Well I hope Utah isn't about to fade into National insignificance. HUH? How can you say that Rodger when they are now in the Pac 12? Well, for those not under the influence of Ute Mania, who can look objectively at the situation, a glance at history would tell them there are hazzards ahead.
In the first place, the last few years, since the Urban Meyer years, have been an aberration in MWC/WAC football. From 1962-1999 Utah never won the WAC championship. They shared a title with New Mexico and Arizona in 1964 and a four way tie in 1995. In the 11 years of the Mountain West Conference Utah has won the title only 3 times. They are not quite a yearly powerhouse.
Compare their record with Arizona and Arizona State. Many of you young UTE fans my not remember that they were members of the WAC with Utah from 1962 to 1978 when they left to make the PAC 8 the PAC 10. In the last 10 years they were in the WAC with Utah, BYU, New Mexico and the others, Arizona and Arizona State won or shared the conference championship 9 times. That is 9 of 10 years. 90%. In the 32 years since joining the Pac 10, Arizona State has gone to two Rose Bowls, Arizona none.
During Whittingham's tenure, the Utes are a mediocre 4-3 vs PAC 10 teams. And besides football, a peek at the conference champions in other sports shows that Utah is mediocre in the MWC. (They are national powers in Women's gymnastics but that isn't a MWC sport.) These other sports will likely struggle in the PAC 12.
Don't misunderstand. I think this is a great opportunity for Utah and I am very happy for them. As far as athletics goes I think BYU would have been a better choice, but I am glad they didn't get the nod. And I realize that more than Athletics is involved in the choice.
While I hate to lose Utah as a Lobo opponent, I will now be free to root for them, and I will. Go Utes! I am not quite ready to sing I am a Utah man sir, but I look forward to seeing the big boys come to town.
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