2012 Cougar Football "Speculation"
by L7Weenie8 on Jan 8, 2012 10:39 PM PST
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With the NCAA Football season coming to an end as the SEC Championship being played tonight between LSU and Bama, I am sure that I’m not the only Cougar fan counting down the days ‘til kick off on September 1st (which is 236 days away. Yeah, it’s a leap year, so there is even one more day we have to wait).
But so far it’s all speculation, but then again, what is sports pregame analysis anyway right? We have some great recruits coming, some key seniors sticking around, and one less hot headed QB in the state.
So what can we speculate on? Well the first 8 games of the season which have already been scheduled in stone. Sure there are 3 more games roughly sketched in the calendar book, but until they are official I will leave it up in the air for Independent BYU to change things around like they did last season. We (Cougar fans, or others reading this post, and I know you Utes are here checking it out. And I respect that, whether it is to get something to trash talk about or look upon out of envy) have a couple big time games scheduled that I am very excited about.
How the first 8 games will go:
We start the season with what I will consider 2 easy wins, over Washington State and Weber Statecoming to LaVell Edwards Stadium. This will be a great way for the Cougars to feel out their team. Hopefully after these first 2 games it is a feeling of comfort and confidence and not a head scratching panic that we felt soon after the Texas and Ute games this last season.
Speaking of the Utes, they are next on the schedule and we are headed to their beloved Pac 12 flag flying stadium, where we seek revenge. And after losing to them so badly this last season, I can only hope for better results. And as a Cougar fan, and it being the Holy War, I cannot objectively predict this game.
Things don’t get any easier from there for the Cougars as they have to head up north to play Boise State of the Big East, who won’t be exactly who they have been for the last 4 years, but they will still be the Blue Fielded Broncos that don’t lose many games. Yet I think this will be a big time win for the Cougars, one that will get them a bit more recognition as well as ESPN highlights.
Back home to Lavell Edwards for the next 3 weeks, providing the Cougars with another 3 wins (which puts this prospective BYU team at 6-1 or 7-0). The opponents are Hawaii which I think will be better than this year’s edition of a team, but I don’t think Norm Chow can change that much for them in one season. The following week the Beavers show up to town so that Bronco Mendenhall can beat his alma mater for a 3rd straight time. And then the Cougars finish off their 3 home game streak with a lashing being dished out to the Aggies. Yes a lashing. I know the last 2 years haven’t been pretty (unless we are counting that miracle drive as pretty), but this trend will come to an end, even with Robert Turbin running with the ball.
And then comes what some, at least in Provo, may begin to call The Holy War II. No, not another Utah team, but another religious establishment. Notre Dame vs BYU, the battle of two religious and independent schools. Without a doubt BYU sees Notre Dame as a greatly recognized and respected independent program, that they too would like to be able to stand side by side with. But last year wasn't the year to be able to do that. Nor will this year be, even if we have a great record. It will take years of consistency to match Notre Dame’s respect and recognition, but all it will take for a W is a good game in South Bend. This is perhaps the game I am most excited about so far in this up and coming season, yet it will perhaps be our toughest to win. I wouldn't throw all my chips on Blue for this game.
So 8 games in, where do the Cougars stand? Best case Scenario, obviously 8-0. Worst case scenario, 4-4. The Realistic scenario after 8 weeks, the Cougars stand at 6-2 and are locked into the pre-determined, December played, Poinsettia Bowl in a half filled Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego California.
Georgia Tech, New Mexico State, and San Jose State sit on the tentative schedule as all AWAY games right now. The Cougars ought to smash New Mexico and San Jose (my home town), but GT has a mean option that we will need our linebackers to play at top notch if the Cougars are going to stop them.
9/1 Washington State
9/8 Weber State
9/15 @ Utah
9/22 @ Boise State
9/29 Hawaii
10/5 Utah State
10/13 Oregon State
10/20 @ Notre Dame
TBA @ Georgia Tech
TBA @ New Mexico State
TBA @ San Jose State
Can the Cougars go to a BCS game? We all hope so, but let’s be realistic. Can the Cougars and Bronco Mendenhall pull off another "successful" 10+ win season for a 6th time in Bronco’s 8 seasons as head coach? Yes I think they can, but only time will tell. For now, let’s keep the speculation up, but not through the roof. Let’s have another great season and Vanquish the Foe.
This is a FanPost of the Vanquish The Foe community. This post does not necessarily reflect the views of VTF or of SB Nation
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What I think I think
Washington State – W
Weber State – W
@ Utah – L -After that debacle this past year, I think it will be much closer this year. But BYU will lose on a last second field goal.
@Boise State – W -They no longer have Kellen Moore, but Boise State won’t be down long. BYU catches them near the beginning of the season and will squeak out the victory.
Hawaii – W – Norm Chow goes from BYU to Utah and now Hawaii. Norm will have Hawaii fired up but they will not be conditioned well enough as LaVell Edwards is about 600ft shy of a mile high. I think BYU pulls away in the second half.
Utah State – W -
Oregon State – L – I think BYU catches itself looking ahead to the Holy War II in South Bend, Indiana.
@Notre Dame – L – The Irish are always loaded and I think this is the year they figure out their turnover problems and find some D (but of course, everyone says this every year)
@Georgia Tech – W
@New Mexico State – W
@San Jose State – W
Overall: 8-3
Poinsettia Bowl – W – 9 -3
They will be a BCS team in the next 3 years, so this current recruiting class will get a taste.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree?
I agree the Utah game will be much closer this year. After last year it was certainly embarrassing and it is tough to predict a win. But I will predict the game as you do, that there where be less than a 7 point spread instead of a 44 point differential and there will NOT be 7 turnovers on the Cougars side.
- Matt D
9/1 Washington State – W
9/8 Weber State – W
9/15 @ Utah – W (Some reason, I think we can catch Utah off guard as they look forward to the PAC-12 Opener)
9/22 @ Boise State – W (No Kellen Moore? I like it!)
9/29 Hawaii – W
10/5 Utah State – W
10/13 Oregon State – W
10/20 @ Notre Dame – L (I would take us in our own place. In their place, I lean towards them but barely. Hard for me to pick against us.)
TBA @ Georgia Tech – L (If it is early in the season, we can catch them off guard. But since the early schedule if already established, expect a late season match up and a loss)
TBA @ New Mexico State – W
TBA @ San Jose State – W
TBA vs. Idaho – W (Yeah we do play them this year)
Season: 10-2
After Bowl: 11-2
So @King.Nothing you see the end of October being rough, but for the most part you see us have a pretty smooth a succesful season? I like it, I hope it is true. And I can see it being true because this past season BYU did not just randomly choke against a crap team. We did get beat by good or decent teams, but we didn’t fall victim to killing ourselves against a WAC team or something.
- Matt D
Other than the Utah game, we was in it till the very end. TCU was just missed opportunties on Special Team (3 messed up punts) that gave them short fields and 21 points really.
As for Texas, we fell victim to the back up quarterback like we almost did at Ole Miss. If we would of played as solid for McCoy as we did for Gilbert, no doubt in my mind we would of won that.
by king.nothing on Jan 11, 2012 7:18 PM PST up reply actions
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