Congratulations UTES! (Highland: appointed, credit, how much)

[EdLo]

Great game, great season. My alma mater, the University of Hawaii, had a perfect season last year, but did not prevail in the Sugar Bowl game. Having a home in Highland, and hoping to move there this year I had to root all the way for the Utah Utes against "former" #1 Alabama.
Again, congratulations for a job will done by all the members of the Utah
UTES!!!

Eddie, in San Jose CA

[Tama]

My son is an Alabama grad and is now on his way home from New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl. He will be disappointed--but that young team from Utah deserves all the credit. What a great job they did. Undefeated and knocking off powerhouse Alabama. Congrats--enjoy the victory as it is well-deserved!

[ThorsHammer]

It was a GREAT game, I think Nick Saban might need to find a new job after suspending a couple of players or the outcome might have been different. Still not to take any glory away from Utah they still were undefeated before they got to the bowl game though and it will be a shame to probably only see them get ranked about #3 or #4. I hope they get their due and get at least #2 since they did manhandle Alabama.

[techienomad]

Nice game Utah, I love it. If I had a vote, I would vote Utah AP #1. I give Saban credit for doing the right thing and suspending his players. We need a few more coaches with integrity, rather than just focusing on BCS standings.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by techienomad

Nice game Utah, I love it. If I had a vote, I would vote Utah AP #1. I give Saban credit for doing the right thing and suspending his players. We need a few more coaches with integrity, rather than just focusing on BCS standings.

I agree, techienomad!

Congrats Utes! I'd recommend the advice of one who posted in the Trib today about the University printing their own banner as 2008 National Champs. As was pointed out in the post, is the BCS going to take it down?

Saban, I've watched all year. Some of us in the Rockies watch Tide ball due to our colleagues and others who have moved here from AL. Saban has impressed me with how he has turned things around at 'BAMA. I've never seen him as upset as he was at the Sugar Bowl.

I agree with the suspension. Besides, the 3 entire Tide players who even talked to the press (note: despite his personal webpage, John Parker Wilson wasn't one), the players all said they weren't ready and didn't respect UT enough. How much can Saban do if the players are starting their own websites to post their stats and clip their own press? He took them to a movie the night before to get them to focus.

BTW - I believe the link is: John Parker Wilson - Alabama Crimson Tide John Parker Wilson - John Parker Wilson Stats Interesting how selective his articles are. One about the Sugar Bowl, more about who is leaving early from the Tide. Now his interceptions numbers for 2008 will have doubled between the FL game and Sugar Bowl.

The BCS is broken. Good coaches, good teams - not individual players - make for good football. The BCS needs revised or tossed.

Utah deserved to win the Sugar Bowl and I predicted their win when I first heard the match up. My reasoning: JPW - once his head is out of the game, and Brian Johnson continues to be in the game, there is no game.

Congrats to the coaches, players, families of players and coaches, and everyone else involved with Ute Football this year! As was written elsewhere, when the NY Times says something nice about your performance, then others better notice too.

Joe Barid wrote an important piece that is posted in today's SL Trib: Salt Lake Tribune Home Page - Salt Lake Tribune about the Utes being included in the national discussion about football. If you read it, check out the other related articles. The posts are great.

Have to say from the posts written in all the UT papers: 1. BAMA fans posting have been very respctful, 2. The Ute fans who went to NOLA, enjoyed meeting BAMA fans and said they were polite to them. For die hard Ute fans, many were expecting more of what goes on between the Utah- BYU annual football game. It's like the Iron Bowl, with its unique Utah twist. Ute fans didn't expect to be treated as well as they were by AL fans. And I've read the same is true for AL fans regarding how UT fans treated them.

Apparently, the N.O.P.D. had zero complaints related to the Super Bowl of Utah vs. AL fans fighting, or engaging in other criminal activity. The PD reports no complaints or fights etc. is a Sugar Bowl first for them. They want both teams back next year.

Congrats again Utah Utes! You make this Alum very proud!