[Rick]

To be fair to Coach Smith I think the biggest problem related to this is talent level. The U simply doesn’t have one player who could be considered an NBA-level player in a few years. We may have a few European-level. We also don’t have a dog – a player who just gets after it 100% of the time. So what do you do as a coach? Smith is choosing to look for who might fit the bill on a given night.

I sound like I’m defending him. I do believe he should have settled on a rotation by now – 7-8 guys. Part of Smith’s problem is playing someone a minute or two and then determining they don’t have it. That happens to Madsen, Dawes, Miro and Mike quite a bit. At least, it seems to.

By the way, to the talent level, I do think Dawes and Ausar may become high-level players. I thought Miro might fit that bill. While I agree that other guards have played better than him, I think he should get consistent minutes. Smith tends to bury him within a minute or two if he doesn’t show anything or makes a mistake.

[Rick]

In this time – NIL craziness – this is a big deal. Tanuvasa is an NFL tackle. Having he and Fano back on the D’line is terrific.

[Rick]

Terrific list to review. One omission – Raycine Guillory at running back. He’s a four-star incoming freshman whose offer sheet looks like a who’s who of college football. I know we’ve been disappointed in freshmen running backs for a few years so we’ll see; but he looks more the part physically. I think there is one more freshman as well but I don’t remember his name.

[Rick]

Thanks Utopia. I had particular ties to the interest of the three I mentioned so I had conveniently forgotten that Johnnie was interested. I would imagine his interest was handled similarly – he wasn’t truly vetted or interviewed; but I cannot speak to that like I can the others.

[Rick]

I can provide a little more context. The Smith hire was basically a done deal when Harlan fired Coach K. All had been done behind the scenes. When the firing was announced, three coaches reached out expressing interest through agents or other connections to Utah athletics – Alex Jensen, Porter Moser and Randy Bennett. Harlan had no interest in any of them because he’d already found his guy.

Jensen was forced upon him by critical alumni and members of the board of trustees. He held a half-assed interview with Alex that basically offended Alex. Many of you will remember that Jensen acknowledged an interview in the press and then he politely said that he declined to pursue the job further. There is more to this, but I am not at liberty to share.

The bottom line is that Harlan absolutely bungled the search. I don’t mean this to be anti Coach Smith who was certainly considered an up and comer at the time; but Harlan focused on Smith without spreading a wider net.

[Rick]

Tednab,
Beck was Scalley’s number one option and we never offered Leftwich. A lot of assumption around him because he interviewed. Arbuckle was offered.

[Rick]

Snork,
That was snarky of me – I apologize. I was trying to be funny on the back end. Have a terrific day.

[Rick]

Snork,
You should join me and a few friends on Taco Tuesdays when we discuss thoughts and feelings during these unsettled times. It’s been good for liberals and conservatives in the group. It’s even added to some better understanding of one another, but let’s not do it here.

Better yet, I can get you the name and number of a good therapist.

[Rick]

Good for Isaac and terrific for our program. I hope he takes a redshirt year to take care of his health, develop his body and learn the offense. I know first hand that the team – both coaches and players – are thrilled he is back.

[Rick]

Bronco has announced his OC – he’s coming from San Jose St. and has worked with Bronco and at USU before. I forget his name but not Atuaia.

[Author]

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