Losing to Win and Other Random Stuff

You’ve heard this before, but it sometimes pays to lose.
According to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, if SDSU had defeated Utah, last Saturday, it could have cost the Aztec athletic department its $500,000 share of BCS money.
Whenever a team like Utah goes to a BCS bowl, it earns $4 or $5 million. Then each conference member gets a $500,000 share.
So beating the Utes wouldn’t have been a good financial move ‘ especially since SDSU has been at odds with the City of San Diego over rent of the stadium. City officials are saying that the Aztecs draw so poorly that it the city is losing money whenever SDSU has a home game.

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Utah quarterback Brian Johnson is not without a sense of humor. Following last Saturday’s win over the Aztecs, a reporter facetiously asked him if he knew the next opponent on the schedule.
‘I don’t,’ he said. ‘Is there a game next week?’

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Rumors are flying about the future of the Mountain West Conference. Some say Wyoming is in danger of being dropped. Others speculate San Diego State might eliminate football entirely. Still others speculate that Boise State will soon be invited to join the MWC.
Couple of observations: Losing SDSU would be a disaster for the MWC. Why? Trading a road trip to San Diego for, say, a road trip to Boise doesn’t work for me. Losing Wyoming and a trip to Laramie? All systems go. Have a nice life.
As for Boise joining the MWC, there are a couple of problems. First, it doesn’t add much of a TV market. And second, it doesn’t offer all that much in other sports.
Still, it’s all about football — otherwise TCU wouldn’t be in the conference right now.
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Utah hoops coach Jim Boylen is a good guy. A passionate one, too.
He tends to make people believe he can resurrect the Ute program.
But losing to D-II Southwest Baptist is ridiculous. For whatever reason.
Boylen has endeared himself to the MUSS by grabbing a mic and pumping up the football crowd during home games. But that will get old fast if he isn’t able to get the Utes respectable quickly.
When you win, those things make you feisty and spirited. Lose and you’re just cheesy.