend to end up in the top 25 in yards allowed but, in reality, our best defenses bend but don’t break. This year we had a number of games where we allowed a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. Our best defenses also create turnovers.
by taggert.butler on Jan 5, 2012 12:38 PM MST up reply actions
Utah had a great defense this year, but gave up more yards than points.
Utah was 1st in the PAC 12 in scoring D (20.23 pts allowed, 21st in the country), just barely ahead of Stanford (20.33) but was 3rd in total D (350.9 yards allowed, 36th). Stanford, however, paired their top-rated defense with a top-rated offense (#2 in scoring and yards, 7th and 11th, respectively) while we paired ours with a horrible offense (#9 in scoring, #12 in yardage, 76th and 109th, respectively). That’s why they’re in the Fiesta Bowl and we’re settling for the Sun Bowl (although I still love that we settled for a better bowl game than we ever could have gotten as a MWC member without going undefeated. 7-5 in the MWC gets you to New Mexico.)
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
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