Look — I despise BYU-Provo as much as the next guy

Your last sentence is a huge one that I think gets ignored by many. Utah was basically a brand new team the beginning of this year. While you can’t replay games, this isn’t the same team we saw in weeks 1-4. The personnel is playing much differently, depth is also much different due to the amount of live reps these guys have gotten.

Let’s be honest, the PAC’s out of conference record has been nothing short of embarassing. Let’s also be honest, the season last year for the PAC did zero favors to the teams, in terms of being set up for success this year. 

The fact Utah is in the drivers seat in the South is incredible, considering where the year started for them. I would expect that next year though, the majority of the PAC will be much improved over this year, due to getting to play a full season.

Until BYU-P starts reining in recruiting classes better than #70, 2020 (covid) and 2021 (covid fallout) will be anomalous blips on the radar. And the bad news for them is their recruiting won’t improve much due to the Honor Code.

Their top players are pretty good (Allgeier and Puka), and have allowed them to be competitive, but the drop off behind those guys is huge. They don’t have the depth to compete meaningfully even in the neutered Little 12.

Don’t let the Nacua situation bother you. The kids obviously wanted to break out of Provo, but ultimately got sucked back into the Utah county bubble with their family in their ear and promises of more playing time. 

I think the Nacua family is a perfect blend of the athlete BYU hopes to have advantages with in recruiting: 1) LDS family background or ties. 2) Poly athlete with LDS background and current Poly HC and DC, and 3) Utah county family that equates BYU football and the LDS church as one and the same thing. 

But this isn’t a microcosm of something bigger. Utah and BYU might go head to head in a few recruiting battles, but not many. Would BYU have ever been it for Tavion Thomas, Cam Rising, Brant Kuithe, Devin Lloyd, Clark Phillips, Xavier Carlton, Tyler Huntley, Zack Moss, etc.? We could look back and see Jaren Kump, Leki Fotu, some others as potential recruiting battles that might have been more up in the air if BYU was in a big conference. However, Utah will win its fair share of those battles, the biggest consideration will likely be need and playing time availability. Had BYU landed Leki Fotu, Utah would have kept Khyris Tonga. But the playing time issue played a roll there with Fotu and Penesini, two NFL guys, on the roster as starters, and therefore Tonga went where he could play right away. 

Look at the differences between Nacua and Kaufusi.  Nacua has said derogatory things about the Utes on multiple occasions.  I don’t believe that I have heard Kaufusi attack the Cougars.  Nacua was a walk-on that was given a scholarship.  He was given lots of opportunities and treated well at Utah.  The fact that he ended his career in Provo is not a big deal to me.  The fact that he has continued to trash the school, coaches, and players is not a good look.  I would not like Kaufusi attacking the BYU program either.  I have learned in life that you do not burn past bridges and it has served me well.

Again, I will say Puka is a stud.  I watched him in high school and hoped Utah would land him.  I believe he will be playing on Sundays for a long time.

I was about to give you a thumbs up until you said BYU will now be a threat in recruiting. Based on what? Membership in a G6 conference? Look, the alliance didn’t invite the B12. Obviously, the SEC didn’t want them either as they took only two schools from that conference and now there’s what’s left. The remaining 8 schools are going to take a huge financial hit. Any of the schools in the B12 would leave right away if they were invited to an alliance conference or the SEC. After this round of realignment is over, there will be 4 autonomous conferences and the B12 isn’t one of them.

Ghost, that was a fantastic post.  Thanks for sharing, man.

A few comments:

– I struggle to see the XII as a P5 conference without their blue-bloods.  I mean, if John & Paul left the Beatles would they still be the Beatles?

– Nacua never thought much of Utah.  He bashed Utah when he WAS a Ute when he told Puka he needed to go to a “major program” instead of Utah.  I don’t really care though.  He did some good things for us and helped us out so whatever.

– I raised an eyebrow when BYU go invited to the XII.  That was a knee-jerk reaction by the XII leadership, in my opinion.  I’m not sure they thought through all of the baggage that BYU brings with them.  I’ll be watching to see how that all plays out.  I will say this: if BYU had any chance of blending into a conference it would be the bible-belt conference that the XII is.

– I get the funniest reactions from BYU fans I run into when I’m around town wearing my Ute gear.  I’ve had a few comment on how they hope I’ve recovered from the BYU loss.  Like the rest of our fanbase, I was p**sed for about 2 days and then I turned my site to conference play and haven’t really thought much about it since.  I mean, we’ve won 9 out of the last 10… I think I’ll survive.

– I can’t help but wonder if Kalani will listen to another job opportunity.  I’ll give him credit because he surpassed my expectation.  I swear that fan base would wear me the hell out.  With that and the unique recruiting disadvantages they face, I’m guessing there are some awesome possibilities that will arise for him.

Great discussion, you guys.

If you are referring to the perpetual education fund, that’s based on the perpetual immigration fund that was established in late 1800’s where people are helped with funding for their trip to SLC. The education fund works the same way and is done to help impoverished members, mostly in impoverished countries. It was announced years ago, and has helped hundreds on pour members get a good education. They then put money into the fund. Nothing shady, or secret,here just people helping people. Besides, what should be concerning to you if you are a non-member or an ex-member.
I have been a Ute fan for almost 60 years and a member of the LDS for all my life.

Recruiting will change ? I dont think so. BYU Will always get kids that want to do to BYU Cody Hagan. The OL from Oregon is from Orem. And wanted to play close to home and be with his family. (I understand UtAH is “close” to home but its still an hour away one way. Where as his mom/family friends are less than 10 minutes from BYU. Anyways, I dont think BYU will catch us ever. Have they closed the gap ? A little, but Utah will continue to grow and continues to get amazing recruits;