It's time for a reality check for Utah and BYU faithful.
Despite being in the deep pit where disappointment, frustration, a little anger and emotional bankruptcy dwell, fans should remember it is far worse for the players.
They're the ones who live it; you just buy tickets or tune in on TV. You are partners in pain.
Before the losses last weekend to Oregon and Florida State, the reality of the situation was that it was way too premature for any talk of BCS games, national championship and Heisman Trophy candidates. Rankings in early September mean close to nothing.
Reality is that Pac-10 and ACC coaching staffs would exploit weakness in the Cougars and Utes. And they did. This wasn't Northern Iowa or Northern Arizona.
Reality is BYU got lucky beating Oklahoma with four turnovers. Reality is that in BYU's past five games, they are 2-3 and have committed 20 turnovers.
Reality is if that trend isn't broken, the Cougars could lose to anyone.
Reality is Utah lost a veteran quarterback and NFL corners and defensive end.
Reality is growing pains early are the rule, not the exception. Utah's O and D need to grow up and that takes time.
Reality before last weekend's losses is that a long, grueling season stood perched on the horizon, and both BYU and Utah could be taken down by Colorado State, Air Force or UNLV not to mention TCU.
Reality is, the BCS has created unreal expectations where losses mean immediate failure. Reality is, undefeated seasons like Utah had in 2004 and 2008 are extremely rare. Utah could have lost three or four games in 2008. And in this non-automatic qualifier world outside BCS conferences, going undefeated is the unfair standard.
Reality about football is this, according to Barry Switzer: No team plays at its top level every week. You'll get three or four where you do play outstanding, three where you're average and about three where you're simply flat. When you play flat, you have to be lucky to win, but it's doable.
Reality is that BYU played its best in beating Oklahoma. They were flat Saturday.
Reality is that Utah played average in the opener, were flat at San Jose State and average to flat against Oregon.
The reason Switzer is right about this protocol is that teams play in waves of momentum in a season, just like in games. Players are up and down, physically tired or emotionally up or down. Sometimes they overestimate their greatness; sometimes coaches on the other side do a better job.
Sometimes the other guys are pretty good. That's football.
No question, the losses to Oregon and FSU by the Utes and Cougars are huge disappointments because so much was on the line and so many invested so much emotion in the cause.
Reality is that the best football of the season could be ahead of Utah and BYU, with huge matchups, showdowns, key homestands and road trips still to be played.
If Boise State stumbles, there's a slim chance in this stupid BCS system, that a one-loss MWC team could climb into a BCS bowl. It's a long shot, but the polls you see today are not the BCS poll, based on a series of formulae including strength of schedule, computer data and human votes.
If that doesn't work, gulp, is it that bad to go to Las Vegas or San Diego? Perhaps for Utah, with a taste of Sugar, the answer is yes. For BYU, with multiple appearances in Las Vegas, perhaps it is also a yes.
But reality is this: The current BCS system is created to keep BCS bowls and the money within the elite circle inside the cartel with special invited guest Notre Dame, when the Irish are actually good. And this year, Notre Dame might actually stumble into the realm of good.
Meanwhile, BCS schools like Oklahoma and Florida, USC and Texas can lose games and still have all those lofty title game hopes afloat as a reality. Others can lose a game and be banned and shut out.
That is horrible, an indictment on the system the NCAA has allowed to rule its college football championship.
But the reality is that this is the way college football is these days. An undefeated team like Utah can be shut out of a title game and it's generally accepted to be OK.
Until we get a more equitable playoff, faithful Utes and Cougars should buckle down after the roof crashed around them Saturday and realistically find a way to climb back into the fray.
That's what the guys with helmets have to do.
It's tough. But it's reality.
e-mail: dharmon@desnews.com