Why I'm really optimistic about Ute football.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by mpfunk

Look at all the Utes lost. Look at the quality of recruits that Meyer brought into the program. The cupboard was pretty much bare when Whittingham took the program over.

Meyer was only at Utah for two seasons. Can't we put some blame on MAFU as well?

[mpfunk]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Meyer was only at Utah for two seasons. Can't we put some blame on MAFU as well?

I wouldn't really blame McBride for the problems at all. Generally when you change coaches, either by choice or by the coach leaving you pretty much are destined to have a bad recruiting class. Utah had a lost class in 2003, because we fired McBride (rightfully so). The class in 2005 was lost in the changeover from Meyer to Whittingham. Utah lost a lot of our verbals including the Pusherman after Meyer bolted. If Meyer stays at Utah, the Pusherman is at Utah.

Add in the fact that Meyer really didn't recruit well to Utah, and you have a pretty meager amount of talent left in the program when Whittingham took over.

That being said most of Whittingham's problems are related to bad coaching hires, than anything else. The reason that BM is a better head coach is he hired a better staff.

[DrumNFeather]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Meyer was only at Utah for two seasons. Can't we put some blame on MAFU as well?

The only thing you can blame Mac for is burning Alex Smith's redshirt. While it might not have helped Smith's bank account, it sure would've been nice to have him around another year.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by mpfunk

That being said most of Whittingham's problems are related to bad coaching hires, than anything else. The reason that BM is a better head coach is he hired a better staff.

What horseshit. I'm really disappointed seeing you buy into the OC hate mongering. Utah's trials and tribulations have been most monumental on the offensive side of the ball. You can no more make this judgment based on your data set than you could have predicted Amazon.com's or Wal-Mart's success or failure after three years. The fact is 24-14, despite the challenges, and being very competitive against strong teams including ranked BCS teams tells the whole tale re Whit and his staff.

[MikeWaters]

I don't think any Ute fan takes a supossed Ute fan seriously who claims that the game wasn't available in Seattle.

[mpfunk]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

What horseshit. I'm really disappointed seeing you buy into the OC hate mongering. Utah's trials and tribulations have been most monumental on the offensive side of the ball. You can no more make this judgment based on your data set than you could have predicted Amazon.com's or Wal-Mart's success or failure after three years. The fact is 24-14, despite the challenges, and being very competitive against strong teams including ranked BCS teams tells the whole tale re Whit and his staff.

Look at all the times the Ute offense disappeared this year and in years past. The offense was pathetic against BYU, UNLV, and New Mexico. I'll give him a pass on the AFA and Oregon St games, but the offense was non-existent in those games too. We need consistency out of the offense, and we are not getting that with Ludwig.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Goatnapper'96

It is an uncomfortable situation for Ute fans. They have a solid staff but given what they tasted a few years ago coupled with BYU's rise back to regional dominance and greater national prominence I doubt they will be content.

I'm not sure I'd call "two last minute miracles from being 0-3" dominance.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by mpfunk

Look at all the Utes lost. Look at the quality of recruits that Meyer brought into the program. The cupboard was pretty much bare when Whittingham took the program over.

You do realize that Bronco had to replace over 80% of our offensive production from 06' to 07' right?

Also remember going into the 06' season how bad everyone said the defense was going to suck because of the supposed "lack of talent" and many Seniors we'd graduated before?

Not too shabby winning another outright title for a "rebuilding year" offensively.

We face somewhat of another rebuilding year in 08' defensively. So what will the excuse be then if BYU has another Top 20 rated Defense?

[mpfunk]

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

You do realize that Bronco had to replace over 80% of our offensive production from 06' to 07' right?

Also remember going into the 06' season how bad everyone said the defense was going to suck because of the supposed "lack of talent" and many Seniors we'd graduated before?

Not too shabby winning another outright title for a "rebuilding year" offensively.

We face somewhat of another rebuilding year in 08' defensively. So what will the excuse be then if BYU has another Top 20 rated Defense?

Like I said I agree with you that he has done a better job. What I disagree with you is that BYU was in worse shape than Utah when he took over. You don't really address that point now do you?

[Goatnapper'96]

Originally Posted by Brian

I'm not sure I'd call "two last minute miracles from being 0-3" dominance.

Big picture Brian. If I am not mistaken BYU is on the verge of back to back undefeated conference seasons. Certainly some close ones, but when one factors in all acceptable elements of a programs strength, I would think that BYU has a decided advantage over the mighty University of Utah.

This was a year Utah should have been significantly better than BYU. Injuries had some impact on Utah, but there is no denying that BYU had a great year in a rebuilding year. When Utah was on the right tracks and had overcome the injuries they had a chance to show that BYU was not regionally dominant. The game was played and the better team won.