The Brigham Young Cougars released their 2012 football schedule late yesterday.
The 2012 schedule has more of a regional flavor than the 2011 schedule that saw BYU play five teams from east of the Rocky Mountains. In 2012, the only teams BYU plays from outside the west are Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Those two games come in the latter half of October, and they are both road games. When BYU makes the trek to South Bend on October 20 to play the Fighting Irish, it will be the first time BYU travels outside the Mountain Time Zone and only the second time BYU travels outside the state of Utah for a game.
The back-to-back long road trips is one area of concern on the schedule. It would have been much better had BYU been able to move back the Georgia Tech game one week and have a bye on October 27 as opposed to November 3. Another area of concern is how the schedule is, once again, front heavy.
BYU will have a “break” in week two playing Football Championship Subdivision opponent Weber State, but that is the only game of the first nine that can be definitely identified as an easy win. Washington State, Hawai’i, and Oregon State may turn out to be walkovers, but at this point, there are too many question marks and variables to label them as such. While it helps that the first two games are at home, as opposed to the two roadies that opened 2011, BYU cannot afford to have a slow start, or struggle to find its identity, if BYU will be in any discussion of national relevancy in November.
Just as the first year of independence had BYU exclusively play WAC teams after November 1, the Cougars will face only WAC teams following the November 3 bye. Only one of those three games is a home game, which means Cougar fans won’t have to endure more than one possible cold night in the stands. The November 10 home game against Idaho is the only home game for BYU after October 13.
BYU plays only one Friday game this season (October 5), after playing three last year, and that is the “annual” Friday night game the day before the October General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Here is the complete schedule with some brief notes for some games (kickoff times and broadcast information is still pending).
September 1 Washington State
BYU graduate, and passing wizard Mike Leach will make his debut as head coach for the Washington State Cougars. Will Washington State grasp Leach’s offense instantly, or will they need some games to get a handle of it?
September 8 Weber State
September 15 @ Utah
Utah will have a new, inexperienced offensive coordinator, just like BYU did last year. BYU should be very highly motivated for this game after the way the last two games in this series have gone.
September 22 @ Boise State
BYU catches Boise State at a good time as the Broncos will be replacing four year starting quarterback Kellen Moore.
September 29 Hawai’i
Former BYU offensive coordinator Norm Chow will be in his first season as head coach with the Hawai’i Warriors. Will he keep a high flying aerial attack Hawai’i has become known for, or will he have more of a pass-run balance. Running back Joey Iosefa provides the right personnel to make an immediate switch.
October 5 Utah State
The competition in this series has dramatically increased the last two years. Will it continue, or will BYU reassert itself as the dominant team?
October 13 Oregon State
Bronco Mendenhall can move to 3-0 as a head coach against his former team.
October 20 @ Notre Dame
Exactly 20 years after the first meeting between the two schools, BYU and Notre Dame commence a new series of games when they meet for the seventh time ever.
October 27 @ Georgia Tech
For decades, BYU successfully stopped the option attack run by Air Force. Can they do the same and stymie the Yellow Jackets?
November 3 BYE
November 10 Idaho
November 17 @ San Jose State
This could turn into more than just a game played in fertile recruiting grounds. If Michigan quarterback transfer Tate Forcier can turn the Spartans into contenders in the WAC, this game may transform what now appears to be dull November game into a meaningful game against a quality opponent.
November 24 @ New Mexico State
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
The 2012 schedule has more of a regional flavor than the 2011 schedule that saw BYU play five teams from east of the Rocky Mountains. In 2012, the only teams BYU plays from outside the west are Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Those two games come in the latter half of October, and they are both road games. When BYU makes the trek to South Bend on October 20 to play the Fighting Irish, it will be the first time BYU travels outside the Mountain Time Zone and only the second time BYU travels outside the state of Utah for a game.
The back-to-back long road trips is one area of concern on the schedule. It would have been much better had BYU been able to move back the Georgia Tech game one week and have a bye on October 27 as opposed to November 3. Another area of concern is how the schedule is, once again, front heavy.
BYU will have a “break” in week two playing Football Championship Subdivision opponent Weber State, but that is the only game of the first nine that can be definitely identified as an easy win. Washington State, Hawai’i, and Oregon State may turn out to be walkovers, but at this point, there are too many question marks and variables to label them as such. While it helps that the first two games are at home, as opposed to the two roadies that opened 2011, BYU cannot afford to have a slow start, or struggle to find its identity, if BYU will be in any discussion of national relevancy in November.
Just as the first year of independence had BYU exclusively play WAC teams after November 1, the Cougars will face only WAC teams following the November 3 bye. Only one of those three games is a home game, which means Cougar fans won’t have to endure more than one possible cold night in the stands. The November 10 home game against Idaho is the only home game for BYU after October 13.
BYU plays only one Friday game this season (October 5), after playing three last year, and that is the “annual” Friday night game the day before the October General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Here is the complete schedule with some brief notes for some games (kickoff times and broadcast information is still pending).
September 1 Washington State
BYU graduate, and passing wizard Mike Leach will make his debut as head coach for the Washington State Cougars. Will Washington State grasp Leach’s offense instantly, or will they need some games to get a handle of it?
September 8 Weber State
September 15 @ Utah
Utah will have a new, inexperienced offensive coordinator, just like BYU did last year. BYU should be very highly motivated for this game after the way the last two games in this series have gone.
September 22 @ Boise State
BYU catches Boise State at a good time as the Broncos will be replacing four year starting quarterback Kellen Moore.
September 29 Hawai’i
Former BYU offensive coordinator Norm Chow will be in his first season as head coach with the Hawai’i Warriors. Will he keep a high flying aerial attack Hawai’i has become known for, or will he have more of a pass-run balance. Running back Joey Iosefa provides the right personnel to make an immediate switch.
October 5 Utah State
The competition in this series has dramatically increased the last two years. Will it continue, or will BYU reassert itself as the dominant team?
October 13 Oregon State
Bronco Mendenhall can move to 3-0 as a head coach against his former team.
October 20 @ Notre Dame
Exactly 20 years after the first meeting between the two schools, BYU and Notre Dame commence a new series of games when they meet for the seventh time ever.
October 27 @ Georgia Tech
For decades, BYU successfully stopped the option attack run by Air Force. Can they do the same and stymie the Yellow Jackets?
November 3 BYE
November 10 Idaho
November 17 @ San Jose State
This could turn into more than just a game played in fertile recruiting grounds. If Michigan quarterback transfer Tate Forcier can turn the Spartans into contenders in the WAC, this game may transform what now appears to be dull November game into a meaningful game against a quality opponent.
November 24 @ New Mexico State
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
The two away games at New Mexico St and San Jose St will be butt ugly with a potential crowd topping 15,000 likely at each. BYU catches BCS-ers Georgia Tech, Wash St, Ore St, at a perfect time all are very down. Notre Dame has a hard time at home vs underdogs, examples from 'Cuse, South Florida go on and on. If BYU finds the Domers with a shaky QB situation, the Cougars could very well make headlines with a landslide win. Boise St will depend on a quick defense to stay competitive, and the yearly psychcodrama that seems to hit BYU harder than it does Utah makes the rivalry game the toughest match. How many times have the Cougars overmatched the U to let them catch up and even win in OT? Playing at their potential another 10 game season, with 11 in reach. It's hard to be up for each game making an undefeated year very hard.
ReplyDeleteI thought Tate Forcier dropped out of SJSU. He wasn't on scholarship & had trouble paying his own way.
ReplyDelete