RIP Les Paul

A real guitar legend passed away today. A moment of silence to anyone who enjoys playing the electric guitar.

For anyone who doesn't know, Les Paul is largely responsible for the Gibson electric guitar, a quality guitar made extremely popular by rock artists such as Slash.

Check out this article for a good obituary.

USA v Mexico - The Great North American Duel

There are any number of excuses the Americans could use to explain today's defeat. The sun was too hot, the crowd was too hostile, the officials were jaded towards Mexico, the list continues. What we do know today however was that a USA soccer team cannot play well in Mexico - ever.

The USA team has never won in Mexico City. The closest they have even come is a tie, and that happened before any of the players who now play for the American Selection were on the team. Mexico City has been a difficult place to play, and now American soccer fans are learning to chalk a trip to the south as a loss.

What irritates me personally about this game is that although the US had a lead after ten minutes of the game, they surrendered that lead only twenty minutes later. This following the pattern of the last major international loss to be taken by the US - USA v Brazil. As any American soccer fan can remember, the Brazilians were not down 1-0, they were down 2-0, but the ball rolled their way and right through the semi-outstretched legs of the American defense only 1.5 minutes into the second half.

Going into the second half of the latest chapter of the Duel, the USA seemed more than content to allow for a draw, but didn't play like it. They were unable to match a more desperate Mexican squad, man for man and will for will. Wouldn't you know it, Mexico scored in the last ten minutes to put themselves ahead for good and were more than content to take their sweet time and irritate the Americans to death.

That second Mexican goal was quite cheap. The Mexican forward blew by Landon Donovan like he wasn't even standing there, drawing attention to Donovan's big comments before the game. Because of the slow defensive recovery, the fullback who normally wouldn't have had to drop back to play help defense had to drop back to play help defense to seal off the scoring opportunity. That he did, but was unable to control the deflection, which dropped to the Mexican trailing player who quickly put it past a diving Tim Howard. One hundred thousand Mexican fans cheered their brains out, and it was easy to see who was emotionally in control of the match at that point.

When USA soccer defeated the number 1 team in the world, it was with solid, impenetrable defense highlighted occasionally by a dynamic and speedy offensive burst that paid off. In the first half of that Spanish game, the USA had two shots on goal, and two goals, while Spain missed on more than 10 shots at the hardwood...

The good news for USA soccer is that this match was not absolutely crucial in order for the US to qualify for the world cup next year, but the race did just get a whole lot tighter.

The other good news is that the next qualifying match for the US to qualify for the trip to South Africa will take place in Sandy at Rio Tinto Stadium. I must say that I am impressed with the respect that Rio Tinto and the entire state of Utah have gathered in the soccer world. It's great for Utah.

Here is a good article that I think adequately assessed the real winners and losers of this match.

Coming soon - the continuation of my analysis of the 2009 season for USU football. Keep it right here.

Rob Myers signs with Philadelphia Eagles

(I saw this kid play. He was a good talent surrounded by mediocrity. USU was lucky to have him.)

Courtesy: USU Athletic Dept. Media Relations

Former Utah State football standout Rob Myers has signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and is expected to be in action during the Eagles’ preseason game on Thursday night against the New England Patriots.

Myers, a tight end, originally signed a free agent deal with the New York Jets in April, but was released prior to their training camp.

As a junior in 2007, Myers had 21 receptions for 320 yards with three touchdowns, and led the nation’s tight ends with 15.2 yards per catch. His season was highlighted by being named the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week on Nov. 21, 2007 for his career-best outing of 117 yards on four catches with two TD’s in USU’s win at New Mexico State. However, Myers missed his senior season of 2008 with a preseason injury. Myers attended the NFL Combine in February, but his action was limited due to his injury rehab.

Myers will be uniting with former Aggie wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who is entering his third season with the Eagles and his seventh in the NFL.

USU predictions continued

Part 2 of 4

Opponent #4: The Cougars of Brigham Young University

Prediction: USU 24-35 BYU

Ah, BYU. I am conflicted as to what to write about them. Given the choice between the two Mountain West teams in the state, I'm definitely a BYU homer and NEVER will be a Utah fan, EVER. That mainly is because I remember going to BYU games in the 80's as a 3-year-old when my grandfather was working for the LDS church education system and got complementary season tickets to BYU games. I was raised on Cougar Football. That having been said, it's very difficult for me to completely turn my back on the football team from Provo.

I have no connection to their basketball team at all though, and think that it should perish under the destructive dunks of our Aggie men. Death to Cougar Basketball.

That having been said, let's take an honest look at this game and contrast what has changed since last year.

The biggest factors that will play into the result of this game are the development of the two defenses. BYU is coming off a 10-3 season, and the games they lost were the games where their defense could not compensate for their normally prolific offense's mistakes. Anyone who saw the BYU-TCU and BYU-Utah games last year, one of which highlighted a dominating Gary Andersen defense, knows that the Cougar defense had a hard time locking down when it had to be on the field for more than 35 minutes of the game. If the offense could not produce, and the defense got tired, BYU got worked, and that's all there was too it. Given the fact that team only lost three games last year, I do not presume to say that this is an easy task to complete, and although I think it is possible, it is very unlikely. That's one of the reasons why I call this game a loss.

There is a reason why this year's BYU team is getting preseason looks to bust the BCS, as evidenced by this article from si.com and this article from espn.com. BYU is returning a senior quarterback in Max Hall, a senior tight-end in Dennis Pitta, and a junior running-back in Harvey Unga that would be difficult for many teams to handle. For the first half of the season, their defense was dominating, and this year, the expectations on the Cougars is not half of what it was during last year's "Quest for Perfection."

I believe BYU stands a legitimate chance of busting through this year, and their preseason ranking certainly puts them in a wonderful position to do so if they can win the last 11 games of the season, defeating a TCU team and a Utah team that must also do well this year. If they beat Oklahoma, winning the rest of their schedule will be a marathon, but is doable.

So what can USU hope to accomplish against BYU? Look for Diondre Borel to have a great game in Provo. The Cougar defense hates him, mainly because after halftime last year in Logan, Borel ran their socks off with an option attack. Injuries will also play a big part. If USU can keep the field very spread and drag the defensive backs behind their receivers, USU will stand the best chance because BYU is not athletic enough defensively to keep up with extreme speed.

A huge unknown in this game as well is the BYU offensive line. Four of the five linemen from last year's BYU squad are graduated. USU's defensive line is undersized, but if they can outmatch the cougar O-line with their quickness and speed a la Utah, BYU will have a hard time going anywhere.

Bottom line, speed is the way to beat BYU. The quicker and smarter team will prevail, and I think that USU will not yet have the athleticism to defeat a program that has a larger following, a larger recruitment base, a larger talent pool, and a real shot at busting the BCS.

Opponent #5: The New Mexico State Aggies

Prediction: USU 49 - 14 NMSU

Of all the football games at home that I could not see last year, the ones that I wanted to see the most were the Hawaii game and the New Mexico State game.
Simply put, USU slaughtered NMSU last year, and managed to defeat them in Las Cruces two years ago when there was no hope for the Utah State program at all. Now that USU has a decent coach and a better recruitment class, Utah State should roll all over a New Mexico State squad that now finds itself where Utah State was two years ago, despite the fact that NMSU has a new coach.

By week five, the Aggie defense should be strong and practiced enough to stifle any sort of attack the NewMags can muster, and Borel, along with Turbin, should run their defense to death. I am only regretful of the fact that this game will be in New Mexico, because it would be fun to watch the NewMags get blown out.

Opponent #6: The Nevada Wolf Pack

Prediction: USU 20-23 Nevada

I'm calling for the almost upset in this game. Utah State will lose, but it will be close, mainly because of two reasons.

Utah State should by this time have a pretty developed defensive front and defensive scheme. Since Andersen is a defensive coach, he'll make the adjustments necessary to put a lot of pressure on Nevada's monstrous QB Colin Kaepernick early on in this game. An active aggie defense that is able to react with quickness, which is Andersen's focus, should be able to somewhat contain Kaepernick.

Secondly, Nevada is not reknowned for its defensive presence on the field. They are a strong school, and have been picked to finish second in the conference, but this game will be in Logan and the Aggie offense shone its brightest in Logan last season, and I believe it will do so again this year.

I would say look for a loss a la Last Year's Fresno St. game. Stupid kicker...

more to come soon.

USU coaching, schedule and predictions

A Movement II Moment

Part 1 of 4

USU Football is Upon Us

Utah State is about to start again this year looking to exceed expectations both in Logan and around the WAC.

They were picked to start seventh in the conference in the preseason media polls, one ahead of New Mexico State and two ahead of cupcake Idaho. Everything coming out of the aggie training camp is saying the team is thirsty for more.

For example, take this article by the Deseret News. Is it reasonable to assume that not in the last ten years has there been so much expected from the UtAgs?

Every year for the past 15 years, more or less, the question behind the Utah State football program has been, "How many games will the Ags lose this year?" or "Is it possible that USU could win a few for the home crowd, even if they fold on every away game?" or "Is it worth paying the $50+ to take my family to one of these games?" It certainly can be said that Aggie football has been about seeing the best programs come into Logan (if we could get them here) to roll all over the Aggies. My question here is the following - are these questions that belong to the past?

It certainly is normal for hype surrounding a program to increase after a coaching change. We saw similar things with Guy and his predecessors. Those coaches all gave reason to hope for a turnaround in the red-headed stepchild team in the state of Utah. (It's what USU football has been people - get over it.) HOWEVER, none of those coaches had strong Utah roots, had the recruiting credentials that Mr. Andersen has, nor the strong showing of a coaching presence on a national stage like Mr. Andersen has.

I don't care who you are - you cannot deny that the Ute Defense was everything including unstoppable last season. That defense was practically impenatrable. The mastermind behind that defense is now up north in Aggie blue.

Read carefully - ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD HOPE FOR MORE THAN SIX WINS FOR USU FOOTBALL THIS SEASON

So what can we in blue hope for? Let's break this year's schedule down game by game, starting with Utah this time and continuing through homecoming.

Opponent #1: The University of Utah Utes

Prediction: USU 9-28 Utah

Utah is coming off a Sugar Bowl win and a long and confusing off season. Utah lost only a couple offensive players, but those losses were really costly. Case in point, one Brian Johnson. Since then, Utah has been in limbo at the quarterback position. During spring ball, it was last year's backup, Corbin Louks who appears to have lost the confidence of the coaches. It was his job to lose - that much is clear. Now moving towards the start of the season, Louks has been battling Terrance Cain, a JuCo transfer for the job ever since. The battle has appeared so fierce that the Ute Coaching staff has not named a starter heading into training camp. Offensively, if Utah can't solidify a starter for this team before they face USU, the Aggies stand that much more of a chance of winning this football game. Keeping the Utes from scoring will be crucial, and if Anderson is able to whip a defensive unit trying to learn an entirely new scheme into shape, USU stands a reasonable chance of keeping the Ute offense in check.

That having been said, this game is a longshot - even with the defensive experience and brilliance of Anderson at the helm. I have to call the Aggies losing this game.

Let's be honest. Utah's defense may not have the same mind behind it, but it does have vastly superior talent to Utah State's offense. Last year, the only score that USU managed to get against the Utes was a 10-yard pass play Borel threw into the end zone after a fumbled punt return. It happened early, it happened fast, and then the Ute defense locked down and didn't let up for another grueling 56 minutes. That was that.

Look for more of the same from Utah this year. Especially since this game will be in Salt Lake City, the Ute Defense will not allow USU to score much, if at all. Everything in this game will depend on Borel's aptitude at reading and executing his offense, and how well the Aggie defense has been able to mold to Anderson's schemes. A good Aggie defense is the key to this one. The lower the score, the better.

Opponent #2: Aggies of Texas A&M

Prediction: USU 28-24 A&M

What? Dost I hear scoffing? Ok, so I am really going out on a limb here with this pick, and yes, my pick may be more influenced by hope than reality... BUT no one can deny that this win is possible. Why? Read on.

A&M is in the Big XII, yes. Yes, their schedule is much more difficult than Utah State. They play Oklahoma and Texas every year. Yes, the aspirations of A&M are much higher than USU's every year because of the mere possibility of a BCS game if they can win over 10 games. But, I do not believe that one will earn a victory this early in the season simply because of conference. By this game, A&M will probably have lost their first game against New Mexico and will be looking for an easy win in College Station. A fired up Utah State team will not allow it.

A&M went 4-8 last year, with their wins coming against illustrious teams like Colorado, who went 2-6 in conference, and Iowa State, who didn't win a single conference game last year. Their other wins came in a very close one against New Mexico and Army. This is not Oklahoma. This is not Texas. This is A&M. This is a team that has been going the way of the northern aggie for the last few seasons. They have had no direction.

Also, let it be said that I am no fan at all of the belief that conference entitles a team to a victory. May I cite the following games as examples: Wyoming-Tennessee 08; Hawaii-Washington 06; Utah-Pitt 05 (Fiesta Bowl); Utah-Alabama 09 (Sugar Bowl); BYU-Kansas State 96 (Cotton Bowl); BYU-Miami 90; and finally my best case in point, Boise St-Oklahoma 06 (Fiesta Bowl). There are just as many cases that a quality mid-major team can beat one of the BCS conference teams on the right day with the right matchup. Sure, USU is just going to be fighting for a winning season and a bowl berth, certainly not a BCS bowl berth, but this A&M team is beatable.

For USU, it will be a tall order, but a fillable one. I'm putting out the upset watch sign on this game.

Victim #1: errr...... Opponent #3: The Southern Utah Thunderbirds

Prediction: USU 42-6 SUU

Where to start with this game? This is the home opener for Utah State and the Aggie Homecoming game. Utah State will have every reason to win this game and should let loose on the small Division II opponent from Cedar City.

Not only is SUU a DII team, but they are a bottom dwelling DII team. Last year they went 4-7 in the Great West conference. The only D-1 FBS team that SUU faced last year was Air Force, and they were trounced 41-7. These guys are cupcakes, even more than Idaho and New Mexico State.

Much more than what I've just said is just statistic stacking. One sidenote that I think should be mentioned is the fact that Coach Andersen is a former head coach of SUU. In the first three games of the season, Gary will face the two teams he used to coach.

More to come... check in later.

Gary Andersen on USU Football

Here's Gary - Listen to your Aggie Football King

Coach McMackin's Comments

Oh, how the warriors have fallen. It was only two years ago that the Hawaii Warriors found themselves in the Sugar Bowl as the second team from the WAC to bust the BCS and the 3rd team in 4 years to accomplish that feat. And now, the program finds itself in a mire of media hell.

The coach was suspended for 30 days and fined more than a million dollars for using a derrogatory homosexual slur in a tasteless joke during the WAC media day. Below, you can see a dejected McMackin apologizing for the slur, followed by ESPN's Brian Kenny commenting on it.

You can also check out the written story here