| FTBL Who do we play in the Sugar Bowl?

[cyclingute51]

What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

Why can't we play a real team.

I suspect most of you haven't got a clue about the team that your beloved Tide will play.

Just a little food for thought. Don't overlook my Utes.

They are on a 7 game bowl win streak, included in that was the 2005 Fiesta bowl over an admittedly outclassed Pitt team.

The Utes are one of 2 FBS teams that are undefeated, can you name the other?

The last I saw the Utah S.O.S. was higher that 'bama's.

Don't be so sure that you will roll the Utes, presuming our teams go up against each other.

As a Ute Fan, I have a ton of respect for Alabama football. I know about your storied football history. I love the way your boys play. Your boys are hard playing, and seem to show respect to all of their opponents.

Good Luck.

--cyclingute51

 

[Guest]

Re: What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

Why can't we play a real team.

I suspect most of you haven't got a clue about the team that your beloved Tide will play.

Just a little food for thought. Don't overlook my Utes.

They are on a 7 game bowl win streak, included in that was the 2005 Fiesta bowl over an admittedly outclassed Pitt team.

The Utes are one of 2 FBS teams that are undefeated, can you name the other?

The last I saw the Utah S.O.S. was higher that 'bama's.

Don't be so sure that you will roll the Utes, presuming our teams go up against each other.

As a Ute Fan, I have a ton of respect for Alabama football. I know about your storied football history. I love the way your boys play. Your boys are hard playing, and seem to show respect to all of their opponents.

Good Luck.

--cyclingute51

And were not the one's calling a**hats remember! Also who is Webber St? DII?

 

[RollTide1980]

Can anyone say Hawaii vs Georgia??

...I knew you could!

RTR!!!

~Bryan

 

[reger60]

Other than Notre Dame, there have only been two non-BCS conference schools in BCS Bowl Games. Their record is 1-1. Hardly a precident.

It's probably not a good idea to underestimate an undefeated team Division 1 team, regardless of their conference. Those teams show up to bowl games quite motivated.

Ask Oklahoma.

I know I'm being picky, but by my count it's 3 with Utah (W), Boise State (W) and Hawai'i (L). Notre Dame has been twice, if I recall correctly, losing both games.

You're right Terry. To my point, non-BCS schools are not an automatic cupcake. We shouldn't expect Utah to roll over and get killed.

 

[Guest]

Other than Notre Dame, there have only been two non-BCS conference schools in BCS Bowl Games. Their record is 1-1. Hardly a precident.

It's probably not a good idea to underestimate an undefeated team Division 1 team, regardless of their conference. Those teams show up to bowl games quite motivated.

Ask Oklahoma.

I know I'm being picky, but by my count it's 3 with Utah (W), Boise State (W) and Hawai'i (L). Notre Dame has been twice, if I recall correctly, losing both games.

You're right Terry. To my point, non-BCS schools are not an automatic cupcake. We shouldn't expect Utah to roll over and get killed.

I think it will be a good game, but I do feel it's a trap game for us. If we win we hear "You should beat them" if we lose we hear "WTF UTAH beat BAMA".

 

[cjaytch]

Re: What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

Why can't we play a real team.

I suspect most of you haven't got a clue about the team that your beloved Tide will play.

Just a little food for thought. Don't overlook my Utes.

They are on a 7 game bowl win streak, included in that was the 2005 Fiesta bowl over an admittedly outclassed Pitt team.

The Utes are one of 2 FBS teams that are undefeated, can you name the other?

The last I saw the Utah S.O.S. was higher that 'bama's.

Don't be so sure that you will roll the Utes, presuming our teams go up against each other.

As a Ute Fan, I have a ton of respect for Alabama football. I know about your storied football history. I love the way your boys play. Your boys are hard playing, and seem to show respect to all of their opponents.

Good Luck.

--cyclingute51

Welcome to our board. Look, you guys got a good team. You are undefeated with the schedule you played. But that doesnt mean you deserve to be in a BCS game. Look at the schedule comparison above.

Thank you for respecting and familiarizing yourself with the Alabama Football tradition. Since you have done so, can you not see why Alabama fans want Bama to play Texas, USC, or Ohio State opposed to Boise State or Utah? If Utah was a traditional powerhouse program, you would still have Urban Meyer as a coach. Instead, he went to the University of Florida, a powerhouse program in a powerhouse conference.

I know I have personally been hard on the Utes. But let me say I mean no disrespect for your players or coaches. But your program as a whole will never get respect until you do what Florida State and Miami did and play anyone, anytime, anywhere or join a big name conference. Then you can earn your place among the Alabamas, USCs, Penn States, Texas and Floridas of the world. Until you do either of these, you look like someone who plays a bunch of nobodys and expects to earn a place at the table with the big conferences. Like some kind of party crasher or something. No offence, but UGA, LSU, Bama, UF, or Ole Miss could have gone undefeated with your schedule. Could Utah have gone undefeated with Bama or Florida's schedule?

Also, let me ask you one more question. If you dont answer any of my other questions please answer this one honestly. Would you be more excited if you guys were playing Boise State on New Years day instead of Alabama or say Texas? If you cant answer YES, then you should understand how we feel.

 

[utefan]

I'll try and give you a little bit of information about Utah

First off, only about 50% of the students are LDS (Mormon), so there are a number of Ute fans that will give you a run for your money on the party scene. New Orleans will be fun for those that go.

Secondly, Utah will now have been to more BCS Bowl games than 80% of the teams that play in BCS conferences.

Utah is willing to play a home and home schedule with ANYONE in the country. Our biggest problem is finding teams outside of the PAC 10 willing to do that. Getting an SEC team to travel for an OOC game is almost impossible.

Even without the recruiting and monetary advantages built in to the BCS school and conferences, Utah still seems to compete well against those programs.

The team that just beat you for the SEC championship game thought well enough of Utah's coach and the job done to hire him.

This team is a blue collar team that always plays until the final whistle. They have had two cardiac drives to win games this season.

The MWC is the conference in which Utah is a member, not the WAC or the MAC.

We would love an opportunity to go to a BCS conference, but until it is mandated that there be a championship game in all conferences which will then require that the PAC10 expand, we are probably stuck where we are.

Utah beat two teams ranked in the BCS top-25 this year (TCU and BYU).

As fans we would have preferred to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas as it is closer for most fans (not me) and therefore we would travel better in this down economy.

When bashing our schedule, please remember, all we can do it beat every team in front of us willing to play us as well as our conference foes.

Hopefully this turns out to be a good game and no one gets injured.

GO UTES!!!!

 

[cyclingute51]

Re: What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

"And were not the one's calling a**hats remember! Also who is Webber St? DII?"

Don't lump me in with the moron who called you folks a**hats. I firmly disagree with that type of activity. It's not a true reflection of most Utah Ute fans. I see it on our board on a regular basis. I don't like it, but I'm not the board moderator either.

As for Weber State. They're an FCS team that just lost to Univ. of Montana in the FCS quarter finals. Ironically enough they're coached by the guy that Urban Meyer replaced here.

Feel free to come to our board more often, you'll get a better feel of what our fanbase is like. About the only school most Ute fans agree on to really despise is the school named after Brigham Young.

I think I'm speaking for many Ute fans when I say this, we hope that we have a good game, and hope to meet many of the 'Bama fans. Our experience meeting fans for other schools has been fun, and enlightening. It's good to learn about each others traditions. I know more than a few of us look with fondness of the many Texas A&M fans that we have met and become friends with. Too bad they're in the shadow of that other school in Texas.

Thank you for your interest in our team. We look forward to meeting you.

 

[SkinyUte]

Can anyone say Hawaii vs Georgia??

...I knew you could!

RTR!!!

~Bryan

The main difference between a Utah/Alabama and Hawaii/Georgia matchups is that last year, Hawaii had absolutely zero defense. The entire "strength" of their team rested on their offense, and they allowed a ton of points, even to crappy teams. This Utah team is completely different, and defense is their true calling card. They've ranked in the top 10 nationally throughout most of the year and are extremely solid. That fact alone makes me doubt it would be a Hawaii-esque blowout. Unfortunately, we lost our best linebacker against BYU a couple weeks ago, which is a huge loss.

In regards to the possible matchup, I can understand why Bama fans wouldn't be terribly excited. I'm a lifelong fan, but can recognize that Utah just isn't a "sexy" matchup for you guys. However, I firmly believe - as do most of the national media - that the MWC is just as deserving of a BCS game this year as some of the so-called "power" conferences. We went 6-1 against the Pac-10, beat an SEC team in the only head-to-head matchup between conferences (Wyoming vs Tenessee), and actually have a tougher SOS (third column from the right) than Alabama. Oh, and we'll ignore the Utah State and Weber State games if you guys ignore the Western Kentucky and Tulane games. Deal?

I'm not going to be one of those myopic fans who comes in and makes ludicrous claims like "Utah would go 12-0 in the SEC". Frankly, that would be silly. I am, however, excited to see how we can match up against the Tide. If you blow us out, then we may have to concede that the "you guys don't belong" argument has some merit. But if you don't, then the opposite will hold true. Our team has been surprising people all year, and I can guarantee they won't just roll over and die like Hawaii did. Besides, we've got a little experience with the BCS thing already.

I've watched quite a few Alabama games this year. You guys have a damn good football team, and I think the one thing that we can all agree on is that it's too bad neither of us will get to see what we can do in a true playoff system. It'll be very interesting to see how this all shakes out.

 

[Guest]

Re: What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

"And were not the one's calling a**hats remember! Also who is Webber St? DII?"

Don't lump me in with the moron who called you folks a**hats. I firmly disagree with that type of activity. It's not a true reflection of most Utah Ute fans. I see it on our board on a regular basis. I don't like it, but I'm not the board moderator either.

As for Weber State. They're an FCS team that just lost to Univ. of Montana in the FCS quarter finals. Ironically enough they're coached by the guy that Urban Meyer replaced here.

Feel free to come to our board more often, you'll get a better feel of what our fanbase is like. About the only school most Ute fans agree on to really despise is the school named after Brigham Young.

I think I'm speaking for many Ute fans when I say this, we hope that we have a good game, and hope to meet many of the 'Bama fans. Our experience meeting fans for other schools has been fun, and enlightening. It's good to learn about each others traditions. I know more than a few of us look with fondness of the many Texas A&M fans that we have met and become friends with. Too bad they're in the shadow of that other school in Texas.

Thank you for your interest in our team. We look forward to meeting you.

Well here you go how about this one?

Your quarterback, Billy Joe what's his name, has not impressed anyone outside this God forsaken shithole of a state. You can't win championships without a good QB.

But wait it gets better nice site btw if I was like 15

Kyle: Urban it's kyle, how's it going?

Urban:Great I just bitch slapped that Urban wannabe Saban, and now I'm playing for my second national championship.

Kyle: Yeah, I saw the game congrats, now as you know I play that same douche Saban's team in my bowl game.

Urban: Yes you do my friend, and guess what I've already got hundreds of hours of watching film on those suckers and I have it all broken down with our game plan, and I'll be happy to give you all of it.

Kyle: Thanks brother, i knew one day saving your ass in 2003 with an amazing D while your O struggled would pay off. You the man Urban.

 

[cyclingute51]

Re: What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

Why can't we play a real team.

I suspect most of you haven't got a clue about the team that your beloved Tide will play.

Just a little food for thought. Don't overlook my Utes.

They are on a 7 game bowl win streak, included in that was the 2005 Fiesta bowl over an admittedly outclassed Pitt team.

The Utes are one of 2 FBS teams that are undefeated, can you name the other?

The last I saw the Utah S.O.S. was higher that 'bama's.

Don't be so sure that you will roll the Utes, presuming our teams go up against each other.

As a Ute Fan, I have a ton of respect for Alabama football. I know about your storied football history. I love the way your boys play. Your boys are hard playing, and seem to show respect to all of their opponents.

Good Luck.

--cyclingute51

Welcome to our board. Look, you guys got a good team. You are undefeated with the schedule you played. But that doesnt mean you deserve to be in a BCS game. Look at the schedule comparison above.

Thank you for respecting and familiarizing yourself with the Alabama Football tradition. Since you have done so, can you not see why Alabama fans want Bama to play Texas, USC, or Ohio State opposed to Boise State or Utah? If Utah was a traditional powerhouse program, you would still have Urban Meyer as a coach. Instead, he went to the University of Florida, a powerhouse program in a powerhouse conference.

I know I have personally been hard on the Utes. But let me say I mean no disrespect for your players or coaches. But your program as a whole will never get respect until you do what Florida State and Miami did and play anyone, anytime, anywhere or join a big name conference. Then you can earn your place among the Alabamas, USCs, Penn States, Texas and Floridas of the world. Until you do either of these, you look like someone who plays a bunch of nobodys and expects to earn a place at the table with the big conferences. Like some kind of party crasher or something. No offence, but UGA, LSU, Bama, UF, or Ole Miss could have gone undefeated with your schedule. Could Utah have gone undefeated with Bama or Florida's schedule?

Also, let me ask you one more question. If you dont answer any of my other questions please answer this one honestly. Would you be more excited if you guys were playing Boise State on New Years day instead of Alabama or say Texas? If you cant answer YES, then you should understand how we feel.

I freely understand you're frustration. But how are we to build a tradition if no one will play us? And if they do, disrespect us in the process.

Our history hasn't been a long history. Prior to Ron McBride coaching our team we had a very long tradition of losing or barely reaching mediocrity. Coach Mac took us to heights that we had never been to before. Once the program plateaued we found Urban Meyer. Many of us feel the Meyer abandoned us for the money. He could have had that tradition started here, and really gone down in the history books of college football.

As it stand Coach Whittingham took over, and has built upon the foundation that Meyer, and McBride started. One thing that my school can, and should, hang it's hat on is that we are the first program, from a NON-BCS conference to return to the BCS games. And we were the first NON-BCS team to make it in under the much more strict rules prior to the 2005 loosening of the standards. If we were to go back to the 2004 standards, we would be in once again.

To say that Utah lacks a winning tradition would be incorrect. To say that Utah lacks a long winning tradition, I'll grant you that. But in the last 20 or so years, Utah has created a winning tradition, and attitude. Our fans, and team, no go into games expecting to win or lose close. We no longer hope to not be blown out.

I hope that we, Utah and Bama fans can at least respect each other enough to know that it will be a tough game.

As a consideration, much of what has Utah fans riled up isn't that you guy's don't know a whole lot about us. It's the apparent disrespect that our team is getting from part of your fanbase. We saw much the same thing from A&M fans in 2003, and Michigan fans earlier this year. Both learned the hard way the Utah has a good program, and our athletes are pretty damned good.

Talk to y'all later.

Good Luck.

--cyclingute51

 

[cjaytch]

Re: I'll try and give you a little bit of information about

Utah is willing to play a home and home schedule with ANYONE in the country.

But you arent going to get a home and home. Look into the history of FSU and Miami. It was a long time of away, away before anyone would do a home and home with them.

Our biggest problem is finding teams outside of the PAC 10 willing to do that. Getting an SEC team to travel for an OOC game is almost impossible.

And that is going to remain a problem for you. Again, look at FSU. Find out what Bobby Bowden did. FSU used to be a homecoming opponent for SEC schools.

The team that just beat you for the SEC championship game thought well enough of Utah's coach and the job done to hire him.

Again, i dont disrespect the players or coaches. Bama hired the TCU coach several years ago and he did a good job. You guys obviously have a good coah. Meyer is a great coach. But if Texas, Notre Dame, Penn State or Alabama called him do you really think he would stick around?

The MWC is the conference in which Utah is a member, not the WAC or the MAC.

Im not trying to be mean, but whats the difference?

We would love an opportunity to go to a BCS conference, but until it is mandated that there be a championship game in all conferences which will then require that the PAC10 expand, we are probably stuck where we are.

Then the FSU route is the only one open to you....

Utah beat two teams ranked in the BCS top-25 this year (TCU and BYU).

TCU and BYU? Does that really compare to beating Clemson, LSU, Georgia and Ole Miss? Does that compare to Florida or Texas schedule?

As fans we would have preferred to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas as it is closer for most fans (not me) and therefore we would travel better in this down economy.

Thats not what I asked. Let me rephrase it. You are playing Bama in the Sugar. Would you be MORE excited if you were playing Boise State instead of Alabama?

When bashing our schedule, please remember, all we can do it beat every team in front of us willing to play us as well as our conference foes.

Duly noted. I respect your players and coaches for going undefeated. But that still doesnt make me EXCITED to be playing Utah. Try to look at it from out point of view.

Hopefully this turns out to be a good game and no one gets injured.

GO UTES!!!!

Amen to that.

 

[SkinyUte]

Re: What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

Well here you go how about this one?

Your quarterback, Billy Joe what's his name, has not impressed anyone outside this God forsaken shithole of a state. You can't win championships without a good QB.

Unfortunately, we've got our share of sophmorish a-hole fans (as does every school in the country). 99% of us, however, are excited about the chance to play you guys and looking forward to engaging in some actual football and matchup talk (not that sort of juvenille trash) over the next couple weeks.

But your program as a whole will never get respect until you do what Florida State and Miami did and play anyone, anytime, anywhere or join a big name conference. Then you can earn your place among the Alabamas, USCs, Penn States, Texas and Floridas of the world. Until you do either of these, you look like someone who plays a bunch of nobodys and expects to earn a place at the table with the big conferences. Like some kind of party crasher or something. No offence, but UGA, LSU, Bama, UF, or Ole Miss could have gone undefeated with your schedule. Could Utah have gone undefeated with Bama or Florida's schedule?

I think it was answered already, but is worth reiterating: we can only play the teams that are willing to play us. With college schedules made so far in advance, it's impossible to predict who will and won't be good teams. Hell, when we scheduled the Michigan game they were in the top 10! Utah is willing to play anyone, but finding teams outside of the Pac-10 that are willing to take us up on that offer can be tough. We've got a great record against BCS conference schools, and many of them don't think the risk is worth the reward. Hopefully that will start to change now that we've got a couple BCS appearances.

 

[utefan]

well number1tidefan19

you have just proven the old mantra "better to stay quiet and let people think you a fool, then open you mouth and confirm the fact."

That may have been the most ignorant and elitist comment posted yet by any fan of either team.

 

[cyclingute51]

Re: What do you know of the Runnin' Utes of Utah?

"And were not the one's calling a**hats remember! Also who is Webber St? DII?"

Don't lump me in with the moron who called you folks a**hats. I firmly disagree with that type of activity. It's not a true reflection of most Utah Ute fans. I see it on our board on a regular basis. I don't like it, but I'm not the board moderator either.

As for Weber State. They're an FCS team that just lost to Univ. of Montana in the FCS quarter finals. Ironically enough they're coached by the guy that Urban Meyer replaced here.

Feel free to come to our board more often, you'll get a better feel of what our fanbase is like. About the only school most Ute fans agree on to really despise is the school named after Brigham Young.

I think I'm speaking for many Ute fans when I say this, we hope that we have a good game, and hope to meet many of the 'Bama fans. Our experience meeting fans for other schools has been fun, and enlightening. It's good to learn about each others traditions. I know more than a few of us look with fondness of the many Texas A&M fans that we have met and become friends with. Too bad they're in the shadow of that other school in Texas.

Thank you for your interest in our team. We look forward to meeting you.

Well here you go how about this one?

Your quarterback, Billy Joe what's his name, has not impressed anyone outside this God forsaken shithole of a state. You can't win championships without a good QB.

But wait it gets better nice site btw if I was like 15

Kyle: Urban it's kyle, how's it going?

Urban:Great I just bitch slapped that Urban wannabe Saban, and now I'm playing for my second national championship.

Kyle: Yeah, I saw the game congrats, now as you know I play that same douche Saban's team in my bowl game.

Urban: Yes you do my friend, and guess what I've already got hundreds of hours of watching film on those suckers and I have it all broken down with our game plan, and I'll be happy to give you all of it.

Kyle: Thanks brother, i knew one day saving your ass in 2003 with an amazing D while your O struggled would pay off. You the man Urban.

Again Optimus, not me, not my line of thought. Let's just say that all teams have their own "buttheads."

I'm more interested in your football team, and tradition than trying to stir the pot over something that I have no control over.

Feel free to read longer, more of our sane fans will arrive and post.

--cyclingute51

 

[Guest]

Re: well number1tidefan19

you have just proven the old mantra "better to stay quiet and let people think you a fool, then open you mouth and confirm the fact."

That may have been the most ignorant and elitist comment posted yet by any fan of either team.

Wow...They little school wants to play rough.

1/2/09...IT'S ON!!!

 

[utefan]

This sounds as if it is coming from a 19 year old kid

stuck in his momma's basement and an admitted BYU fan as well. You truly do sound like many of the BYU fans that post.

 

[Guest]

Cyclingute51 I was reading this moring how big is your stadium? I think that might factor in to way some might not want to play. It's not as big as some right?

45,000?

 

[Guest]

Re: This sounds as if it is coming from a 19 year old kid

stuck in his momma's basement and an admitted BYU fan as well. You truly do sound like many of the BYU fans that post.

Now did I say I was a BYU "Fan"...NO. I just
Like BYU a little better.That's all.

Stuck in my mama's basement? Wow attack the teenager, Big man.Make you feel better?

I hope it did.I hope you have a nice day!

:roll:

 

[SkinyUte]

Re: I'll try and give you a little bit of information about

The MWC is the conference in which Utah is a member, not the WAC or the MAC.

Im not trying to be mean, but whats the difference?

Quite a lot, actually. Take a look at the strength of schedule and record against BCS conference opponents, and you'll notice that the WAC and MAC don't even begin to compare to the MWC.

Utah beat two teams ranked in the BCS top-25 this year (TCU and BYU).

TCU and BYU? Does that really compare to beating Clemson, LSU, Georgia and Ole Miss? Does that compare to Florida or Texas schedule?

We'll probably have to agree to disagree here, but my guess is that both TCU and BYU could hang with Clemson, Ole Miss, and LSU just fine. Maybe not Florida or Texas, but the middle to bottom of the MWC is just as good as the middle to bottom of the SEC (as the only head-to-head example we have proved)

As fans we would have preferred to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas as it is closer for most fans (not me) and therefore we would travel better in this down economy.

Thats not what I asked. Let me rephrase it. You are playing Bama in the Sugar. Would you be MORE excited if you were playing Boise State instead of Alabama?

Actually, a chance to kick those giant a-holes in the mouth might be a good thing. (there's a pretty healthy rivalry between us)

When bashing our schedule, please remember, all we can do it beat every team in front of us willing to play us as well as our conference foes.

Duly noted. I respect your players and coaches for going undefeated. But that still doesnt make me EXCITED to be playing Utah. Try to look at it from out point of view.

Completely understandable. I know we're not Texas or OSU, but I think we'll give you guys a whale of a game. If not, I'll be the first one to come back here and admit I was wrong.