Bill Riley

BACK TO THE BILL RILEY FRONTPAGE

Bill’s Blah Blah Blog

Thursday, December 27th, 2007 @ 8:04PM

Post Christmas Blogging From Home

It’s been exactly a week since I’ve checked in with you all from San Diego and the Utes win against Navy at the Poinsettia Bowl. Well 7 days later I’m sitting and relaxing in my living room watching another bowl game from San Diego with 2 slightly higher profile schools playing. It’s the Holiday Bowl with Texas and Arizona State. The one similarity so far between the two games is that both have been exceedingly boring first halves. Let’s hope thed 2nd half of this game is as good as the game a week ago was…

I haven’t been on air this week, I’ve taken a several vacation days. I didn’t take more than 2 days off in a row this year, so I thought I would treat myself to a few off in a row. I will be back on air next week after the New Year....

A few random thoughts on the Sports World over the last week or so…

1. There hasn’t been a more fortunate football program in their last 2 games than the BYU Cougars and Bronco Mendenhall. First it was “4th and 18” and the 2 timely calls down the stretch against Utah. Then after being mostly outplayed by UCLA last Saturday night in Las Vegas, they somehow manage to block a field goal to hold on for an 11th win on the season. It might be said that BYU won the battle (winning the game), but lost the war (gaining National recognition in the bowl game). Sure the Cougars will finish in the Top 25, but the thought of gaining any real measure of National respect with the win goes out the window. They simply weren’t impressive against a middle of the pack PAC 10 team playing a 4th String QB.

2. Piggy-backing on the previous thought...I find it comical all this talk of threatening the BCS next year. Perhaps BYU should tally a noteable non-conference win before worrying about playing in the BCS. The world that MWC teams live in requires a perfect regular season, that is just how it is. And while BYU has finished on an extremely high note the last 2 seasons, they have struggled in the early going. This is not to say that it can’t be done, it’s just a bit absurd to be talking about after barely beating a bad UCLA team in the Las Vegas bowl. The craziest part of all of this is my fellow SLC media members falling right in line with this ridiculous line of talk following one BYU most medicore performances of the season. With that said, Mendenhall and his staff should be applauded for their efforts, they are now the team to beat in the MWC and show no sign of relinquishing that title anytime soon!

3. Despite the fact the Jazz and Gordan Giracek have kissed and made up, it’s time to go their separate ways. Giracek has added absolutely nothing to the team this season. I was adament before the season that the Jazz had far too big a logjam at the 2 Guard and that someone needed to go. Well the actions of the last week and the results of most the the season tell me that guy has to be Gordan Giracek. Between Ronnie Brewer and CJ Miles the Jazz have enough talent at the 2 Guard that they simply don’t need a locker room cancer right now. Trade him if possible, if not simply dump the 4 million and chalk it up to a relationship that simply lasted too long. Memo to Kevin O’Connor, “End it NOW”!!

That’s all for now...Check back tomorrow and I will grade Utah and BYU’s 2007 in Football and Basketball, with an outlook toward 2008....

Previous entry:
Bill's Blah Blah Blog

Kwal Paint