What we learned from the Cougars’ win over Utah
Nov 24, 2013, 1:04 PM | Updated: 1:09 pm
By Jim Moore
The Cougars are bowl eligible after beating Utah 49-37 Saturday at Martin Stadium.
They’re 6-5 and can assure themselves of a postseason spot somewhere if they beat the Huskies in the Apple Cup on Friday.
After rushing out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, the Cougars held on to defeat Utah and clinch bowl eligibility in just the second year under head coach Mike Leach. (AP) |
Three things we learned:
1. They’re better than we thought.
Or than I thought anyway. I’ve had a hard time trying to figure them out.
After Arizona State smacked us around on Halloween, I thought we’d lose out. I didn’t see us beating Arizona, Utah OR Washington. Now we’re in a position to win all three.
2. Connor Halliday is on a roll.
I think he still leads the country in interceptions, but he threw only one against Arizona and was pick-less against Utah. He actually did throw one against Utah, but I guess it doesn’t count in the stats, coming as it did on a failed two-point conversion.
Halliday completed 39 of 62 for 488 yards and four touchdowns. He was throwing it all over the lot – short, wide, deep, down the sideline – and connecting more often than not.
“When everybody is playing together, that’s what this offense can do,” Halliday said.
3. The offensive line had a spectacular game.
Utah led the country in sacks with 36, and Halliday can move around a bit, but he isn’t exactly mobile. Seemed like a bad combination, but the Utes never got to Halliday.
Four things we’re still trying to figure out:
1. Should fans have stormed the field?
The Cougs beat a so-so Utah team, and to call the Utes so-so is probably generous. They’ve now lost six in a row since beating Stanford.
Does a win over Utah warrant an on-field celebration? Probably not, but what the heck — we haven’t had a six-win season since 2006.
This will be the first non-losing season in seven years, and if we beat the Huskies, it will be the first winning season since 2003.
2. Will a bowl game want the Cougs if they finish 6-6?
There are too many bowl-eligible teams for spots available. If you’re weighing out the strengths of the Cougs vs. other teams, I’d think you’d want a team that would be thrilled to be there.
You’d also have to want a coach like Mike Leach and an entertaining brand of ball with the Air Raid offense.
But the Cougs could guarantee a berth with a win on Friday in the Apple Cup.
3. Have the Cougars ever had two pick sixes in a game?
It happened against Utah, and both came in the first quarter, delivered by Damonte Horton and Casey Locker. In 40 years of watching Cougar football, I can’t recall it happening.
The Go 2 Guy also writes for his website jimmoorethego2guy.com and kitsapsun.com. You can reach Jim at jimmoorethego2guy@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @cougsgo.