BLAZE!!

So those of you who have not heard, the Arena Football League announced today that the 2009 season has officially been suspended with hopes to resume play again in 2010. For those of you who do not know what the Arena Football League is, its a football league that started just over 22 years ago and aside for the Canadian Football League, its the only league in America to survive as long as it has. Except of course the NFL. The AFL plays inside, has a shorter field, less players on the field, different goal posts, and has walls lining the field. It is a much faster paced game than traditional football, the scores are much much higher, and it is very loud. Some who are football die hards have a hard time watching because of the unorthodox style of play, but it is fun to watch the game.

The AFL apparently has a few teams that are really struggling financially, as well as the AFL its self. Suspending the season does not necessarily mean that the AFL is leaving for good, but taking the season off to step back and make necessary improvements to improve the financial stability of the league and its teams. The economic model that the league has been using is not as strong as it should be, and much like other companies in today's recession like atmosphere, the AFL plans to restructure and improve it to better benefit the league and its teams.

Those of you who know me know that I have been working for the Utah Blaze since August. This news took our office somewhat by surprise because the Blaze are not one of the teams who are struggling. Luckily for me, I was just interning here and not employed full time. However, I was offered to stay on and begin working full time in January. It doesn't look like that is going to happen anymore! I guess stuff like this happens and all you can do is move on and find something else. I thought trying to work in the sports world would somewhat protect me from things like a recession, but I guess I was proved wrong. I just hope that the guys I work with are able to find something else quickly, its not really a good time to find yourself on the unemployment list.

Merry Christmas!

Whoa, time flies!

So I swear that I have been super busy with school and work and stuff, but still does not warrant my lack of posting about the Utah BYU game. First off, HA HA! The Utes won. Second of all, I told you they would, the thing is they beat them by more than I thought they would!! I gave the Utes a two touchdown advantage (see previous post). I was mocked and made fun of all week by BYU fans for giving the Utes such a big spread, but they more than covered it. Even Utah fans thought that I was being unrealistic with my predictions. But I must say that I just had a feeling, I knew that the Utes would pull it off. It was destiny!

Just to recap, the game was over before it started. First off, BYU ran out earlier than they were supposed too. Utah was having their "senior day" celebration announcing all of the seniors names who then came out and stood with their parents. The Cougars ran out onto the field before this was even over! Stay classy BYU. Then for some reason BYU feels like they have to do the "Haka" dance before every game. I don't understand why they do this. Is it because of the Polynesian players on the team? Well Utah has just as many Polynesian players on their team and you don't see them do the Haka. Last I checked, Hawaii does it before their games, but that makes sense. And they do it only at home games, which makes even more sense. If BYU feels like they need to do that they can, when they are playing at home. And if it is that important for all their American players to feel like they are Polynesian for every game, then they should do it in the locker room before they come out to the field when visiting other teams. Anyway, Utah would not let them do their pre-game Haka, and rightfully so. Maybe that through BYU off their rhythm, but that was when the game was over.

Utah came out strong, scored first and built a nice lead. BYU, like they always do, brought it close and tied it for a while. Sakoda kicked a field goal and made it 20-17 with a little over two minutes left. Next cam what I believe was the ultimate demise of the Cougars. Max Hall through a pick and the Utes had a chance to kick another field goal before halftime. But wait, Max Hall in all his fury lost his cool and shoved a Utah player over after the play was over. This allowed Utah to score on a touch down pass to David Reed before halftime. Thanks Max! I lost all respect for Max Hall on that play. A QB can't lose his composure like that. What a loser, cost his team a turnover and a Ute touch down.

The Cougars made it interesting in the 3rd quarter bringing it close with a touch down right out of the gate making it 24-27. Still to today I do not understand why the coaches of BYU could not figure out how to be successful. On that touchdown drive, they march up the field 80 yards and racked up about 60 yards on the ground. Unga was running us over. So what did BYU do? They went to Collie of course. He is the big play maker on the team. He was the one who ultimately made it possible for the Y to win last year on 4th and 18. He was the leader WR in college football. But he was also the number one focus for Utah all week in practice. The Utes were ready for Collie and the Y's passing game. So what happened? Max ended up through interception after interception. The U's defense was just too prepared for Max. Thing that bugs is so many people chalked it up to Max Hall having a bad game, which he did. But the reason he had a bad game was because Utah was so prepared and read him like book. Don't believe me, then explain Paul Kruger's interception. It wasn't like Kruger was just sitting back waiting for it. He rolled of his defender and started running back to the secondary where he knew MAx would try to find Collie. Just like Sean Smith did as well. Which also reminds me, the phrase Utah fans are using to rub the win in BYU's face doesn't make sense to me. "Kruger is still wide open!" Kruger wasn't wide open. He did not sit back and wait for it. Max didn't throw it right to him, well he did but only because Kruger ran right to the passing lane. Anyway, Utah was simply more prepared that BYU was and it showed.

So for the second time in five years, Utah is off to the BCS to play in the Sugar Bowl. All the Y fans that said you would clobber the Utes, just remember this; Utah+BCS=2. BYU+BCS=0. Yeah so you have been to the Vegas Bowl four times in a row now. And I hope you thoroughly enjoy it again this year. Keep dreaming of a BCS bid and keep asking me what it is like! Oh and my score that I predicted that everyone made fun of me for? Yeah, it also won first place in the office poll which I will be rewarded for this Friday when my boss takes me out to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory! HAHA 48-24!! GO UTES!!

A Few Thoughts for Rivalry Week

Well, its here. The Holy War is just days away. To say that I am excited is an understatement. I am beyond ecstatic! Never before has BYU rolled into town to face off against the Utes in such a high profile manner. Utah, ranked 7th in the BCS is looking for three things. First, a MWC championship. Its been four years since that accolade as been the Utes, and beating BYU for it makes it that much sweeter! Second, the Utes are looking their second trip to the BCS in four years as well. Utah and the MWC are still reeping the benefits from the last visit Utah made to the BCS in 2004 when they spanked Pitt 35-7. Another visit would once again solidify the strength of the MWC, Utah's program, and enable Utah to gaina few perks in the recruiting department. Third, Utah is looking for some much deserved revenge against the Cougars after their last minute miracles the past two years.
BYU is ranked 14th in the latest BCS poll, is looking for a piece of MWC title and bragging rights. People still speculate that the Y could land a BCS bowl, but lets be honest, its highly unlikely. BYU win or lose, probably will end up at the Vegas Bowl, again. The Cougars come in with one of the higher ranked offenses in the nation, but Utah rolls in with one of the nations better defenses. This game is going to be one of the all time greats to add to the list of classic games between Utah and BYU.
So who has the advantage? I gotta go with my Utes on this one, not just because I am a Utah fan. BYU granted has an offense that is potent and can put up points, they have proven that throughout the season. Thing is, when it came down to the bigger games two things happened. First, the Cougars struggled defensively allowing oppnents to score at will. The second problem was that when the defense got better, their offense did not look as good, for example, the TCU game. Utah was able to hang with and beat TCU because of their speed. Speed will be the difference in this game. Uah's defense is much faster than many of the opponents BYU has faced this year and will be able to shut down, or slow down some of that high profiled offense BYU brings to town. Secondly, Utah, namely Brian Johnson, will be able to expose the BYU defense to the point that it may be embarrassing for the Cougars at times. Mid-MWC teams like Colorado St. and UNLV were able to hang with the Cougs because their offenses were athletic enough to expose the vulnerable BYU secondary. Utah will do the same, only worse. Couple that with Utah's D and Utah has the advantage, period.
Final score prediction: Utah 37 BYU 24

GO UTES!!

Umpire Blunder

For those of you who have been tuning in to the world series this year, you may have noticed that the umpires are not the greatest. You may have heard the TV analysts being critical of their calls. Of all their blown calls, has anyone else noticed that seem to go in favor of the Phillies? Maybe it is just that I want the Rays to pull off the upset, but it seems the Rays can't even buy a call these days. Cole Hamels' bach was clearly a blown call. Evan Longoria obviously tagged Jimmy Rollins at third. On top of that, there have been numerous times, most recently last night's game, where the blue behind the plate seemed to shrink or expand his strike zone depending on the pitcher. Kazmir had at least 5 balls that I can recall off the top of my memory that when they replayed the pitch with their nice little strike zone box graphic, it was obviously a strike! Kudos to Kazmir. I would have lost all composure and charged the ump. The first couple of times it would have bothered me and the blue would have known it. Then after Hamels got two or three balls called as strikes that were obviously not, especially if compared to Kazmir's balls, I would have completely lost it and been tossed out of the game. Maybe the powers that be are not wanting the Rays to win the series, but the blown calls have all resulted in scores for the Phillies. On top of that, I cannot argue the Rays have just simply been out played thus far and need to prove they can win. They have been sloppy at best through 4 1/2 games. I still think they can pull it out, but they need to focus and quit making so many errors on the field, and hit the ball! Go Rays! Oh, and the umps may be able to help just a little bit!!

Where's the Love?

The BCS has come out with their first poll. Hip hip HOORAY! Being a Utah fan, I was glad to see that Utah slid into the #11 spot in the the first poll. I feel that this about the right spot for them. I don't necessarily think that they need to be bumped up any more, unless they keep up their winning ways. TCU was the shocker to me, though. I knew that it was a big game for them when they beat BYU, and I was mighty happy about that, but they were the biggest non-BCS team in the polls thats for sure. The thing that is really eating at me is Boise St., and the rest of the world. When BYU was the BCS darling, they were the ones that were picked to bust through the BCS and make it to a bowl game. They deserved every bit of the attention too. But Utah quietly kept winning and climbing up the polls right behind BYU waiting for their chance. Unfortunately, the Cougs blew what could have been the most anticipated Utah-BYU game in the history of both schools by losing to TCU. That left Utah the front runner for busting the BCS party. But wait, before we announce to everyone that Utah is the school to beat, lets figure out how BYU can still make it to the BCS. And if that doesn't work, Boise St. is a better lock for a BCS bowl game than Utah. At least this is what I saw after the poll was released. Rather than congratulating the U for there efforts, winning big against Colorado St. and remaining undefeated, the rest of the world looked right past them to see who else could make it into the BCS. Why? Is it because the Utes did it four years ago and it just isn't fair that the same team can do it again so soon? I don't think that is the case, because everyone else seems to think Boise St. would be a good fit. Is it because everyone really loves BYU and wants them to somehow make it in? If that's the case, I'm movin to Pakistan where people are a little more rational. Is it because people have some rift with the Utes? I don't get that, what did we do? Basically, I just don't understand why Utah can't seem to get the attention of the rest of the world. Sure we have BYU and TCU still on the schedule, along with a road tester at New Mexico, but who cares? Give us the chance and watch us win out. That way it won't be such a surprise to you at the end of the season. Show a little love!

Current BCS Poll
1 Texas 7-0
2 Alabama 7-0
3 Penn State 8-0
4 Oklahoma 6-1
5 USC 5-1
6 Oklahoma State 7-0
7 Georgia 6-1
8 Texas Tech 7-0
9 Ohio State 7-1
10 Florida 5-1
11 Utah 8-0
12 Boise State 6-0
13 LSU 5-1
14 TCU 7-1
15 Missouri 5-2
16 South Florida 6-1
17 Pittsburgh 5-1
18 Georgia Tech 6-1
19 Tulsa 7-0
20 Ball State 7-0
21 Brigham Young 6-1
22 Northwestern 6-1
23 Kansas 5-2
24 Minnesota 6-1
25 Florida State 5-1

Finally

It has taken eight games this season, but it finally happened. Utah actually looked like they belonged in the top 25. I realize that I have been critical of the U this season, but with such high expectations and from what the coaches have told us, I had yet to have seen what I had been promised until this week. Utah actually looked like a high profiled offense. They looked good. They looked like they could score at will and that is pretty much what they did. The ground game is what really looked sharp yesterday. With over 300 yards of total rushing yards, even I can't complain about that. Yes last week I was upset that the leading rusher was our backup QB who comes in to run every once in a while, but this week I was impressed with Louks' running. He deserved to be the leading rusher. With over 100 yards and two TD's he had a great game. He is fast as all get out and I liked the way he was utilized in the game. His 69 yard dash helped out his total yardage, the best part of it all was he probably ran over 100 yards on the run! He covered the entire width of the field on the run, it was great. Even more impressive was the fact that the Utes had 8 people who added to the rushing total, including Brent Casteel. The only thing that I didn't like was that the Utes still didn't find a way to get the ball to Casteel through the air. That has got to happen. Utah has so many guys on offense that it is highly unlikely that any Ute will have outstanding numbers game after game, but Brian Johnson has to start finding Casteel in the air. He is too good to be getting the ball into his hands on a regular basis.

The question I have from this game is how much of Utah's success was the lack of the Colorado State defense? One might be able to make a little bit of an argument here, but I really think that the U just stepped it up and finally put together a complete performance on offense. Granted Colorado St. is not the greatest, but they came off a huge home win beating UNLV two weeks ago and then last week they held TCU to just 13 points the entire game with a blocked PAT. The same TCU that beat the Cougs this week 32 to 7. So sure CSU is not the most potent team, but they are capable of pulling off good performances here and there and the Utes were just too much for them to handle.

I was impressed with the play calling yesterday, but I am not a fan of Ludwig. All he proved to me yesterday was that he is capable of doing much, much better that he has been doing all season! The offense just seemed to click yesterday. The o-line was blocking well and opening up holes for the running game, Brian Johnson had time to throw and he threw the ball accurately, the game had a very balanced feel to it. It was actually fun to watch. I only found myself criticizing Ludwig a few times during the game, but overall I would have thought Ludwig had been fired over the past week. I realize I was only dreaming, but it felt good. If Ludwig wants to start rebuilding his reputation, our offense will look the same against TCU. After the Horned Frogs tackled the Cougs with ease, I got real nervous for that game. But after this weekend, and knowing that the Utes seem to play to the level of their opponents, I think they have a good chance of making it through the year unbeaten. Still I am terrified that Ludwig is still at the helm of our offense, but hopefully our players are going to be good enough to overcome the poor play calling by the o-coordinator.

This week will provide for a breath of fresh air as the Utes get a week off. With the Utes in position to get a BCS bid, they will need to focus on their remaining schedule to make sure they get there. Having a week off to get some of their injured back and prep for a tough road game in New Mexico will be great. With New Mexico, TCU and BYU left on the schedule, the Utes are far from winning the MWC and going to a BCS bowl game. The only plus is that we get to play San Diego State in there and that will be a breeze. If the Utes can come out and win in New Mexico, and not just walk away with a win, but really beat New Mexico soundly, I will be feeling a lot better about the Utes as they go into the final stretch of the season. Go UTES!

Bittersweet Night

BYU gets beat, but the Red Sox pull off one of the best single game comebacks I've seen in a while.

BYU in all its glory, in its quest for perfection, in the spirit of tradition, being fully invested in their football season took their game on the road tonight to Fort Worth, Texas to play the TCU Horned Frogs. The Y has had it easy all season, not that they haven't won convincingly, but come on, Northern Iowa, Utah State, Washington, UCLA? The last two were pac-10 foes, but yada yada, both are horrible this season and look to be bowl eligible if you combine total wins by both teams. TCU is the first real team BYU has had to play and it showed. Completely dominated on both sides of the ball. As a Ute fan I was giddy all night to see a talented BYU team face the reality of being human. On the other hand, November 6? GULP. Utah better look real hard and real long at what the Horned Frogs did to the cougs. (Horned Frogs? Really?) So for the moment I will gloat in glory as Utah is the only team left in Utah to remain BCS buster hopefuls!

Now, as every season goes along, I hate the Red Sox more and more. Yes a lot of that is because of what they did to my Yanks in 2004, but the Red Sox remind me of cougar fans. When the win, Red Sox fans turn up everywhere. There are more Red Sox fans in Utah than ever before. I have friends who are Red Sox fans that if you asked me in high school I would have told you they didn't even know what a baseball was. But now they are die hards. The BoSox were down 7-0 in the 8th inning and tied it up going into the ninth. Ridiculous. Sure its awesome a team could accomplish the feat, but now the rumor mill of 2004's down 3 games to none comeback against the Yankees will begin to surface. Thousands of hopeful Red Sox fans will annoy me with their guarantees and promises that the BoSox are going to come back and win and then go on to win the World Series. Give me a break. The Rays are going to down them in game 6 and get this thing settled. The sooner the Red Sox are out, the happier I will be!! If I have to watch Youkilis bat one more time I am going to throw up. The guy looks like a serial rapist for cryin' out loud. When he strikes out, gets thrown out, flies out or makes a defensive error, I am nervous for everyone in the stadium. The guy looks like a loony ready to flip. Anyways, the Rays deserve it and they will prove to all those Red Sox "fans" who will strangely become Rays "fans" next year that they are simply better and have more heart that the BoSox!

Now Hiring?

As an avid University of Utah football fan, I have just a few items of business this week after last weekend's game against Wyoming. First off, don't let the score fool you. Wyoming won that game, sort of. Sure on paper it looks nice and at the end of the season, a "W" is a "W" right? Well, if Utah keeps playing the way they did on Saturday, there will not be too many more "W's" the rest of the season! Simply put, Utah's offense stunk. If it were not for Aiona Key's blocked punt which resulted in a touchdown, R. J. Rices' fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown, Sean Smith's pick six and Louie Sakoda's two field goals, the score to the game would have been 13-7. That is right, out of the 40 points shown on the board, Utah's "powerful" offense was responsible for 13 of them!! That doesn't sound like a team who went out there expecting to win by that much rather a team that got lucky and scored on behalf of the other team's mistakes. Granted, our defense and special teams played a heck of a game, but come on, 13 points?

There are two things that really bother me about this. Number one, the press is giving the whole thing a free pass. No one else seemed to notice that Wyoming out gained Utah in total yards. No one else seemed to notice that the offense only scored 13 points. No one else seems to notice or mention that if our offense doesn't figure it out, New Mexico, TCU and BYU all have the talent to beat us if we can't produce numbers on offense! How does this happen? How is everyone fooled by that? I know the wind was howling in Laramie last weekend and took away some of the passing, but still. Let me run this one past you. The following is a list of the total receiving yards for the Ute players:

F Brown	4	for 57 yards
J Brooks	3	for 22 yards
B Godfrey	2	for 19 yards
M Asiata	1	for 13 yards
D Mack	1	for 8 yards

After looking at this list, what do you notice? If its that Asiata and Mack combined for 21 total receiving yards look closer. Where in the world is Brent Casteel's name? The guy who lead the Utes in receiving against Oregon St. and was the hero for catching two HUGE balls thrown his way in the last 2 minutes of that game is not even on the list!!! It is not that he just didn't catch any balls either. It was almost like they didn't want to throw to him. Brenst Casteel is one of the best, most athletic skilled positioned players on the team! What? How? I don't get it. How do the Utes not get him the ball? You don't have to get a 50 yard pass to him for it to be worth their while. The guy is a play maker and anyone knows you get the ball into the hands of your play makers. Now the Utes have talent, no question. And not that those guys on the list don't deserve the numbers they got, but it is not acceptable for Casteel's name to appear to this list which brings me to my second point. Andy Ludwig is HORRIBLE. With Halloween just around the corner the thing that frightens me the most is knowing that Andy Ludwig will be calling the plays on offense the rest of the season! I have so many things I want to say here, I don't know what to say. Ludwig's play calling and game planning is horrific, lets start there. With so many options and talent on the Ute's team, how is our offense not rolling over opponents like they did in 2004. This year was supposed to be 2004 all over again, but we are squeaking by with just enough to win rather than proving we deserve national attention and a shot at a BCS bowl. It is like that is how Ludwig plays his game, just enough and hope we don't get screwed. Well, luckily Michigan started making its run a little too late, Oregon St. just flat out blew it, Wyoming is terrible and the rest of our team saved our you know whats, and the clock ran out for Air Force. Why can't we come out after an OK start against Michigan and just put it away, score 20 more points in the second half? Instead it was a game of clock management and focusing on defense. YOU ARE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION IN THE BIG HOUSE, LUDWIG!!!! SEND A MESSAGE AND BEAT MICHIGAN 47-10 INSTEAD OF 25-23 WITH TIME RUNNING OUT IN YOUR FAVOR!! Maybe I should have sent that all big and stuff to Ludwig before the game I don't know. None the less, Ludwig better start calling plays and managing games much differently that he has because if he doesn't, New Mexico, TCU and BYU are all potential losses and IF, that is a big IF right now, we luck out and make it to a BCS game, we will be absolutely destroyed! At that point Andy Ludwig will surely need to get the boot. But as I see it the U is now hiring. Any and all people who can brush their teeth in the morning are already more qualified to call the plays than Ludwig is so please, fill out an application. The leading rusher for the Utes yesterday was Corbin Louks, our back up running QB. Give me a break, what kind of strategy is that? What happened to our powerful one two punch of Asiata and Mack? And, I don't care how bad your O-Line stinks (which Utah's is not so good) or your QB stinks, you get the ball to Casteel and see what the guy can do. Unbelievable!

Out or Safe?

For those of you who watched last night's game between the Angels and the Red Sox, you know just how close the game was. Going into the playoffs, I thought the Angels would win the Series. They had the best record in baseball and seemed to be able to win any series against any team. They had beat Boston 8 out of 9 times in the regular season. They just played solid baseball. I feel a little connection to the Angels because of all the former Bees players that I have watched play here in Salt Lake City. Last night, in the ninth inning, Kendry Morales (a former Bees player called up just for the playoffs) was put in to pinch hit. He hit a double off of the green monster in left field at Fenway Park. He was showed just how happy he was when he slid in safe at second. Reggie Willits (another former Bees player) was sent in to pinch run for Morales. Next up was Howie Kendrick (another Bees player) who was signaled to bunt. He laid down a bunt down the third baseline, sending Willits to third. Now with one out, Erick Aybar (another Bees player) was up to bat and with the count 2-0, he was signaled a suicide squeeze play. This is used when there is a player on third (Willits) and you have at least one out to give. The player at home bunts and the player at third takes off for home as soon as the pitch is delivered. The player then bunts and if it all works out, the player from third scores. Well, it didn't work so well for the Angels. Aybar missed the bunt and Willits took off. Jason Varitek, the Red Sox's catcher, took off down the third baseline chasing Willits. There were a couple of fakes by Willits, but in the end he lunged for third and Varitek lunged for Willits with the ball in his mitt. Willits was out. But should he have been? There is no doubting Varitek tagged him, but after he tagged him and he fell to the ground, the ball came out of his mitt. The question is because the ball came out, should Willits have been safe. At first when I saw the replay I thought that he was out, no questions. But after thinking about it I am not so sure. I don't know what the official rule is, but I understand it as if the player looses the ball in the action of tagging another player out, the other player is safe. For example, we have all seen someone plow the catcher over at home plate. The reason they do this is an attempt to knock the ball loose. Even if the catcher tags the player and then loses the ball as he falls over, the player at home is safe. So if Varitek loses the ball as he falls to the ground, isn't that the same thing? Willits is safe. I feel bad for the Angels. Aybar however, should be the one who is feeling it the most. Had he just laid down his bunt, this wouldn't even be a conversation.

Welcome, Welcome!

So rather than feel up our other blog with my opinions on sports and other things, I have decided to go ahead and start my own. There are so many things that go on in the sports world that I feel it necessary for me to share my opinion with others. With Ute football season half-way done, the Jazz season just around the corner, the World Series and the NFL, there will be plenty to discuss any given week. I gladly welcome your comments and will do my best to reply and respond to comments made! Having said that, let the sports talk begin!!!