IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!! Yesterday felt like Christmas to me. Go Cougars!

I'm so excited for this season--I hope this is their year!!

Good luck to Pico- what a great story!

Fans....enjoy until you go to Seattle!!!!

Don't worry Jeff, we have a group of 100 that will be enjoying the BYU game in Seattle.

I'm a Cougar fan, but I think BYU will start out the season 1-1 after going to Seattle. UW is much much much more athletic than the Y and BYU's defense has no answer for a 6-5 quarterback that can outrun anybody on BYU's team. It's going to be a big letdown for all. I'm just preparing everyone to get their prescriptions ready to fill after the upcoming depressing loss.

Locker will be a tough running quarterback to handle, but if the secondary can prevent him from effectively completing passes (and thus making him a one-trick pony), BYU's offense ought to be able to take over from there. Not an easy win, by any means, but definately winnable.

Great article.. thanks for the info and keep it coming

BYU has had plenty of practice against running quarterbacks--Air Force and option offense every year, for one thing. Locker is a pretty zany guy on the field, but BYU can deal with that. Make sure the linebackers stay at home to keep him behind the line of scrimmage, and as long as the secondary plays a solid game--doesn't have to be perfect, just good.

I'm not guaranteeing a win, but having lived in Pac-10 country for a while now, I can tell you that UW is not the juggernaut some people seem to think they are. ('course I might be a bit biased, seeing's how I cheer for the Washington State Cougars these days.) The Huskies are coming out of the collapse they had in the post-Neuweasel years, and are getting to where they're dangerous again, but they're still really a middle-of-the-Pac-10 team at best.

If BYU brings their A-game, they'll take down UW. That's my take.

Only athletes could do hair cuts like Dick described! Did we do away with the honor code or is it okay now to have tattos all over and wear stupid haircuts?

BYU 1 and 2 to start. Losses to Washington and UCLA. No way on this earth they win. Neuheisel will have UCLA on their toes and Washington is just too powerful. BYU finished 5th in the PAC 10 last year. Look for a 4 to 5 loss season you bone heads. PS only a Utah fan when they aren't playing the ZOO

Hey Enter Name, not only do you sound stupid with your predictions, but you top it off by saying that BYU finished 5th in the PAC 10. Are you lost. Just stay where you are and your people will find you as I'm sure they are already looking for you.

"Enter Name" is probably a Ute...

Anyway, even though BYU is going up against formidable offenses, we can't forget that there's also the issue of the other teams being able to contain BYU's offense - which as we've seen last year has proven quite difficult.

Bronco did the right thing by switching to a more traditional defensive strategy, and if the linebackers can step up to do as well as last year's, BYU should be able to pound their early opponents into dust. The beginning of the season is really the most important. Losing the non-conference games has been BYU's biggest hold up for a long time but this year looks better than the past few because:

"Then, the Pico family looked at the football program and somehow, through a minor miracle, found some games to watch."
That’s an understatement, if you don’t live on the rocky mtn range you don’t get to see the BYU football team play. Any wonder why its so hard to get those votes needed to make it into a nationally ranked poll?

Great story. BYU could go 0-12 and still outclass the other in-state teams. Great education and environment for college kids. I've sent 5 of them and their graduate schools were impressed by the quality of their experience. It's nice to win ball games, but years later, its BYU that makes the difference.

re: couger/ute fan. or should i call you fence sitter? You think BYU will lose in Seattle. Well, im betting they wont. I'll be there in Seattle watching the game and rooting for my team to win. GO COUGS!

The Zoobies just by a finger tip beat the 5th place team in the PAC 10. You need to wake up and smell the truth about the flowers you are smelling

A win is a win. Doesn't matter if it is 1 point or 51 points.

It is clear that Ute fans don't quite get the math yet. I know it is a difficult concept - if the goal is to be the bigger number, and if A > B, then A wins.

Don't worry Utes, big brother will keep working with you until the concept finally sinks in.

So... what your are saying is BYU won the game?

That's a "W", right???

And, really, how can BYU beat the fifth place team in the Pac Ten when "BYU finished 5th in the PAC 10 last year"? You Utes and your silly posts.

---------Oh, and----------

Just by Anae's decision not to take a knee at the end of the first half, UCLA was even in that game.

See, I told you if you stayed in one place your people would find you. And I wasn't even an Eagle scout.

I love how you're so quick to take a "W" as a W but not willing to take a "L" as a loss.
"Just by Anae's decision not to take a knee at the end of the first half, UCLA was even in that game."-- Who cares what the circumstances were, you lost the game, who cares who's fault it was. Take the loss!!

What I love about Koogers is they are always looking for an out from taking a loss... Some common ones you'll hear often:

1. Ah the ref's cost us that one
2. They didn't beat us, we beat ourselves
3. It was (Insert person's name) fault

I too am very concerned about U of WA and UCLA. THose programs have been down but I see at best a 1 and 1 record for them. People have focused on a perfect record that after that first loss (which will come) I fear people will over react.

I noted in this story that Harmon referred to the Hawaii DB (Teo ) as a BYU recruit. I expect that means a "targeted BYU recruit" doesnt it. I dont believe he hasnt given them any indication yet.

Of course, if he doesnt convince Bronco of why he should give him a scholarship maybe he wont be allowed to come. Having players recruit BYU is just another way that BYU is different from the rest of college football.

Lets just hope that are not anymore injuries for Utah or BYU.

go Cougars!!! excellent story. would love to hear more bios on the cougar athletes.

You continue to let us all in on how ignorant you are. In case you forgot, BYU won that game. I don't think we would accept it as a loss when we won. Are you lost too. Just stay put.

go cougs. Don't be cheap BYU fans pay the $50 and go to the game.

The Te'o he was referring to is Shiloah Te'o, a safety from Kahuku who signed with BYU this February as a three star recruit. You must be thinking of his cousin Manti Te'o who is a five star recruit yet to sign with a team in the class of '09.

Harmon you are a bit of a homer but I love how you personalize your articles. For a BYU fan you are a GREAT read!!

Yes, Locker will be tough to contain but BYU's defense is as fast and athletic as it has been in a long time. And Washington's defense is not good at all. I do see them dropping up to 32 on us but I also see us dropping over 45 on them. A win is a win even if it may be a shootout.

I enjoyed the part about the Pico family. But it is hard to believe that through their research they didn't almost immediately learn BYU is an LDS school - unless the article meant they did not know until after they researched the Y.

My prediction as much as I hate to say it - 11-1 with a last play loss to the Utes. It will barely knock us out of the BCS 12 but we will make it there next season when we return all our skill positions and the entire defense and Utah starts over with a new QB.

re:Rere: Hey;Fully Invested 4:43 | 4:58 p.m. Aug. 3, 2008

""Just by Anae's decision not to take a knee at the end of the first half, UCLA was even in that game."-- Who cares what the circumstances were, you lost the game, who cares who's fault it was. Take the loss!!"

ummmmmmmmm.....

BYU won the game, hence the W.

I would gladly take the loss, but sorry, it was a win.

Honestly, do any of you Utah "people" have a clue what is going on, or do you just get on an post the first thing that pops in your heads?

"you lost the game, who cares who's fault it was. Take the loss!!"

Quick Ute test, since you made the post: what game was "Hey;Fully Invested | 4:21 p.m. Aug. 3, 2008" talking about in the post?

Half of the posts on these boards are BYU fans correcting the blatant, factual, inaccurate statements by Ute fans.

Give the computer back to your mom.

I just want to thank you for you post about taking an "L" when BYU wins.

Hopefully it will embarass Ute posters into making coherant posts, and maybe even make them start hanging out on boards that talk about the University of Utah.

I agree with David's prediction. 11-1 with a loss to the Utes in a crazy intense game for both sides. I hope it doesn't happen, but it's the Holy War and crazy things happen. I'm just wondering why some people actually think UCLA will beat BYU @ LES when they don't even have a QB. I know, I know, it's the Norm Chow argument. Norm Chow might improve their team eventually, but he can't make the team win without a QB to run his offense.

"if the goal is to be the bigger number, and if A > B, then A wins."

Your equation is incomplete. Let me help you out.

When UtAh > Byu, then UtAh wins. This formula is best applied on November 22, 2008.

Why does every one get on Harmon for being a homer. It is his job to be a Homer. He was hired because of knowledge of and connections to BYU athletics.

By the way. There is no such thing as a BYU/Utah fan. That's just stupid.

"I was impressed with our defense," Unga said. "We've taken it up a few notches over last year at this time as a team, but I was especially impressed with our defense. I was shocked, actually, because we are missing some pretty good guys off the team from a year ago and they really did well today."

Like I said in a couple of previous posts, our defense is going to be very good this year. David at 7:50pm who predicts a BYU loss to the girliemen up north doesn't know what he's talking about.

2006 BYU>Utah.
2007 BYU>Utah.
2007 UNLV>Utah.
2007 AFA>Utah.
2008 #17>"others getting votes".

I am a BYU/Utah fan. it is not stupid. I also have 7 kids. do i love one more than another? So I can love two schools at the same time. when they play on Nov. 22 I hope for a great game like it is every year. I hope it is won on the last play like it is most years. I hope for each team to be undefeated going into that game.

Lest any of you out there have any illusions, Jake Locker IS the UW offense. With the exception of his TE, the weapons around him are underclassmen. The O-line is being re-tooled. His completion rate is poor. He had more INT's than TD's. The UW offense will operate as follows: Snap to Locker, Locker takes off running. Shouldn't be too difficult to gameplan for that. Just saying...

Oh, and the Huskies had an atrocious defense last year, and now they're rebuilding with freshmen. Sounds like fresh meat to me. The only way BYU does not hang 50+ on them is if being on the road with Pac-10 refs comes into play.

"The Zoobies just by a finger tip beat the 5th place team in the PAC 10. You need to wake up and smell the truth about the flowers you are smelling."

I'll take a close win over the 5th place team in the PAC-10 over a blowout loss to the WORST team in the MWC anyday; UNLV won ONE game in conference last season, 27-0 over Utah.

It's funny how some Utah fans make such a big deal of blowing out a ranked UCLA team, THE SAME TEAM, that BYU barely beat in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Bottom line is BYU showed the character of their team last season by WINNING their final two games; games they easily could have/should have lost.

In both games, their starting quarterback, Max Hall, was playing with a 3rd-degree shoulder separation, an injury that he was tough enough to play through.

hi there..ute fan here...good luck on the season, i know many of my colleagues like to argue that the tds is not as good as us UTES, but the fact is -tds has proved for the past couple of years that they are a better program and there are many good things to look forward to in provo. best of luck this year, i hope to see you guys and your team in our house come nov 22. at that point we can settle the score until then...heres to hoping we are both undefeated until then!

We extend an open invitation to BYU to join the PAC 10 where they will become conference doormats. Look on the bright side they may finish .500 and get a better TV contract than they have right now:) Their current rival the Yewts would be a middle of the road PAC 10 team as well. You always point to a game or two here and there but over the length of a season you would have so many of your slow athletes "knocked out" of commission that it wouldnt even be funny. Actually kind of funny. Have fun on the Mountain!!! Go beat up on your in-state rivals Utah and Utah State (div III school).

Trojan Fan!(Am I allowed to post Trojan?)

I used to think there could be no such thing as a Byu-Utah fan. I have changed my mind since. There is a small minority of people that seem to genuinely like both schools. I'm not a Ute fan, but I've grown to respect them and the fact that they play good football. Posters like byu 7:35 a.m. are refreshing. Go Cougs!! Utes- Beat Michigan!

Thanks for the rare sensible post, and for saying what every cougar is afraid to admit - that BYU isn't the only team around here that could crack the BCS. Utah scares me, but I'd rather focus on thumping UNI, UW, and UCLA for now. GO COUGS!!

BYU will have 2 undefeated seasons... This year the BCS... Next Year the National Championship.

I love how all you Ute fans like to post stupid comments about who we lost/or should have lost to last year. The only thing that matters is we beat your sorry excuse of a team, so what does it matter who we lost/or almost lost to last year. You have no room to talk until you beat us, which sad to say isn't going to be this year.

Enjoy another mediocre year Ute fans.

A win is a win, is sooooo correct. And a blanking by a pathetic Vegas team is just a loss. I guess.

BYU took so much pain to UCLA last year, that the players said, "BYU was the toughtest team they played all year."

A week later, Utah gets them after they were mentally and physically filleted by BYU.

You wonder how Utah was able to beat them? Simple, BYU paved the way. Period.

You need to do a little deeper thinking before you comment. The "taking the knee" comment was made about the Las Vegas Bowl game, which BYU WON, not the game played in Los Angeles. Again think before you spout off.

Now to joining the PAC10, it will never ever happen because of Sunday Play. You, however, seem to think that BYU would be the doormat. Apparently you aren't smart enought to figure out that many players who wouldn't come to BYU because they are not in a BCS conference, would change their minds and go to BYU because they would be in a BCS conference. Hence, improved players and BYU would not be the doormat.

Please Utah fans start thinking and quit putting your foot in your mouth. Perhaps Utah should require all of their students to take a "logical reasoning class" and we would not have such idiotic childish comments on here.

i think it's interesting that byu and utah fans go back and forth over their respective games against ucla when they actually played against each other in november.

the post that said byu would be a sub-par team in the pac-10 needs to realize that if byu were to ever join a better conference, their recruiting and funding would go up as a result. i know they're not going to get some guys because of the conservative atmosphere at byu, but you have to think they'd get a few more than they do already. if byu had just a bit more speed at skill positions like wide receiver and corner, they'd be tough to beat, even by pac-10 deity like usc.

getting into a bcs game with your mediocre schedule. Taking the low road just like hawaii and when they played a real team they were wailed on.

Good luck | 10:20 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008
"getting into a bcs game with your mediocre schedule. Taking the low road just like hawaii and when they played a real team they were wailed on."

a) byu would be playing nevada this year if they wouldn't have backed out to take the low road (nevada is a top wac team and a dark horse bcs crasher).

b) it's not byu's fault that washington and ucla are not playing well recently. non-conference games are usually scheduled years in advance.

c) the mwc is a stronger conference than most people give it credit for.

d) ohio state is playing youngstown state, ohio, and troy as part of their non-conference schedule. other "big name" teams are doing likewise. why don't you get on their message boards and preach to them about taking the low road?

e) if you're a utah fan, go see what division weber state plays in. i'll give you a hint, it's not division 1.

The one thing that these Husky fans don't seem to
realize is that while the game is being played in
Seattle they may not really have the home field advantage. Having talked to boosters for both teams
as I live outside of Tacoma. It would seem at this
juncture that BYU fans are buying tickets for the game
at an alarming rate.

I think its a combination of things that have caused
this. A lot of the husky fans are tired of the losing
and wanted Jim Mora Jr. not another season of Willingham. More importantly its a testament to
the job Bronco and his staff have done and the excitement they have brought back to this program.