Rivalry week is over, and what a fun week it was.
The Brigham Young University Cougars defeated the University of Utah Runnin’ Utes 17-10 on a last-minute, come-from-behind, touchdown-scoring drive late in the fourth quarter of what had primarily been a defensive struggle.
Much has been written about the game itself, so as I write this post Sunday afternoon (11/25/07) I will not elaborate here about the ins and outs of the contest. (Those interested in additional info should check out the sports sections in the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret Morning News or the Provo, Utah-based Daily Herald.)
The win elevates BYU to a season record of 9-2, with eight straight wins and a likely move upward within the national polls of two to four spots from their current consensus ranking of 23 in the nation in both the USA Today and Associated Press polls.
While driving back home to Sandy from Provo and listening to “the most interactive and uncensored post-game BYU talk show” 1280 the Zone, I was shocked by some of the comments from Cougar fans who felt that BYU wasn’t getting the national respect or attention it deserved. Some felt that BYU and the rest of the teams in the Mountain West Conference were being unfairly slighted. Continue Reading »
I’m a huge fan of college football! But there’s no week I love better than the week of Thanksgiving. It’s when almost every college football team plays their own rivals.
In Utah, it’s no different. The rivalry game between No. 23 BYU and Utah has come to be known as “The Holy War” for the connection BYU has with the LDS Church (Mormon). With the schools located only 40 miles apart, pranks from each school have heated up the rivalry to fever pitch for years. Last year’s late-game heroics by now-NFL quarterback John Beck has only added fuel to the fire. There’s been nothing but trash talk between SLC and Provo for almost 12 full months now.
Here’s the clip that fueled the fire:
This year’s game should be even better. Each team is riding a seven-game win streak, with BYU looking to secure the top spot in the Mountain West Conference with a win, and the Utes looking to share a piece of the top spot with a win and a BYU loss at San Diego State.
If this year’s game is anything like last year’s, it will be awesome! Go Cougs!
(This game will be televised live on CSTV at noon MT.)
I went to the BYU-Colorado State football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Saturday. My dad brought my my 5-year-old nephew to the game. He loves sports and, just like any kid his age, gets excited to be at a game. He’s been to a few games in the past, and during those games, he’s loved to go see the players up close. Saturday was no different. BYU had the game in hand, so my dad asked my nephew if he wanted to go see the Colorado State players head into their locker room. Of course, my nephew jumped at the opportunity. So they headed off.
What happened while they were standing at the locker room entrance is a testament to the classiness of long-time head coach Sonny Lubick. My dad reported that nearly 80 percent of the players gave high fives to the fans even though they lost. He said one player walked along the line and slapped everyone’s hands. When he came to my nephew, he slapped his hand, and then (almost turning around) he stopped, looked down at my nephew and asked, “Do you want these?” as he pulled off his wrist bands. It goes without saying that my nephew was elated.
Today’s sports world is filled with classless individuals, with A-Rod and Scott Boras leading the charge. They have their millions, yet they demand more, not only in monetary compensation, but in the attention they want from the world. They are the epitome of the “gimme-gimme” syndrome.
Yet, this young CSU football player, who may or may not be on a scholarship and who most likely won’t end up going professional in football, took the opportunity to reach out to an impressionable young boy, even after losing the game. His coach has taught him how to show sportsmanship regardless of the outcome.
Sadly, Coach Lubick will probably be fired at the end of the year because he’s had a bad season after a successful 15-year stint at CSU. But in my eyes, and in the eyes of my family (all staunch BYU fans), he’s a hall of famer in our book. Not just any sports hall of fame, but in the Class Act Hall of Fame.
In spite of a brutal travel day (departing from Salt Lake City for San Diego at 6:40 a.m. and landing back in SLC at 11:55 p.m.the same day), Chip and I had a great Friday in southern California.
The purpose of our trip? Checking out ASR 2007 — the Action Sports Retailer show which attracts top manufacturers in the surf, skate, snow, swim, style, moto and youth industries and the shops/dealers (and distributors) that sell/distribute such goods. (ASR is a Nielsen Business Media show, the same company that produces Interbike and Health+Fitness Business Expo, two SOAR Communications clients.)
As California natives now living in Utah, it was fun for both Chip and me to A) soak up the wonderful early September weather in San Diego, as well as B) reconnect with our skateboarding/surfing roots.
One of my pastimes as a teenager was riding on a three-foot long wooden skateboard, what today would be considered a “long board.” Conversely, Chip learned to surf in the Pacific swells off the southern California coast.
Although we both got a real eye-full at ASR, five “new” products caught my eye at ASR.
1. The carbon fiber surfboards from Aviso Surfboards are very cool. Certainly more expensive than a typical surfboard, but dramatically stronger, lighter and more durable.
2. The Spinners from Skubs take the concept of those crazy spinning rims from expensive wheels/cars and bring them to the skateboard and skater worlds.
3. Yoga Stick-e Socks from Libby’s Luxuries are a patented new look at sock for wear while practicing yoga (naturally), as well as in any other exercise or sport where going barefoot is appropriate but wearing socks would be better.
4. The brand new Si-Boards from Si-Boards take a whole new approach to balance
boards.
5. And finally, the AquaSkipper from Inventist, which is probably weirdest-looking personal watercraft I have ever seen in my life. (They call it a human-powered hydrofoil.) Inventist also was showing off some wheeled products at the show:
Are you as excited as I am for football season?
No time of the year is more exciting to me than the period of time between the end of August to the end of December. Most people would call it Fall, but it’s more than that. It’s football season.
I grew up playing and watching football. Now I mostly watch, but I play too…Fantasy style. In high school, I played tight end for our team, which was pretty good. And in college, I played intramural at BYU. Our team was awesome! Over two years, we went 22-0, winning the championship both years.
And now it’s that time of the year again. We’ve got football in the air, even in the office. Poppa P’s son plays tight end for a local high school, so it’s fun to talk football with Poppa P. We’ve even brought a football into the office to toss around on occasion–I think it helps get the juices flowing.
I’ve also got my fantasy league draft this weekend, which I’m really excited about. I just love the game, the ins and outs of what makes certain plays work. I owe that to my high school football coach. He had a mind for the game unlike any other I’ve ever known. He understood how it worked and instilled a love for the game in most everyone he coached.
So, here’s to Friday night lights, Saturday morning hype and continuing to live the dream. And here’s a little clip to get you exctied…one of my personal favorites.
An article in the Deseret News today by Dick Harmon brought out an important lesson in sports and athletics: skill alone does not a champion make.
I think I speak for the majority of BYU football fans when I say that hiring Bronco Mendenhall was the best decision the athletic program and university administrators made after Gary Crowton’s departure (come on, he’s a great offensive coordinator, not head coach).
The thing that sets Mendenhall apart as a coach is that he relies on principle-based leadership to run his team. The principles of accountability, tradition and responsibility are only a few of the pillars he and the program’s success are built upon.
Of course this isn’t anything new, Herb Brooks taught us that skill alone won’t get a championship trophy onto our shelf; he understood that working as a team and playing intelligently are keys to victory.
In addition to changing the uniforms from the hideous tan, blue and white back to the respectable, well-known BYU blue uniforms with the signature ‘Y’, Mendenhall also tapped into the legacy that is BYU football. As a result of his dedication to detail, perfectionism and principle-based leadership in only his second year as the head coach, BYU won the Mountain West Conference (MWC) outright, holds claim to the second longest winning streak in the nation, returned BYU to the top 25 NCAA football polls, won a bowl game — against Crowton and the Oregon Ducks, got BYU fans excited about football again and won the MWC Coach of the Year title.
Don’t believe he’s for real? Ask running back Fahu Tahi, a starter who sat out a game because he violated team rules. Mendenhall is the real deal and I’m happy that the blood flowing through my veins is blue, BYU blue!
(Photo Credit: Jaren Wilkey/BYU)
