“Listen and take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed. Just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other, but you will respect each other, and maybe—I don’t know, maybe, learn to play this game like men.” Coach Herman Boone Head Football Coach T.C. Williams High School inspiring his team at Gettysburg
It’s early morning. Neither Cam nor Utah is Rising, but the sun is only a couple of short hours away from its daily Rise over the Wasatch Front.
That was Bad Football last night. Did you watch it? The Utah @ Arizona St game that is. It wasn’t just that Cam Rising looked old, slow, insecure, and released the ball with the speed of a sloth working at the DMV. Zootopia reference. It was the defense, the play calling, a lack of desire, and most notably, a lack of physicality by the Ute team as a whole. He began the game 2/9 and finished 16/37 for 209 yards and 3 picks proving Bruce right once again. Damn it, Bruce.
On the other side of the field, 34 yr old Head Coach Kenny Dillingham kept the energy high on his home sideline. He remained poised throughout the game, and his players, specifically his freshman QB, seemed to feed off his infectious energy and overall positivity. The Sun Devils also received an outstanding individual performance from Senior Running Back Cameron Skattebo. With 26 touches for 199 scrimmage yards and two TD’s including a 50 yard breakaway in the second half, Cameron by far was the player of this game. Arizona St now improves to 5-1 with their next test coming next week at Noon against Cincinatti.
Personally, I don’t know why Whitt didn’t pull Cam after the first 3 drives and run with the Freshman Wilson. Cam had his plant leg rolled into on the first or second drive and he limped the rest of the way. It clearly affected his ability to maneuver, but also, looked to cause his throws to lack the zip needed at this level. Wilson has not impressed by any measure in Rising’s absence, but at least he is more athletic and has a naive confidence that just might help him make a big play when needed. Running back Micah Bernard touched the ball 26 times for 190 yards with a TD and was the one bright spot for the Utes last night. I think it’s a fact that Utah wins if not for Rising’s 3 piss poor picks. So, why didn’t Coach Whittingham pull Rising after he began the game 2/9 and sustaining another injury?
Former Heisman winner and College Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed was ‘on the call,’ and he shared a similar inquiry before the first quarter concluded and continued to enquire as the game progressed. It was a fair question to ask. Cam did not look like himself. In fact, Cam did not look like a high-level QB in anyway last night. His poor execution on throws can be attributed to his injured throwing hand and his plant leg getting bent backwards in the first quarter, but his poor decision making can NOT. For me, this is the part that is inexcusable from the 25-year-old majoring in Psychology and Criminology. Criminal is the word I would use to describe a few of his throws that left his gloved right hand. Multiple times, he threw into a crowd. Two times specifically he threw into stone cold triple coverage that would’ve taken Tom Brady’s best ball and perhaps Randy Moss Rising up to grab it to avoid being intercepted. Inexcusable decision making.
Look, I’m not a true Ute fan. I just live here. I’m not bitter at the team or Coach Whitt or even Cam, but I am disappointed in all three for that performance and for most likely eliminating themselves from the playoffs. I like good football. Wins and losses are secondary to me. Last night, I watched bad football with questionable play calling, pathetic tackling, a lack of discipline sealing the edge, and a QB that looks like he’d rather be doing anything else other than playing the sport. The Utes have no excuse this morning for that loss. Had Rising been pulled after the third drive, Wilson played, and the Sun Devils still won, I think Coach Whitt wouldn’t need to look far to find a valid reason for the loss, but sticking with Cam Rising, who was a shell of himself last night is impossible to tolerate.
Utah hosts Texas Christian next week at 10:30Pm Eastern. Will Cam play for Utah again? Or…Should he?
Not a lot of humor this morning. I haven’t even had my coffee yet. Hell, it’s still pitch black outside my kitchen window. Let me back up one step before I conclude.
I’m rooting for Cam. I think we all are…well, maybe not Bruce, but everyone else is. These are college kids with ton on their plates and guys like Cam are facing the harsh reality of life after football and college for that matter. I’m sure there is pressure that cannot be seen inside the mind of all the young men playing, but specifically those in the spotlight. I want to be fair, and part of being fair is telling it how it is. And the fact is that the Ute football team simply looked bad last night.
Thats it. Absolutely stupendous day of College Football to entertain us later today. Let’s have some fun!
Find the Humor and keep on Movin’
Whit W.