10 years ago in San Antonio
 

Highlights from the middle to late first half.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjborVVySrU

(if the embedded link doesn't work, try the direct link)

I wont watch the highlights from the second half - too painful. But, man, what a run that year.

I get a "We're sorry this video is no longer available."

Who is it that always lives in the past now? ;)

Truth be told it was after that year I found the internet. I spent that year deployed to Bosnia and I rooted hard for Utah. I was so impressed with Rick Majerus and his style of play and the degree to which he maximized the individual talent on that club. I actually bought a Ute hat upon my return from Bosnia. Then I got my first internet dial up account and found these sports message boards. I still have the Ute hat and it is about as new as it was way back then. Growing up in California I had no idea about the bitterness of this rivalry.

I still regard Rick Majerus as one of the best and that Ute team in '98 was probably the best coached college team I have seen in my lifetime.

I was in law school during that run.

The night of the championship, there were about 8 of us together at a friend's apartment, all of us cheering for the Utes. Some billed it as a David V Goliath, small guy v big guy matchup.....but in reality, the Utes were one of the best teams in the country that year. It was no fluke that they made it that far. And but for getting somewhat gassed in the second half, they would have cut down the nets.

I know one thing for sure......the entire state of Kentucky was sweating bullets, esp that first half.

That was my freshman year at the U. The game was played on the first day of the Spring Quarter, and I was afraid of missing class because they usually say you'll be dropped if you don't attend the first class. So I showed up with a little Sony Watchman, and there were only five others there, and the professor told us to go home and watch the game.

You had a night class?

Yeah I worked during the day.

I was looking at the Majerus wikipedia page yesterday, amazing what that guy accomplished at Utah. One of the greatest coaches ever, one of the worst PR guys ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Majerus

I am still astonished at how badly so many Ute fans wanted him gone. Those who thought that what he did is easily replicated at Utah were obviously mistaken. RIP golden goose.

I was sitting in my seat in the Alamodome. I still haven't decided if it was a good thing to have been there.

Still stings doesn't it. If we are ever there again in our lifetimes, it will be among the biggest and most pleasant surprises of my life.