And the RISE goes to the UTES.

No vote for Vic? So'oto has done soe great things thus far and will have a huge impact on the defense.

time to be alive. If Kyle can pull of the 'upset' the first week and not have a UNLV type dissaster, then watch out!

The Coug's will have their hands full in late November.

Here's hoping they blow out an undefeated Utah team and then on to the Fiesta.

Both teams will choke... Don't get your hopes up.

The word is "complement," Dick. Complement.

GO COUGS!

Stay out of trouble, run the table and lose to BYU. That would be your perfect season.

B.Y.U.'s five are better than utah's five.

Dick, why were you spending time on utah when you should be focusing of B.Y.U.?

...our new kicker, Justin Sorensen? He's supposed to be very good and doesn't even get mentioned? I guess there's so much talent on this year's BYU team that he isn't one of the those "on the rise". He's already made it.

Both teams have studs on the rise in camp but I think the difference will come down to coaching. It would be cool to see the Cougars heading up to Lavell Edwards North with an undefeated record facing off with a one win Utah club and destroying them 100-0. Now that would be sweet! McMahon put up 80 on the Utes and I think Hall could put up half of that come November because the Utes have a pretty good defense. GO COUGS!!!

I can't remember a season when both teams are coming in with as much talent and promise. I will be rooting for both and then hope the Cougs pull out another exciting one in SLC to get a BCS bid. Here's one Cougar fan who loves to see the Utes do well and recognizes there are some outstanding kids and coaches on that team. Who wants a rivalry where that isn't the case? Go Utes and Go Cougs (just a bit more!!)

Maybe Sorensen, being a true freshman, just two months out of high school without a lick of in-game college experience isn't quite ready to be the NFL-ready star, turned college kicker you Cougs fan claim him to be. Shocker.

I love BYU's Mike Reed. He has had a very solid and steady career at BYU and will have a solid and steady senior season. But to say "unquestionably" he will have his best season is not seeing the big pucture. There is more talent pushing for playing time at wide receiver than ever at BYU. This is not at all to diminish Reed but rather to say it will be hard to keep the three freshman receivers off the field. I think both Reed and Collie's individual production will dip while the entire offensive production surges. There is just way too many weapons for Hall not to spread things around. This makes for a much healthier and dangerous offense but it also means we likely won't see individuals have huge personal-best numbers except at QB.

I've personally Seen Sorensen play while at Bingham high...i saw him kick that 62yard field goal...but suposedly he has been not so good in camp...but i tihnk its ok if Payne can live up to the hype...we'll have sorensen after Payne leaves...gives him time to get better

Yes good point yoot genius, it's so much different kicking a football in high school than in college. Let's see, in high school kickoffs he had to set the ball on a tee then run up to it and kick it a mile. Whereas in college he will have to set the ball on a tee then run up to it and kick it a mile. Oh wait, those are exactly the same. Then you must have meant that kicking field goals is vastly different in college. Let's compare & contrast that one. In high school someone hiked the ball to a holder and he would run up and kick it through the uprights. Whereas in college someone will hike the ball to a holder and he will run up and kick it through the uprights. Hmmm, exactly the same again, imagine that. All right yoot genius please explain how high school vs. college kicking are soooo completely different from each other. Please, entertain us.

Justin Sorensen is going to make people forget about louie sakoda this season.

In high school, kickers have about twice the time to take the kick. College is way more high pressure and Sorenson is known to buckle under pressure. Trust me, there is a big difference between highschool, college, and nfl kickers.

For all you Cougs that don't know, Payne was just as good in high school...maybe he didn't get a chance to kick a 62 yarder, but the guy had one amazing leg...i think they said he kicked a 53 and a 54 as a senior, which is still amazing...

He had punts against us go like 75 yards, 60 in the air, and a guaranteed field goal inside the 40...Weber High wasn't that good, but this kid certainly did his part...

The difference is in the speed of the plays, and the size/height and talent of the defensive special teams.

The same thing occurs when transitioning from college to the pros.

--Ute genius

Justin Sorensen needs to prove his worth. They built him up to be the next Ray Guy. I'll believe it when I see it.

That will happen when the yewtes actually play UNLV. Remember, they were afraid to tackle the UNLV running back. Then there is the upcoming Disaster #2 when Wyoming delivers and does an onside kick while up by 40. Then there will be ultimate Disaster #3, when BYU demolishes the hapless yewtes in front of 30,000 BYU fans in RES. Yes, it is a great time to be alive and a Cougar fan.

High school kickers are allowed to kick the ball off of a square kicking tee which college players are not allowed to use. However, Justin Sorenson chose not to use the tee his senior year so he could be better prepared for the college game. I saw this kid kick the football and he is very impressive. People in yooterville are obviously still smarting from the fact that Utah agressivly recruited this kid and he still chose to go for the better program. They will be even more upset when he is an All American kicker by the time he graduates.

I am aware the fundamentals of kicking are the same from little league all the way to the NFL. But maybe it's different kicking a field goal while surrounded by 40,000+ hostile fans compared to a few hundred at a local high school game. Maybe it's harder to kick it off a mile when half of your games are played at different venues with different climates. Maybe it's harder to keep nerves in line, when you know if you miss you'll have 65,000+ lunatic fans to answer to rather than just a few close friends and family members.

There are a bevy of elements associated with kicking than just kicking. Those elements become harder to adjust to the higher the level of play. It were as easy as just "kicking a ball" then why have only a handful of NFL kickers--who routinely kick 60+ yarders in practice--actually kicked a 60+ yarder during a game environment?

Your logic is flawed. This "yoot genius," just made you look foolish. Yet, have a great day.

Hey "yoot genius" you were doing pretty good right up until the end of your comment, and then you blew a hole in your arguement. If there are only a handfull of NFL kickers who can make 60+ yarders in practice, then I'd say that puts Sorenson in pretty good company. We're only talking college here, or did you forget, genius.

You understood just fine (you're just being silly (wink, wink)). Put differently -- Only a handful OF THOSE (meaning more than a handful in a practice setting) who make them routinely in practice actually convert in game-situations. In other words, far more make them in practice then do in games. Clarified? The crowd/pressure of the next level is a major adjustment, no matter how you look at it.

Yes, I'm with you. I am however having alot of fun today with Utah fans. I can't wait for the season to start(and not just the first game) so we can stop talking about it and see how these guys are going to put it all together on the field. Both Utah and BYU have alot of promise, but it means nothing until you back it up on the feild. Which is why I get tired of hearing about how much more talent BCS teams have. It means nothing if you can't put it all together.

BYU fans with maturity want Utah to win, want their coaching staff to do well, want Utah to smash UNLV, and Wyoming. Most even want the Utes to defeat Michigan to begin the season. In fact, most Cougar fans really want Utah to win every game this season, except the one at the end of November. If the BYU / Utah game arrives and Utah has stunk up the season, what will the game prove.

May both teams come to SLC in November with similar records. May the Cougar fans who support Ute Football (the buyers of season tickets at RES) enjoy the game along with the Ute faithful.

May the Quest for Perfection influence the wisdom and maturity of Cougar posts. Come on man, respect your brother, you need him to do well.

Utre you are absolutely correct, as hard as it is for me to admit. The reason it is hard to root for the U is because of the idiot fans who root for the U because they hate the Y. I am not immune to the fact that there are also idiot Y fans.

Justin Sorenson may not be perfect, but he's better than any alternative. At least kickoffs will be better, and field goals from 20+ yards won't be out of range anymore. The kid's good, real good. No question.

The goal posts are wider in High School (bigger target). It's logical to assume he wouldn't be as accurate in college.

Why is everyone arguing about about a friggin kicker?

The Ute Krugers are weak!!!

Anyone else enjoy when Dick called Ah You a "tough hitter"? Remember when the other Ah You punched a teammate for stealing his girlfriend?

As hard as it will be for most Cougar fans to admitt Payne beat out Sorensen for the kicking duties. Don't lament. Sorensen will still kick off and will probably try ridiculously long field goals. Sorensen will go on a mission after the 2008 football season so we should want Payne to excell.

It is always fun to engage in banter with ones most heated rival - Utah vs tds. However as fans we often go over the top. For example:

* Lavel Edwards North? Be original, that is a direct rip off of the Utes coining of RES.

* Hall duplicating McMahon's stats against the Utes? Those were different days when the Utes were not competitive. Oh, Hall is not McMahon either.

* J. Sorenson is the next All-world kicker? Many HS athletes come to college with the can't miss label and are annointed for certain stardom only to fall flat. Let the kid play a few games before you hang the star moniker on him.

* Claiming that tds will play a BCS bowl game this year and then for the National Title next year before one game has yet been played is a bit much even for fans. Fans are entitled to be overly optomistic boosters of their teams, but don't make statements so outrageous that failure to live up to them will cause unmercciful ridicule.

* I am a Ute fan all the way, but I hope for 2 unbeated teams in Nov. when the Utes win big!

Ah, that was Cj Ah You not Matt Ah You that clocked Engy.

To the man who called himself the Yewt Genious....

A genious is not a person who reads an opinion piece about five players who are on the rise and make an assumption off of the "opinion piece" about how a sought after kicker must not be as good because he wasn't one listed.

Here is my five cougars on the rise:
1- Vic So'oto
2- Justin Sorenson
3- O'neill Chambers
4- Matt Bauman
5- J.J Diluigi

There is another "Opinion piece", under your "genious" remarks, Justin Sorenson is now a MWC preseason allstar!!!

Thanks for making us all intelligent!

but we could lose our season opener to Iowa State. They are better that people think and the Cougars could over look them.

Re-read what "Jake" said...he said, "Remember when the OTHER Ah You..." Nobody was suggesting Matt was that guy.

We saw his great leg all season kicking it off to the fifteen yard line. It sounds like he's been doing a lot better now that he's fighting for his job. I don't care who the kicker is I just hope they are solid and we don't have to punt when we are inside the 35 yardline

what a bunch of helmet - wearing, window - licking, short bus riders. Wyoming rules

"but we could lose our season opener to Iowa State. They are better that [sic] people think and the Cougars could over look them."

Analyzing an opponent usually works better when you're looking at the correct team?

Iowa State /= Northern Iowa

He actually didn't do as good in college. I've seen Sorenson kick a 70 yard field go in practice before. 70 yards. That is unheard of. Also, in the BYU scrimmage he attempted a 57 yard field goal. He missed. That shows you the coaches know he will be the starter one day because he has an unbelievable leg.

A little more research was due on your part. If you look back, my comments about your backup kicker were in response to a BYU fan who felt Sorensen was slighted by not being named on the list. It was hardly an assumption. There was merit to my original comments. It's called a counter argument. Also, if you look back at the term "yewt genius" you'll find I called myself that because one of your fellow cougars labeled me as such.

I don't care if Justin Sorensen was named a pre-season all star. He hasn't played in one collegiate game. My point is, it's far too early to label him the legend I hear BYU fans claiming him to be. It was a great accomplishment to hit a 62 yarder in a high school game. But he's not Adam Vinatieri yet, though you BYU fans would have me believe otherwise.

The funny thing about the "yewt genius" label is that I am neither a BYU nor a Utah fan. Just a curious observer who's heard far too much hype about an unproven kicker.

Ever tried jogging, much less kicking a football 50+ yards, with a pulled groin.

Payne played most of last season with a pulled groin.

Now that he's healthy, he's proven that he's not simply going to step aside for the new Freshman phenom. Mitch will be the starter, but he knows he's going to have to be great to keep his job.

Cougar fans should just be happy that they have two outstanding kickers in the program.

What happens when Sorensen hits a 67 yarder and proves everybody right? I say it's pre-season let whoever hype up their team as much as they want everybody is still undefeated. Heck USU hasn't lost a game in over 8 months. . .

Hardest position in the game of football: CENTER.
So glad you've got Zane Taylor!We Moabians know how fortunate you are.

Well as I have always worn my UTE T-shirt " Friends don't let friends go to BYU!!! Go UTES!!!

Go Navy..Beat Army!!!

Sometimes I hope BYU pulls a Michigan and has all their hyped dreams of their talented team come crashing down in Game 1 against an FCS school. Then again, that wouldn't help the conference and I must squander that thought with logic that they need to win. I also cancelled plans to attend the UCLA game with my Bruin grad boss to cheer against BYU. When all trash is thrown out, an undefeated matchup in November would be a dream come true. Major national media attention for our little state if that happened and I already have my tickets.

However, I just have to chuckle at the likable Collie (rolling eyes) having injury issues. I guess he's just not living right on and off the field, so the "magic" is fading. If BYU gets an injury riddled season like the Utes last year, I'll just sit back and confirm aloud: "Karma, baby"

Utes are just fine with their kicker that is proven and already an All-American, thanks.