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Show DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Thursday, November 6, 2008 Utah looks to reverse Blackout curse The fans, coaches and players will all be decked out in black, but what for? What are the STAFF WRITER players' and fans' feelings behind the mystery Georgia did it and lost to Alabama. Nebraska of the "Blackout"? "I never had black jerseys before, out of my put the thought in the air and lost to Virginia Tech. Now another team is taking the specula- whole time playing football," said free safety tive step and wearing black uniforms in a foot- Robert Johnson. "This is the first time the Uniball game. There might be a curse behind the versity of Utah will be wearing black jerseys, "Blackout" game this season, so is this some- so we gotta go out there and show them that thing an undefeated team should mess around the black jerseys will look good on us." Most students are excited for a change in with? "I think it's going to be really exciting," said wardrobe in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The buzz wide receiver Freddie Brown. "But at the same about the "Blackout" has left students anticitime, we're not going to be distracted by that. pating the game for at least a month. A wall of night surrounding the playing field is someIt's more important that we focus." By now, everyone should know that Utah's thing that tickles their fancy. "We're definitely going to have a lot of black showdown with TCU will be a "Blackout" game. Although the Utes were told to keep this shirts in the crowd," said Dan Winn, a junior in under wraps and have done their best for eight mechanical engineering. "I'm pretty sure (the months, the secret's out. It will be interesting to football team) will pull the black on black, the see the usual Crimson Red covered in darkness, sickest uniform we got." Although most students are pumped up but at the same time, it might come at a price. Georgia had the football world in the palm about the "Blackout" game, some fans aren't of its hand at the beginning of the season. At big supporters of the idea. They like the trathe time of its loss to Alabama, it was ranked dition of the red and white and don't think No. 3 in the AP polls and had a lot of promise changing it during an undefeated season is a to climb to the top with its difficult schedule. wise choice. "The 'Blackout' hypes up the game too Once they threw on the black jerseys, they weren't playing like the No. 3 team in the coun- much," said Kurin Williams, an undecided try and were embarrassed 41-30 on prime-time sophomore. "TCU's going to come in here and feed off of it 'cause they're black and purple. television. They're going to turn it around on us." Nebraska was undefeated at 3-0 when it Other than possibly putting a hex on the thought about doing a "Blackout" game and Utes' undefeated season, the "Blackout" uni-was working its way into the Top 25. Again, this forms come at a price. Kelly Sharrit, equipgame was nationally televised and Nebraska ment manager for the Utes, said that new lost 35-30. Under Armour uniforms cost around $220 per [ Utah's game against TCU will be nationally player. With about 50 players standing on the .televised as well, rounding out a potential trio sidelines during the game, the team spent ap; of "Blackout" losses in college football. Marco Villano BCS STANDINGS No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide No. 2 Texas Tech Red Raiders No. ^cEem'State NittanyLions No sho&Gtfrs, y • -•- - --••- -.:' •- .: i No; *6 OkJahprnafSooners - J j No. No. No. No. No. No. No. 9 Oklahoma State GoWbbys. 10 BoiseS|atejfr6ncos 11 Ohio State Buckeyes 12 TCU Horned Frogs 13 Georgia Bulldogs 14 Missouri Tigers 15 Brigham Young Cougars 16 Louisiana State Tigers THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Georgia and Nebraska have both played Blackout games this season. The Utes will be the third, but are looking to be the first team to win their Blackout game. proximately $11,000 for three or four games, depending on how long it will stick with the design of the uniforms. m.villano@chronicle.utah.edu Final games could help BCS ranking Quinn Wilcox STAFF WRITER Nos. 9, 10, and 11. That's where Boise State, Utah and TCU are respectively ranked in this week's AP poll. At the end of the season, whichever of these three teams is ranked highest will most assuredly find itself playing in a Bowl Championship Series. So when Utah and TCU meet today, they will be playing for more than just being the front-runner in the Mountain West Conference championship race. The Horned Frogs and the Utes will be battling for a shot to play on the biggest stage in college football. While Boise State is ranked ahead of both Utah and TCU in the AP poll, the BCS poll has Utah ranked ahead of both teams. Utah is No. 8 in the BCS standings, with Boise State at No. 10 and TCU at No. 12. However, expect these numbers to change drastically in the next few weeks. For one, many of the teams in the top seven have upcoming games against each other. Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State all have games against one another. Alabama and Florida are on a collision course to meet in the SEC title game as well. These teams are all going to shuffle around, and some might even drop out of the Top 10 if they suffer more than one loss. There is no debating that each of the three nonBCS teams is still in the hunt from a rankings standpoint. There are too many upcoming games where top teams will face each other for there not to be a lot of movement in the polls. What makes Thursday's game such a huge deal is the direct implications that it will have on TCU's and Utah's AP and BCS rankings. While Boise State has leapfrogged the two Mountain West schools in the AP poll, the winner of the TCUUtah game will most likely jump back ahead of Boise State. Boise State is not likely to sway a lot of voters with its game against Utah State this week, no matter how big the margin of victory. Boise State doesn't have a game remaining on its schedule that will impress anybody. After Utah State, the Broncos will face Idaho, Nevada and Fresno State. In comparison, TCU has Thursday's matchup against No. 10 Utah and a game against Air Force still remaining on its schedule. Utah will have games against No. 11 TCU and No. 17 BYU to add to its resume. Whoever comes out on top in Thursday's game will be in the driver's seat come BCS selection time. Boise State's weak schedule is only going to hurt them as time goes on. Meanwhile, TCU and Utah can make some big jumps in the polls if they turn in impressive performances in their remaining games,, particularly because today's game is on national television and won't be competing against any other NCAA football action. Utah, as well as TCU, is in control of its own destiny when it comes to a BCS bid. Boise State will have to hope that both of these teams lose before season's end. Never has a MWC game held such huge importance for both teams and unlike the Big 12 or the SEC, games like this don't come around these parts too often. q.wilcox@chronicle.utah.edu DUELING COLUMNS Will TCU or Utah become a part of history tonight? Utah will have non-BCS edge after victory T Win will renew Frogs' postseason hopes his is a historic difference between these two "sually I try week. Not only teams is a matter of decimals. to defend the do we have the It's as if the Utes will be Bowl Champifirst black president in NICK playing themselves—an onship Series ratBILLY joffice, but for the first equally hungry, albeit purple ings because it is the PAPPAS itime in history, two version. only system we have WESSELS ;Top 12 teams will meet right now, and there The difference, then, is the on the turf at Rice-Ecis nothing we can do —— surroundings. TCU will leave fces Stadium. Let's hope THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE about it until everythe comfort of Fort Worth, THE DAILY SKIFF (TCU) one can agree on someithe outcome will be as satisfy- the fans. I can't imagine the where they derailed BYU's thing better. ing as the one on Tuesday. sheer weight on the team. The Bowl Championship Series settle for a 16-point vic! There have been a lot of Utes' worthiness has been dreams, and come to Salt Lake But having Utah at No. 8 is tory over Football Cham|big games played at Ricequestioned all season long. City, where dreams still live. ridiculous. pionship Series opponent jEccles Stadium. I was a boy TCU means validation. TCU The Horned Frogs will have Look at the schedule for Weber State. When we ;in 1994 when the ranked is a game that will start the to face 22 men who will never the Utes and you will find schedule an opponent, our iCougars came into the old bandwagon rolling. let the importance of the no ranked teams, a couple of goal is to go onto the field, •stadium and lost 34-31. It was It won't be easy. For those game out of their mind. TCU narrow wins over Michigan destroy its morale with a fthe first time Utah achieved out there who check the Las will hear the wild screams and New Mexico, both terturnover or three-and-out [consecutive wins against Vegas lines, the gamblers of the MUSS and the alumni rible teams, and an overall in the beginning, and then jBYU since 1972. have put their bellies to the who will come to witness boring schedule. crush all hope by piling up j I was there in 2004 when table and anted up on TCU. history. They will watch the points on offense, while For the Frogs, this is the The Horned Frogs' defense is 35,000 black towels waving :Urban Meyer led the team to pummeling the opposing third Top 10 team you will ^perfection, and I sat shocked stellar—No. 2 in the country in unison, willing the team to offenses with this domifind on the schedule, and ton the cold bleachers in 2006 behind perennial contender victory. The bowl committees nating defense. The Frogs the one loss you will see jSvhen John Beck's prayer was USC. The TCU defense has are going to get a show. don't just squeak by oppois to the then-No. 2 team [answered after running around also put a curtain over its ofnents. That is unacceptable in the country, Oklahoma The "Blackout" game is pike a chicken for 11 seconds, fense, which is currently No. for TCU. Sooners. tonight. It's going to be a dark i Today's matchup is the big29 in the country. day for TCU. Plus, when the Frogs So don't expect the Frogs fgest game in Rice-Eccles StaThe Utes are close, though. n.pappas@ beat somebody, they beat to go into Utah and play to dium's history, and the Cougars Utah is No. 7 hi defense and chronicle.utah.edu somebody. TCU doesn't win by one, expect them to 'have nothing to do with it. No. 32 in offense. While TCU go into Rice-Eccles Stadium i Books will be written tocontinues to ggf national hype with a domination. >night. Kyle Whittingham will for its stout defense, Utah They will bring their A TCU ^either go on the shelf with the only gives up an average of game for this one. If you ; ; JRon McBride volumes, or he .56 yards more per play. Of^ P o i n t s per game 36.6. -V: \v:v | ^ ; ^ , 3 6 ^ , .thought BYU got it, you E E will lie behind glass alongfensively, the teams are at a : were wrong. The Frogs were "y''"'"K" 1 8 6 side the greatness of Urban First downs 229 standstill. TCU averages only upset they didn't get the shut fever's short tenure. The three more yards per game out and only won by 25. . 185 yards v Rushing per game 224yards • Blackout" game will either than the Utes. Senior Brian Johnson has bring a day of mourning or a So, what's the difference? 220.3 yards ^Passing per game 184.5 yards thrown an interception in all high sunrise over the Wasatch Both are teams that rely but one of the Utes games Mountains. . 15/aT Touchdowns/interceptions 12/4 heavily on the power of their this season. I am calling Even if there is some sort defense. Both teams sit hi 405.3 yards Total offense per game 408.5 yards Johnson throws a pick on the of slide after this game, a victhe doldrums of the NCAA Utes' first drive, it gets retory would essentially lock hi penalty yards per game. turned for a touchdown, and 1,6/8 Fumbles/lost 18/7 up a share of the Mountain What about rushing yards? then it just goes downhill West crown for the Utes. The TCU averages 4.48 a carry, ^ 3 2 : 5 7 Average time of possession 35:05 from there for the Utes. pressure is unbearable for while UJah averages 4.44. The Next drive, Johnson looks Ui left, then he gets blindsided by man-beast Jerry Hughes and coughs the ball up. This game is going to get ugly fast. The sellout crowd for the Utes will be silenced in its all-black clothes. That is when the game will get really fun. Andy Dalton to Jimmy Young, then to Shea Rea- , gan, then to Walter Bryant, then to Bart Johnson, then to Ryan Christian. Once the Utes defense gets used to that, Aaron Brown will slice and dice through the defense, while Joseph TVurner runs over the defensive line like a monster truck. The Frogs' offense is tired of being the redheaded stepchild of TCU's defense, which has been getting ac- claim for years. So now, the offense has found its identity as a high-octane force to be reckoned with. While the Utes' defense does rank in the Top 10 in most categories, it is always just a few steps behind the Frogs' stingy defense. And . that is just what the Utes will be on the field Thursday night, just a few steps behind the Frogs. Expect this game to be ugly from the get-go for the Utes, and Utah will know what it's like to face a real smashmouth, shut down, dominating defense that will take the MWC title and make its way to a BCS game. w.pM>essel$@tcu.edu |
