I absolutely LOVED this article by Stewart Mandel on SI.com ... echoes my sentiments ... bring on a "name" team and let's see what happens ...
======================================================
Sunday November 21, 2004 1:51AM
Seeing is believing
Utah proves its BCS worthiness with another huge win
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Now that the dream has become a reality, now that the Utah Utes no longer have to wonder whether they'll be going somewhere warm for New Year's -- they will be -- their fans can turn their attention to more important matters: where, and against whom?
"Oklahoma, in the Fiesta," requested face-painted Utah junior Aaron Morton. "Bring on the best."
"We'd murder Boston College. It would be like playing another team in our conference," said Utes cheerleader Sunny Nielsen. "Bring on USC."
That such conversations are even taking place at Utah would have seemed comical to many just a couple of months ago. But what took place here Saturday night was no joke.
With a 52-21 pasting of hated rival BYU, the Utes not only completed an 11-0 regular season but, combined with Michigan's loss to Ohio State earlier in the day, assured themselves a spot in the BCS. In doing so, they become the first team in the BCS era from outside the six current BCS conferences -- and just the second since 1955 -- to reach one of the four major bowl games.
"We've looked at a half dozen [non-BCS] teams over the last 10 years," said Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker, referencing teams like 1998 Tulane, 2001 BYU and 2002 TCU. "In my view, this is the most credible team ever to come out of that group."
Giddy Utah fans, sensing an imminent Fiesta invitation, donned sombreros in the snow Saturday and showered the field with tortillas in the waning moments. They began a chant of "B-C-S, B-C-S," -- perhaps the first time in six years those letters have actually been celebrated.
Junker, who privately speculated as early as the spring that the Utes might wind up in his game, was one of four representatives in yellow jackets who watched from the end zone as thousands of spectators poured on to the field in celebration afterward, tearing down goal posts and joining head coach Urban Meyer and defensive lineman Sione Pouha in a rendition of the school fight song. Rice-Eccles Stadium was packed to capacity with 45,326 diehards, most of whom are likely to be on the first plane to Tempe if and when the official invite comes down.
Thing is, the Fiesta folks aren't the only ones interested. Also in attendance were three reps from the Sugar Bowl, whose game would surpass the Fiesta in the pecking order if it loses Auburn to the Orange Bowl, as well as sour-faced Liberty Bowl chief Steve Ehrhart, who will now miss out on the chance to pit top 10 foes Utah and Louisville.
"I don't know why [Utah fans] assume [it's the Fiesta Bowl]," said Sugar Bowl president Bill Kearnery. "We'd have no qualms at all at having Utah.
Wait a minute. What happened to teams like Utah being viewed as unwanted party-crashers? Threats to the establishment? Why, now, are the Utes suddenly a hot commodity?
Maybe because people have actually seen them play.
Their final game wasn't exactly their prettiest, with the Utes struggling to a 21-14 halftime lead and star QB Alex Smith throwing as many interceptions (two) as he had the previous 10 games. At the same time, it was a trademark Meyer victory, with the Steve-Spurrier-in-training going for it on four fourth downs, including a Spurrier-esque five-wide set on a 4th and goal at the 2 and a fake punt that resulted in a 23-yard run.
In the defining moment of the game midway through the third quarter, with BYU still within striking distance at 31-21 and the teams having just traded interceptions, Utah ran one of its patented spread-option plays from its own 8. Smith pitched to speedy receiver Steve Savoy, who hit the corner and dashed 92 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.
In the end, it was another all-around dominant performance (538 yards to BYU's 294) to go with their other 10, all of which they've won by at least 17 points. Not since their fifth game against New Mexico has an opponent held the Utes under 45 points.
"I'm being honest when I say I think we can take on anyone in the country," said Smith. "Anyone."
You can argue that they did it against inferior competition, and to a certain extent that's true. The Utes gained serous legitimacy, though, when they destroyed both a Texas A&M team that's now nationally ranked, 41-21, as well as a North Carolina team that, two weeks after losing 46-16 to the Utes, knocked off Miami. While it's questionable whether Utah's defense stacks up with some of the big boys, their offense, with its unique blend of speed, power and trickery, is as powerful as any in the country, regardless of conference.
"I do believe Utah is one of the top six teams in the country," said Meyer. "Around the country, you have a couple elite of elites -- maybe an Oklahoma, a USC or an Auburn. Anyone else, if you play well and take care of the football, you can win at any time. And if you don't believe that, you don't know college football."
There's only one way to truly test Meyer's theory: Put the Utes up against one of his so-called elites. The possibility of an undefeated Oklahoma or Auburn missing out on the Orange Bowl is looming larger by the week, and it only makes sense to match that team up with Utah in a second battle of undefeated teams.
Unfortunately, politics prevail over common sense, and if Oklahoma goes to the Orange Bowl, the Utes will likely get stuck playing a two-loss Big East champion in a game that will prove absolutely nothing. Asked if such a scenario would be disappointing, Savoy said, "Yeah. We worked so hard to get this far, we want to get the best team possible so we can prove we're capable of competing with anyone."
No matter who the opponent, though, just seeing their team play on New Year's Day will be thrilling enough for a group of fans who, prior to Meyer's arrival two years ago, hadn't even experienced a conference title in over half a century.
As Meyer addressed a throng of media afterward, he faced the inevitable questions about whether he'll be in Utah after this season. He's rumored to be a top candidate at Florida, and with his wide-open style of offense, he'd be a perfect fit in Gainesville. If that happens, it's hard to imagine a coach having had a bigger impact on a school in such a short amount of time. The entire culture of the place has changed dramatically, and by the time its team kicks off in Tempe, New Orleans or Pasadena, it's safe to say the national perception of Utah will have risen to unprecedented heights.
"When you lose a recruit to someone, and you have better facilities, better academics, better location and a better style of offense, and he looks you in the eye and says, 'I'm going there because they're BCS?'" said Meyer. "Well, I guess we're 'BCS' now."
Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com
