I’m not buying it in the least.
Forget all the talk that BYU faces more pressure in Saturday’s rivalry game. I get the argument – the Cougars have a senior quarterback, are the favorites and the game is at home, while Utah isn’t expected to win with a freshman quarterback.
So what?
None of that adds up to pressure. Outside of the game, BYU loses nothing if the Utes pull the upset.
The outcome will have no effect on recruiting, which is the lifeline of any college program .And BYU’s recruiting won’t change a bit regardless of what the scoreboard says.
Under Preacher Mo (aka, Bronco Mendenhall), the Cougars will get who they get. Because most of its recruits dream of playing for BYU, the program only needs to be competitive to lure top LDS talent.
Going by recruiting services, which aren’t always guaranteed, BYU’s recruiting continues to improve. If Utah’s two BCS wins aren’t slowing BYU’s recruiting, then one game won’t damage it.
But that’s not to say the Cougars don’t have pressure. One Cougar, in particular, faces a world of pressure.
Yes, that would be Max Hall. An enormous burden rests with the senior quarterback.
A host of school records – most notably, all-time career wins for a starting quarterback – rings hallow if Hall goes out a two-time consecutive loser to Utah. Especially he falls over himself as he did in last season’s game.
Unfair or not, Hall’s legacy rides on this game.
Now, on to the game.
True confession time – I’ve got no clue this time.
In past years, it’s been easy to pick a winner. One way or the other, I felt strong about choosing either BYU or Utah, even in seasons when the prediction turned out dead wrong.
Going back to the first meeting between Mendenhall and Kyle Whittingham, the choice in 2005 was clear. The outmanned Utes ventured into LaVell Edwards Stadium, forced to play a quarterback making his first Division I start.
The Cougars, on the other hand, had a three-year starter in John Beck and a newfound confidence rooted in the knowledge of qualifying for a bowl game for the first time in four years.
Naturally, behind future NFL quarterback Brett Ratliff, Utah won in overtime. And it seemed so obvious to pick BYU.
The following season the Cougars were rolling, already having clinched the Mountain West championship. Again, the prediction was easy.
And if not for a miracle pass, known as Beck to Jonny Harline on the last play, the choice would have been wrong. The same goes for 2007, when my pick required an absolute brain freeze by Utah’s defense to allow BYU’s best all-time receiver to get free on fourth-and-18.
Last season was the only time in the last five years I didn’t have to sweat out my prediction. Utah was a no-brainer, although I never expected Hall to throw a season’s worth of interceptions in one game.
When it comes to this season, why bother? Better to flip a coin.
And fans for both sides ought to be ecstatic. For a rivalry to be considered a rivalry, it has to be two sided.
From years of experience, I’ve learned that several teams view BYU as a dreaded rival. But all the hate that emanates from Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico travels down a one-way road.
This rivalry is two sided, with sharp blades protruding out both ends. Anything less isn’t worth the effort.
Out of all the teams that hate the Cougars, Utah stands alone. BYU hates only the Utes.
Thank you Ron McBride, the godfather of modern Utah football. Thank you Urban Meyer for putting the mustard on the hate dog. And thanks to the former Cougar, Whittingham, for keeping hate alive.
Without them, along with the players, Utah would mean nothing more than San DiegoState or UNLV to the Cougars. Even if they won’t admit it, BYU fans want the Utes to be competitive.
With each team at 9-2, this game couldn’t be harder to predict. Looking back on the season, both teams got hammered by TCU, lost a big non-conference game and basically had the same results, give or take the team, in MWC play.
The Cougars have got to find a way to keep Hall loose. If he feels any kind of pressure, mentally or physically, then BYU is in trouble.
If Hall has time, and doesn’t feel the need to score on every single play, then he’s capable of dissecting Utah’s defense. The keys are BYU’s offensive line and Hall’s brain.
As TCU did, BYU’s defense needs to put serious doubt in Jordan Wynn’s mind early in the game. The more confidence he gets, the more the Cougars are in trouble.
Special teams and turnovers could make the difference. Whichever team gains an advantage likely will win.
BYU 27, Utah 24
