After 20 years of success, this is Whit’s first failure of a season

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This topic has 25 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 1 hour, 3 minutes ago by Rick.

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- 11/19/2024 at 9:01 AM #234384
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  AlohaUte
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  It’s crazy wanting him fired for this. You don’t fire or force a guy out because he has one awful coaching season. The man built Utah football into new heights it’s never seen before. Turned the school from a basketball school to a football school. Now all the sudden he has one awful season and you all want him fired. It’s idiocy. He’s earned and he’s deserved the chance to right the ship over the next few seasons if he wants to. And I for one welcome him to. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt.
  
  I suspect that many of you that are calling for him to be fired or to leave right now are the same folks who idiotically called for his head in 2012 and 2013 when we were struggling in our adjustment to the Pac-12. Thank the lord Chris Hill didn’t have your sentiments.
  
  And before you all start yelling about last season, the man still went 8-5 with what was essentially an FCS team in the Pac-12. It was one of his best coaching seasons IMO. And yes, there is plenty to criticize him about, namely his handling of the QB situation.
- 11/19/2024 at 9:14 AM #234388
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  Utes 69
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  don’t forget the losing bowl streak going on now either please.
  - 11/19/2024 at 10:11 AM #234404
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    AlohaUte
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    Meh, that’s minor in the scheme of things. Though it does suck.
- 11/19/2024 at 9:22 AM #234391
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  EagleMountainUte
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  You straw manned your argument in the second paragraph. I can’t think of anyone on Utehub that was calling for whitt to leave in 2012 or 2013. If that helps you feel better about wagging your finger at these imaginary people go right ahead. It just isn’t reasonable.
  
  I have said Fire Harlan for three years now. Which is related to current situation Utah is in.
  
  Watching his media admissions on Monday makes it seem like he needs to retire. He won’t, way too much money to leave on the table. I have never said fire because that is embarrassing but it also seems like it would not make sense fiscally.
  
  Why I bring up his statements on Monday is because he doesn’t get it. He still doesn’t understand the future of football. Which leads me to hindsight the handling of Rising and the QB room.
  - 11/19/2024 at 10:12 AM #234405
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    AlohaUte
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    I’m genuinely curious, why the hate for Harlan? I don’t get it. The whole sports program at the U seems to be doing really well. FB (aside from this season), WBB, Skiing, WVB, etc etc. The only program really failing that I know of is MBB.
    - 11/19/2024 at 10:22 AM #234411
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      EagleMountainUte
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      Whitts deal was a bad deal.
      Craig Smith hire was royally messed up. Combined with the firing of Larry K who I felt should have just gone for another year. Nothing screamed immediacy in getting Craig Smith.
      
      His recent comments against the big12 were idiotic. Shows his general lack of long term foresight. Utah is in a good position to potentially move up when the final conferences happen but criticizing officiating isn’t a good look. Especially with amount of run time it got nationally.
      
      I don’t know if he was directly responsible for giving Utah a complete out of the Big12 but that is most the positive thing I will give him. Fundraising for facilities went well but now the gears need to shift to getting talent.
      - 11/19/2024 at 10:28 AM #234413
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        2008 National Champ
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        inserting himself on the field of play before the game had ended to throw a tantrum was enough for me.
        
        11/19/2024 at 10:36 AM #234417
        
        EagleMountainUte
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        I have heard that is how he has been since the Larry K firing. Emotional and irrational. Call it confirmation bias but it was just ridiculous. Air that s**t behind close doors or hell WAIT for a better angle.
  - 11/19/2024 at 10:54 AM #234422
    
    Rick
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    I don’t think UteHub existed in 2012 so of course there were no calls to fire Whitt. I remember on a certain other Utah fan site that there were numerous calls for his head after both 2012 and 2013 seasons. That Whitt was not a PAC 12 level coach, etc.
    
    If Whitt wants to stay and fix this, I think the University owes him that much. If he has another season like this one, I think he will retire himself.
    - 11/19/2024 at 11:43 AM #234429
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      AlohaUte
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      It was around that time when it started, I moved from Hawaii in late 2013 and my username is AlohaUte, so I know I created this account in that time frame. Regardless, this isn’t the only place Ute fans congregate, whether then or now. And a lot of the fans here used to be on UF.N and Twitter.
      - 11/19/2024 at 2:15 PM #234457
        
        Rick
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        Well the copyright is for 2015 so probably not.
- 11/19/2024 at 9:30 AM #234393
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  lgt4141
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  Whittingham doesn’t want to retire after losing to BYU and having a losing season. He has earned the right to fix things and see what happens. This season has sucked but does Whitt leaving magically mean Scalley will become the next head coach and make the CFP? As others have said Scalley will have some growing pains too.
  - 11/19/2024 at 9:54 AM #234398
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    2008 National Champ
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    Don’t make a change because it might not get better? That’s the rallying cry heard right before every failure in history. Well, I suppose “watch this” and “hold my beer” count for some failures but they are just as ridiculous. No one ever succeeded by saying right now is as good as it can ever be.
    - 11/19/2024 at 10:16 AM #234407
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      AlohaUte
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      Go look at how many teams made the change because it wasn’t quite the success they wanted but it was still good. I give you Nebraska as exhibit A and Colorado as Exhibit B. Both had coaches a couple decades ago who were solid, not great (following great coaches at those schools) and both canned their coaches only to hire failures and drove them into the pits. I think Michigan State falls into this category, Auburn certainly does, and so does Florida.
      
      You don’t fire a proven commodity and a great coach because of one down season and mismanaged QB situation. That is reactionary and bad leadership and the surest way for us to become Maryland and be largely irrelevant for the forseeable future. And even though we are in a bit of a more positive situation with Scalley, there’s no guarantee he’ll carry on the Whittingham success.
      - 11/19/2024 at 10:30 AM #234415
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        2008 National Champ
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        Is there a guarantee that Whittingham will carry on the Whittingham success?
        
        11/19/2024 at 10:38 AM #234419
        
        EagleMountainUte
        Participant
        
        If Utah is able to pay 20-30 million dollars out for players between 2024 and 2025 yes. That is basically what Whitt has conceded.
        
        11/19/2024 at 1:52 PM #234455
        
        AlohaUte
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        Certainly not, but a heckuva lot better shot than alternative options.
- 11/19/2024 at 10:08 AM #234403
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  Jim Vanderhoof
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  I agree with everything you said Aloha. One thing to consider is Whitt has said he is ready to retire at anytime. Scalley has been hired to replace him. Essentially a lame duck coach. Now a losing season and some chaos in the program. Convincing good players to stay will be crucial. Scalley can promise a change on offense while maintaining the defense and overall culture.
  
  I know they didn’t want yo lose Scalley but coach in waiting shouldn’t be more than 1 year. Recruits want to know who they will be playing for.
  - 11/19/2024 at 10:17 AM #234409
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    AlohaUte
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    I’m perfectly ok if Whit retires. That’s his choice and right. But he shouldn’t be fired and I personally think that those calling for him to be out are crazy.
    - 11/19/2024 at 10:28 AM #234414
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      ProudUte
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      Aloha, I respect that you want Whitt to stay. I completely get it.
      
      Let me ask you these questions:
      
      In your opinion, can Whitt save this program as it sits now?
      
      If so, what does he do differently?
      
      If Whitt is the best guy to turn it around – I am all for it. But, I just don’t think that he is. IMO, we need some new young blood and significant changes.
      - 11/19/2024 at 10:45 AM #234420
        
        Jim Vanderhoof
        Participant
        
        Glorifying a coach and then firing him is not a good look for your program. I think he is done. This year has been hard on him. He expected to go out with a CFP bid and walk away in the sunset. He needs to do what’s best for the program. He is working side by side with Scalley on the new OC which is a good sign.
- 11/19/2024 at 11:59 AM #234436
  
  Utes 69
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  news flash Aloha Ute, sucking in bowl games could hamper recruiting, lets look at the whole picture here. Utes offense has sucked an changes are needed now.
  - 11/19/2024 at 12:31 PM #234447
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    DataUte
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    Bowl games (non playoff) are now trash. A quarter (at least) of most teams are in the portal, declare for the draft, or opt out. I just told someone it’s stupid to bet on bowl games at all because you don’t know who will actually be playing.
    
    It was nice to have the 8-1 bowl record under Whit or whatever it was, but that was the old regime of college football. Now, if it’s not CFP, bowl games are exhibitions and the only benefit is giving the teams extra time to practice and start the spring development early (if those players even end up staying).
    - 11/19/2024 at 1:51 PM #234454
      
      Utes 69
      Participant
      
      if bowl games are trash, then why go? I spent a lot of time and money last year to watch in Vegas, and not to see some half ass offense BS.
    - 11/19/2024 at 2:24 PM #234458
      
      Rick
      Participant
      
      Exactly. No one cares at all about bowl game performances anymore. If you are not in the playoffs, no one cares nor most will not even watch. With the players opting out for the NFL, entering the portal before the bowl game, etc. non-playoff bowl games are a complete joke and lend zero credence to recruiting.
- 11/19/2024 at 12:57 PM #234450
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  China Rider
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  I’m with Aloha Ute on this. Coach has earned his bonafides. Yes there is a lot of frustration but you don’t put someone out to pasture until all doubt has been removed. I too remember years two and three during the PAC era and the clamor to have Coach run out of town. Harlan’s comment about the Big 12 a couple of weekends ago resonate with Ute fan. His #1 job as far as I’m concerned is to get us out of this league we find ourselves in. This is a mistake that needs fixing priority one. As for bowl games, if you are not in the twelve, you’re not in the twelve. Anything on the outside is nothing more than meaningless exhibition play. You know it. I know it. The players know it.
  
  Last two years have been a eye opener and the whole injury bug thing is like being a born loser under the thunder clouds. Coach is right when he says that today’s game is a money game. Do we want to be a player or be average. The money needs to step up to the plate or we need to get into the new PAC. It’s not Coach’s immediate future we need to be concerned with, it’s who do we want to be that is looming.
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