Q+A with Mountain West Connection
by TwistNHook on Dec 20, 2009 3:00 AM PST
in California Golden Bears Football
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Well, we got the Poinsettia Bowl coming up soon. I know a lot of people are less than pleased with this bowl, but what is nice is that, for once, the Pac10 seems to have great tie ins. This year, the games seem to be really solid from top to bottom. And the Poinsettia Bowl, the Pac10's final bowl tie-in, looks to be another great bowl. A solid Cal team versus a dangerous Utah team. This is the, yknow kinda, same Utah team that obliterated this year's potential national champion in the BCS last year.
This is a team so amazing, they have 2 (2!) SBN blogs blogging about it. Where's *our* second Cal blog? Oh well, I guess we should put all that energy into doing that fake Stanfurd blog I wanted to put together.
We're doing Q+As with both Utah blogs. Here, we discuss this bowl with MountainWestConnection, which blogs about Utah from a Mountain West Conference perspective. We discuss the MWC's rise as the next power conference, how Utah will (or will not!) defeat Cal, and what to expect in the bowl game. Many thanks to the team over there, led by Jeremy Mauss, for their answers. GO BEARS!
1. Let's replace Arizona, Arizona State, and Oregon State in the Pac-10 with TCU, BYU and Utah, then replay the 2009 season. What sort of conference record do those three end up with? How many of them beat Cal?
Big question right out of the gate. I think TCU would still have gone undefeated and in the Pac-10 they would be in the title game, because they are just that good. However, they most likely would not have as many blowouts since they would be playing Oregon and Stanford. BYU has the offense to play like the Pac-10 and would be able to hang with most of the league. I could easily see BYU winning or losing to Oregon, Cal, USC, and Stanford. BYU would be a slight favorite without Cal RB Jahvid Best, but if he were healthy then the Cougars would have a difficult time stopping him, since BYU's defense is not that fast. BYU probably would finish in the top half of the league with a 7-2 conference record, with loses coming to Oregon and Stanford. Utah is the real question since they play Cal next week in San Diego, but for the rest of the league the Utes would have more problems since their offense and even their supposed defensive strength have been inconsistent. Utah all ready lost to Oregon this year in a tough game, so one could assume that Utah would not get blown out in any game against the Pac-10. The league was so good this year that Utah probably would finish around the same record as Cal in league play with a five or six win league season. The 2.5 to 3 points favoring Cal is about right in this game and honestly it can go either way, but the way Cal played against Washington and was blown out the edge goes to the Utes and they beat Cal.
3. In recent years, the MWC has risen in stature. BYU and Utah, in specific, have many HUGE victories, culminating in Utah's dismantling of Alabama last year. And then we got TCU this year. What do you credit to the rise of the Mountain West? Do you believe that the Mountain West will get a BCS Auto-Bid? Do you fear that other conferences might try to steal some of the teams away?
Other hires that kept the train going was that BYU advanced Bronco Mendenhall who who went ahead and recruit 'the right' BYU players who would abide by the honor code unlike his predecessor Gary Crowton who brought in anyone. Then that same year Utah advanced Kyle Whittingham after Urban left he had a bump in the road, but after a few ok years he lead them back to the BCS. The expansion of TCU did two things, first it brought in a very good program and in their first year in 2005 ran throught he league undefeated, and the second thing is that it opened up more recruiting efforts in Texas. Utah has always tried to go to Texas to recruit, but with no schools in the area it was tough, but by bringing in TCU that allowed high school kids from Texas allow their family to attend a few games in their home state.
I think the Mountain West is very, very close to a BCS bid. This is the second year in a row that the MWC has an undefeated team in the BCS and three in the top 25. This is year two of the BCS evaluation period, but to be certain the Mountain West must invite Boise this summer -- which is expected to happen. If they get Boise then the Mountain West will get a BCS auto-bid because during the four year cycle all of Boise State's rankings from the WAC will go toward the Mountain West's evaluation.
A snag in that is the topic of the week in expansion with the Big 10 looking to add a 12th team. The Big 10 expansion may not have an effect, well unless Missouri goes to the Big 10 which would open up a spot to the Big XII. That team could be replaced by BYU since the Big XII wanted them back in 1996 with the last major expansion in college football. However, this past summer new Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said the Pac-10 also wants to add two teams in the same 12-18 month time frame. The two schools on the list he mentioned were Utah and Colorado. Now, if the Mountain West is guaranteed a BCS auto berth prior to any invitation the Utes should stay in the MWC. The reason is that they are all ready at the top of the Mountain West, but if they go to the Pac-10 they would be in the upper half, but it may take a few years of the BCS money to kick in to build up facilities and getting better recruits. Utah would have to go against USC, Oregon and Cal who are typically near the top of the league. If there is no word on any guarantee of the MWC becoming a BCS league then Utah should bolt for the payday.
5. Name a player on Utah's defense that Cal should fear.
6. Utah managed to lose to Oregon by a much less humiliating score than Cal did. What do you credit to this non-humiliating loss?
Utah was able to force Oregon QB Jeromiah Masoli to 4-16 for 95 yards, and the Ute defense was able to force four turnovers. The defensive backs were able to provide excellent coverage which made him stay in the pocket longer then he wanted to, and then when he did decide to run the Ute defense swarmed Masoli and stopped him before he was able to make a big play. However they did allow LaMichael James run all over their defense for 152 yards and two scores which was the reason Utah ultimately lost.
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Someone messed up a Simpsons reference!
Remember that Simpsons episode where Smithers loses his house and his mind slowly goes to “hi-diddily-ding-dong-crap”, followed by him checking into a mental ward? That’s what Cal fans have been like in every one of those losses. Sorrow turns to frustration turns to madness turns to acceptance of madness. We’re all a bunch of loons right now about what team will show up on Wednesday. Don’t provoke us too much if Mr. Hyde shows up Wednesday—you don’t know the insanity you might unleash.
It was Flanders, not Smithers!
by Yes We Cannon on Dec 20, 2009 12:06 PM PST up reply actions
The TCU question is interesting. I think TCU absolutely has the talent to beat any team in the Pac-10, and probably enough to be favored against every team except Oregon. Having said that, I think going out on a limb and say that they would go undefeated is a leap I wouldn’t be willing to make.
Turning BYU – Utah – the rest of the MWC into Oregon – Stanfurd – Cal – BYU – Utah – USC – Washington is a huge step up. I can’t help but think that TCU would have had at least one off game (like, say, Oregon against Stanfurd). Shame that they won’t get a chance to prove much in the Fiesta Bowl
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Nope.
Yup. More than one.
Like cocaine straight from Bolivia.
by Thoroughbred on Dec 20, 2009 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
Care to elaborate on the nope part? You think TCU wouldn’t be favored over other pac-10 teams?
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
TCU may have gone 6-3 in conference… maybe
Like cocaine straight from Bolivia.
by Thoroughbred on Dec 20, 2009 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
Really?
Cal, USC, and Arizona are inconsistent. ASU, Washington, Washington State, and UCLA are not good. Stanford and Oregon are the only teams this year that would give TCU trouble, perhaps Cal or USC if they show up.
by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2009 4:43 PM PST up reply actions
I'm with you here
I don’t think TCU takes 3 losses in the Pac-10. But I think they drop one somewhere. It may be to Oregon, but the point is the Pac-10 round robin is killer. For TCU to run the Pac-10 gauntlet takes an incredible amount of concentration, week in, week out, that even championship teams rarely achieve.
There’s a reason why incredibly good USC teams in 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2008 couldn’t sweep their conference games. The Pac-10 regular season round-robin (or near round-robin) requires 100% intensity for every game of the season. SEC teams can drop one and still go to the national championship, despite playing 3 cupcakes out of their 12 game schedule. USC can drop none, and I have no doubt some of those Rose Bowl teams would have taken on the SEC champions to the wire.
by BeareatsTacos on Dec 20, 2009 6:53 PM PST up reply actions
BYU probably would finish in the top half of the league with a 7-2 conference record, with loses coming to Oregon and Stanford.
Oh you are fully shitting me. Did BYU not get blown out at home by Florida State? Did I imagine that?
"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.
It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0
I think they forgot about how they lost to a middling Zona team last year.
Like cocaine straight from Bolivia.
by Thoroughbred on Dec 20, 2009 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
Didnt Cal get worked by Washington State?? A worse team.
by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2009 4:44 PM PST up reply actions
Right, and Cal is 5-4 in the Pac-10. Brilliant.
"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.
It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0
I think they could
Oregon, Cal, and USC would be the tough games. Only Oregon would be the most difficult the others are very winnable.
by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2009 4:45 PM PST up reply actions
Because a team whose singular win of note was against an Oklahoma team which hadn’t even figured out the rudimentary principles of pass protection, a team which subsequently get blown out at home by a 6-6 ACC team, that’s a team that by all means shows the mettle to go 7-2 in the Pac-10.
"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.
It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0
they have the talent to do so
7-2 was if they played as good as they are capable of playing.
by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2009 8:08 PM PST up reply actions
The problem with this is...
You’re ignoring the rest of the conference. Even taking out Arizona, Arizona State, and Oregon State, you’re left with some very decent “bottom” Pac-10 teams, UCLA and Washington.
Despite the embarrassment of 42-10, Cal lost to a Washington team that was firing on all cylinders, and we should give them credit. Sarkisian has turned around a program that was winless last year to a program that beat USC, Arizona, and nearly upset LSU.
UCLA went 3-0 out of conference. Were it not for our round-robin, they would be easily bowl bound without having to wait for Army.
I think you give a very fair analysis of BYU winning two out of the four of the top Pac-10 (Oregon, Stanford, USC, Cal…with the losses probably coming to Oregon and Stanford), but UCLA and Washington are definitely not “gimmes.”
I watched BYU play Oklahoma from beginning to end, and I was very impressed with what I saw. But when they turned around and lost to FSU after that, I have to say that they are not a 2-loss Pac-10 caliber team, especially with a round-robin schedule. I’d say BYU takes 3 to 4 losses in the Pac-10.
by BeareatsTacos on Dec 20, 2009 6:46 PM PST up reply actions
this game is a concern
MWC teams are always under rated, but they have very good teams at the top. Certainly the top 3 could play in BCS conferences and so pretty well. Utah has a dual threat QB which has been a problem for Cal this year. I think we can pull out a win in a squeaker.
their QB had a good career in HS in San Diego, but he’s not the dual threat that Jake Locker is… in any case, it should be a good one
Like cocaine straight from Bolivia.
by Thoroughbred on Dec 20, 2009 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
I’m having a hard time shaking the images of that UW game, so I’m not feeling too optimistic. And the description of Utah’s offense (dual-threat QB, slants, screens) doesn’t make me feel any better. Add in missing MSG, still gimpy SQT and Cal’s unpredictable nature and now I’m really not optimistic.
OTOH, Utah doesn’t really have any quality wins, seems to be soft on D where we are strong on O (run).
My prediction: I say we come to play and grind out a tough 27 -24 victory.
GOLD OUT MOZAMBIQUE!
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