[Vegas Ute]

This should be a great Thursday night opener against Pitt. Not many games will be on right before the Labor Day Weekend and we should have two ranked teams for CBS-S to hype.

Pitt Sophomore RB, Dion Lewis, was third in the Nation in rushing last year, topping Tony Dorsett's Pitt Freshman record. He should provide the Utah D a stiff challenge.

I found his blurb from a Pitt board interesting:

Quote

The Panthers did themselves no favors with their opener, a Thursday, Sept. 2 game at Utah. The Utes were 10-3 in 2009, with losses coming to Oregon, TCU and BYU (in OT) - no pushovers among that group. They will be returning QB Jordan Wynn and RB Eddie Wide, who had seven 100-yard rushing games in 2009. Keep in mind that Pitt will be starting a new quarterback, some new linemen, and will be traveling almost 1,900 miles by my calculations. So this will certainly be a challenge to start the season. But a win would be a minor bit of redemption for Utah blowing Pitt's doors off in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, the only previous meeting between the teams.

Now I will be quick to say that Pitt looks like a stiff test for the Utes and history doesn't win games. That said maybe someone should inform the Panther fans that the historical numbers are actually a lot more daunting than that.

All 3 of those Ute losses last year were on the road.

The Utes have not lost in SLC since Sept of '07 (AFA).

They have not lost a home non-conference game since Sept of '06 (Boise State, their 1st BCS team).

The Utes have not lost a home game to a BCS-AQ team since Sept '00 (Washington State).

The last 10 BCS-AQ teams that have traveled to Utah have all lost and lost by an average score of 36-18. 6 of those 10 wins came against BCS-AQ teams that went to Bowl Games.

If Pitt leaves SLC with a win they will be the first team to do so in almost 3 years, and the BCS-AQ team to do so in almost a decade...And they will be the FIRST Big East team to every beat the Utes. Utah is 7-0 All-Time vs. current Big East programs.

[gunner]

Glad to see Utah get a good opponent at home, OOC type game. This might get the MWC started off right if TCU can handle Oregon State.

[mattsarz]

I would expect Dion Lewis to be the workhorse for the game with Pitt breaking in a new starting QB. Wonder where it will end up, CBSC or Vs. I'm assuming the mtn. is out.

Could see both teams start out ranked. Should be an excellent game.

[utenation]

I'm looking forward to this game... Amius(sorry if I spelled it wrong) is a Pitt fan and a pretty good one.. We started talking about this match up in 2009..


I like where both teams are at right now. Wanny has been landing some great recruiting classes and it's been showing up in the field..


Both teams will probably have some early season holes but both are well coached, IMO... Glad this game is in SLC...A place we haven't lost since Sept. 2007.

[RogueStout]

Sorry Vegas I was trying to + your post and I am really tired and hit -. Went and +'d a few of your others to make up for it.

[utenation]

RogueStout, on 07 February 2010 - 12:38 PM, said:

Sorry Vegas I was trying to + your post and I am really tired and hit -. Went and +'d a few of your others to make up for it.

Fixed.. I'm sure his BYU groupies will be along shortly to hammer his good post anyways though..

[npliam]

utenation, on 07 February 2010 - 12:41 PM, said:

Fixed.. I'm sure his BYU groupies will be along shortly to hammer his good post anyways though..

Does admin know who the group of BYU posters is that give -1 for anything Ute related. I wouldn't mind seeing that group gone. My gues it is only a couple of posters.

[RamAlum]

This game is going to be Awesome. Its a shame it won't be on ESPN or a wider distribution. I already have $100 on the Utes straight up with my Big East Homer friend. Lewis is workhouse, but there wide reciever Baldwin is probably a top 5 WR in all of college football next year as well. Pitt is going to be breaking in a new QB on the road though, really like the Utes chances here.

[Chad Sexington]

RamAlum, on 07 February 2010 - 03:12 PM, said:

This game is going to be Awesome. Its a shame it won't be on ESPN or a wider distribution. I already have $100 on the Utes straight up with my Big East Homer friend. Lewis is workhouse, but there wide reciever Baldwin is probably a top 5 WR in all of college football next year as well. Pitt is going to be breaking in a new QB on the road though, really like the Utes chances here.

That's a safe C-Note.
The UTES run D will be very stout and those flatlanders will be coming up to elevation.
Pitt will be a one-dimensional offense next year, so stop the ground game and stop the Panthers.
UTAH will be better next year than they were this year.
UTES are going to win that game.
Rice Eccles will be sold out and rockin'!

[SoHoFrog]

If that stadium is rocking anywhere near the level that it was against TCU two years ago, then I think the Utes slam Pitt. I look for Wynn to have a big year and this would be the start of it.

[utenation]

RamAlum, on 07 February 2010 - 03:12 PM, said:

Its a shame it won't be on ESPN or a wider distribution.

Actually, I hope it's on CBS-CS HD or Versus HD.. These are the types of games we need to promote with our premier channels.. I gave up on the "myths" of ESPN exposure in 2005.


Utah has had better recruiting, better merch sales and higher rankings with an equal record on the CBS contract..

I see no reason to turn back now and buy into more propoganda....

[JesusLovesU]

Personally I could care less what channel it is on as long as I can watch the damn thing.

I don't mind the Vs. games, but I am a DirecTV subscriber and we all know the history between the two.

I have no use for a television contract that is unable to show premier conference games to the majority of its conference fans.

Ultimatley the televsion contract was a pro-active move by the MWC...but, it will continue to frustrate me until all the bugs get worked out of it.

[utenation]

JesusLovesU, on 07 February 2010 - 10:41 PM, said:

Personally I could care less what channel it is on as long as I can watch the damn thing.

I don't mind the Vs. games, but I am a DirecTV subscriber and we all know the history between the two.

I have no use for a television contract that is unable to show premier conference games to the majority of its conference fans.

Ultimatley the televsion contract was a pro-active move by the MWC...but, it will continue to frustrate me until all the bugs get worked out of it.

One thing I've learned is, these disputes happen.. There are both positives and negatives with Cable and Sat..

Being with Comcast, I've never missed a beat in the MWC and everything is on a basic tier... Golden, I tell ya...

Even with lack of distribution on our deal, the MWC seems to be holding our own in national numbers, the ones that matter anyways...

[MussMan]

According to the Pitt press release, it will be on CBS-C, which Comcast doesn't carry in HD in SLC. That needs to change soon.

[Purple Wimple]

utenation, on 07 February 2010 - 11:48 PM, said:

Being with Comcast, I've never missed a beat in the MWC and everything is on a basic tier...

correction: being with Comcast, in one of the (very few) areas Comcast carries the mtn...

[utenation]

Purple Wimple, on 08 February 2010 - 11:03 AM, said:

correction: being with Comcast, in one of the (very few) areas Comcast carries the mtn...

Yeah, I'm guessing that means the entire MWC footprint where Comcast is available.. Say what you want about Comcast but I've had coverage since day one...

[JesusLovesU]

utenation, on 08 February 2010 - 11:19 AM, said:

Say what you want about Comcast but I've had coverage since day one...

Comcast and CSTV each own 50% of the network, and it is managed by Comcast.

Currently the ONLY way to see all MWC games is through Comcast..that is what is frustrating. DirecTV, Dish Network and Comcast subscribers in the MWC footprint should be able to access the leagues premier games. Until then, it is flawed and favors those that choose to subscribe to cable television.

Much progress has been made, but, we still have a ways to go.

[utenation]

JesusLovesU, on 08 February 2010 - 11:49 AM, said:

Comcast and CSTV each own 50% of the network, and it is managed by Comcast.

Currently the ONLY way to see all MWC games is through Comcast..that is what is frustrating. DirecTV, Dish Network and Comcast subscribers in the MWC footprint should be able to access the leagues premier games. Until then, it is flawed and favors those that choose to subscribe to cable television.

Much progress has been made, but, we still have a ways to go.

We've had some good conversations on this board during those inital "negotiations" with Directv and Comcast.. I've always taken your stance..


We have holes and I feel bad for people that are still lacking. Being with DirecTV seemed like the wise move before the Versus issue.

I hope that gets worked out before football.. If we do, I think we're in great shape.

[animus]

I wished this game was on VS or ESPN. Looks like i'll have to hit up the bar that night.

Dion Lewis is the workhorse on the team. Pat Bostic has had plenty of experiance, even if he wasn't that good when he played. He played almost the entire season his true frehsman season. So its not likely we're completely breaking in a new QB. But with that said, right here right now, I have to say Utah is the favorate.

What does Utah look like for next season? I know alot of the offensive players are returning, what bout the defense?

[utenation]

animus, on 09 February 2010 - 12:05 AM, said:

What does Utah look like for next season? I know alot of the offensive players are returning, what bout the defense?

Defense loses all three starters at LB and we are also replacing most of our secondary. D line should be stout..We had some injuries up front, so many new faces got plenty of PT...

Talent is there but with any new group, you don't know until kickoff. I feel pretty safe now saying Utah is in reload mode rather than rebuild on both sides of the ball.

[Shannon Panther]

I am disappointed that this got moved to Thursday night. My wife and I were going to come out for the game, but if I have to take 3 days off to do so I probably won't be able to.

I hope the Utah staff prepares for just the running game. Pitt has a pair of 6'5" wideouts. Baldwin has world class speed and can really stretch the field. Shanahan is a former BB player with great hands and a willingness to go across the middle. We are replacing our interior line. One of our guards will have no drop off. Chris Jacobson was a part time starter last year. We need to replace the other guard and the center position. If we can replace them, it will be hard to stop Lewis. He is very good.

On defense we lose our corners. We have talent but not much experience to replace them. The front 4 led the country in sacks last season and will be very good again Greg Romeus was the Big East defensive co player of the year, and he returns on the end. Jabaal Sheard is on the other side, and he is also very good. We graduated our two DT, but Pitt rotated the DLs so you won't see much drop off there. We also graduated our ML. Dan Mason who started at outside LB as a true freshman will move over to the middle.

QB depends on who wins the starting job. Pat Bostick is more experienced, starting 12 games as a true freshman and sophomore. Pat redshirted last season. Tino Sunseri is the more athletic of the two, and has a stronger arm. Bostick is a terrific student of the position and was the Gatorade POY for PA his senior season in high School.

I suspect this will be a very defensive game. One thing Wannstedt can do is coach a defense. This will be his 6th year and he has his kids in the system. If Pitt can run, I think they win.

So what does Utah have coming back next season?

[utenation]

Shannon Panther, on 09 February 2010 - 01:01 AM, said:

So what does Utah have coming back next season?

From another thread credit goes to ezone..


A look at who we lost and have coming back.



Starters Lost:
Offense
LT- Zane Beadles, 13 starts in 2009 and 50 career starts
RB- Matt Asiata, 3 starts in 2009 and 5 career starts * Matt coming back is up in the air still.
TE- Chris Joppru, 2 starts in 2009 and 5 career starts
WR- David Reed, 13 starts in 2009 and 16 career starts
WR- Aiona Key, 11 starts in 2009 and 13 career starts
WR- John Peel, 4 starts in 2009 * I think John has another year
WR- Elijah Wesson, 2 career starts


Defense
DE- Koa Misi, 12 starts in 2009 and 36 career starts
NT- Kenape Eliapo, 7 starts in 2009 and 11 career starts
MLB- Mike Wright, 12 starts in 2009 and 25 career starts
MLB- Ray Stowers, 1 start in 2009
SLB- Kepa Gaison, 11 starts in 2009 and 12 career starts
WLB- Stevenson Sylvester, 13 starts in 2009 and 37 career starts
CB- RJ Stanford, 13 starts in 2009 and 22 career starts
FS- Robert Johnson, 13 starts in 2009 and 31 career starts
SS- Joe Dale, 10 starts in 2009 and 26 career starts

KO- Ben Vroman


All-MWC players Lost:
OL- Zane Beadles 1st Team All-MWC
WR- David Reed 1st Team All-MWC
DL- Koa Misi 1st Team All-MWC
LB- Stevenson Sylvester 1st Team All-MWC
DB- Robert Johnson 1st Team All-MWC
LB- Mike Wright MWC Honorable Mention


Returning starters:
Offense
LG- Caleb Schlauderaff, 13 starts in 2009 and 36 career starts
C- Zane Taylor, 13 starts in 2009 and 26 career starts
RG- Tevita Stevens, 11 starts in 2009
RG- Walter Watts, 2 starts in 2009
RT- Tony Bergstrom, 13 starts in 2009 and 14 career starts
QB- Jordan Wynn, 5 starts in 2009
QB- Terrance Cain, 8 starts in 2009
RB- Eddie Wide, 10 starts in 2009 and 13 career starts
TE- Kendrick Moeai, 5 starts in 2009
TE- Brad Clifford, 2 starts in 2009
WR- Jereme Brooks, 12 starts in 2009 and 18 career starts
WR- Luke Matthews, 3 starts in 2009

K- Joe Phillips


Defense
DE- Derrick Shelby, 9 starts in 2009 and 19 career starts
DE- Nai Fotu, 1 start in 2009 and 10 career starts
DE- Christian Cox, 3 starts in 2009
NT- Dave Kruger, 6 starts in 2009
DT- Sealver Siliga, 9 starts in 2009
DT- Lei Talamaivao, 4 starts in 2009 and 6 career starts
SLB- JJ Williams, 1 start in 2009 and 8 career starts
CB- Brandon Burton, 12 starts in 2009
CB- Justin Taplin-Ross, 1 start in 2009
SS- Lamar Chapman, 4 starts in 2009

P- Sean Sellwood


All-MWC players returning:
RB- Eddie Wide 1st Team All-MWC
OL- Caleb Schlauderaff 2nd Team All-MWC
OL- Zane Taylor 2nd Team All-MWC
DL- Sealver Siliga MWC Honorable Mention
K- Joe Phillips MWC Honorable Mention
P- Sean Sellwood MWC Honorable Mention