Why Utah Deserves Consideration for #1

First of all let me get this out of the way. The BCS SUCKS elephant dicks. Ok I feel much better. My beloved Utes aren't just the both original and second feature BCS busters, they are, as one journalist put it, BCS bullies. They are not intimidated by the fact that teams come from storied programs. They don't care if your conference has traditionally done well. Even before the Urban Meyer era, they were beating a Carson Palmer and Troy Palamalu led USC team in a bowl game. A good Utah team wants to test themselves to see just how good they are. And twice now in this decade, the BCS process has failed them.

In 2004, Utah was never really challenged. They easily handled everyone they played. Their offense was innovative, efficient and had an element of smash mouth to it. Their defence was also very good. To this day, we'll never know how good that team really was, because they were never challenged. My guess? They could have beaten the teams rated ahead of them, but because of a corrupt and irrational system, we'll never really know.

As for this year's team: it started slow, with a sporadic and inconsistent offense, but a solid defense that kept it in games, allowing for big plays when they needed it. This was a team with alot of heart and poise, but it was also a team that grew during the season. Each victory was a learning experience, that made them better, and they peaked late in the season. They were athletic, they were aggressive, and confident. And ultimately, they were the only undefeated team going into the bowl season besides Boise State.

So let's talk about the bowls. Boise St. lost to TCU, a team Utah barely beat. Utah went into the Sugar Bowl and handed Alabama, the number one team in the nation for over a month, it's worst defeat they've experienced in the Saban era. For the record, it wasn't all that close. Utah was clearly the better team. They were fast to the ball, and they made big plays when they needed them.

Again, Utah is the only team in the running with an undefeated season. What else could they do to prove themselves champions? Perhaps beat teams by more points? IS that your criteria? They purposely scheduled Michigan (Big Ten), Oregon St. (Pac-10), as they've done in the past from BCS conferences while also trying to support local colleges such as Utah State and Weber State (a formidable second tier team) to round out what they thought to be a formidable but sensible schedule. And for the record, the Mountain West Conference was 6-2 against the Patsific 10 (notwithstanding BYU's poor showing against Arizona).

USC, also has a legitimate claim, as a one loss team. But they lost to Oregon State, a team Utah beat. Interestingly, Utah's status now makes USC's loss to Oregon St. look better. Yeah, OSU without Jaq Rogers, lost big time to their rival Oregon in Oregon's home field. They also lost early in the season to Penn State. But they did finish the season with a bowl victory against 20th rated Pittsburgh.

So what about Texas? They lost one game, against a Texas Tech team that got blasted in their bowl game to four loss team, Mississippi (a team that Florida lost to). Perhaps, we'll have to see how they do against a tough Ohio St. team from an overrated conference.

Ok, this begs the question. Why does the Big Ten, or rust belt central, deserve automatic bids to these lucrative bowls when the Mountain West or the Wac teams have to run the table? Or should we mention the big EAST? Or the acc? Give me an effing break.

Ok, so let me ask sincerely, what is the case against Utah? Oklahoma lost to a team that lost to Texas Tech which lost their bowl game against a mediocre Mississippi team that beat Florida. And Utah beat Alabama by a greater margin than Florida beat them. And Florida lost to a Mississippi team that beat a Texas Tech team that beat Texas. Again, how can you rationally justify Utah not being national champions? Whether it is Oklahoma, Florida, USC, or Texas, reason suggests that Utah is number 1.

So, I look forward to the Florida/Oklahoma game. It will be truly interesting to see who is the number two team in the nation.

Go Gators. We still luv ya here in Utah and if we are to have a number two, you are it. We still luv ya Urban.