Well Done, Utah...Well Done

 This post may be premature, but that's okay. The regular season is over and the University of Utah football team has had a great season, even though they still has two games to play, one in three days, the other at a time and location to be determined later.

Two games to play...

Yes, there have been ups and downs--still, it's been another incredible year.

I became a fan of this team when I was a student of the school. Back then, they had some good years, but most of them were so-so. The big goal for the program was to be WAC champions. This was no small task, mostly because BYU was also in the WAC and they usually won the championship. Times sure have changed.

Throughout the year, Utah has been in multiple Top 25 lists, and they've been listed among the top programs in the country. It's still strange for me to see a graphic with the nation's most storied programs and among them is Utah. It still blows my mind.

Sure, they have not won it all, and they might never get there, but for a little school in the West being talked about with the Michigans and Floridas and Oregons of the country, it's a true measure of the success of the team, and more specifically, Head Coach Kyle Whittingham.

Most everyone has already given Utah a "L" for Friday's conference championship game. I hope they win, but even if Utah doesn't, I know they'll play tough and do their best. As a fan, that's all I can ask for.

Yes, even with a couple of losses, it's been a great year and I'm still glad to proudly wear a "U"

So...It Begins Anew

 Tomorrow night, far from here, the dance begins anew. Another year, another chance for greatness or despair, glory or heartache, pleasure or pain.

Oh, why do I care?

I really shouldn't. I'm a man in my mid-almost-late 50s. I have grown children, an incredibly stable job, and a loving wife. Why do I allow myself to get caught up in the hype, the promises, of what will happen? And the worst part is, I went through the same thing last year, and the year before that, and the year before that...

Sensing a pattern?

I used to follow almost all pro and many college sports leagues. I know I spent WAY too much time watching games, thinking about games, etc. It's unhealthy. I've given up on most of the sports I used to follow with religious fervor. Actually, most of the sports I no longer follow gave up on me. It doesn't really matter how the split occurred, but it did.

Still, there's something about college football that still draws me in. The problem is, the best league has the shortest season. If I still followed the NFL, or MLB, or NBA, I can watch those games almost all year long.

Another reason I both love and dread the season is because this year's University of Utah football team is projected by many to be one of the best in the country. I think even those who hate U of U football would agree that the talent is there, the coaching experience is there. But, will they--can they--do it? I've been a fan for decades. Each year they seem to break my heart.

When I see a Utah Drum and feather, or a beautiful Interlocking U Flag (like the one posted by Scottsdale Ute - @UteFanSARGE on Twitter...), something stirs inside. Will they break my heart again? Probably. I guess that's why it's good hearts can heal, because next year, I'll probably be saying the same thing.

Stuff Like This...No Good Can Come From It

 A few days ago, I blogged about the Utah Jazz and how I no longer watch them play. It was after a playoff loss. Good news--they evened their series today, so there's that. I'm happy for them and their fans.

One sport I do continue to follow is college football. It was always high on my list, but since following a sports league nowadays involves more than simply watching and rooting for a team, college football has been elevated to number one. This makes the spring and summer almost unbearable at times...waiting for August and September to get here. Today, the University of Utah held their Spring Game...I have it recorded on the DVR--I'll get to it. I'm not the Ute's biggest fan, but that doesn't matter. I am a fan.

During the spring and summer, those who also enjoy the college game write and post things about the upcoming season, and the junkies eat it up. In a quest for clicks and reposts, people will put stuff out there, stuff that entertains and engages the public...

Even though sometimes they hurt.

Case in point, a ridiculous "Way-Too-Early Top 25" preseason poll.

And my team comes in at Number 4.

Oh, nothing good can come from this.

So, if I believe the preseason hype, then only disappointment can follow. I'm a believer of my team, but are they really the #4 team in the country? Hardly. College football is a big business, a billion-dollar concern. To place the team I follow so high...I wonder if whoever assembled this poll believes it, or if they just want to "push people's buttons."

I also saw another post on social media today. It was from an athlete deciding where to play college football. I don't know where he'll ultimately end-up, but Utah is listed as an option. What caught my attention is the other school choices...some of the best of the best programs in the country, and Utah is among them. Now this is one player's situation. The fact, however, that this player is considering Utah and Alabama, it shows the oldest university west of the Mississippi River is being considered one of the nation's best.

I have a choice...I can believe the hype of these preseason polls which will make any losses that much worse. Or, I can not believe it, wait until the games are actually played. The problem is, Option 2 is a tough thing to do.