Utah 20

Smurfettes 26

First of all, congrats to Boise for completely outplaying us once again. You deserved that win. But don't expect to ever play us again - unless you want to come here and not expect a return game. Turf should be grounds for the death penalty.

Second of all, Tommy Lee, just stay in Boise. I'm sure they have some use for your 25 different screen plays. You know, other teams run plays where they actually pass the ball ahead of the line of scrimmage. Knute Rockne called it the FORWARD pass.

Third of all, we may have had the size advantage on the lines, but see, when the other team sends 8 men to stop the run, the size advantage is somewhat negated. Mix in a pitch, a sweep, or maybe one of those FORWARD pass thingies.

Fourth of all, we actually have to practice that FORWARD pass play before using them. That's why we threw. . .what. . .14 interceptions.

Fifth of all, How come our interception got a celebration penalty, but none of theirs did. Apparently popping your pads at the other team's bench isn't as bad as holding the ball out to our fans in Boise. The Officiating sucked in some other ways as well. (Calm down Bronc fans, I'm not making an excuse. You deserved to win the game. The officials didn't force 85 turnovers.

Sixth of all, Did I mention that turf sucks.

Seventh of all, When we fire McBride after this season we should go after Koetter. We can offer a pay increase. Then again, why would he want to come to a lesser program?

Eighth of all, Unless we go 9-2 or better, and win the conference, I think it's time to go ahead and find another coach. OK, I'll accept 7-4 on the condition that there's a Ute jersey with the name Chang on it next year.

Ninth of all, I've congratulated you twice Broncs, now get off our webboard. Sure you have the right to gloat, but you have other things you should be doing. Isn't it right in the middle of the harvest season right now? If there's a potato shortage, and McDonalds raises the price of their fries again, I'm going to be ticked. Do you have any idea of what the ramifications of that would be on Utah's economy? All of the BYU grads would have to take pay cuts when business slows down.

Finally, Did I mention that turf sucks?

ColoUte

ColoUte -

This has to be one of the funniest tirades I have ever read. It definitely takes the edge off a difficult loss. Somebody call Letterman and suggest ColoUte as a new writer, his show could use it.

Better yet, Can you quarterback? Arceneaux apologists beware, Boise St. is only the beginning. Get used to an 8 man front cause Darnell can't throw and what's worse, he doesn't have quality receivers who can catch his poorly thrown balls.

What's the biggest win of Darnell's career? I'd say BYU in Provo. How many times to Andre Dyson make Darnell look brilliant in that game? Darnell was throwing to an NFL wideout - that's why Utah won! Yes, Arceneaux's gutsy - I love that about him, but he is not a drop back Quarterback.

Many are criticizing Tommy Lee's play calling and I join you. I don't want to become an apologist for Tommy - but maybe the forward pass is out of the play book because Darnell can't throw it.

'biq

The one thing I want Ute Fans to do is hold McBride accountable. Don't let him get away with the BS excuses such as: "well if it wasn't for the Big West officials" or "well if it wasn't for a few injuries" or "Boise St. is a good team, they'll beat a lot of people". Complete accountablity/No excuses. I'm not for dropping the axe immediately, but the past has left Chris Hill with little alternatives. Last year McBride wanted to leave and then had the guts to ask for a raise. This year he'll be lucky to get the name plate on his desk.

This game had no impact on the MWC championship but the losing to BSU is ridiculous. And lets be honest if the defense didn't partially show up this game is a blow out.

Offense- Completely lifeless. As I've mentioned in past posts, teams are starting to catch up to the Ute lateral passing game. We developed the mentality that we were going to run it down their throat without regard to how they were playing us. We were in 3rd and long all day. Offense basically cost the Utes the game. Turnovers put the Defense in a bad positions all night. QB- Darnell played badly. He seems to have a real soft body and lets face it, he's not a very good quarterback. Finally we can't say he's 9-0 as a starter. He has hid behind that for along time. Now that he's not running he's ineffective. We have no down field passing game partly Darnell's fault and Tommy (are there any JC openings?) Lee. OL- Killed us. Costly penalties, mental breakdowns. Cochrane, Taleai, Park, Kaufusi, terrible. Losing White will really hurt. RB/WR- Turnovers. Terrible just killed us.

Defense played good. Game balls to Frank (dominated), Howard Christensen, Garrett Smith (good hustle), and Andre Dyson. The only real problem I had was they seemed to give up in the 4th quarter, giving up key third and long situations (I'm sure due to the Offense).

Special Teams- Poor. Whetman cost us 4 points. Key penalties helped BSU.

Conclusion- I don't enjoy losing but will not tolerate losing to inferior talent (that's coaching). Since this has happened every year for the past 6 years, I don't see it ending anytime soon. Not even McBride can argue that. Nothing sort of a Bowl appearance will save his job now.

. . . head.

Both predictable and understandable after this embarrassing loss.

I must throw in my vote as well.

It is obvious that Coach Mac (as much as he is a likable guy) will not, indeed, cannot move this program to the next level. The flaws are fundamental and irreversible. He's an old guy, and he can't learn new tricks.

I appreciate what Mac has done for Utah football. But the stakes were raised with the building of a new stadium, and now it's time for Mac to fold. He doesn't hold the cards.

The biggest problem I see is that Mac and his coaching staff seem to be unable to make the right adjustments, until panic time sets in. That could be after two consecutive embarrassing losses (look at the last several years), or after getting behind in a game. It's like they can't SEE what is going on. When the game or the season looks like it is gone, then the Utes adopt an "us against the world" attitude, and we begin to see good football.

After last season, I was willing to go through this one more time, just to see if Mac would (could) finally change something. But the Boise game has shown that this was wishful thinking. That is something the Ute administration has been doing for some time, now--wishful thinking. It's not going to happen. Coach Mac is not going to elevate the program. When he first took over, the Utes were already in a panic mode, and the Utes showed the characteristic of being over-achievers. But for the last half decade, they have been underachievers.

It's time for a change. The UTES are not hungry any more. There are hungry young coaches out there.

I have a few thoughts after overcoming my initial rage and subsequent embarrassment. First of all tonight I must give kudos to BSU they simply wanted it more. Now to the my after disaster thoughts...

Number #1...Remember about a week ago when everyone of Utah's esteemed (I use the term lightly) local sports media had already corinated byu the 1999-2000 national champions? Of course the problem with that is you have to "play the games" and byu saw their nat'l title go down the toilet (as if they had a chance in hell). But they still have a shot at MWC title and so does Utah. I know we are all depressed, but things can change. Ute fans need to stay with the team, there is still 7 games left and Utah has a chance. Don't abandon ship just yet, I now its hard I am fighting my inner demons too they are telling me "ah screw it they will never be good, just give up on them". But as a fan I can't and I never will. You have to play the games and there is 7 left, the season can still be salvaged!!!

Number #2...Coach McBride. He has done a ton for Utah football, but has his success peaked? Well the evidence says Yes, the team peaked with the Freedom Bowl win over Arizona and a top ten ranking, but since it has flat out been mediocre at best. But again the year is not over yet and being to hasty and calling for his head 4 games into the season is not right. Give him the year to try and prove himself, if the Utes remain underachievers then Yes an alternative plan needs to be looked at. I don't really think the bad coaching is Mac, it is his offensive minds and their horrible play calling, but Mac is the head coach and will take responsibility, just give him this season, there is 7 games left. If it does not work out well then a change will probably have to be made.

Number #3... As Ute fans it is hard to overcome the embarrassment the football team puts us through every year, but we just need to overcome it. After the game I was so pissed and embarrassed at the loss to BSU, but know that I have relaxed I am taking the advice I tried to give byu fans when they thought they were #1, and that is "Its a long season play all the games and judge the season at its end".

All of this optimism spewing from my mouth is shocking me, because I am so pessimistic when it comes to Ute Football, I just have to give them one more chance. Please everyone come to the game next week and try to put away the BSU loss, If we all abandon ship we will have to listen to ass holes like Gordon Monson and Brad Rock and the rest of the blowhards ridicule the Utes and their fans. Please lets all give them one more chance!!!

Thanks and Go Utes--(as I hit my knees in prayer)

ps Oh by the way, if the Utes proceed to role over and have a horrible season, forget the above message and lets all meet at Lumpy's get drunk and pray for good things next year!!!

... the utes can beat Wyo, CSU, BYU, AFA, SDSU if they continue to play like last night. BSU struggled with So. Utah for hell sakes! This loss is inexcusable, and I was calling for mac's head last year so I don't feel guilty about calling for it now.

Will Utah lose to all the teams above? No. But they have a tough conference schedule coming up and they will have to be clicking to win any one of those games. We could be looking at a very shitty record if things don't change.

Mac, get some balls and coach your team. Tell your coordinators that their play calling needs to be mixed up. Tell Arceneaux he's hurt and playing like shit anyway and Croshaw is your man for the rest of the game. See these are the things that coaches do, and year in and year out I just don't see you doing it. The problem is that you aren't going to just start doing these things and quite frankly I want someone running the team who will do it.

Utah needs a coach who isn't your buddy. Majerus isn't their buddies and look at the results he gets. I want mac to finish out the season because a change now will only disrupt things, but at season's end he better get the axe. This shit's gone on ever since that Rice blowout a few years back and it won't change with mac at the helm.

MalamUTE

What were the total penalty yards for the Utes and Boise St.? It seemed to me that just about every time the Utes had a play which gained more than 10 yards, there was a penalty flag thrown against them. On the flip side, the only penalty I can remember being thrown again BSU in the second half was an unsportsmanlike penalty late in the 4th quarter when the outcome was no longer in question.

I am not asking this because I'm blaming the officials for the loss. The Utes dug their own grave in this one with turnovers and bonehead mental mistakes. However, for those of you who saw the game on T.V., what was the celebration penalty following the INT return all about? Also, a BSU fan sitting in front of me at the game said the roughing the kicker penalty called against Utah in the first half was a bad call but a great Oscar performance by the kicker. What did it look like on the replay? Lastly, (I think I already know the answer to this one) were the officials a Big West conference crew or a mixed group? Any insight those of you who saw it on T.V. can offer would be appreciated.

Utah had something like 117 yards in penalties vs. only 20 or 30 for BSU. The celebration penalty was complete BS. He didn't turn and taunt any BSU player, just held the ball out in front of him as he scored. That whole rule and its subjective enforcement is asinine. Who wants to watch robots play without emotion? It's the excitement of the moments that make college sports what they are.

The roughing penalty seemed harsh. We really did hit him, but it seemed like running into rather than roughing. (I'm no college rules expert, so maybe there's not a difference.) Calling it a personal foul seemed a little severe. Another one that looked wrong on TV was a PF facemask penalty where it really looked like the tackler had him by the shoulder pad and not the mask.

At times I wondered about a little home cooking by the refs, but you can't blame them for the results. Utah botched plenty all on their own.

Just wanted to say thanks for the home & home series. I had a good time talking to several Utah fans last night who made the drive up. They were generally a very classy bunch as were the players after the game. Maybe New York and AbsolUTE UTE should get a clue from those Utah fans and players that being gracious is actually more fun and certainly safer than being jerks all the time.

You guys on this board are being way too hard on your team and coaches. BSU really pulled out all the stops for this game & showed things they haven't all year on both offense and defense. Utah has a great defense & adjusted well. Our coaches all said after the game that the Utes are the best team we will play all year and that includes UCLA (whom Boise didn't play very well against).

I know many posters on this board hate the idea of lowering yourselves to play a lowly program like BSU. But your A.D. knows better. Its a good regional game where both sets of fans can easily travel to (BSU travels a lot of fans), and its easy on the budget. For those of you who have been following the situation, the odds are good BSU will be in the WAC within the next two years. I'm hoping that will give BSU a bit more respectability and make the game more palatable to the Utah fans. I'm hoping we can continue the series in the future. As for the rest of this year, the BSU fans will all be cheering for the Utes.

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