BYU-Utah still on the mtn

The mtn is holding strong. They are refusing to allow another channel to pick up the BYU-Utah game. There was an article in the SL Trib with details. One of the shocking things that was revealed is that Versus, CBS CS and the mtn decide which games each is going to pick up. Versus is showing Air Force-TCU and CBS CS is showing a Conference USA game and so the mtn gets BYU-Utah. Really? Seriously? No, seriously? There are so many bad things about this TV package, but I think one of the worst things is the short-sidedness of the MWC officials. Didn't it cross their minds that there could be a chance that a game in the conference could have national interest? If so, wouldn't you want a clause in the contract that would say that one of the national networks like CBS could pick up the game. Seriously, this never even crossed their minds?

Anyway, the best part of this article is the comments. Here is my personal favorite from a man that goes by josh_arseneau:

"Oh joy. We get to watch the biggest game of the year with a one angle reply from two camera's purchased from a KUTV storage shed. If you squint and pull on the corner of your eyes sometimes the picture looks clearer."

"in between hunting and mixed-martial arts"

Here is a great quote from a national writer about the sad state of the BYU-TCU game being shown on Versus:

"If you're hoping to take a gander at the game, remember that the Cougars and Horned Frogs are playing on Versus, must-see TV for outdoorsmen but perhaps not the place one expects to find one of the college football season's pivotal games.

"This is what the innovative Mountain West has to do as it tries to elbow its way into college football's elite. If it has to squeeze its games in between hunting and mixed-martial arts, so be it."

The writer seems to be trying to spin this in a positive way by using words like "innovative". Instead of innovative, I would replace that word with something like "sad," "sorry," "pathetic," etc.

Shaky Camera

Besides the usual terrible commentary that has come to be expected when viewing anything on the mtn. and the random 10 minute segments on whatever catches the attention of the broadcasters when they get bored with the game (last week it was Y mountain in Provo, this week it was on "carharts" after seeing a few guys in Wyoming wearing them), I think that the mtn. has a newly aquired camera man by the name of "Marky Marks". During an injury on the field the camera man was trying to get some footage of the injured player and some other players on the field and I began to get dizzy from all the shaky camera work. This went on for a couple minutes. I've only seen that quality of camera work one other place. I figured it had to be Marky.

In a totally unrelated topic that has nothing to do with the mtn. I just can't get over Robin lopez's halftime interview last night. Although I can't quite put my finger on it there is something very strange about his voice. Don't get me wrong though, I have no qualms of any kind with the man (yet) and I would love it if the Jazz had him or his brother. I just can't get past that voice.

Overrated?

Was anyone else shocked when BYU was up 34-0 and Utah State finally scored in the 4th quarter and then there were chants of overrated from the Aggie fans? I thought that chant was only reserved for when you were winning. I guess when you are used to seeing your team lose by 40 to 50 points than you think it is a moral victory to lose by 20. Like I have mentioned earlier, it has got to be hard to be an Aggie.

snl skit

This is a few minutes well spent.

Storming the field?

I will be the first to admit that last night's game between Utah and Oregon State was a pretty exciting game. I did however find it quite amusing that U of U fans in celebration for the victory of their #15 ranked team in the Nation to storm the field after beating a non-ranked team. I didn't really care a whole lot. In fact if it was even remotelyl possible (which it's not) to storm the field or court at BYU, if you can manage to fight your way through the ropes and countless security gaurds, than I would do it. As I sat and watched this display of over-excitement I decided to text my irrational Ute fan brother and the following text conversation took place:

Me: "I'm not going to say much because that was a pretty sweet game, but I just want you to realize that you would totally be bashing on cougar fans if they stormed the field after beating a non-ranked team."
Irrational Brother: "I'm on the field!"
Me: "Are you serious?"
Irrational Brother: "Yes, I'm five feet away from King Louie."

A few minutes later he called and confessed that he would be guilty of what I accused him of in my recent text-I'm very proud of him for admitting it.

In addition, as I was driving to work this morning I heard talk show hosts on both KFAN 1320 and 1280 the zone mention how ridiculous it was for Ute fans to storm the field since they were favored to win by 14 points in the first place. Were Ute fans expecting to lose that game or what?

Thoughts on the Utes win

As mentioned in an earlier post, I had some conflicting feelings about the Utah-Oregon State game. I convinced myself that it would be better if Utah won. It would mean the MWC went 6-1 againts the PAC-10 this year. It would make the game on Nov.22 in SLC that much bigger. But as the game went on and OSU somehow found a way to give the game away in the last two and a half minutes (this could be a whole post in and of itself) and as Louis Sakoda trotted out to kick the game winning field goal, I found myself hoping that Louis would miss it. Maybe it was the thought of seeing all those Ute fans in disbelief. But anyway, I think it was for the best and now if both BYU and Utah can get by TCU, the game on Nov. 22 (featured on the mtn, laugh) is going to be epic.

Here is Greg Wrubell's take on the game. He is a blatant homer, but he is our blatant homer. You can tell that he was disgusted that Utah won and very fearful that this might mean that Utah leapfrogs BYU in the rankings and national spotlight.

The Who Cares Test

In my communications classes one of the basic rules of any media outlet is to ask yourself, who cares?  If the public or audience you are trying to target doesn't care about the message or image you are sending then you are wasting your time and money.  So, every once in a while I apply the who cares test to the Mtn. programming and will randomly turn on the station to see what they are showing.  I just turned it on 5 minutes ago and they were airing Mountain West Peak Performance and were highlighting Colorado St. women's volleyball.... Now, you tell me, does anyone care?  I'm sure that Colorado St. women's volleyball is very excited but seriously WHO CARES???  I would love to see there ratings on that show.  I bet about 0.000000000000001 percent of there overall audience is watching that program, and that's being generous!  

We're not alone

Yesterday as I was driving from work to school I was listening to "1280 the zone" on the radio. Gordon Monson and Kevin Graham were discussing how awesome it would be going into the BYU-Utah game if both teams were undefeated and playing for a chance to play in a major bowl game - maybe even the national championship game (very similar discussion to a previously posted blog by Jones). After several minutes of talking about how amazing that would be (and very likely if Utah beats Oregon State this week I might add), Gordon grumbles "yeah, and it's going to be on the Mtn." At this point Kevin and Gordon both erupt into laughter at the very thought of such a HUGE game being broadcasted by such a crappy station. Can't the mtn. (I will no longer be capitalizing their name for they are unworthy of a capital letter) just realize that they are awful and just go away and leave everybody alone. What did we ever do to them?

It has got to be hard to be an Aggie

Interesting article in the SL Tibune. The jist is that USU has to average 15,000 fans over a two year period or they can't be in Division 1. They are a little under that average currently, so they are really excited for the BYU game because they are hoping for a sell-out of 25,000. What a sad and sorry state to be in as a football program.