In other words, amid all the strategy and schemes involved in game plans, football is not rocket science.
"Not rocket science" has become a catch-all description for anything that's not as difficult as it's made out to be. So what expression do rocket scientists use? "Not brain surgery."
In an effort to properly analyze and demystify today's rivalry game between Brigham Young and Utah, The Tribune sought opinions from rocket scientists working for ATK, an advanced weapons and space systems company, at its Launch Systems Group operation in Magna, and professors in the University of Utah's neurosurgery department.
The brain surgeons never describe something as "not football coaching." Just the same, Dr. Randy Jensen said, "One nice thing about brain surgery is on Saturday, you don't have to read about how you did on Friday. If I had to read the paper about, 'Oh, that wasn't a very nice incision; the approach to that tumor was pretty lousy . . .' It would be a whole different thing, living in a fishbowl as the head coach of a major university."
Regardless of what fans might believe, however, Kyle Whittingham is not dealing with life-and-death procedures at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"When we make a mistake," said Dr. William Couldwell, "it lasts a lot longer than a football season."
What do the scientists and surgeons think will happen?
A rocket scientist's matchup analysis
Jeff DeVries
IT IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE . . .
BYU graduate Jeff DeVries calculated the results of the Cougars and Utes against eight common opponents this season, determining that BYU outscored them by an average of 30 points and Utah's margin was 14 points (with two losses).
"That's double the power, double the impact," said DeVries, an ATK safety engineer. "It doesn't take brain surgery to figure that out."
MAYBE IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE . . .
"I would liken the Cougars to the D-5 rocket system: It's been very consistent, very predictable," DeVries said. "The Utah program, especially offensively, looks like the Scud missile. You never know where it's going to end up. . . . It's not guided, it's not directed."
A brain surgeon's matchup analysis
Dr. Randy Jensen
IT IS NOT BRAIN SURGERY . . .
A graduate of the University of Utah Medical School, Dr. Randy Jensen is a devoted Ute fan. To Jensen, an associate professor of neurosurgery, today's key for the Utes is challenging, but not complicated: stopping BYU quarterback John Beck.
Jensen is hoping for a sound, mistake-free performance from cornerback Eric Weddle and the rest of the secondary, knowing they have been burned in the team's four losses this season.
MAYBE IT IS BRAIN SURGERY . . .
Jensen is confident the Utes will win, just because "no other outcome is acceptable," he said.
It's the same approach, when the opponent is a brain tumor. And in terms of recruiting and developing surgeons, Jensen compares a medical school to a football program. "We're competing against other schools," he said, "and our success is determined by what we turn out on the other end."
What the Rocket Scientists Say
Rob Richeson
It is not rocket science . . .
As a former Ute fullback, Rob Richeson is convinced the circumstances are so similar to 1978, when his team upset the Cougars in Salt Lake City, that the same thing has to happen today.
That season, the Utes also lost to New Mexico and Wyoming, but a 23-22 victory over a BYU team that had already clinched the conference championship gave Utah an 8-3 record.
"It also reminds me of last year, when BYU was heavily favored, and we pummeled them," said Richeson, an ATK performance enterprise system specialist.
Maybe it is rocket science . . .
Richeson recognizes that BYU has demonstrated more offensive power this season, but Utah might have just the right capability. "Our mission is not to launch to the moon," he said. "We just want to get out of the Earth's orbit, get up to the space station. When the mission is to the space station and those guys are trying for the moon, it's a failure."
Tony Zvonek
It is not rocket science . . .
Teaming with Richeson, Utah graduate Tony Zvonek cited often overlooked factors such as tailgating beverages, fan loyalty, the decibel level at Rice-Eccles Stadium and BYU's averaging nearly 60 penalty yards a game in determining a prediction for this afternoon.
Their calculated outcome: Utah 34, BYU 31. Those just happen to the most famous numbers in the rivalry's history - the scores of Utah victories in 1993 and '94, driven home in commercials featuring former coaches LaVell Edwards and Ron McBride.
Maybe it is rocket science . . .
A process engineering manager at ATK, Zvonek created a giant poster illustrating his theory, with mathematical formulas of all those factors resulting in a power quotient for each team, which were rounded off to "34" and "31."
"We took a scientific approach, using all the key components," Zvonek insisted.
Bob Seirup
It is not rocket science . . .
BYU graduate Bob Seirup respects what Utah quarterback Brett Ratliff did last November in Provo in his first Division I-A start, but he believes this year will be different, for two simple reasons: BYU's defense is much improved and Utah no longer has running back Quinton Ganther.
"Ratliff is going to be on his back, and he'll be rattled," said Seirup, project manager of the Delta II, III and IV rocket series. "And they don't have a running game, so that's the end of the offense."
Maybe it is rocket science . . .
Seirup breaks down the subsystems of a launch process to determine what the overall system will do.
Studying the position areas for the Cougars and Utes, he ranked each group on a 10-point scale and came up with a 41-17 advantage for BYU.
"And we're very conservative in the rocket business," he said.
What the Brain Surgeon Says
Dr. William Couldwell
It is not brain surgery . . .
Having done his neurosurgery residency at USC, Dr. William Couldwell is familiar with college football at its highest level.
Simply, for Utah to beat BYU, he believes the Utes will have to deliver their best performance of the season.
"The biggest thing is they just have to be at the top of their game," said Couldwell, the University of Utah's chairman of neurosurgery.
Maybe it is brain surgery . . .
Much like an offensive coordinator, Couldwell spends the week leading up to an operation studying videotapes of similar procedures and mentally rehearsing situations and potential complications, so he will be prepared to react to them without a hitch.
While performing surgery, "You're not thinking through every implication of every action. You couldn't. You'd be paralyzed with indecision," he said.
BYU at Utah
Today, 1:30 p.m.
On TV
* The game will be broadcast on CSTV (Comcast Ch. 269, DirecTV Ch. 610, Dish Network Ch. 152) and mtn. (Ch. 37 on Comcast, not available on DirecTV or Dish Network)
