11-13-2022, 03:55 PM
What's particularly damning about this most recent disaster of a game is the scorecard of Shaw vs. Wittingham since the inception of the Pac-12. First, Whittingham is the Pac-12 coach with the longest tenure: he is in his 18th season at the helm of the program and successfully transitioned Utah football from the Mountain West to the Pac-12, despite a few bumps at the beginning as the in-conference competition became suddenly much rougher.
In 2011 and 2012, Utah was a middle-of-the-pack South division team, finishing 4-5 in 2011 (3rd) and 3-6 in 2012 (5th). Stanford was a dominant force in Pac-12 play during these years. But in 2013, #5 Stanford (5-0) went into Salt Lake City as heavy favorites and belly-flopped 21-27 vs. the 3-2 Utes, who would again be 5th in the Pac-12 South at 2-7 (just ahead of Colorado, another recent addition to the conference). Stanford again lost to the Utes at home in double overtime 20-17 during the 2014 season.
Shaw's only win against Whittingham came in 2017 with Bryce Love in the backfield. Since that time, we have suffered another three losses (2018, 2021, 2022), all blow-outs. In the meantime, Utah has become a mainstay among Pac-12 powers, while Stanford has become irrelevant.
Whittingham's coaching philosophy has always been predicated upon a strong defense and a solid run game. Hmmm, sounds somehow familiar. During Shaw's glory years, there was debate about who the best coach in the Pac-12 was, and two names frequently mentioned were Shaw and Whittingham. I think that debate is now settled.
As usual, thanks to Matt for the post mortem. I have long since given up dissecting statistics, because it all feels so futile.
In 2011 and 2012, Utah was a middle-of-the-pack South division team, finishing 4-5 in 2011 (3rd) and 3-6 in 2012 (5th). Stanford was a dominant force in Pac-12 play during these years. But in 2013, #5 Stanford (5-0) went into Salt Lake City as heavy favorites and belly-flopped 21-27 vs. the 3-2 Utes, who would again be 5th in the Pac-12 South at 2-7 (just ahead of Colorado, another recent addition to the conference). Stanford again lost to the Utes at home in double overtime 20-17 during the 2014 season.
Shaw's only win against Whittingham came in 2017 with Bryce Love in the backfield. Since that time, we have suffered another three losses (2018, 2021, 2022), all blow-outs. In the meantime, Utah has become a mainstay among Pac-12 powers, while Stanford has become irrelevant.
Whittingham's coaching philosophy has always been predicated upon a strong defense and a solid run game. Hmmm, sounds somehow familiar. During Shaw's glory years, there was debate about who the best coach in the Pac-12 was, and two names frequently mentioned were Shaw and Whittingham. I think that debate is now settled.
As usual, thanks to Matt for the post mortem. I have long since given up dissecting statistics, because it all feels so futile.