Cougs steering clear of smack talk so far
Good morning, everyone.
Well, it looks like we made it through the Monday before the rivalry game without anyone saying something totally outrageous or stupid that will get the other side frothing at the mouth.
I talked to eight BYU players yesterday, and not one said anything remotely controversial or inflammatory. A television reporter tried to get Jan Jorgensen to respond to something a former Utah player who won't have to face him in the game said about the BYU defensive end, but Jorgensen just noted he will do his talking on the field.
Before last year's game, you may recall, Utah running back Darrell Mack, speaking about BYU's Harvey Unga, said, "I have more moves than he'll ever have."
I asked Unga if he has proven that to be wishful thinking on Mack's part this year, and he said: "Not really. Who knows?"
Unga, who actually committed to Utah before changing his mind and signing with BYU, said he has never gotten caught up in the whole trash-talking thing.
"It is a championship game, "he said. "And it has to do with the conference and what not. The whole rivalry thing is whatever it is to everybody else. But as far as I am concerned, it is just a time for me to get better and keep working hard and to help my team out in whatever way I can. So it is just another game."
Of course, Unga scored the winning touchdown last year (Mack had scored a TD to put Utah ahead earlier in the game), bowling over Utah safety Steve Tate near the goal line as photographers captured the moment forever etched in Unga's memory.
By comparison this year, Unga has carried the ball 208 times for 996 yards and eight touchdowns and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Mack has carried the ball 110 times for 493 yards and three TDs and also has a 4.5 yards per carry average. Of course, Mack has shared the load with Matt Asiata, who has 633 yards on 122 carries for a 5.2 average. He has 10 TD runs.
Unga said Monday that he is friends with Asiata, but is not acquainted with Mack.
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For today's paper, I wrote a notebook about how the Cougars are trying to keep their emotions from getting the best of them this week. Another story that I wrote about how the big game effects instate recruiting was pushed back a day and should be in tomorrow's newspaper.
Also today, Tribune columnist Kurt Kragthorpe has a couple good reads, including one looking back at the famous fourth-and-18 play last year and this one about how BYU is OK with the underdog role.
Well, it looks like we made it through the Monday before the rivalry game without anyone saying something totally outrageous or stupid that will get the other side frothing at the mouth.
I talked to eight BYU players yesterday, and not one said anything remotely controversial or inflammatory. A television reporter tried to get Jan Jorgensen to respond to something a former Utah player who won't have to face him in the game said about the BYU defensive end, but Jorgensen just noted he will do his talking on the field.
Before last year's game, you may recall, Utah running back Darrell Mack, speaking about BYU's Harvey Unga, said, "I have more moves than he'll ever have."
I asked Unga if he has proven that to be wishful thinking on Mack's part this year, and he said: "Not really. Who knows?"
Unga, who actually committed to Utah before changing his mind and signing with BYU, said he has never gotten caught up in the whole trash-talking thing.
"It is a championship game, "he said. "And it has to do with the conference and what not. The whole rivalry thing is whatever it is to everybody else. But as far as I am concerned, it is just a time for me to get better and keep working hard and to help my team out in whatever way I can. So it is just another game."
Of course, Unga scored the winning touchdown last year (Mack had scored a TD to put Utah ahead earlier in the game), bowling over Utah safety Steve Tate near the goal line as photographers captured the moment forever etched in Unga's memory.
By comparison this year, Unga has carried the ball 208 times for 996 yards and eight touchdowns and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Mack has carried the ball 110 times for 493 yards and three TDs and also has a 4.5 yards per carry average. Of course, Mack has shared the load with Matt Asiata, who has 633 yards on 122 carries for a 5.2 average. He has 10 TD runs.
Unga said Monday that he is friends with Asiata, but is not acquainted with Mack.
--------------
For today's paper, I wrote a notebook about how the Cougars are trying to keep their emotions from getting the best of them this week. Another story that I wrote about how the big game effects instate recruiting was pushed back a day and should be in tomorrow's newspaper.
Also today, Tribune columnist Kurt Kragthorpe has a couple good reads, including one looking back at the famous fourth-and-18 play last year and this one about how BYU is OK with the underdog role.
9:15 AM
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2 Comments:
It's interesting how after they graduate, the true feelings of the players come out. This ex-Ute is one example. Brian Kehl the other day is another. The coaches all in all do a pretty good job of keeping it under wraps.
Funny that some people buy into the idea that the players don't get caught up in it. They must not see the extra intensity from both teams during the 1st quarter.
I think the Utah-bred players get into the rivalry just as much as the fans (if not more). The Players that come from out of state probably don't understand the intensity for at least a few years.
How about that Gunther, eh? Class in a glass, that one.
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