It'll be great having a healthy Fui back this fall. I'm fully expecting to see some runs this year like he had two seasons ago.

Sunday family dinners will be a lot more fun.

I'll bet nobody scores more than 9 points on that D!

I can't wait to see Fui's celebrations after he rushes for 1 yd on 1st and 10! Those are AWESOME!

Sorry, Fui is not healthy, Hamstring problems.

blah, blah, blah.
Take off your blue glasses and put down the blue kool-aid.
3 starters back on defense? Your quest for perfection will end in game #2 at Washington.
Your mighty offense only put up 17 against UCLA twice and Utah.
Keep dreaming.

Perhaps we should not be expecting an undefeated season and a BCS birth with so many new faces on D. It seems premature when freshmen are expected to fill key backup rolls on the featured position of the defensive system.

blah, blah, blah
Take off your red glasses and put down the vodka.
Little red-headed stepbrother Utah will have lost at least 4 games by the time they lose to the mighty cougs in rice chex stadium. "Kryle" will have already mentioned several times that he has the best running back/quarter back/reciever/defensive back situation in the nation and that he's the self-proclaimed conscience of the world and will hold everyone accountable for what they said at any time in their lives.

Wyoming will have their revenge, UNLV will laugh again at the pathetic Utards, and every Utard will be content with another sub-par season, as it should be.

MUSS = most uneducated student section.

Settle down buddy, It's obvious you haven't followed college football for the last 10 years, because that was the last time the University of Washington did anything at all. Last year they were dead last in the Pac-10, and we've got UCLA at home, and they have got major QB injury problems, so settle down. I think you need to take off your red shades and realize that the Yewts are going to get blown out by Michigan in the big house. Get ready for 100 thousand fans screaming your Yewts out of the state of Michigan. Oh and for the Utah vs UNLV game this year I predict UNLV winning 31-3, hey at least you'll score this year against the MWC worst.

everyone familiar with byu football knows that the defense will be their weakness, I dont see how they can talk about undefeated and BCS with so little experience and depth on that side of the ball. The cougar O overachieved last year and I think they would be hard-pressed to be as effective this year.

Both the offense & defense will be fine this season. To coug-a-roids, last season our "mighty" offense was going through a rebuilding year yet still scored enough to beat your sorry yoots with a healthy brian johnson and an injured Max Hall. This season they will score on yootah more like John Beck's senior year, in the 30's.

Our defense has new guys but plenty of talent. They'll be strong even at the start of the season. By the time the rivalry game rolls around they'll be a very strong group and will hold yootah under 20 (14 to 17 pts is my guess).

Kevin in Taylorsville | 9:29 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008
"Perhaps we should not be expecting an undefeated season and a BCS birth with so many new faces on D. It seems premature when freshmen are expected to fill key backup rolls on the featured position of the defensive system."

You're right. I don't think we should be expecting anything. But I think that it's something we can use as motivation. BYU's defense has never been stellar, and the main vacancies are in the secondary, where BYU has always struggled. I don't think we'll be any worse defensively than we have been in recent years. The secondary could be even better, who knows. Jorgenson and Nixon will be solid up front and in the middle. Hopefully the offense will be as good as it should be and the defense won't have too much pressure.

Vic So'oto is an outstanding athlete...he is the collegiate reincarnation of Junior Seau. You will not see many successful runs around his side. In fact the few successful runs will be only when he is double teamed. I predict he will be a team leader in broken plays and interceptions this season.

It's so amusing watch some of the juvenile Ute fans with their bizarre predictions about the demise of BYU football because the Cougars had to replace key injured/graduated/departed players with young, inexperienced players.

Last year at this time they were predicting that BYU would have no offense, because BYU was replacing ALL of their skill players -- Beck, Harline and Brown. In their place, we gave them Hall, Unga, and Collie.

Now it's the defense.

No worries. The defense will be solid.

And once again the red-clad crestfallen doomsayers will be left scratching their heads wondering how BYU was able to put together such a stellar defense with only 3 returning starters.

One word: Leadership

In the form of coaches and players.

Defense could be great, but we don't know. There is so much more talent this year than last, but a lack of D1 experience. It is appropriate for every fan to hope for the best (undefeated season). It may not happen (it probably won't) but it is worth hoping for.

"They were getting more and more aggressive. I like the practice — maybe the best one to date up until that point. Then there were a couple of shots that were taken that I didn't think needed to be."

Great sign.

Sounds like the defense is champing at the bit to hit somebody.

I like it! Just save a whole bunch of that for RES in November!

Come on buddy, let's get real here. We just don't know how good the defense will be, and I'm sure it will be good, but "nobody will score more than 9 points"? Come on now lets try to be realistic. they will be up against a lot of good offenses this year and to even imagine that as a possibility is pure delusion.

Which is it, the D is too young and inexperienced or the O overachieved, I am confused veterans or freshmen are better? You contradict yourself, take philosophy 101 again and attend to learn how to structure an argument. The D is not good because of inexperience and O is no good due to overachieving, dang, I can't understand it! It would be more logical to say that proven O will have to outscore teams.

"Utards." "Vodka." "Kryle." "Rice Chex Stadium." "Little red-headed step brother."

I'm assuming most of your time is used to create childish insults to be directed at Ute fans. Just a guess, though.

And BYU fans think U fans are obssessed with their team? I think after reading "utards" post we can agree that is a joint venture.

of 16 preseason polls:

Overall
BYU 13th
Utah 27th

Highest
BYU 8th
Utah 12th

Lowest
BYU 26th
Utah 37th

Mean
BYU 15.13
Utah 28.59

Top 25 and others
1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. West Virginia
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida
6. Georgia
7. Missouri
8. LSU
9. Kansas
10. Virgina Tech
11. Clemson
12. Texas
13. BYU
14. Oregon
15. Auburn
16. South Florida
17. Tennessee
18. Arizona State
19. Texas Tech
20. Penn State
21. Wisconsin
22. Cincinnati
23. Michigan
24. Boston College
25. Wake Forest
26. Oregon State
27. Utah
29. Boise State
37. TCU
40. UCLA
42. Fresno State
48. Hawai'i
55. New Mexico
59. Air Force
61. Washington
80. Wyoming
88. Colorado State
96. San Diego State
106. UNLV
114. Utah State

I think you may need to retake phil 099 again and learn how to read an argument...clearly inexperience is not favorable and that is why the offense overachieved last year, they were young and shouldnt and probably arent as good as their production last year would suggest...The defense this year is inexperienced and unless they overacheive tremendously they will not be very good. See its simple.

if you still dont get it ask one of your kids to explain it to you.

As a BYU fan - I totally agree it is a joint venture

Interesting that when we bag on the UofU they typically do it by referring to some "perceived" sin that a UofU alumni may commit (like drinking). Has anyone in Provo lived outside of Provo? Do they know that not everyone shares their values? What does the U drinking or being "less than them" from a CTR standpoint have to do with BYU linebackers. As a diehard Cougar I find it disturbing that most BYU posters can't resist mocking the CTR level of U alum? Is that the best we have? Stick to football we have plenty of ammo there. Proud of our sports teams but our fans are weak and have no skill in argument (unless you are talking about putting others down)

Enough Already!

Please hold the posts asking me why I posted this, I have many reasons, trust me. None of which have to do with football.

COUGAR FAN 4 LIFE!!

The offense should be better this year if the backs can pick up the blocking schemes.

And the defense should be roughly the same. By all accounts they are more athletic but less experienced. That doesn't bother me at all because last year the defense was the weak link in all of this but they still managed to be very consistent (minus Tulsa game) and ended up in the top 20 nationwide in many categories, to include scoring defense. And the only runner to get over 100 yards against them came the very last game of the season.

And that was our young defense with an inexperienced front line with our defensive backs all walk-ons.

I think out defense will be roughly as good, if not slightly better.

Who knows until they actually play but to think they are going to be horrible means you haven't followed the team closely the last few years.

As a Cougar fan I am embarrassed to read some of the comments some of my colleagues are making. From where I come from (California) most of these comments are crude, rude and socially unacceptable! We need to all grow up a little (lot) and start looking at the bigger picture...both Utah & BYU are great schools with great football programs. I root for the Utes (spelled correctly) to win every game except their one against us. For that matter I root for all the MWC teams to win all their games except their one against us. The overall league is getting better and we are getting better recognition. By the way, the Utes have won 7 bowl games in a row (one of them was against USC); that's outstanding and something we need to shoot for. By the way Cougar fans...remember that Coach Whit is an alumnus! Go Cougs & Utes!

I am for the MWC. I prefer Utah to beat every non conference team badly. The same goes for UNLV, CSU, AFA, TCU, NMU, SDSU, even Wyo. WE all help each other get stronger. Other MWC fans pretty much hate BYU, and I get it. I just don't care that they do.

I don't believe in being crude, swearing, etc. But having lived around Ute fans for most of my life, I completely understand the emotion behind many of the posts by BYU fans.

Everything BYU fans do or say gets twisted, taken out of context, ridiculed, elicits bigoted comments, etc. etc. etc. - from LDS and not-LDS Utah fans alike.

Also, have you ever been to a game at RES when Utah is playing BYU??? I didn't think so. If you would like I will teach you some of their chants - but I will have to wait until after-hours to do so.

And you want me to sit here and just take it?

Please don't pretend to tell me how I should react to Utah fans.

Yes, I saw Scott Mitchell's team beat our Cougars in 88; I was wearing a red 49er sweater and sitting on about the 45 yard line where all the boosters sit and I started cheering because we scored first. But, then they blew us away (their first win in about 9 years) and I got ridiculed pretty badly. And, yes, I have been to a BYU basketball game at Utah in 77 and it was worse. But, haven't you heard of turning the other cheek (the one on your face)? We lose respect when we get upset and start throwing it back. And to bring in Vodka and other stuff is simply unacceptable no matter what is said or done. Some of my best friends are Ute fans and so I am not going to get into this juvenile activity. I come from the PAC 10, then the PAC 8, and never saw or heard stuff like this.

"Please don't pretend to tell me how I should react to Ute fans."

Please. What are you, 9 years old. You don't need Cougar Walt to tell you how to react. You have already received sufficient instruction on Sunday. Love your enemies ring a bell?

Enough of this crap. On to the article.

I am die-hard Coug fan (also in California, formerly from T-Ville) and am a little concerned about taking the edge off the defense. I hope Bronco knows what he is doing by pouring cold water on the defense. Obviously a senseless injury is foolish, but "grounding" your defense seems like an odd move. I am exicted to see Vic in action, I know his family here in Cali and am excited to see him on the field more.

BYU football is really as good as some of the comments. If you do, I think you may be setting yourselves up for a disappointment. The Why lost to a dismal UCLA team (almost twice) last year and barely beat a inconsistent Utah team. And they lost some great defensive players. You have to wonder about Why fans - their team doesn't have a stellar bowl record and that was in some pretty weak bowls. How are you Cougars really feeling. And don't get me started on how visiting fans are treated. I have been to a number of BwhyU games and the taunting is no better down there.

Wow why is it that people always blow up trash talk? Considering it is really the only thing that fans can do except for give their team a home feild advantage. Trash talk is supposed to be fun jabs, not to be taken seriously. Stop lecturing fans who just are having fun with their rivals, thats what rivalries are all about. Smash mouth football that makes fans excited to see next years exciting installment. Every fan prays for bragging rights over their rival alma mater.

Honestly, Cougar Walt, I'll be rooting for the Utes when they go to the Big House on Aug. 30. I root for them every game except BYU. I got so excited when they scored to beat a ranked Arizona in the Freedom Bowl back in '94, I jumped up and broke a light fixture. Uncle Rulon thought it was the funniest thing he ever saw, rest his soul.

That all doesn't stop me from laughing my head off when (usually at least once or twice a year) they lose to somebody they shouldn't. Do I recall losses to Idaho State, Idaho, and Boise State (when they were I-AA)?

So, Cougar Walt, don't harsh on the rivalry smack-talk... Fact is, this is one of the most intense rivalries in the nation. Civil War? Iron Bowl? Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket? Gimme a break. If you want to see an intense rivalry, tune-in to the mtn. on Nov 22. If you want to see what opposing fans in an intense rivalry say to each other, read a message board like this one!

Come on, man, "Utards" is funny! I think I'll use it occasionally instead of my usual -- "D****d Pukes."

Old School Fan-
Trash talk is great; vulgar language & characterizing Ute fans as being drunk all the time, working at gas stations and being religiously/spiritually inferior is over the top. I understand the hatred that has existed for centuries in the mid-east but come on guys this is over a game of football. A friend of mine in our ward and his daughter who are Ute fans received vulgar language and were almost run over in the parking lot after the Utes beat us three years ago (Coach Mendenhall's first year) at LES. Yes I live in the real world and have seen everything; I am a convert and for the first 28 years of my life did some things that I could/should not mention here, so I am not naive. Their are fans from both schools that use great and poor judgment so as the former Pres. Bush said, "Let's be a little kinder." Dumb Comments- right on!

Colby Clawson is an animal, I watched a couple of Snow College games last year, and he would push and throw around guys that out weighed him by 80 to 100 lbs. I hope he gains the starting position. I think he will do just fine playing against division 1 schools.

I think the reason this rivalry is the monst unique in the country is that we rattle off more smack about each others fans and behavior than we do about the actual teams and players...When in ROME?
Just so that I can make a point and get everyone confused as "heck" I am a die hard Y fan who hasn't missed a home game in 20yrs, travels with the team, and follows every morsal written about them 365 days a year. I also happened to graduate from the U, and yes I occasionally drink as well. Lets see what kind of response that one gets-ON TO FOOTBALL!

1st, U fans don't say "Y Fans" when referring to "our" BCS talk since, Nationally, BYU is the favorite of the non's to break in. Dozens of writers out of this conference have predicted that. It ain't just us. As for U fans predicting a terrible D, A great Off helps and supposedly we were rebuilding an Off last year and look how that panned out (and U r an idiot for saying they overacheived last year). Yes we are young on D, but we were on O last year = more potential

When all the dust settles in this rivalry there is really only 1 way to determine the victor; THE SCOREBOARD. Now since this is a rivalry we can't just go off of 1 game or even the last few. Lets take a quick peek at the acheivements of the programs and see who stands above the other:
BYU has a national title, Heisman Trophy, Davey O'Brien(s), Doak Walker, Outland Trophy(s), More top 10 finishes, more bowl games, more conference championhips, coaches from the program who have moved on to bigger limelight, more active NFL players, and more records in the books than Utah. Honestly I cannot think of one thing other than overall record that the U can even brag about but programs change style and coaches and I could honestly care less about what happened b 4 I was born (1979) where since BYU has the better record. Please ute fans, make some posts about any awards you have or NCAA records so I can see what you have accomplished. And please don't give me the BCS thing since BYU is the only non BCS school to EVER win it all so we technically did it first! Bring IT

colby clawson rocks!!!!