This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake Tribune sports columnists Kurt Kragthorpe and Gordon Monson were impressed by Utah's grit, Chuckie Keeton's talent and BYU's ability to blow a very winnable game during a 35-minute Trib Talk video chat Wednesday afternoon.
Responding to questions from host Jennifer Napier-Pearce and viewer questions, both columnists were high on the Utes after rallying to beat what they called a very good Utah State team in last Thursday's season opener, a game decided when Ute kicker Andy Phillips booted a 45-yard field goal, then turned around a squibbed an onside kick that Utah recovered, sparking the comeback.
But Kragthorpe noted that Keeton, the gifted USU quarterback, looks better than ever after strafing the Utes with his pinpoint passing all night. Kragthorpe called the performance well beyond anything Keeton did last year.
Monson gave kudos to BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae for taking the blame following the Cougars' season-opening loss at Virginia, but also pointed out that Anae shouldn't make a habit of it, noting that predecessor Brandon Doman's repeated mea culpas last year probably contributed to his dismissal.
Looking ahead to this weekend, both columnists like the Utes to handle Weber State at home and for the Aggies to win their Mountain West debut at Air Force. Monson and Kragthorpe expect BYU will play better against Texas in Provo on Saturday, but not well enough to beat the Longhorns.