we're replacing all our departed stars (especially Williams and Nacua) with absolute Supermen, meanwhile, Utah is replacing their departed Seniors with chumps. Look, I'm a staunch BYU fan, a BYU alum, and I'm EXCITED about our opportunities this year in the biggest game of the year. I hope we win. I know we CAN win. Will we? No idea.

Look, we shoulda, coulda, and woulda won every one of the rivalry games IF:

1) We didn't give up a 35-0 early lead in the Vegas Bowl.
2) We didn't have six turnovers when we got shellacked prompting select Arbys' restaurants to offer "FREE turnovers" to all Cougardom.
3) We could have scored more points in the Blue Zone or moved the ball more efficiently or capitalized on our five or six turnovers or if we hadn't gone for two or if Taysom had cut right instead of left.
4) We could kick a field goal. Not once, but twice.
5) Troy Williams didn't come up with big play after big play when Utah needed it most.
6) We didn't just pull up and settle for a mid-range field goal when Heaps was shredding the Ute defense on the final drive.
7) The refs ever called pass interference in our favor. Especially in the last two minutes. Or the last play, for that matter.
8) Jackson Brown. Enough said.

Think of it from Utah's side. They shoulda, coulda, and woulda won every one of the rivalry games over the last 20 years IF:

1) Their safety had picked off the Andrew George TD pass in OT.
2) They had sacked Max Hall and not let Collie get behind the defense on 4th & 18.
3) If Sarkisian had a DUI earlier in his life, Jenkins had visited the HC office sooner, & McKenzie had been injured. Or if we had sequestered our entire O-Line that year.
3) We didn't have Hall, Pitta, Unga, Harline, George, Collie, Doman, Staley, Gilford, Hooks, Pittman, and Mahe on the field in any sort of combination.
4) They could kick a field goal. Doink!
5) They could defend the option.
6) President Hinckley hadn't inspired the troops and God himself hadn't intervened on Lavell's behalf in 2000.
7) Harline wasn't STILL open.

I look forward to a good game. And I'm liking the energy in Provo. I think it's trending in the right direction, for sure!