HB Arnett’s
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West 800 South –
Vol. 30,
Issue 17 – November 30, 2009
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BYU 26
DEFENSE
WINS GAME BUT HALL GIVES BYU FANS A HANDY TEFLON TICKET
On paper
They weren't
better Saturday.
The BYU defense
won this latest game between long time rivals BYU and
BYU defenders may
not be better on paper and in stats, but they were better on the field against
the Utes.
Domination is not
a word that was used frequently in the same sentence with BYU defense this
season, but it is certainly appropriate to use when referencing this particular
win for the Cougars.
Neither team had
much offense to crow about, but had to rely on their defenses for a chance to
win.
BYU's was better
than
By now, you know
that Max Hall went Morgan Scalley in his post-game comments saying he hated the
Utes and that they are a classless institution with classless fans.
Like Scalley, who
also had his comments caught on video, Hall has scurried to issue an apology
for his remarks. In case you can't remember, Scalley, now a
The Deal
Here's the deal
from our perspective. Hall probably should not have said what he did, but there
are probably thousands of Cougar fans who agree with everything he did say, but
have never been able to say it themselves and get away with it.
Hall's comments
now give us a get-out-of-jail-free card.
He said what many
of us have thought for years and still think, but never wanted to be held
accountable for thinking or, heaven forbid, saying.
Now Hall has taken
the heat for us.
Both sides of this
rivalry have fans who display boorish behavior.
The difference is
that when you mix beer with boorish behavior, it is never a good thing. You can
be the judge of which fan base the beer reference applies to.
Card carrying
Mormons from both sides of the aisle are against boorish and bad behavior by
the respective teams for whom they cheer.
Utah Mormon fans
don't have that boorish behavior stick to them, however. They have had their
Teflon ticket for years. They can take the wins and glory and revel in them,
but never are held accountable for being supporters of an institution that at
times produces unacceptable behavior. It is just incidental and collateral
damage that never comes back to roost with their religion.
Bad
Report
It doesn't work
that way with BYU fans. Anything bad, boorish or of bad report, is
automatically laid at the feet of Cougar fans who are Mormon as another example
of hypocrisy and self-righteous behavior exposed.
Now with Max Hall
taking the heat, we get our temporary version of the Teflon ticket. We agree
with what he said, but because Hall is taking the heat, it is just incidental
Cougar collateral damage that we can't be personably held accountable for.
NOW THAT
IT IS OVER, HOW DID THEY DO?
If Bronco
Mendenhall and almost every other D-1 coach can have exit interviews with
players at the conclusion of the season, we can give our exit review for the
2009 regular season and our entrance preview for the 2010 season.
Overall Season...BYU finishes the
regular season with a 10-2 record and a No. 14 BCS ranking.
Despite all the
hand wringing and criticism about lack of speed, poor coaching and play calling
and a dysfunctional defense, there was only one game that you could call a
choke and clunker by the Cougars this past season..
That would be
Quarterback...We give Hall our MVP for
the year because of what he meant for the team. We base it on the fact that
without him, BYU would have been lucky to have been 7-5.
He had some
terrific games and also had some less than terrific games, but he still was the
MVP. BYU couldn't have won 10 games without him.
He didn't look
impressive against
For those who
question his legacy as a Cougar, he is right up there now with Wayne Howard and
Lenny Gomes.
Is he
irreplaceable? No way. No BYU quarterback has ever been irreplaceable. It is
the nature of the college game. There are no quarterbacks signed to long-term
contracts.
Our money is still
on Riley Nelson as the starter at qb next season. We look for some mistakes
early, but this guy is a gamer and will win games for the Cougars.
Jake Heaps is a
great prospect, and continues to have a brilliant senior season.
Saturday, he led
his Skyline HS to a semi-final 31-26 win over No. 1 rated and previously
unbeaten Bothell HS. Heaps started slow with two first-half interceptions but
made big third down completions when the game was on the line in the second
half to secure the win. Heaps finished with 17-of 32 passes for 220 yards, two
touchdowns and three interceptions.
Despite his
obvious talent, we haven't given Heaps much of a chance to secure the starting
job as a true freshman next year.
Then we saw what
Jordan Wynn did as a true freshman for
He came in early
to the program and had a spring practice under his belt. Heaps will follow the
same timeline as a Cougar.
We now at least
will acknowledge that if Heaps lives up to his billing, he at least now has a
chance to start for next year.
Running Back...BYU isn't going to have
any big-time backs with shake and speed. That is why the need big power backs.
Thank goodness for
Harvey Unga. Take away Unga, either with an early NFL entry or after his
final season in 2010, and it is back to the very ordinary backs that usually
dot the Cougar backfield.
Here's hoping
Offensive Line...For a unit that was
supposed to be young and inexperienced, it turned out pretty good for BYU. Four
starters return for next season. All coaches need to do is find a center next
year to replace R.J. Willing.
Matt Reynolds is
the guy from this group most likely to cash an NFL paycheck when he is done,
but the real find of this season was Braden Brown. He was forced to switch from
tight end to right offensive tackle because of depth issues.
In our opinion, he
has found his spot and a chance also to maybe someday cash an NFL check.
He needs to add
another 30 pounds, but he has the athleticism and feet that the NFL guys are
looking for.
Speaking of adding
pounds, BYU would be wise to take Brown's younger brother, Travis Brown, the
starting qb for Timpview HS. He isn't D-1 as a qb, but he has the same feet and
athletic ability of his older brother. Send him on a mission and put an
additional 70 pounds on his frame and you probably will have another
outstanding offensive tackle on your hands.
Receivers...This
was an ordinary to disappointing season for this group. Despite the early
excitement and projections for McKay Jacobson to be the play maker that Austin
Collie was, it didn't happen. Jacobson was hurt for four games, but he, along
with all the other receivers, Luke Ashworth, O'Neill Chambers and Spencer
Hafoka, never kept opposing defensive coordinators awake at night. The only
hope for next year is that Ross Apo, the verbal commit from
Tight Ends...Dennis Pitta is a good
and a proven producer. Andrew George also helped. We don't see how this
position can be as good next season.
Defensive Line...In our opinion,
college defenses are like good baseball teams. They have to be strong up the
middle. BYU was very ordinary this season up the middle at defensive tackle.
While the
2009 all conference teams have yet to be released when this was written, it
says plenty that in the nine years since the Mountain West Conference was
formed, BYU has never had a defensive tackle selected as a first-team
all-conference performer.
There have been a
few defensive ends selected, but it starts up the middle with the tackles.
We don't see any
outstanding tackles in the pipeline either for the foreseeable future. Eathyn
Manumaleuna is due back from his mission, but we keep hearing talk from his
home town in
Fans get excited
about quarterbacks, receivers and running back recruits, but wake us when BYU
is able again to sign all-conference type defensive tackles.
Linebackers...Weak up the middle, but better
on the outside was our assessment of this season. The outside backing spots
have a chance to be good next year, but it is a stretch, in our opinion to see
much, if any, improvement inside for next season.
Defensive
Backs...Just like defensive tackles, BYU has not had a
first-team all conference selection at corner back since the league was formed.
They have only had one defensive back selected all conference in the last nine
years and that was Aaron Francisco as a safety.
Brian Logan was a serious
upgrade at corner for this past season, despite his smallish size. BYU, in our
opinion, desperately needs another juco infusion at corner for the coming year.
Kicking...Okay, we didn't see all
top-twenty five teams play, but the ones we did see on television all seem to
have kickers that can get the ball into the end zone on kickoffs. Most of the
other teams in the MWC also have kickers that can get the ball back there. Even
at altitude, BYU has not been able to get it done.
The punting was
also spotty this season despite the preseason prognosis that it would be great.
Maybe another year
will be what it takes in experience because there won't be any new kicking
personnel coming on board for 2010.
Coaching...Despite all the nitpicking,
Bronco Mendenhall and his staff, like Max Hall, get the best of all accolades:
"Scoreboard".
Some of us may not
like his style, demeanor, dour expressions or how he does it, but four straight
seasons of 10 or more wins really is some great coaching.
BYU
LIKELY HEADED TO
There are only two
bowl possibilities for BYU this year. They will either return to the Las Vegas
Bowl for their fifth consecutive appearance or head to
As of right now,
regardless of either of the two bowls, there are only three possible opponents
for the Cougars.
That would be USC,
The Las Vegas Bowl
gets the fifth-place team from the Pac 10 and the Poinsettia Bowl gets the
sixth-place team from the same conference.
BYU GETS WAKE UP CALL AND TUNE UP FOR
BYU found out two
things last Friday in their 87-70 win over
After four
previous wins, BYU discovered that there are teams that will actually play
defense and compete on the boards with the Cougars.
BYU also found out
that despite a little adversity and facing a team that doesn't roll over, the
Cougars are still pretty good.
The BYU guard line
was the difference in this game. Jimmer Fredette had 23 points and Jackson
Emery added 15 which included a second half shooting spark for the Cougars.
Emery was limited
to just 22 minutes of play because of foul problems, but when he did return to
the court in the second half, it was his 3-point shooting barrage that put BYU back
in the lead for good.
The competitive
game will be a good tune up for the Cougars when they travel to
To say it will be
a hostile environment would be an understatement.
To say the Aggies
won't play hard and be prepared is an even bigger understatement.
This will be a
better barometer than what we have seen so far in the early going of this
season an just how good the Cougars can be.
Unless BYU can
shoot at least 50 percent from the floor, we don't expect BYU to win, but we do
expect them to compete. We don't think it matters how well the Cougars
shoot from the free throw line because in
THE
FUTURES MARKET
As an old
commodities trader, we have found a new futures market to follow as it pertains
to BYU basketball.
Listed below is
how BYU's most recent signees and future prospects fared during the last week.
Kyle Collinsworth, 6-6
guard/wing,
Nick Emery, 6-3 freshman
guard,
Anson Winder, 6-3, guard,
Bishop Gorman HS...Season kicks off Dec 12 for this recent BYU signee. The
opening bell forecast calls for a higher opening for Winder, who should lead
his team in scoring this season.
Jabari Parker, 6-5, wing,
Simeon HS, Chicago...Season kicks off Dec. 6 for this multi-talented LDS
freshman.
TELEVISION
TIMETABLE
BYU vs.
Wednesday, Dec 2 at
Tipoff: 7:00 pm Mountain
Time
TV: the CW30 (local only
in
BYU vs.
Saturday, Dec 5 at
Tipoff: 4:00 pm Mountain
Time
TV: BYUTV and KJZZ
(local)
BYU vs.
Tuesday, Dec 8 at
Tipoff: 8:00 pm Mountain
Time
TV: The Mtn
BYU vs.
Saturday, Dec 12 at
Tipoff: 8:00 pm Mountain
Time
TV: none
BYU vs.
Wagner
Thursday, Dec 17 at
Tipoff: 7:00 pm Mountain
Time
TV: BYUTV
BYU vs.
Saturday, Dec 19 at
Tipoff: 7:00 pm Mountain
Time
TV: BYUTV
BYU vs.
Tuesday, Dec 22 at
Tipoff: 8:30 pm Mountain
Time
TV: BYUTV
BYU vs.
Wednesday, Dec 23 at
Tipoff: TBA
TV: BYUTV