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Show .THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Defense will make or break same Liz Frome STAFF WRITER Kepa Gaison goes for a tackle on TCU quarterback Andy Oalton. Both of Utah's losses this season came against teams that had quarterbacks like Dalton who were a threat to run as well as pass. BYU quarterback Max Hall only averages 5.4 yards a game rushing. WIDE continued from Page 3 He's definitely happy there." "ft^exciting (to be part of this team)," Wide said. "I know that (the coaches) have been recruiting good players, and it makes me feel good that I'm a good player too, that they classify me as that. I'm just helping out in any way I can to help our team be successful." Wide has been more help to the Utes this season than originally anticipated, rilling in for former starter Matt Asiata after he suffered a torn ACL in Utah's game against Louisville late in September. "When (Matt) went down, I just knew I had to step in and pick up the rifle and keep the running game going," Wide said. "The situation was bittersweet. Matt'a a great friend of mine, and I didn't want that to happen, but I had to get it together and step up and be the guy." Wide responded to the demanding change like a seasoned veteran and helped the Utes claim a 30-14 win over the Cardinals. He rushed for 129 yards in the game, nearly doubling his previous career high of 69. After his career night against Louisville, Wide rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the next five games, raising his career high to 145 yards against New Mexico and setting the Utah record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games at six. "It's a record that I wasn't really looking for," Wide said. "It (will be) good to look back when I'm done with college ball to see that I did that." Head coach Kyle Whittingham said that with Asiata's absence this season, Wide's . performance has been an essential element in the Utes achieving a 9-2 record, with another regular game and a bowl game still ahead of them. "The thing that has affected our offense is the way (Eddie) picked up where Matt left off," Whittingham said. "He was scheduled to be Matt's understudy, but when Matt went down, Eddie stepped up, and we didn't miss a beat. That's really been one of the major keys to why we've been whining games." Eddie Wide Jr. said although his son is a big part of the Ute family now, Wide's choice to join the Utah program surprised him. Whilefinishinghigh school in Las Vegas at Cimarron-Memorial, Wide was being recruited by schools around the country—but not as a running back. Wide had also played defensive back throughout his high school career, and Wide Jr. said he thought Wide would go to a school that wanted him in that position. "I wanted him to play DB for his longevity, but the choice was Eddie's, and I (supported) him in that," Wide Jr. said. Although he was tough, quick and talented on the defensive side, Wide said he chose to pursue the running back position because he has more control. "I like running back more because when you have the ball in your hands, you know what you're gonna do, but the defender doesn't," Wide said. lfrome@ chronicle.utah.edu MIKE MANGUM/Rif Daily Utoh Cktenlde The Holy War is just around the corner. The records are tied up, and the rivalry is once again fueled by unwavering detestation and revenge. The brutal battle is about to begin, and the Mountain West Conference's second-place seat and a year's worth of gloating rights hang in the balance. Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake said the outcome of the game will depend on one area of execution: defense. After suffering a difficult 55-28 loss to TCU two weeks ago, the Utes' defense is back in rhythm and ready to take on Max Hall and BYU's offense. "We're all getting back from (our loss to TCU) and moving on with life," said senior free safety Robert Johnson. Hall and company, also having lost their only conference game to TCU, will be lining up a strong, experienced attack that will look to exploit any and all flaws in Utah's coverage. The senior quarterback sits in the No. 8 spot in the country in passing yards for the 2009 season and has led the Cougars to a 9-2 overall record thus far. Although Hall's traditional technique has helped head coach Bronco Mendenhall put another successful season on his resume, it could prove to be an advantage for the Utes. The common thread in Utah's defensive troubles this season has come not with defending the pass, but with containing the run. "We haven't played like the top-tier defense we know we have this year," said senior linebacker Stevenson Sylvester. "This is when teams play their best, at the end of the season, so it's going to be key to our team to hold (our) defense. We gotta buck up and show how good this defense is and contain (their offense)." Utah's rushing defense overall has See DEFENSE Page 5 Cougars are too confident too soon '.Hi T here's so much to like world as they just knocked off about September. the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners BRYAN September marks in the newly opened Cowboys the end of summer and wel- CHOUINARD Stadium. But once again, less comes the coming fall. The than a week into September, leaves start to change and Cougar nation throws the slowly drop as the tempera]unior, Parks, Recreation remaining 11 games of its ture begins to dip with each schedule to the wind and took and Tourism passing week. In the world to the streets to celebrate the of sports, September means successful season. the baseball regular season be found donning "Quest" Following the win, YouTube is coming to an end. As some shirts and calling from the was littered with videos of the eye the Fall Classic, others rooftops for Max Hall to win celebration. BYU shot up in pack their bags for vacation. the Heisman. That lasted until the rankings from No. 20 to But more importantly, Sepweek nine of the season, when No. 9, and fans, again called tember means football season the Cougars actually played for Max Hall to get the credit is here. a team that was ranked in the he deserved and be menTop 25. After beating the likes tioned alongside Tim Tebow College campuses across of Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colt McCoy. the nation stir with anticipaUtah State and Northern Iowa, tion and excitement because That lasted for two weeks bein September, everyone is un- the Cougars fell to the thenfore the Cougars promptly got No. 24 TCU Horned Frogs in defeated. National championthrottled by the Florida State Fort Worth 32-7 and, in the ship hopes are high for some, Seminoles, now 5-5, at home by blink of an eye, the quest was others look to break into the a score of 54-28. over. Bowl Championship Series, To be honest, I tip my hat to and others strive simply for a BYU finished the season you, Cougar fans. Your optiwinning season. ranked No. 25 by The AP mism and positive outlook deAs sure as the change of the and lost back-to-back games serves to be admired. All I'm seasons, September brings to Utah and Arizona in the saying is wait until November with it something Cougar fans regular-season finale and the and December to start talking hold close to their hearts— Las Vegas Bowl. big picture. the hope for another national The perfect ending to a After all, the national chamchampionship. perfect quest. pion is named in January, not It's unfortunate for the Flash forward to Sept. 5, September. Cougars that the National 2009. The Cougars are at the b.chouinard@ Championship has to be played center of the college football chronicle.utah.edu in January, because if it were played in September, BYU would have more championships than just one. It's even more unfortunate that it seems as though residents of Provo are the only ones who haven't realized a champion isn't crowned in the first month of the season. Year in and year out, word rumbles up to Salt Lake City from the south that this is the year the Cougars will not only win a national championship, but be led to the promised land by a Heisman Trophy winner as well. This has never been so prevalent than in the past two seasons, as the Cougars have perpetually sat backseat to Utah and TCU, which have made legitimate runs to the BCS. The 2008 season was anointed the "Quest For PerTYLER COBBftot Daily Utah (hrwklt fection" for the Cougars. As early as September, overzealDespite the "Quest for Perfection"falling three games short in 2008, some BYU fans ous Cougar supporters could can still be seen wearing the shirt and looking ridiculous. |