Utah’s 2019 Season Best Compared To Relationship With A Bad Breakup
Dec 16, 2019, 12:30 PM
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah football season was a roller-coaster. Expectations prior to the season starting were high – many fans, players and coaches were anticipating a historic season – for good reason.
The key members of the 2018 9-5 Utah football team returned. Zack Moss, Leki Fotu, and Bradlee Anae could have taken their talents to the NFL following the 2018 season, instead, they returned determined to be the first Utah football team to win the Pac-12 and take the program to heights they had never been before.
It seemed as though they were on the right track to do exactly that.
Then it all came crashing down.
Awesome moment as Penei Sewell comforts his brother Nephi right after the Ducks beat the Utes. #Pac12FCG #GoDucks #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/W9CFQkXQrQ
— Brandon Kamerman (@B_Kamerman) December 7, 2019
The wheels fell off and the Utes suffered the most heartbreaking loss in recent memory in the Pac-12 Championship game at the hands of the Oregon Ducks.
We do not need to go into details, nor do we need to continue to dwell on the implications of a loss of that magnitude. We do need to discuss the feelings and emotions that this football season gave fans.
Kind Of Like A Relationship
The best way to describe the 2019 Utah football season is by comparing it to a relationship that ended poorly.
Imagine falling in love with someone who brings the best out of you. You cannot wait to spend more time with that person, you love the interaction and cannot stop thinking about that special individual. The laughs are endless and the feeling you have for that person is something that you have never experienced before.
Then something happens, the honeymoon stage is over and you start butting heads. You find yourself arguing a little more than you would like and the cracks start to appear.
Before you know it, the relationship is over. It ends with a screaming match because that other person did something that is inexcusable and you know that you would not be able to get over it.
Despite all of the good memories, all you can do is despise them for the way it ended.
Forever love this team.
Thank you to our fans who supported us on the road, and those who watched from home. pic.twitter.com/5g4XvmKCPv
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 7, 2019
Or Like A Movie With A Bad Ending
You could also look at the 2019 Utah football season in the form of a movie.
You get to the theatre, popcorn and soda ready. You have a hard time remembering the last time the buttery popcorn and fizzle of the soda tasted that good. Man, the popcorn/soda combination is really popping (pardon the pun).
The movie starts, your phone is on silent mode and you are fixated. Your entire world stops. The storyline of the movie is all that matters. You are in a different universe.
The two or so hours fly by, the movie is one of the best you have seen in a really long time.
Then the ending sucks. Like, really, really smells. You leave the theatre on a cliff hanger that just left way too much to the imagination. You are not alone either, the entire theatre is left scratching their heads, pondering what would have happened next if the movie continued.
Frustration follows.
My point is, no matter how good something makes you feel, the ending matters. A bad ending ruins everything that came before it.
That is the 2019 Utah football season in a nutshell.
It is a shame, that despite the Utes blowing out everybody in their path, the Pac-12 title game against Oregon will be the lone memory Utah football fans hold when they look back on the 2019 season.
Let’s Not Forget, We Saw Growth
In the hopes of saving Ute fans from dwelling in the ”what could have been” mindset, it is worth noting that this Utah football team put the program back on the map.
They were the fifth team in the country before getting beat by the Ducks. The nation was paying attention.
Growth happened. Growth is a good thing. Now, head coach Kyle Whittingham is tasked with moving on and passing that message onto his players.
We still have the Alamo Bowl to look forward too. I get that, but let’s not kid ourselves. Utah was in a position where it seemed like the worst bowl game they would end up in was the Rose Bowl.
The Alamo Bowl is great, but Utah fans don’t care.
That’s a good looking trophy! 🏆@UtahCoachWhitt is visiting San Antonio today as @valeroalamobowl prep continues. #goutes pic.twitter.com/DC3RdSL7iE
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) December 12, 2019
It will be good for recruiting. Anytime you get to play a traditional college football powerhouse in the state of Texas, you will find a way to benefit. Specifically in the recruiting world.
The Utah coaches will have a great chance to showcase their program to some highly ranked recruits, and that alone is a positive.
OV at Utah was great ‼️ #hometownhero ?? pic.twitter.com/q0r24iWeOt
— Van Fillinger (@van_filli) December 15, 2019
Merry Christmas Ute nation and a happy new year. Stay positive and remind yourself football is just a game.
It just so happens to be a game that many of us are highly invested in.