Great kid and great talent. No one in Vegas ,who knew the kid, is surprised by his success. The best is yet to come for this guy and he will certainly accomplish great things on the field this year. Good for you Stevie!

if you are counting on a play with a name like this dorks then your defense is in trouble....can't wait to hand you girls your lunch in eccles this november, its gonna be a funeral for you

I wasn't able to watch very many MWC games here on the east coast, but from what Utah games I WAS able to see, I was very impressed with Sylvester. I often wondered why he didn't spend more time on the field.

GO UTES!!!

Nothing better to do at 2 o'clock in the morning than to blow verbal spitwads? Get back to work at stop wasting your boss's time surfing sports blogs. You're an embarrassment to all real fans.

To say what: are you really going to make fun of names? This is the caliber of stuff that make the rest of the country dislike BYU, ('America's Most Hated' from a few years back). It's usually not the team, the school, or the players. It's the actions of the lowly Cougar fans. I realize there are objectionable actions by Ute fans. But, being that there are so many cougar fans (they always like to brag about having fans everywhere), the number of objectionable fans increases likewise. Deny it if you want. But, if you are up at 2:18 am making fun of Utah players' names - actions speak louder, brother.
Sylvester is a solid player. You will see - if you can see through the lameness.

This is a great young man who works hard and deserves good things to happen. Sly will be all conference - watch out BYU!

Hey desnews, do you only edit posts of ute fans? Check out the real meaning of the word dork.

At 2:00 a.m. we already have a troll from the t.d.s. please UTE fans don't take the bait and react to stupidity rather than football knowledge. Let's keep to the topic.
I for one am excited for this years defense to take the field. I love the speed and quickness we have, and as for Sylvester we need him to step up and be that leader we all know he can be.

I am extremely fired up to see Stevenson play this season. He is an extremely talented player who can cover sideline to sideline very quickly. Can't wait to see him patrolling the Ute linebacking core @ the rover position. He is going to be a great leader this season for the Utes on Defense!
Go UTES!

Sylvester is pretty much my most favorite Utah player. I guess it's because my favorite cartoon is the one with Sylvester the Cat and Tweetie Bird. I hope he's sucessful against other teams just like Sylvester the Cat was against Tweetie.

Umm...your head coach's name is Bronco so I wouldn't point fingers at stupid names if I were you. I'm glad you'll be working the concessions stands at RES this November, that BYU degree sure got you far.

I totally agree. Do your job DesNews.

Sylvester is a fantastic linebacker. With his speed, developing size, and athleticism it wouldn't surprise me to see him playing on Sundays in a few years. Last year, I thought he showed signs of becoming a dominant linebacker. This year I expect him to make it happen. These are exciting times for the Ute football program. Unfortunately, I don't buy in that the Utes are going to runaway with it in the Big House. I expect a close loss, but after that, the sky's the limit with this football team. A 12-1, or 11-2 record is not out of the question. Of course, that's assuming key players stay healthy. That assumption is always a risk when you're a fan.

Stevenson is going to be way good this year, but I think there is another line-backer (some say is unproven) but I say he's going to be the real deal. Michael Wright is going to light up the D as well this year. Watch some of the plays he made last year even as a backup. He's a Playmaker.

Ask Ben Olsen of Ucla about Sylvester, I'm sure he still has nightmares about that hit the speedy backer put on him last year in SLC. There is a great pic of it on my season tickets. I cant wait to see what kind of punishing blows he will bring to opposing offenses this year. This kid has NFL athleticism.

'say whatever' is actually a UTE fan trying to cause trouble.

I had the privilage of playin high school football with sly for 2 years and let me tell ya,he's a beast! this guys mission is to get to the person that has the ball and take him out! If u guys think he's done well these past 2 years well my friends you haven't seen nothing yet.he's gona get faster and stronger and he's gona make anybody who gets in his way pays and I'm glad its not me!!! Go head sly make vegas proud!!

Sylvester is going to play on Sundays and he is going to bust out this year. He is going to be a game changer. He and the Robert Johnson kid will win games for Utah. Any BUY fan who wants to rip Sylvester does not deserve to watch football. To the clown who was bashing his name: Go back to your grandma's basement and get ready for your shift at Walmart!

with this guy manning the defense, utah will have a fantastic season, as every year they finish ranked nationally.... this guy has so much talent that i wouldnt be surprised if he's an all conference or even all america wehn the season ends, if i were byu i would protect max hall because our defense is going to just ahnilliate everyone, as well as our offense.

GO UTES.

The "moderators" for the Deseret News (and I use that term lightly) need to get their act together. I have had many posts that they have refused to allow - and I have no idea why. Many of the posts that get through are much more objectionable, crude, antagonistic, etc. than mine.

And so Ute fans don't feel picked on (again), I am a huge BYU fan.

Whoever has this job needs to be more consistent and let everyone know what is and what is not acceptable - and then adhere to it.

Now watch, this post won't make it because it is "off topic". At least the ones it is intended for will get to read it.

When they talk about playing in the Big House, I have to stop and think whether they mean Michigan or Point of the Mountain.

As a BYU fan I would assume you're LDS (as am I - BTW not from Utah). WOW an LDS male making fun of anyone else name, shouldn't be pointing fingers. I guess you don't get out much, but LaVel, DelRay, LaVerl, DaLeal, DeLayne, LaDell, Nephi, Orlin, RaNell or any of the other dozens of made up are not exactly main stream.

So is this the guy who is going to let Austin Collie slip behind him and catch a 50 yard pass from Max Hall this year? Cuz last year it was Robert Johnson, so I guess we have a new defender we can pick on! Sweet!

Harline is still open, and so is Collie!

You wrote into a Ute forum for that?

It's a worthless post. Who cares if it doesn't get posted? Are you that attention starved? I just don't get some people.

Go Sylvester and the Utes.

Sylvester the Cat was ver unsuccessful in catching Tweetie. That's why there were so many episodes. The bird lives through all of them.

Stevenson is my favorite player, I love to watch him play. The sack on Ben Olsen of UCLA was the best play of the year. GO UTES!

I hope Anonymous is correct.

I tire of inane comments from either BYU or Ute fans trying to put down each other. I am a diehard BYU fan from Texas but I also will support the Utes when they don't play BYU. I hope that someday both BYU anf U of U join a top conference and consistantly play on a higher level and thus get better themselves.

I believe BYU and U of U actually need each other to pull each other up to a better conference with a better TV situation. Having a rivalry is great - I love it, but being ugly or ignorant to each other demeans and injures both schools.

yaaaaawn!

Even for this die-hard BYU fan the "4-and-18" and "Harline is still open" smack is getting old.

Save the smack until some actual games are played THIS SEASON so you can at least give us something fresh and original.

To BYU Fans:

Thanks for reading the Utah post, I know I read the BYU post, I just don't get why you keep bringing up the past. Utah has plenty of victories in past that we could talk about (my favorite was back in 2003 when all we did was kick a field goal and we still beat you, that is classic)
But lets talk about the "Now". Utah and BYU look to be good this year. Neither team is proven and could lose on any given day.
BYU has a decent offense, but their Defense is cause for concern. They need someone like SLY to step up if they want to win the conference this year.

Utah needs to capitalize on the offensive talent that they have this year. Injuries are no excuse, play calling has been a problem, and so has bad decision passes by Johnson. I think this year Johnson could come out as the best QB in the Conference.

Go Utes!!!

I am still waiting for BYU to do something on the field. They were fortunate to win their bowl game, and the have done well in the league. If that is what they want, the good old Lavell days when winning the league was everything, than here you go. I think all BYU fans should have higher goals and do something on a national lever. Win a BCS game! Play in a BCS game. Don't brag about betting Air Force. Play in and win some big games. The last two years BYU has had chances to do something real, and what can I say. Choke!! Here is another chance, do it! Enough talking, DO IT!!!

Robert Johnson is a DB. Slyvester is a LB. There's a difference "smart" guy.

re: byu lacks confidence.

Check your schedule. At least we can beat Air Force and UNLV... quit living in 2004!

The real Ernest T. never watched that cartoon.

BYU needs to beat a division 1a club out of conference. How can you BYU fans run your mouth when you get beat by Tulsa? BYU is a solid club, but this BCS talk is absurd. I see losses to UW and UCLA. New year same story.

re: Utah defense | 1:06 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

So does that mean Big momma's house is terrible movie with Martin Lawrence or where you currently get your Star Wars figurines delivered?

At least the U can beat UCLA's first string, rather than losing to that same first string and barely escape their 3rd and 4th string.

sure sparky whatever you say...playing ucla in the rose bowl is alot different then in your own house, just ask utah '06 they can tell you that ben olson made your vaunted D look stellar lol...oh, and bruce davis said that byu was the most physical team he had played in his CAREER! yeah im sure that had nothin to do with how much easier they were 4 U huh??? i was at that game and ucla's players got beat up good, ask the reciever who had to replace all his teeth. so when speak about how we lost to ucla in pasadena i wouldn't spit venom so fast because we can shoot it right back at ya

you make me sick. how can you compare the UCLA games last year between Utah and BYU. What an idiot. Go Washington.

re:Ernest T.

The real Ernest T. also had a higher IQ.

ummm.Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa. Beat Tulsa before you start the BCS smack. What a joke!

"quit living in 2004"

ute fans will quit livin in 2004 once u quit livin in 1984 and we know that is never gonna happen

Did anyone watch Brett Ratliff tonight?? That dude tore it up. Granted its pre-season still but Brett dominated. looked better than my Alex. I hope Alex pulls it out and does well. On the other hand it doesn't look like its going to well for John Beck. Poor kewg.

I din't make the comparison your fellow typical idiotic yewt comrad did...so i merly pointed out the facts. root for washington all you want it wont be any consolation for yewt nation when you face a mediocre season once again. almost winning in pasadena is alot more respectable then the woodshed beating you took there at the hands of olson on his FIRST game.

Signed,

JAN Jorgeson

P.S. I am a man...

yes, he did well playing for the Jets. Gee, what a difference having a decent O-line and some capable receivers can make for a QB, unlike Smith's and Beck's situations.

GO COUGARS!!!

Typical yoot fan/BYU hater. Whenever BYU wins it's always "luck". Right. And please explain exactly why you think BYU fans need to have higher goals about winning? Do you know something we don't, like the coaches are going to ask us to play?

And you also want us to "do something on a national lever"? What, does our country have a giant lever somewhere that people can stand on or push up and down?

And we haven't been bragging about "betting Air Force". We always bet on BYU.

And since you're demanding that BYU play in and win some big games, I think they already have the past two years. But you can remove your team from that list if you feel it's appropriate.

Please try to make more sense the next time you post a comment.

Go Cougars!! Go Utes!! But Go Cougars over Utes Nov 22!!

Slvester will be a key to Utah's success, particularly again Michigan and their fine running backs. Utah or any team, regardless of quality, is going to have a difficult time at Michigan this year. In my opinion this Wolverine team at home is the most difficult opponent Utah or BYU faces this year. FoxNews ranks Michigan, BYU, Utah and UCLA 25, 26, 28 and 29 respectively.

I to am optimistic, however Michigan will not likely take the Utes for granted. They will give the Utes the respect expected of a top 30 team on there home turf.

The Utes will have to bring the A-Game and force a break or two.

Regardless of the outcome it will harden the team what I think will be a competitive MWC race.

ummm. UNLV UNLV UNLV. Score some points against UNLV before you start talking smack about winning the conference championship. What a joke!

You know, I think all Ute fans are tired of BYU fans spouting off about UNLV. Wow, the Utes lost. In fact, they got slaughtered!!! They dropped a bomb!!! They got shut out!!! Tell us something we don't know!!! Get out of your primary class and start talking about real things!!! But one thing I think we all want to say is beat an OOC opponent and then start talking about BCS. BCS!! BCS!!! UTAH ALREADY DID THAT!!!! Uh oh, I think I angered the Cougar faithful...I'm in trouble now...by the way, Sylvester is the real deal. I'm on topic right?

You want BYU to beat an OOC opponent? I thought we already have, including regular season and bowl games. Gee, I guess we're wrong though and u must be right. We're sorry, we'll just have to try harder. By the way, why haven't u guys won the MWC championship during the last three years in either football or men's basketball? We have.