This is the final regular season weekend of football for the Utes, Cougars and Aggies. Long-past-due praise is piled up for the offensive coordinators of all three clubs.
Utah’s Jason Beck, BYU’s Aaron Roderick and Utah State’s Kevin McGiven have risen to the task this season. They’ve coached their way to some big time wins, historic performances and deserve raises.
They’re the Amigos. They were all handed huge challenges, new faces and unique situations, and they all delivered with flying colors.
From USU’s perfectly executed trick plays to Utah’s devastating fast-break run game to BYU’s introduction of its first freshman starting quarterback to the threshold of a Big 12 title game — this is first-class mentor-hood on a grand scale.
Utah’s Beck has got the Utes killing defenses. Compared to what Utah’s offense was a year ago, their first-year offensive coordinator deserves to ride down State Street with a parade in his honor. He has been creative, exact, dynamic and consistent with this Ute offense, bringing Uteville the league’s No. 1-scoring offense.
McGiven has the Aggies hosting Boise State this weekend and what he’s done in producing yards, points and big plays is amazing. With a few breaks this season, he could have helped Bronco Mendenhall knock on the door for a piece of the conference title.
Roderick has proven to be the QB whisperer with freshman Bear Bachmeier. Remember when Jake Retzlaff left Provo for Tulane and everyone about threw in the towel on the Cougars this summer? Roderick’s handling of his rookie has been a masterclass.
Utah gained 484.5 yards and 42 points a game; BYU 414 yards and 33.4 points per game and USU averaged an impressive 424 and 32.5 points a game.
This week, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham told reporters he’d give Beck an “A+” grade for his performance as his offensive coordinator. This at a place where that position has become an endangered species.
“A+,” Whittingham said. “You know, we’re only 11 games in, so we’ve got one to go, but Jason has really been a huge positive force. Jason’s done a phenomenal job this year, statistically, that is borne out in the numbers.”
In Provo, head BYU coach Kalani Sitake told reporters Roderick has been coaching in the shadows of national attention, although he’s been nominated for the Broyles Award as the offensive coordinator of the year.
“A-Rod doesn’t get enough credit for all that he does as an offensive coordinator. He’s a dream if you’re a defensive coordinator. He doesn’t have an ego and only wants to win,” Sitake said.
Mendenhall told 1280 The Zone radio this week that as good as McGiven has been operating as his offensive coordinator, he’s even better as a human being.
After last week’s win over Fresno State, Mendenhall praised McGiven for his adjustments and trick plays.
“Coach McGiven is a master when it comes to tricks. It’s not like when the opponent sees him out there they can anticipate that something’s coming,” Mendenhall said.
This week, all three coordinators will have chances to do some damage in league play with the Utes traveling to Kansas, BYU hosting UCF and Utah State getting a crack at Boise State in Maverick Stadium.
At Provo, the Cougars are four quarters away from a trip to Arlington and the Big 12 championship game if they can get past UCF. Roderick has been on a roll of late with impressive game calls and plans against TCU and Cincinnati — controlling the game, clock and scoreboard.
BYU is heavily favored, not because of UCF’s defense, which is ranked 23rd overall, 30th in stopping the run and 16th against the pass — but its offense, which is 115th in total offense, 131st in passing offense. UCF has not won a road game this year and will come from Florida weather in Orlando to Utah County with not only a higher altitude, but a projected temperature of 38 degrees at kickoff.
With star receiver Chase Roberts questionable with a sore hamstring, it will be interesting to see who Roderick turns to to help Bachmeier and the league’s top rusher, LJ Martin. Parker Kingston will definitely be targeted as will tight end Carsen Ryan, but who else will step up?
At Lawrence, Kansas: Utah is an 11.5 favorite over Kansas. Still, Utah’s win margin will be better than that if the Utes’ defense has fully recovered from the inexplicable odorous brain exhaust emitted last week at home against Kansas State.
Damon Dampier and freshman Byrd Ficklin have been sensational at making big plays and Kansas has the 12th-ranked scoring and rushing defense, allowing 29 points a game.
That Kansas defense will face a Ute offense that has scored 53, 45, 55, and 51 points in its last four games. Wayshawn Parker is averaging 6.9 yards per carry, while Dampier is 5.5, Ficklin 9.2 and Daniel Bray 7.0.
This could get ugly. The margin of Utah’s win will depend on the Utes’ defense, which slipped to 15th in the league in rushing defense after yielding almost 500 yards to K-State last week.
At Logan: Somewhere, someone needs to give Bronco Mendenhall a golden saddle or some other emblem of recognition for his first-year job at Utah State. After he arrived, his president and athletic director bailed. Mendenhall bore down and just did his Bronco thing, getting the Aggies bowl-eligible with a convincing win at Fresno State right after his team should have earned a bowl game the week before at UNLV.
This Aggie team is tough and resilient, and it will get a real crack at Boise State at Maverik Stadium. Ordinarily, you’d go with the Broncos because BSU is the big dog in the Mountain West. But do not count out this Mendenhall team and its do-everything quarterback, Bryson Barnes.
As long as Barnes is healthy and upright, the Aggies should be in this game. They’ve faced Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. Why not flex what they’ve got at home on senior day with Boise State?
Boise State has won nine straight games over the Aggies, but will play without starting quarterback and American Fork native Maddux Madsen.
This week’s predictions
Friday, Nov. 28
- Utah 44, Kansas 24
- Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 24
- Utah State 24, Boise State 21
- Indiana 37, Purdue 21
- Texas A&M 37, Texas 31
- Arizona 24, Arizona State 21
Saturday Nov. 29
- Alabama 27, Auburn 24
- Texas Tech 38, West Virginia 14
- Miami 34, Pittsburgh 31
- Baylor 27, Houston 24
- Kansas State 28, Houston 24
- Iowa State 27, Oklahoma State 10
- Oregon 38, Washington 31
- TCU 35, Cincinnati 28
- BYU 31, UCF 10
Last week 15-3; overall 168-47 (781)
