Why Utes are Not Intimidated

Admittedly, playing an Alabama team that was #1 in the nation for several weeks on the surface is quite intimidating. Florida, a team that is peaking at the end of the year beat them, and relegated them to playing a team out west, I'm sure an insult to a team with such great hope.

But UTes aren't intimidated. Why? Let's look at Utah's history. Forget the bygone 1980's when BYU reigned supreme and Utah football tried desperately not to suck, usually unsuccessfully. But in 1989, Utah first turned the tables and sent Sean Covey to the infirmery and told a young Ty Detmer, "come get us" in a 52-28 victory.

Later, under new coach Ronnie Mack, Utah fared quite well. They beat a desert swarm team led by Teddy Bruschi and Dan White and finished in the top ten. Ronnie Mack teams regularly beat BYU teams and began regularly going to bowl games, ultimately beating a Carson Palmer/Troy Polamalu led USC team, only to stumble the next year and lose his job.

Well, Urban Meyer took the amazing talent and resolve of what Ronnie Mack accumulated and within a couple of years was busting into the unbustable BCS and in an amazing 2004 season demolished every foe they faced. Their offense was unstoppable while their defense was very formidable. Who knows how good that undefeated team was. We'll never know because of the corrupt and prejudiced bastards who run the BCS who ultimately put the Utes up against an over-matched Pittsburgh team. This team was so good, for all we know, they may have beaten Auburn, Texas or even, gasp, USC, a team they have beaten before and don't fear in the slightest.

Now fast forward to this year's team. The team started out slowly, with an offense that was inconsistent and sputtering, but with a defense good enough to keep Utah in games and win games by shear will and nerve. At times, I've wondered openly whether Andy Ludwig, Utah's Offensive Coordinator, has an IQ anywhere above the richter scale. But bless those Utes, they have prevailed and gone undefeated.

At this point, it begs the question, will Utah be intimidated by a very solid Alabama team? My answer is no. This program has faced as much talent as John Parker Wilson and this Coffee fellow. Utes have stared down Teddy Bruschi, Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Drew Bledsoe, Marshall Faulk, and a few decent athletes from that team down south. We can hold our own with anyone. Utes have traditionally played up to, and down to their competition. It has been a rare occurence when good competition during the last decade has sent them to the woodshed with a serious thumping.

Utah can, and will compete with a very good Alabama team, so long as they play their A game. Getting to a BCS game isn't enough. In order to be in the picture in the future, they must make a statement that says, "yes we belong here." And I have every confidence that they do. This program has faced some amazing athletes and teams and has prevailed. This bowl game, to be fought in the historic and culturally significant city of New Orleans provides this current crop of Utes to say, yes we are good enough, to not only compete, but to win.

Go Utes. This cyber-jedi is using all his midichlorians to ensure your success.