HB Arnett's 801 372 - 0819 <mailto:hbarnett@fiber.net> hbarnett@fiber.net 1391 West 800 South - Orem, Utah 84058 Vol. 35, Issue 15 - November 3, 2014 Click Here To Order Or Renew Your Subscriptions <http://cougarclicks.com/product/Order-Cougar-Sportsline?ID=3173> BYU 27 MTSU 7 Cougars Say Sonoita and So Long to Streak of Losses In football parlance BYU beat Middle Tennessee State last Saturday 27-7. In horse racing jargon, the Cougars broke their 4-game maiden against the Blue Raiders. (Breaking their maiden is a track term used to describe when a horse wins for the first time.) BYU's win wasn't exactly breaking their maiden, because they had won before, but it seemed like it after four straight losses. The game wasn't a drama filled Bowl Championship caliber game, but because my team won, I enjoyed the contest. It's the same principle as in horse racing and why watching the ponies run has been something I have enjoyed for a lifetime. I've been to my share of race tracks, including Aqueduct, but mainly in California and Arizona. I've been to the big boy tracks in Southern California at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, while they were running, Los Alamitos and Del Mar, my favorite, because at Del Mar you can't beat an ambience and setting where the turf actually does meet the surf. I have also witnessed horse racing at a few county fair sites, one of which was the Santa Cruz County Fair in Sonoita, Arizona. That's where I experienced my favorite and worst horse racing experience of my life. **If interested, you can read the details below at the end of this article and an explanation of "Sonoita" in the headline. Here's the deal about horse racing that makes it easy to watch and enjoy for me. All races are set up by a track secretary to try and be as competitive as possible. They make races for those horses who have yet to win a race. They have races where the horses are put up to be claimed (bought at a specific price) by other buyers and of course, the races in the Breeder's Cup, where the horses are world class quality. For me, whether watching nags on the county fair circuit or the world's elite horses in the Breeders' Cup, if the race is competitive between those entered, the races are exciting and fun to watch. That is where BYU's win over Middle Tennessee falls. This was a race between horses that aren't very good on the back stretch of their schedules and seasons. No way one of these teams could line up and get out of the gate against the big boys and Breeders' Cup caliber of teams in the top 25. But the game was fun to watch. Not because I had money riding on the Cougars, but because I still have a vested interest in this current nag. (BYU is still my team and I feel like I have ownership of the program. (Again, see ** below for more on ownership and horses.) Since Taysom Hill fell off the horse and broke his leg, my favorite horse is now relegated to running on the county fair circuit, but it was still good to see the Cougars go wire to wire again against MTSU. BYU broke early with a nifty 37-yard TD pass from Christian Stewart to Colby Pearson for the game's first score. Stewart also connected for a 19-yard TD pass to Jordan Leslie. Stewart also scored one on the ground himself from 1 yard out. Paul Lasike also had a 2-yard touchdown run. BYU finished with 444 yards of offense to just 228 yards allowed defensively to MTSU. Stewart completed 28-45 passes for 316 yards and the two touchdowns. The Cougars also had 128 yards on the ground. The downer of the game is that it looks like another season ending injury occurred to Jamaal Williams when he suffered a hit on his knee. BYU has not released any news on the injury, but Williams' sister is reportedly posting on line that it will require surgery and he is gone for the rest of the season. Defensively, stepping down a level in competition did wonders for the Cougars' much maligned defense. The uptick in defense should continue because BYU will have a bye this week before taking on the second leg of their version of the Triple Crown of Terrible Teams. With MTSU in the bag, next up is UNLV on November 15 in Provo and then Savannah State the following week, also in Provo. Not only did BYU break its maiden last week, this 3-game stretch is made in heaven for the Cougars. There is nothing like playing dogs to put the bark back into a defense and allow coaches to back up their assertions that the BYU defensive scheme is phenomenal. To me that is still the ultimate "claiming race" rhetoric. So far, I'm not buying that horse until I see how it runs against Cal in the last game of the regular season or hopefully a better team in the Miami Bowl in December. Meanwhile, this is still my team and I won't "bail" on them (** see below) regardless if they win, place or show. I won't always be happy unless the Cougars win, but regardless of how they show, they have a place in my heart. **My Horse History Years ago, I bailed a relative of mine from Arizona out of jail for a minor offense committed in Orem. It cost me $600. I was told I would get the cash mailed back to me when this relative made an appearance in court. He did appear and cleared up the ticket. Unfortunately, he put an address in Arizona of another relative on the bail refund information. When he appeared in court, the $600 was sent to this other relative in Arizona instead of me. This relative cashed the check and called me to tell me that he and I were now owners of a race horse named High Chest and that this horse would be running the next week at the Santa Cruz County Fair in Sonoita, Arizona. My first reaction was one of irritation, but after thinking about it, my next reaction was one of pride. I was now an official part owner of a real race horse. My last reaction was one of reality. The horse finished 5th in a six-horse field. My horse ownership days were over. For the next year, I checked dog food cans at the store to see if per chance my name or my horse's name was on the ingredients label. BYU and Fantasy Football for the Future? We know all about LaVell Edwards and his early hires of offensive masterminds like Doug Scovil, Ted Tollner and Mike Holmgren, none of whom were LDS. We also know about the hires of Bronco Mendenhall, none of which seem to even be in the same ball park as the hires of Edwards. We also know that BYU is need of some rejuvenation, especially on defense, and in my opinion, even on offense. If Bronco and BYU are willing to think out of the box, they might get out of the fan disgruntlement box they currently find themselves in when it comes to Cougar Football. It will take Bronco swallowing a little pride and BYU being willing to made some coaching accommodations, but an offensive guru is back on the market. Could BYU and this guy be a marriage made in heaven? I am speaking of June Jones, the guy that worked miracles and procured a BCS bowl game for Hawaii. He also just stepped down at SMU. At age 61, he says he is ready for one more gig as a guru. How about at BYU as an offensive coordinator? It would be perfect timing with prep quarterback sensation Tanner Mangum due back from his LDS mission in time for next season. <http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/peyton-manning-ryan-leaf-ju ne-jones-the-qb-book-excerpt-feldman-102814?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:cfbonfox> Read this very interesting article (At the end it talks about Jones and his desire for one more go round as a coach.) and then let's talk. It is fascinating and also nostalgic for me. About a decade ago, I had a subscriber that was touting Jon Neidnagel to me as a guru evaluator of athletic talent and seemed to be wired in to this guy when he was based in Southern California. This subscriber would call and send me tables and information on "ESTP" and "ESTJ" and E-extraverted versus I-introverted. F-feeling versus T-thinking. J-judging versus P-perceiving. N-iNtuitive versus S-sensing. This same subscriber was wired in to Danny Ainge who was then employed by the Phoenix Suns and said that Ainge was a Neidnagel believer. Anyway, I had no idea of the Jones-Neidnagel connection until reading this article. BYU made its name and earned it television contract by being on the cutting edge offensively. It's an extreme longshot, but somebody at BYU should at least contact Jones to see if he is interested in rejuvenating and rehabilitating BYU from go fast, go hard, to a go short, go long and go deep passing offense that made the Cougars famous. Long shot at best, but if Bronco can fantasize about a national championship, I can fantasize about another Doug Scovil, who worked wonders with good quarterbacks and an ordinary surrounding cast. This football fantasy would require some big ego swallowing from both Bronco and Jones. Bronco, as a head coach, would have to admit that he doesn't know squat about offense and that the offensive coaches he has hired don't either. Jones would have to swallow his pride accumulated from being a head coach at the NFL and college level and be willing to prove his guru status again at BYU. Money shouldn't be an issue for Jones who was given the keys to the bank at SMU when he was lured from Hawaii. I'm not smokin' dope on this scenario, but I would love to see a smokin' hot BYU offense again. It would at least be worth a phone call, wouldn't it? Defense is good, but at BYU, offense still sells tickets and gives the Cougars a chance to compete against the big boys. Let's get back to a big time quarterback and a big time offense. If the Jones deal doesn't work out or even get off the ground, here are two other names that might. Both of these guys should be able to get ecclesiastical endorsements. Gary Crowton <http://www.suutbirds.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=95832&SPID=11715&DB_LANG=C& DB_OEM_ID=20100&ATCLID=209426334&Q_SEASON=2014> still has a few years left in him. He is a coach that Bronco wouldn't consider a threat. Gary McGiven <http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kevin_mcgiven_395897.htm l> Is an up and comer that BYU passed on years ago, but is following a career path that will eventually lead him somewhere. He was a grad assistant at BYU before Mendenhall showed up or maybe he would already be offensive coordinator for the Cougars. If we are really into fantasy football for BYU, then we have to bring up the name of Darrell Bevell, the current offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. He is LDS, a returned missionary and married to a local Provo girl whose father used to by a BYU professor. BYU can't afford Bevell. He is on a fast track to becoming an NFL head coach and making millions, but hey it is fantasy football and still fun to talk about him. Colorado School of Mines BYU Beats Smaller Version of St. Mary's 82-64 Dave Rose and his latest version of BYU basketball kicked off their preseason with a nice 82-64 win over Colorado School of Mines Saturday night in the Marriott Center. CSM is a smaller and less athletic version of what BYU will see down the line when they enter WCC play and face St. Mary's. Both the Gaels and the Ore Diggers are extremely well coached, have a system in place offensively and run it to perfection and play hard. This was a good test for BYU coming out of the gate. The outcome was never in doubt but it gave a good look for Rose and his coaches to see what they have..or almost have. Kyle Collinsworth didn't play. Neither did Corbin Kaufusi or Nate Austin. More importantly, Jamal Aytes, the 6-6 UNLV transfer didn't play either. That is because he had ankle surgery and is now reportedly out for 3 months before he can even start to be a factor. One guy that did play was Tyler Haws. He had an okay game. Okay for Haws means big points. He netted 29 points to kick off what should be a prolific scoring season for the senior. His mug shot was on every WCC teams' bulletin board last year with the game plan to mug the only guy that could score consistently for BYU last season. Those muggings should subside now that Rose appears to have some three point shooting to keep defenses from cheating and double and triple teaming the WCC player of the year last season. It is way too early, but it appears that BYU actually may have a post presence this year. It will be by committee, but there are enough bodies to actually play defense and punish people inside this year defensively. The Cougars get one more exhibition game with Seattle Pacific on tap next Saturday. This will be Rose and his staff's last chance to thin the herd. If you haven't been paying attention, the Cougars have 18 guys on the team. That is way too many and at least 5 of those bodies will have to redshirt and not play this season, in my opinion. Here are the 5 that I think will redshirt and my evaluation of why they will redshirt. 1. Kyle Davis. Too bad he has to sit out the mandatory transfer season from Utah State. If he didn't he would start at the 4. This guy can play/. 2. Jordan Chatman. Doesn't look ready to help this season. A year under his belt and more strength may make him a factor down the road. 3. Jamal Aytes. A no brainer. If he can't even practice for at least 3 months coming off ankle surgery last week, a redshirt year is a done deal. 4. Frank Bartley IV. Everybody loves his athleticism, but at the point where he is trying to win playing time, from what I've seen, he is a turnover machine. 5. Ryan Andrus. He was asked to come in out of high school to help in the post, but with the arrival of Kaufusi, I think he will redshirt and save his eligibility. 6. Possibility. Dalton Nixon. He has to play the three offensively, but defensively he can't guard opposing threes. Not a done deal, but my guess is that he sits this year out, goes on an LDS mission and comes back with four years to play. 2014-2015 BYU Basketball Schedule All Times MST Saturday, Nov 8.Seattle Pacific.Provo.7 pm.BYUtv Friday.Nov 14.Long Beach State.Provo.5 pm .BYUtv Tuesday, Nov 18.Arkansas-Little Rock.Provo.7:30 pm .BYUtv Wednesday, Nov 19.Southern Virginia.Provo.7 pm .BYUtv Monday, Nov 24.San Diego State.Maui.9:30 pm .ESPN2 Tuesday, Nov 25.Pitt or Chaminade.Maui.TBA.ESPN or ESPN2 Wednesday, Nov 26.Purdue, Arizona, Kansas State or Missouri.Maui.TBA.ESPN Networks Saturday, Nov 29.Eastern Kentucky.Provo.7 pm.BYUtv Tuesday, Dec 2.Utah State.Logan.7 pm.CBS Sports Network Saturday, Dec 6.Hawaii.Salt Lake.4 pm.BYUtv Wednesday, Dec 10.Utah.Provo.7 pm.ESPNU Saturday, Dec 13.Weber State.Ogden.7pm.KJZZ Saturday, Dec 20.Stanford.Provo.9 pm.ESPNU Tuesday, Dec 23.UMass.Provo.Noon.BYUtv Saturday, Dec 27.Gonzaga.Provo.7:30 pm.ESPN2 Monday.Dec 29.Portland.Provo.7 pm.BYUtv Thursday.Jan 1.Santa Clara.Santa Clara.3 pm.BYUtv Saturday.Jan 3.San Francisco.San Francisco.9 pm.CSN Bay Area Thursday.Jan 8.Pepperdine.Provo.9 pm.ESPNU Saturday.Jan 10.LMU.Provo.7 pm.BYUtv Thursday.Jan 15.Pacific.Stockton.9 pm.ESPNU Saturday.Jan 17.St. Mary's.Moraga.9 pm.ESPN2 Saturday.Jan 24.San Diego.San Diego.2 pm.TWC, Root Sports Thursday.Jan 29.San Francisco.Provo.9 pm.ESPNU Saturday.Jan 31.Santa Clara.Provo.7 pm.BYUtv Thursday.Feb 5.Pepperdine.Malibu.9 pm.TWC Saturday.Feb 7.LMU.Los Angeles.2 pm.TWC, Root Sports Thursday.Feb 12.St. Mary's.Provo.7 pm.ESPN or ESPN2 Saturday.Feb 14.Pacific.Provo.7 pm.BYUtv Thursday.Feb 19.San Diego.Provo.8 pm.ESPNU Thursday.Feb 26.Portland.Portland.8 pm.Root Sports Saturday.Feb 28.Gonzaga.Spokan.TBA.ESPN or ESPN2 WCC Championships.Mar 5-10.Las Vegas.TBA Women Take Titles in WCC The BYU Women's soccer team captured their third consecutive league championship this past weekend while on the road. The Cougars are currently 7-0-1 in WCC play and will finish their regular season at Pepperdine this coming Saturday. In an upset win, the Cougar Women's Cross Country team also captured a WCC crown last week by defeating favorite San Francisco. In basketball, the fortunes weren't so fair as BYU women's team lost an exhibition to Westminster in Provo last Saturday. TV Timetable BYU vs. St. Mary's (W Volleyball) Thursday, November 6 at Provo Start: 7:00 pm MST TV: BYUtv BYU vs. Pacific (W Volleyball) Saturday, November 8 at Provo Start: 1:00 pm MST TV: BYUtv BYU vs. Seattle Pacific Saturday, November 8 at Provo Tipoff: 7:00 pm MST TV: BYUtv BYU vs. Long Beach State Friday, November 14 at Provo Tipoff: 5:00 pm MST TV: BYUtv BYU vs. UNLV Saturday, November 15 at Provo Kickoff: TBD TV: TBD If you also want a PDF copy of this issue, email and request it.
