Topic: 2012 Offseason Thread (Read 129 times)

Bone Crusher · « **on:** February 13, 2012, 03:35:14 PM »

I will try to do one post per day until opening kickoff when Northern Colorado visits Utah for a bodybag game.

I'm sure all of you are itching to hear about my perspective on the CU-Utah rivalry that was brought back from a long break.

Anyone catch the news that the game is called RUMBLE IN THE ROCKIES? I didn't catch it until the week of the game. Kind of lame if you asked me but I'm sure Husker fans would think it sounds better than the name of the Iowa-NU game.

Both sides became tired of the media and the conference pushing the rivalry. Both sides are still kind of dismissive of the rivalry but I have been preaching patience to fans of both schools on other boards. Some CU fans haven't gotten over NU (unlike myself) and Utah fans are asking why should we be rivals with a crappy team like CU. I wouldn't be surprised if it took at least a decade to get the fires hot for this rivalry. The history is there and people from both states will continue to insist that the snow and skiing is better in their state than the other. Speaking of skiing, Utah looks like they will win the national championship in skiing this year while CU won it last year...now that's a rivalry but a friendly one and that is what both fanbases are trying to do in football.

CU's upset of Utah in Salt Lake City was just the perfect way to restart the rivalry since after the weekend was over, I'm sure Ute fan was fuming over a missed opportunity to play in the first Pac-12 CCG. I'm expecting Utah to be ready to play ball in Boulder next Black Friday.

I also brought up the possibility of the Mountain schools having rivalries with each other in basketball and Arizona fans have been more receptive to CU as their rival in basketball than Utah fans to CU in football so far. Given Utah's historical strength in basketball, I have no doubts that UA-UU will become a rivalry over time.

thedrUNKenLoper · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:05:32 PM »

The Heroes Game is defnitely better than the Rumble in the Rockies

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:34:31 PM »

Quote from: thedrUNKenLoper on February 13, 2012, 05:05:32 PM

The Heroes Game is defnitely better than the Rumble in the Rockies

Since the game hasn't been played in Iowa, that gives CU fans time to invade Hawkeye message board for pointers in dealing with the big red plague coming from the west (instead of the east).

thedrUNKenLoper · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2012, 06:22:39 PM »

Go ahead but Iowa fans don't strike me the same way as the black and gold team to the west.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:57:08 AM »

Quote

@JeremyMauss
Jeremy Mauss
RT @HoyosRevenge Just told by a couple of people Big10/Pac12 games have officially ended BYU V Utah in football for the forseeable future

From the Ute fans that I have talked over the two years, I'd say that Ute fans are probably dancing in the streets about the end of the BYU-Utah series because no rivalry can say that they have more hatred than that. CU-Nebraska was mild compared to this one. The wife of Utah's head coach was slapped by a BYU fan last year or two years ago...and that's the tip of the iceberg.

thedrUNKenLoper · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2012, 05:56:54 AM »

That's awful that the Holy War is ending for football. I feel this was Utah/Pac12 playing a huge part in pulling the plug here. Was that Wittingham's wife? Also did she go to BYU like he did? Awful to lose the Border War and Long Star Showdown in the same here if this tweet is true.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2012, 07:07:51 AM »

Quote from: thedrUNKenLoper on February 14, 2012, 05:56:54 AM

That's awful that the Holy War is ending for football. I feel this was Utah/Pac12 playing a huge part in pulling the plug here. Was that Wittingham's wife? Also did she go to BYU like he did? Awful to lose the Border War and Long Star Showdown in the same here if this tweet is true.

Both Wittinghams are Mormons themselves so it was Mormon on Mormon violence or was it? I don't know if Mrs. Wittingham went to BYU but it wouldn't shock me if that did happen. From what I have read and heard about the Holy War, it was a rivalry that needed time off. I don't think UT-A&M hate would even match the Holy War. CU-Nebraska doesn't come close either and I thought it was quite hateful on both sides.

I wouldn't be surprised if Utah fans viewed the end of the Lone Star Showdown as the bigger tragedy. The problem is that even at Utah, a lot of people of the Mormon faith go there and they are viewed as bad Mormons...funny they don't say that about Utah State...perhaps since they are not their main rival? When religion is involved, it can really turn ugly and it sure did between those two school for many years.

Rick Reilly the longtime SI writer and now with ESPN has written many anti-BYU stuff for years and he is a CU grad so it's a good thing CU and BYU weren't in the same conference. It would have been ugly too. I think the South Park creators did some shows that were offensive to Mormons. The non-BYU fans of the MWC were VERY HAPPY to see BYU go to the WCC. BYU used to have a nasty rivalry with Arizona State when they were still in the WAC and the Tempe school is CU's main competition for the Playboy Party School of the Year honors in the Pac-12. I do not condone that party lifestyle myself but it was important to point it out in this case.

BYU still does turn out some good looking gals...a small warning for ya:

Utah is still a beautiful state and the Wastach Range is very similar to Colorado's Front Range. It's more conservative in nature compared to the Front Range. I'll be happy to detail the comparisons between the two states (I stayed in a hotel in Odgen several times) but it's time to hit the bed for the night.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2012, 03:08:26 PM »

After I posted that stuff about Utah last night, I couldn't help but think about the Big 12's failure to keep the original 12 members. The Big 12 should have tried to invite both Utah schools about five years ago. Doing so would have cut off the Pac-10 at the knees when it came to expansion canadiates and CU might have not gone west without a suitable travel partner. It would have been easy to split the Big 12 into a West and East division. This would have the Big 12 looking like this:

West:

BU
BYU
CU
KU
KSU
TT
UU

East:

ISU
MU
NU
OU
OSU
UT
aTm

Protected rivalries:

CU-NU
KU-MU
BU-aTm
TT-UT
KSU-ISU
OU-BYU
OSU-UU

Both Utah schools would have been a great fit in the Big 14.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2012, 03:23:02 PM »

As for the Wastach and Front Range comparsions, I will get started.

The Wastach mountains look taller than the Rocky Mountains in Colorado when you are driving on I-15.

Provo is the heart of the conservative part of Utah just like Colorado Springs is the heart of the conservative part of Colorado and is almost the same distance apart. While I said that I did stay in Odgen several times, I did stay in downtown Odgen and couldn't help but think about how similar Odgen was to Boulder. Then you got the two capital cities that have the pro sports teams and some people in Colorado have said that it would have been nice if CU football was based in Denver instead of Boulder. If that was the case, there probably would have been a FCS team in Boulder just like in Odgen (Weber State). Logan and Ft. Collins have the campuses of the state's land grant universities located in those two cities.

What I like about Utah is that they know their truck stops and there are plenty of Flying J truck stops. The neat thing was that on I-15 near the Utah-Idaho border, there is a Flying J and they had a lot of Utah gear plus a few CU gear. Then I stopped at a Flying J in Rawlins and the Utah-CU gear was split more evenly. Then at the Cheyanne Flying J, there were more CU gear than Utah gear. I'm surprised that Flying J didn't come running and sponsor the Rumble of the Rockies game between thsoe two. I don't think they would have had any problems building a Flying J truck stop in Longmont which is northeast of Boulder. The cool thing was that there were hardly any BYU or CSU hats at those truck stops.

If you go back to my Big 14 proposal, the Oklahoma schools would have been tied to the Utah schools and Oklahoma has their Loves truck stops. Perhaps the Big 14 would have worked out great.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2012, 06:29:14 PM »

http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020212aac.html

While Utah is still hot in my mind, I'm going to take the time to discuss the Utes. First of all, they made an interesting decision with their coaching staff by promoting former Ute QB Brain Johnson (he was the QB when they beat 'Bama in the Sugar Bowl) as their new offensive coordinator. He is just 25 years old and I'm sure there will be comparsions between him and Major Applewhite.

Utah still had a successful first season in the Pac-12 despite having to use a D2 QB in Jon Hays who was the man for UNO when they cut football. Ute fans were pretty critical of him but I think he did pretty good in that situation. Jordan Wynn should be back for the Utes in the spring but there will be questions about his arm strength.

The good news is that regardless of who is the QB, John White is coming back to Salt Lake City and is the top returning RB in the Pac-12. RB will be a position of strength in the Pac-12 as White is one of five returning 1,000 yard rushers. Several more returning RBs rushed for over 900 yards as well so it looks like the RB crops will be very good in the Pac-12.

Utah has talent in the WR corps and with Johnson as the OC, I can see Utah going back and forth between the pro style offense that Norm Chow brought to SLC and the spread offense pre-Chow. If the Ute QB is healthy and efficient, the Utes will be difficult to prepare for.

Utah had the best defense in the Pac-12 when it came to scoring and they finished #4 in pass defense despite having to break in a bunch of new starters. Their pass effiency D was tops as well.

But it will depend on how the Ute O does because they finished dead last in total offense behind CU and you know how bad CU's offense was under Hawkins. They were dead last in passing offense as well. That is why the hiring of a 25 year old guy is probably a risky move for the future of the Ute football program.

thedrUNKenLoper · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2012, 06:32:33 PM »

Why even involve Nebraska-Colorado in this BC? It was only a rivalry in name only it was created on your side I can think of several that are better than when the Huskers-Buffaloes played. I've got to think the Utah state legislature will step in because thats money that the state could make on them playing.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2012, 06:35:39 PM »

Quote from: thedrUNKenLoper on February 14, 2012, 06:32:33 PM

I've got to think the Utah state legislature will step in because thats money that the state could make on them playing.

The issue is that BYU is not a state school and the state really can't do much in this situation. The percentage of LDS within Utah is also shrinking as more non-LDS people have been moving into the Salt Lake City area.

thedrUNKenLoper · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2012, 06:38:46 PM »

I still think they could put some pressure on someone to make it happen.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2012, 11:36:33 PM »

This drawing by Drew Litton was a good explaination of CU's first season in the Pac-12 and was for the Utah game.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:14:34 AM »

I was reading about the RUMBLE IN THE ROCKIES thing and thought it was only for football. Turns out the Denver Post said it will span 11 sports. Both CU and UU's marketing departments did FAIL to really inform the fanbases about what it really is about. I still hope it takes off and I think it will...in like 5-10 years.

'Loper, how is it going with Iowa...is there a rivalry thing spanning all sports or just football?

thedrUNKenLoper · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:05:58 PM »

One sided haha I don't think Iowa has beat Nebraska in anything yet this season ha but I think the Heroes Game is just for football as far as I know.

thedrUNKenLoper · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2012, 06:06:51 PM »

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1331640

Washington State story

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2012, 06:43:30 PM »

Quote from: thedrUNKenLoper on February 15, 2012, 06:06:51 PM

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1331640

Washington State story

Awesome story...I have been saying along that WSU will be a good team faster than it took Texas Tech in the Big 12. Leach will have an easier time against Pac-12 defenses...as bad as CU's pass D has been in recent years, the Buffs were the 8th best in the Pac-12 defending the pass. Had the Buffs surrendered about 20-25 less yards per game, the Buffs would be close to the 4th rated pass D in Utah. As poorly as the Buffs did in the secondary, I'm surprised the Buffs weren't dead last in the Pac-12 in pass D.

http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/wast-m-footbl-sched.html

I'm going to put the conference pass D rankings for each Pac-12 game the Cougs will have:

CU (Homecoming) 8 (255.4 per game)
UO 5 (247.3)
@OSU 2 (214.4)
Cal 1 (204.2)
@Stan 7 (253.2)
@Utah 4 (237.4)
UCLA 3 (226.6)
@ASU 10 (273.0)
UW 11 (284.6)

Arizona State, Arizona, and Oregon State were pass heavy teams last season so a further look at games against those three would be a good place to start.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:04:12 PM »

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/stewart_mandel/02/15/pac-12.networks/index.html?eref=sircrc

I cannot wait...especially since Larry Scott said it would be coming to iPads since I have one and I could be getting another one soon.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:50:42 PM »

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_19940267

Kind of stupid when the new interlocking CU came from the Ralphie logo.

I wonder when the Ralphie logo will go away.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #20 on:** February 16, 2012, 03:55:49 PM »

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nfl/story/_/id/7579979/tim-tebow-denver-broncos-working-mechanics-ucla-bruins-oc-noel-mazzone

Former ASU and current UCLA OC is working with Tebow. Pretty interesting if you asked me because if Mazzone can fix Tebow, he can fix UCLA's poor QB play and that would make a huge difference in the Pac-12 South race.

Cynical Puppet · « **Reply #21 on:** February 16, 2012, 10:12:24 PM »

UCLA is kind of like A&M. One of those schools where you wonder why they aren't dominating the college scene every year.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #22 on:** February 16, 2012, 10:24:31 PM »

Quote from: Cynical Puppet on February 16, 2012, 10:12:24 PM

UCLA is kind of like A&M. One of those schools where you wonder why they aren't dominating the college scene every year.

So true on many counts. Clemson is one program from the ACC that I feel that has underachieved for a long time despite its proximity to Charlotte and Atlanta.

Cynical Puppet · « **Reply #23 on:** February 17, 2012, 12:41:03 AM »

Clemson is definitely another one of those teams.

Bone Crusher · « **Reply #24 on:** February 17, 2012, 11:53:39 PM »

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/17/future-zoos-to-have-woolly-mammoths-and-tiger-robots/

I thought about the possibility of a robo-Ralphie running around Folsom Field while reading that. The neat thing would be that the robo-Ralphie would be able to be packed up and sent to road games. That sounds good as long as it doesn't malfunction.

News:

Author Topic: 2012 Offseason Thread (Read 129 times)