Congrats to Mr. Wright. Also, could someone please tell me where to get a helmet like Brian Johnsons? You see, I have a pet alien and his eyes are on the sides of his head like Brians, and he wants so badly to play football but the regular helmets doen't allow him to see out. thanks for the help! Go Utes!

ah yes, i knew i had heard stories like these before! I was just a bit confused because only yewts have recited the tale over and over about the so called "BYU FOOTBALL MISSION" We have heard it many times how Max Hall didn't serve a mission and came back just to get football going. The list is long for situations like these because with so many missionaries around the world, some will have health problems. The point im making is that, you have the same kinds of BYU missionaries up on the hill! our team is more dominated by the mormon religion so obviously the odds are higher that we send more out and in return have extras come home early. JUST DONT FORGET like the article writes about you have the same situations....

Oh would you look at that two cougars on the board first regarding a Utah Utes football article.

It would be the same place Max Hall gets his. The Wired and the Wacky.

The only likeness I think the Utes have with the Coogs this year is they finally pulled out a lucky win last week, like the Coogs seem to consistently do! Oh ya, and we're both undefeated!!! Go Utes!

I don't know why we have to have so many articles about the yewts. Nobody outside of Utah cares or even knows who they are. The REAL university in Utah is BYU!!!

Oh ya, your "huge" wins over Michigan and Oregon St. were against poor to average at best. They both would finish at the bottom of the WAC or MWC this year, so your nothing.

Rise and Shout-

"I don't know why we have so many articles about the yewts. Nobody outside of Utah cares or even knows who they are."

That comment was idiotic for two reasons. The Deseret News writes to an audience IN UTAH. Why would they care how many people outside of Utah know about the U of U?

Also, obviously anyone who follows college football or basketball knows who the U of U is. That's just a pathetic attempt at smack talk. Here are some teams that definitely know who the U of U is:

Oregon, Cal, USC, Louisville, Michigan, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, UCLA, Arizona, Texas A&M, North Carolina, and the list goes on.

Hey RISE AND SHOUT. Hurry up and get your paper route done, your late for jr. high. Sounds like your looking for excuses to make you feel better about your Coogie wins over Northern Iowa and Washington. Go pop a zit.

I expect it from the BYU haters and some of the more radical Utah fans, but, when a "supposed" BYU fan stoops to their level, it's just plain pathetic. Try showing a little class!

Utah has a very good team this year. They've struggled in 3 close wins against 3 pretty good teams in Michigan, Air Force and Oregon State, but, bottom line, they were able to pull out wins in all 3 games, even with the turnovers and erratic play of their quarterback.

But, this article is a about a good kid who made it from the bottom of the heap, walkon, to the top of the heap, one of the leaders on a soon-to-be Top 10 team.

Congrats Mike and good luck until November 22nd!

To Rise and Shout: I like your guts dismissing Utah’s “huge” wins. Don’t look at the Y’s “huge” wins; you’ll be surprised and disappointed. The Y’s 1-point win over Washington, who most likely with place 9th, if they can beat Washington State to avoid last place. BYU didn’t look like a top 10 team against USU. USU out scored the Y 14 – 10 over the last 3 quarters. According to CollegeFootballNews.com the Y’s SOS is third easiest in the nation. Utah’s is 62nd. Neither have a great SOS. If Michigan and OSU would finish at the bottom of the WAC or MWC, where would you place Washington and UCLA? I think all 4 for these teams would have a hard time losing to SDSU, WYO or Idaho to clam last place in the WAC or MWC. I like your guts, but question your intelligence over starting this argument. The facts aren’t with you.

is a great kid and a class act. He's shown great work ethic while at the U. and those of us from Bountiful who know him and have watched him play would be rooting for him regardless of which team he played for.

Uhh, this article is about an individual Utah player, who had an AWESOME game against Oregon State. So haters, take your useless diatribe to the general team stories and leave this area for proper comments. Keep up the good work Mike!

Mike is a stud and a really good person. I don't know why all these cougar fans feel the need to comment on our articles. i admit that BYU has a better program receives much more national respect and attention for their academic and athletic programs. However, even if we are only the 2nd best school in the state you cougar fans should be more humble.

As your "cougar" recruiting base (church kids) continues to grow I acknowledge that every year it will get more and more difficult for us to compete with you in sports and academics. However, you "cougs" can still give us a little respect for trying to compete with the top universities in the country like Michigan and BYU.

'm a HUGE BYU fan and alumnus, but I'll have to admit, we aren't as good as the Utes this year. The fact is, the MWC banner had been carried by Colorado St. in the early half of the MWC existence, and by the Utes in the latter. Their BCS busting season was biggest event in MWC history, and something I might add, we have been hopelessly unable to achieve. This year our team looks good, but our wins against 0-5 Washington and 1-4 Utah St. showed we aren't a good road team. Even our Bowl record speaks volumes as to our competitiveness outside of the friendly confines of LES. The Utes seem to be able to play anywhere. I wish we can be more like Utah, and maybe recruit coachable kids like Mike Wright. Hey, I'm just being honest with my fellow man.

Great Work Mike, we are happy to have you on our team!

Re: SanFranCougar

Trolling again? That's two days in a row you've tried to pass yourself off as a Utah fan.

I'm a Utah season ticket holder who just read all of the comments on the board. I thought the comment from "SanFranUte" was true but something I don't like to admit. The comment from the other Ute fan "Re: SanFranUte" was obviously sacastic, childish and stupid. I think "SanFranUte" was being honest and stating what alot of us Utah fans know is probably true but as fans we don't normally want to discuss it.

Why don't all of the BYU fans and all of us Utah fans just grow up. We'll admit the BYU is a "slightly" better academic and athletic school if you guys will just be a little bit more humble about your success and "national respect."

I'd have to agree with "Re: SanFranUte | 10:19" that we don't measure up to the Utah program. I graduated from BYU, and have been its biggest fan since my dad graduated from there when I was 5. We sure got lucky the last 2 yrs with those miracle plays, and I don't think we'll be so lucky this year. I wish we could be more like Utah too.

Hey Rise and Shout, since BYU is THE University of Utah, how is that Nobel Prize winner from your school doing. Oh, and I forgot to mention that top notch School of Medicine and hospital you have at BYU along with a top rated honors program. I have been reading the comments from both Utah and BYU fans on this site for two months now and you are all a bunch of blow hards. Both teams are very, very, good and this debate will be decided on the field on November 22nd. GO UTES

Why are there Utah haters like Congrats and Familiar Story posting to our fine sports articles? Now I'm all unhappy and feeling like our program needs to be justified and validated all over again. Could my fellow Ute fans please post some more favorable comments about our wonderful program to help cheer me up? I'm going to take a little break and go have a good cry. Thanks!

These comments have me laughing out loud! The last post at 10:19 a.m. is priceless! Keep up the good work posters and GO UTES!

Temporary disconnect there from a "huge," but faithless, BYU fan. BYU's win at Washington was similar to Utah's wins at Michigan, at Air Force and vs Oregon State, they won, dispite their mistakes.

All Utah State proved was that BYU's players need to learn not to relax and get complacent after jumping out to a large early lead; not too unexpected because BYU was coming off of two straight shutouts where their opponents rolled over in the second half.

The Aggies, to their credit, kept playing hard even when they were down 34-0 at the end of the 3rd, unlike their game vs Utah where they quit in the 2nd half.

The Idaho game obviously gave the Aggies some confidence, and it showed vs BYU.

Check the record of the bowl teams Utah has beaten; their bowl opponents really weren't that good, even their BCS opponent, Pittsburgh. Big names; not so great teams. Same goes for the recent BYU bowl wins. The USC team Utah beat was equivalent to the Oklahoma team BYU beat.

Overall, BYU has played a much, much tougher group of bowl opponents than has Utah.

BYU and Utah both have great, coachable kids.

I'm another BYU alum and cougar fan, and it's true, our football program is mediocre. We've had a lot of wins over teams with losing records to pad our W/L pct, and a couple of lucky miracle plays over the Utes, making it appear we are better than we are. The fact is, our academic reputation really isn't as stellar as we like to make it out to be. We're really not the Harvard of the West, as we so often claim, and all our RM students who CLAIM to be "pre-Med" or "pre-Law" are REALLY just trying to land a hotter coed. I know, it's pathetic, but give us a break. We'll admit we don't have any Nobel Prize winners at our institution if you'll admit we have a better "Family Science and Home Economics" program than U.

FoxSports takes a jab at all of the top 20 teams this week. Here's their take on Utah:
"The Utes play Wyoming in a reprisal of the Good Guys Bowl. Last year, Cowboys coach Glenn gave Utes coach Whittingham "the bird" when the Utes, up by 43 points, went for an onsides kick. This year, look for a two-point conversion attempt when the Utes are up by 50."

Great fireside material for coach Whit this weekend huh? LOL

I saw Mike this summer at a 24th of July party and when I asked him what he was up to he didn't even mention that he was going to start at linebacker this fall. That's just the kind of person he is, humble and unassuming. I watched the OSU game and when they kept mentioning his name I thought "Oh, he has the same name as Mikey" but knew that it's not an unusual name. I only realized it was him when I saw him interviewed on KJZZ.
To "familiar story..." some people really do come home for health reasons. Nobody ends their mission early so they can try to transfer schools and walk on. Think a little bit.
Go Mikey! Go Utes!
Andrew Zaugg

"BYU's win at Washington was similar to Utah's wins at Michigan, at Air Force and vs Oregon State"

Actually, BYU's win at Washington was similar to none of the above. Washington is 0-5. Their ONLY close game was against the cougars. Utah's wins over Michigan, Air Force, and Oregon St. were of much higher substance. Michigan beat Wisconsin. Oregon St. beat USC. Washington...is still seeking it's first W. No comparison.

I don't know why Whitt has Wright starting at middle linebacker. I get tired of seeing him miss so many tackles and he keeps getting knocked backwards by running backs. When are we going to get a new head coach that knows how to play this game??

don't be so obvious, you used "we" and "our" when describing wins over Utah State and Washington. Weak attempt to pass yourself off as a Ute. If Y fans feel the urge to post please fight it, but if you must be straight forward, give your honest opinion, Most ute fans will respect it as honest conversation even if they disagree.

Isn't it amazing that some people find it impossible to support good pub for both teams? As a BYU grad I'm stoked they are doing well this year again. As a Utah native I'm excited the Utes are trying to BCS-bust again. Both teams have looked dominant at times, and both teams have been lucky at times. Here's hoping both teams go undefeated until November 22nd and may the best team win. But deep down I have to admit I will be cheering, "Go Cougs!"

au contraire

You really need to go back and study your BYU bowl history! BYU's record in bowls in 9-16-1.

Utah has been in far fewer bowls than BYU and still has a better winning record at 11-3.

Cougar fans always brag when they beat a bad PAC 10 team like UCLA, but when the Utes beat BCS schools, they are passed off as weaker opponents.

The year BYU beat Oklahoma they were very below average, not the juggernaut they are this year.

Let's not forget BYU recent bowl blowout losses to such Mid Major juggernauts as Marshall & Tulane. Let's not even discuss the 65-14 shellacking they Ty & Company took at the hands of Texas A&M after another getting destroyed by Hawaii the last game of Ty's Heisman season.

Reality check buddy. I wish the Cougars well, but jerks like you make me despise BYU.

Sounds fair enough. Deal!

Hahahahahah!!!!

Whatever the population of byU is, adedemically the population is only half of that. All the women there on campus only attend to get married. So if your definition of "better academics" is a faster marriage period, BYU is definitely the better acedemic institution.

For those whose first priority isn't marriage, but football, the University of Utah is where you go. For proof, just look at BYU's goals this year....undefeated season...BCS game...etc. Utah has already done that and is closer than doing it again than BYU is (6 wins vs. 5 wins). So BYU, keep trying to keep up with Utah....maybe one day.....well, we can dream!!!

You really can't compare a winless Washington who has been throttled in nearly every game EXCEPT the Cougars to Michigan, Air Force, & Oregon State (each of whom have quality wins).

So explain yourself about the Aggies. They didn't quit against BYU, but after being humiliated by Utah they gave up? That game was much closer than the final score showed and the Aggies didn't quit because they were outplaying the Cougs in the 2nd half, pure & simple.

As for the bowl picture, buddy you are way out in left field. BYU has played some quality opponenents in bowl games AND BEATEN ALMOST NONE OF THEM. Their illustrious bowl record is 9-16-1. Utah has played fewer bowl games and has more wins (11) AND a winning bowl record.

Why is it that Cougar fans thought Kansas State was a "quality" opponent in the squeaker 19-15 Cotton Bowl a few years ago? Every Ute admits that Pitt was below average competition buddy, we wanted to play someone much better that year.

BYU on the other hand had their tails handed to them in recent years by those mid major juggernauts Marshall & Tulane.

I'm getting so sick of these message boards, it's always the same stupid posts about SOS and who has the best record over the last 9.5 years against universities that begin with the letter B and idiotic junk like that. It's an article about Mike Wright and what a freakin stud he is so why are so few comments about him?? I personally am so glad that Mike decided to come to Utah, he's such an awesome player and a great kid. We're lucky to have him for another year and a half.

Go Utes!!

P.s. RISE AND SHOUT is so fired. Lamest comment ever!!

I'm a Utah alum, seriously, but I have to admit that BYU has a better football program, overall, than Utah. Not so for basketball, dispite BYU's recent success.

Some Utah fans will argue that the Utes own the overall series. Big deal. The majority of Utah's wins came over half a century ago when a mediocre Utah team was beating up on an even weaker BYU team.

In the last 4 decades, however, BYU dominated the WAC, won a national championship, a Heisman Trophy, numerous other awards, went to bowl games almost every year, and won a ton of conference championships. Utah did next to nothing.

The trend continued in the MWC. Utah has gotten more competitive, especially head-to-head, but BYU has still won more conference championships, even while they were suffering through the Crowton years.

I loved the two great years we had with Urban and the Utes now have something to hang their hat on, but this is first year under Whittingham that the Utes have been good. BYU is going on three very good years.

This may be Utah's year, it may be BYU's year, but, any objective observer would agree that both teams are very good.

I guess they didn't have any mention for the TDS. Nobody knows who they are.

As a Y fan and grad I take my hat off to this walkon Star athlete who made a name for himself....great example of what it means to "Grow Some" and make a difference.....Why would a Y fan care? Because I am a Utahn first and this is one of mine who has done good....Congrats Mike....ever thought about running for President?

Although I'm not a guy I enjoy sports and love watching the Utes and Cougars. I even enjoy reading the comments on some of the articles. However, there have been alot of dumb comments on this article.

I agree with "Brad in Payson" that "SanFranUte" was making a sincere comment because of how successful the other team in the state has become. All of the other sarcastic comments by Utah fans pretending to be Cougar fans (implying that "SanFranUte" was somehow trying to put his own team down is really childish).

I think all of us should root for the other Utah schools when they not your opponent and be happy for their success. If BYU is beginning to be considered one of the best schools in the country, it only helps those of us who like Utah get a little bit more respect for our program (Grow Up Boys....that goes for Utah and BYU fans).

Why are there no articles yet about Wyoming? Come on, let's get some new material guys about the upcoming game.

You need to learn to read a little more carefully, my friend. I said:

"Overall, BYU has played a much, much tougher group of bowl opponents than has Utah."

The average record of Utah's bowl opponents is 8-4 and Utah has never played an opponent with 10 wins. Utah has only played 4 opponents that were ranked - 4 of 13 (less than a third).

The average record of BYU's bowl opponents is 9-3 and BYU has played 5 teams with 10 or more wins, including two undefeated teams. BYU has played 14 teams that were ranked - 14 of 26 (over half).

BYU has played more ranked teams in bowls than Utah has played bowls.

...and another thing. I really doesn't bother me so much that BYU fans, such as "SanFranUte" and "Brad in Payson" misrepresent themselves as Ute fans "deferring" to their ACTUAL allegiance...the LORD's University...because we REALLY ARE superior to anything and anyone at any other university in the world, so it's not like they're lying per se, because the POINT they are making is the TRUTH.

However, whenever UTE fans pretend to be COUGARS, and become sarcastic, THAT is utterly DISRESPECTFUL and IMMATURE and I WON'T stand for it. In fact, I'm going to tell my mom!

It's not impressive to lose to a good team. The measure of gridiron success is (1) Who you play, and (2) Who you beat. If you play a good team and get blown out, like a Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl, you get no respect. If you play a mid-level team, and STILL lose, like a Tulane in the Liberty Bowl, you look even worse. Everyone knows how pathetic BYU is in OOC and Bowl games in comparison to the Utes.

And only a BYU fan would see a colossal difference between a 9-3 Bowl team and an 8-4 one. These are the same fans that think an '84 Michigan [6-6] was a stronger opponent than an '04 Pittsburgh [8-3].

Nice comment. But we know you're really a male utah fan named Tammy.

And I agree that people posting here need to be nicer to each other. You may have noticed that I even started my comment with the word "nice".

Seriously BYU and Utah fans show some class. Why all the hate? The bitter words are ridiculous. Is there no civility left amongst us? I have my team that I cheer for and love but this is too much. Can't we disagree on who we cheer for and show respect for those we oppose? Is there no Love? All this deep anger stems from source other than football. It's sad that a game that is so enjoyable is used as a battleground for some bigger underlying issue. No wonder there's so much contention in the world we can't even show respect and tolerance for two football teams in the same state. I don't know how all this started but we can choose to eliminate it and be classy fans for two great teams.

Just another player that is very impressive here in the state.
I don't get why "fans" tear the other team down, especially on an article like this.

These are just kids getting an education, we should support the players no matter who they play for.

Both Utah and BYU are doing well, I think it is fun just to roll with it and watch what happens.

Bountiful Football RULES!!!!

There are a bunch of BYU haters, pretending to be Ute haters, who are pretending to be BYU haters posting on this board. Don't give them the gratification by RE:plying!

how Utah fans can be so proud of their bowl record, when they've never beaten a really good team in a bowl. Yet they are so quick to minimize BYU's ranking this year because they "haven't beaten anybody."

Utah has NEVER played a bowl opponent with less than 3 losses.

Utah has won 10 bowl games.

BYU has won 9 and tied 1.

The tie was with a 10-1 Iowa team ranked in the Top 10.

Utah has never played a Top 10 team in a bowl.

Teams from mid-major conferences used to have to win their conference in order to go to a bowl.
Utah's 28-year bowl drought ended in 1992. Why? Because almost any team with a 6-6 record plays in a bowl today.

Utah fan's can be proud that they've won most of their bowl games; just realize that most of those wins came against above average teams that are comparable to Air Force this season; good, but not good enough to be ranked.

And the two mid-majors BYU lost to, Tulane and Marshall, both undefeated seasons.

Before claiming that no mid-major could possibily be any good, let alone very good, first consider your own Utes.

Hi guys, my family just finished dinner and I thought it would be fun to see if anyone responded to my request that all Utah residents support the other state teams when we're not playing each other (when I acknowleged BYU's national respect I wasn't saying anything bad about my Utes).

Anyway, I made the first comment, but I guess another fellow Utah fan decided to make fun of me and pretend he was me (this will be my last comment ever because all of you guys are very immature).

I think it should be "high school football, let alone college football", since it is more unlikely that one would be playing college than high school.