It was a fun two weeks. Back to the reality that speed kills. (Well actually it probably wasn’t the speed that killed us in this game (though the speedy QB was real trouble). It seems like execution, size at receiver, and overall desire from FSU led to this result.)

The temporarily vaunted BYU defense was completely and utterly smoked by FSU. The first FSU punt was in the third quarter. Every time FSU got the ball they scored a touchdown. Max Hall tried too hard (as he tends to do when the Cougs get in trouble) and as a result melted down and threw three INT’s (as he tends to do when the Cougs get in trouble).

Harvey looked great. Unfortunately he may have re-injured that hamstring. Ugh.

Final score BYU 54 Tulane 3.

Harvey Unga played a little so he may be back at full strength soon. Kariya looked good in relief for Harvey though and JJ DiLuigi looked quite good too. The Cougars may have lost starting offensive lineman Braden Hansen to injury which is bad. Overall BYU did what a top 10 team is supposed to do. Florida State comes to Provo for another big game next week. So far so good on the 2009 season.

The #20 BYU Cougars took down the #3 Oklahoma Sooners 14-13 tonight. It was a HUGE win for BYU and the first win against a top 10 team since Ty Detmer’s Heisman season in 1990.

Things looked grim when it became clear that star running back Harvey Unga was too injured to go. There were no proven backup tailbacks but sometimes-fullback Bryan Kariya stepped up big to fill Harvey’s shoes. Max Hall made his critics who say he didn’t play well in big games eat crow. Max went 10-10 to end the first half and then was 9-10 on the long game winning drive.

The defense was extremely impressive. They look faster, meaner and the hitting was so violent that Heisman trophy winner separated his shoulder on a clean stick by OLB Coleby Clawson.

Rise and Shout Cougar fans. Now, not only is a BCS bowl possible, there is a slim chance of BYU making the title game with an undefeated season and some lucky breaks. No, seriously.

Alright I admit it. I watched most of three college football games last night. It had been so long since last season and I was Jonesin’ alright?

Anyway, as most BYU Cougar fans know, the season opener for the #20 Cougs is tomorrow in Dallas at the brand-spankin’ new Dallas Cowboy stadium (aka JerryWorld). The opponent is the venerable Oklahoma Sooners in a quasi home game for the #3 ranked team in the country. Most everyone in the know thinks Oklahoma will run away with this game and that is not an unreasonable prediction. This Oklahoma team (who played in the the BCS championship game last year) is returning most of its defense, most of the skill players on offense, and its Heisman trophy winning QB as well. Sure the offensive line is mostly new (same with BYU) and the star tight end will be sitting this game out with a recent knee injury, but BYU winning this game would be a major upset.
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Another year, another #8 seed for the Cougars of BYU. The BYU Men’s Basketball got their official at-large invitation to the Big Dance (aka the NCAA basketball tournament) today. Oddly, BYU as a #8 seed has the same #9 seed first round opponent as last year, Texas A&M. BYU lost last year.

The good news is that I am convinced that this BYU team is stronger than the team was last year. Four of five starters are back and the team has been solid this year.

Anyone remember the last time BYU won a game in the Big Dance? I do. My old college buddy Keith reminded me today that we watched the game together in 1993 in the Wilkinson Center (in the dearly-departed Memorial Lounge I believe). That was too long ago. Will this be the year BYU breaks the first round curse that has plagued it since 1993? I sure hope so…

The BYU Men’s Hoop team improved to 8-0 tonight taking down a solid Utah State squad on a neutral floor (the ES Arena in SLC) by the score of 68-63. Since there are so many games in the basketball season I figured this discussion thread could be the place to talk about the team and the various games until I feel like posting again.

Here is my take on the hoops team this year: (more…)

Ok, game’s over and BYU got crushed. Here’s my conclusion: Live by the Max, Die by the Max. BYU had six turnovers and Max Hall was credited for all of them. That isn’t a good way to win a big game.

Congrats to the Utes (and to the MWC) for another pending BCS game invite.

And congrats to the Cougs for a third straight 10-win regular season.

And best wishes to Mike Reed who looked like he was seriously injured at the end of the game.

BYU football took care of the Air Force Falcons in impressive fashion today out in Colorado Springs. The final score was 38-24. With a solid win like this the Cougars appear ready to give Utah all they can handle next week in Salt Lake City. Plus, the BCS ranking for the Cougs ought to jump nicely this week with a win against an 8-2 team. BYU needs a win next week and a Boise State loss to have a legitimate chance at a BCS bowl — not out of the question but not likely either.

In other BYU sports news, the Men’s Basketball team beat Long Beach State last night in the season opener. Most of the team played poorly but senior star Lee Cummard put the team on his back and carried it to victory. BYU is hoping this will be the year they finally win a game in the NCAA tournament again.

BYU dispatched the woeful SDSU Aztecs in Provo today by a score of 41-12. Going 9-1 ain’t bad. But this is the last easy game of the year for the Cougs with next week’s game at league title contending Air Force and the final game after that at undefeated Utah.

I thought the Cougs looked pretty good overall today. Outside linebacker David Nixon had a stellar game and the defense held its own nicely against a team that scored a bunch of points against CSU. I am suspicious of the stubbornness of offensive coordinator Robert Anae. He seemed determined to run and run and run even though it was clear that the Aztecs were determined to stop the run at all costs. The pass plays were open all day so I don’t understand why BYU didn’t just take what SDSU was giving more consistently. The BYU run game has been unimpressive all year to begin with. While Fui Vakapuna is looking better this year Harvey Unga has looked a step slower than last season. It seems to me that Anae ought to just admit that we are better off going pass first and run second with this team. Collie and Pitta are among the best receivers BYU has ever had so why not just use them first and then use the run to keep defenses honest?

But this is mostly nitpicking. BYU is 9-1 fer cryin’ out loud.

Now as to the rest of the season. If BYU wins out there is still a chance at an invite to a BCS game. It would probably require a loss by Boise State but with the Broncos still needing to defeat Nevada in Reno and Fresno State at home that is not out of the question. I am not sure I would like to see BYU go up against a top SEC or Big 12 team or USC for that matter but I think we could do just fine against the top teams in the ACC, Big East, and even Big 10.

But winning out is no cake walk — indeed it doesn’t really even seem likely considering the weaknesses this BYU team has shown this season — but that is what I’m pulling for at this point. Chime in ye Coug fans.

Another week, another win. BYU 45, CSU 42. And yet more reason to be skeptical of this BYU team. The defense still looks snail-slow; the offense put up lots of points but turned the ball over enough to keep Rams in the game throughout; and the special teams weren’t all that special with a fumble and several penalties.

What did you think?

BYY pulled off the victory today against the UNLV Rebels but it was a close call. The final score was 42-35. I suppose we shouldn’t complain about 42 points scored bust I thought the offense looked just slightly above average. The defense is looking painfully slow these days. It appears that BYU has traded the “bend don’t break” defense for a “bend and break” defense. Not a good sign. In the past two years BYU has gotten better and better throughout the season. This team doesn’t appear to be getting better from game to game. If the Cougs want a chance at winning the MWC they had better fix that problem pronto.