Rivals: Recent Episodes
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Rivals is powered by BYU Athletics. Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck, past football rivals at the university and professional level, come together to talk life and sports. Scott Mitchell was a record setting quarterback at University of Utah. He then went on to play for Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals. Jason Buck was drafted out of Brigham Young University in the first round of the NFL draft. He played on the defensive line for Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins. He earned a Super Bowl ring in the Redskins victory over Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.
Jason Buck and Scott Mitchell of Rivals talk about a man they both worked with for the NFL: Dick Lebeau.
Both Jason and Scott played for Dick Lebeau at the Cincinnati Bengals. Even today, he picks up the phone for them.
Lebeau is like Clint Eastwood. He's very cool but can get action-packed when needed. He was a pro bowl player in the NFL as a great defensive back. He had 62 interceptions in an era where they didn't throw the ball.
Scott played for Dick Lebeau when he was a defensive coordinator. The head coach Bruce Coslet just left. Totally walked away. So they made Lebeau the interim head coach. Usually, that would be the kiss of death. Lebeau made it work. Scott remembers when he called an offside kick from a safety. Only Lebeau would know how to do something like that.
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Here are the rules that Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck think need to be changed in college football. Jason Buck said they need to protect the quarterback WAY LESS. Scott Mitchell said defensive ends (like Jason Buck) are the reasons these rules exist. Scott's rule has to do with societies short attention span.
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If you had to play any other sport (besides football) what would it be? Jason invented a sport today: Full contact golf. That is what he would rather play. Scott's choice is more mellow than Jason's. Jason also mentions MMA fighting and which former BYU coaches he would like to take on.
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BYU defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku talked about playing in Logan this weekend and what he expected, he started some light trash talk about dairy farms in Logan. Jason Buck wonders when these young kids will learn their lesson about trash talk. Scott just doesn’t understand what in the world the dairy farms have to do with BYU’s upcoming game against the Utah State Aggies. Jason grew up on a farm and takes ISSUE with the comment.
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If Scott had to play defense what position would be play? If Jason had to play offense what position would he play? You may think Jason would go to the offensive line but his answer will surprise you. And what in the world would a quarterback do on defense?
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Nothing like Super Bowl week. The Rivals talk about the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history. Scott talks about the first ever Super Bowl with a player who wasn't supposed to start, he was a wide receiver. He caught an unbelievable pass from Bart Starr. Jason remembers a muffed field goal that had the ball getting tossed around between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins.
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Vince Young came in to the NFL with a lot of promise. He had an amazing run in college as quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. But his career never really took off...
He played for Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns. He's now playing in the CFL for Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is also a struggling NFL quarterback. He's done time with St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and now Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's STILL playing.
Now Vince Young is questioning why Ryan Fitzpatrick gets to continue his career at the NFL but Young does not.
Rivals hosts Jason Buck and Scott Mitchell have both seen situations like this.
Scott remembers Randall Hill who was picked in the first round draft as a blazing fast wide receiver out of University of Miami. He went on to play for Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears. Scott was amazed by that career because he remembers that Randall couldn't catch a cold let alone a pass.
Tim Tebow is another example of this. He has over 2mil Twitter followers and is famous for being a person of faith, but there are actually a lot of those in sports (including Jason & Scott). Now not producing well in Minor League Baseball, but he's still getting a lot of attention and opportunity. He's now playing with St. Lucie Mets in Florida.
Another example of this was Brian Bosworth who played for Oklahoma Sooners and Seattle Seahawks. Jason was on the Kodak All American Team with Bosworth and remembers how he was always coming in late and showing off. Other players hated that and it put a target on his back. Jason remembers seeing an offensive linemen chase Bosworth 50yards down field just to hit him hard on the sideline.
They also talk about Britney Spears- makes tons of money- can't sing
The Kardashian family are also more famous than talented, but they're not expected to sing or play football, so the fame is the point of their business.
Jason believes the genius behind the family is the mom Kris Jenner. She understands exactly how to run her business.
On the other side is Anna Kournikova who is famous and beautiful but really needs to perform better on the tennis court.
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This may or may not be helpful to you at all, but Scott and Jason have both been in long-term marriages and here is their advice. They offer a unique perspective because the life of an NFL player is far from average. Rivals is hosted by Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck, past football rivals, current best friends. Scott played quarterback for The University of Utah and was drafted into the NFL where he played for the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. Jason was a defensive end at Brigham Young University where he was picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. Jason won a Super Bowl during his time with the Washington Redskins. You can find Rivals on Facebook at facebook.com/rivalspodcast or on Twitter @TheRivalsShow.
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Scott is admitting he was wrong. He always had the opinion that quarterbacks who transfer in college don't turn out in the NFL but after some research he realized this assumption was wrong. Jason has a different thought about transferring. He says go for it.
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Scott's son plays high school football. He is actually a quarterback, that makes Scott proud. Scott says he would never put his kids in harms way, although he does think it's ok for them to face adversity and learn lessons from it. He thinks football has some very important lessons to be learned. He feels that way about all sports and hobbies kids are involved in.
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The anniversary of the miracle on ice just happened. Scott says this is the greatest sporting event of all time. Jason has a snarky response. They agree on one thing, we all love an under dog.
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The NFL keeps changing. This upcoming offseason will be filled with quarterbacks looking for new homes. The Kansas City Chiefs Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins for a third round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. Jason didn’t expect the Redskins to move on from Kirk Cousins but thinks that the Chiefs got a good deal since they picked up Kendall Fuller and now turn to second year quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Scott thought that Alex Smith could go play for the Denver Broncos or the Arizona Cardinals. But thinks that Andy Reid looks at the situation and thinks that if he keeps Alex Smith that they need to win a Super Bowl. This now gives him a chance to play the younger quarterback and in kind of a rebuild. If anyone can develop a young quarterback, it’s Andy Reid.
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A question that surrounds the NFL Draft. Should players who declare for the NFL Draft before their senior year of college football be able to go back to college football if they are not drafted? Scott Mitchell wishes he had had this opportunity even though he did get drafted. Jason Buck and Scott Mitchell talk about how they think coaches would approach this.
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Everyone loves James Bond and everyone has their favorite. That's certainly the case with Rivals hosts Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck.
Scott's favorite was Roger Moore. That was the Bond of his childhood. Jason picks Sean Connery because he likes the brawler Bonds like Connery and Daniel Craig.
Is it possible Roger Moore was a quarterback Bond?
Scott Mitchell played quarterback for University of Utah and Jason Buck was a Defensive Lineman for the BYU Cougars.
After college, Mitchell played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, took the Detroit Lions twice to the playoffs, then went to Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
Scott is also recently known from his time on NBC's The Biggest Loser.
Jason Buck went to the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the NFL draft. He then moved to Washington Redskins where he earned a Super Bowl ring in their victory over Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.
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Pass interference is now reviewable after last year's NFC Championship no call between the Saints and the Rams. Scott thinks this innovation will change the NFL. Scott and Jason talk about the innovations they were apart of during their time in the NFL.
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Rivals hosts Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck talk about their expectations for their children. How much should dads push their kids into a certain career?
Scott Mitchell played quarterback for University of Utah and Jason Buck was a Defensive Lineman for the BYU Cougars.
After college, Mitchell played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, took the Detroit Lions twice to the playoffs, then went to Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
Scott is also recently known from his time on NBC's The Biggest Loser.
Jason Buck went to the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the NFL draft. He then moved to Washington Redskins where he earned a Super Bowl ring in their victory over Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.
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Sports Illustrated released their list of the top 100 college football players. Bradlee Anae, Jaylon Johnson, Leki Fotu are a few of the Utes who made the list. You will also find an Aggie linebacker on the list. Jason Buck blames independence as to why no BYU Cougars are on the list.
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Warren Fisher of The Warren Report on the Golf Channel Joined Scott and Jason to talk about his favorite football team and whether or not he is a Cougar or a Ute. Warren turns the tables on Scott and Jason and asks them some questions about their football careers.
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Historically Stanford has recruited a lot of LDS football players, especially return missionaries. At Pac-12 Media Day coach David Shaw talked to Scott about why he likes having return missionaries on his team. Jason and Scott discuss whether or not this hurts BYU on the recruiting front. Jason talks about the growth he has seen in the recruiting of LDS players compared to when he played.
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The Pac-12 seems to be having a bit of turmoil. They just seem to be a little behind the rest of the Power 5 conferences. There have been rumblings of Oregon and USC talking about leaving the conference. Scott said it would be really bad for Utah if USC left the conference. There has to be a gold standard, and traditionally that has been USC. The major message from these rumblings is that the Pac-12 Conference needs to figure it out and up their game.
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Taysom Hill believes he is a franchise quarterback. It seems like the Saints do too. They put a first round tender on him. Scott and Jason discuss whether or not Taysom Hill is worth that and whether or not he is a franchise quarterback. Jason Buck says Hill owes all of his success to Sean Payton.
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The University of Utah Football team is getting some big names on their future schedule with teams like Florida and Arkansas. Which teams from each P5 conference would you like to see Utah play? Wisconsin would be an interesting matchup for the Utes since they are both run heavy, tough defense teams.
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The BYU men’s basketball team beat the No. 2 ranked Zags last weekend. It was an incredible game. The energy from students was incredible. Has basketball overtaken football at BYU? Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck credit Mark Pope for the massive success.
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Jason Buck was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals just like LSU quarterback Joe Burrow will likely be and he and Scott Mitchell agree: Joe Burrow should do whatever he has to in order to avoid playing for the Bengals. Scott Mitchell also played for the Bengals and has a way for Joe Burrow to avoid going there.
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It should be clear that the University of Utah football team is serious about being national title contenders year after year. It seems like the Utes have been on a very steady upward progression since 2004. Utah football fans should be excited with the scheduling of LSU and Florida, even though the games will be tough, they will be very meaningful.
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The NCAA doesn’t make coaches sit out for a year, so why do they make student athletes? Scott thinks it is an absolute joke that kids have to sit out a year. It is honestly more impactful for an 18 year old kid to lose a year than for a middle aged coach.
Jason is a little more hesitant than Scott, but also agrees that transfers shouldn’t have to wait it out.
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BYU is returning a lot of players for the 2020 season, but their schedule is absolutely brutal. Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck talk about the worst case scenario for BYU.
Utah lost nearly their entire defensive line, a quarterback and Zack Moss, a beast of a running back. Kyle Whittingham will absolutely be in rebuilding mode… but they did have an incredible recruiting class, best in the Pac-12. The Utes may not win their division like they have the past few years and that will be a big disappointment.
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BYU is returning a lot of players for the 2020 season, but their schedule is absolutely brutal. Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck talk about the best case scenario for BYU, which they agree is getting bowl eligible.
Utah lost nearly their entire defensive line, a quarterback and Zack Moss, a beast of a running back. Kyle Whittingham will absolutely be in rebuilding mode… but they did have an incredible recruiting class, best in the Pac-12. The thing Utah has going for them this year is that they are finally the underdogs again.
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A few weeks ago Scott Mitchell and Jason Buick talked about the real strength of a program coming from the number of guys colleges put into the NFL each year. If that is in fact the case, the Utes are winning right now with 9 total players getting invited to the NFL combine. BYU didn’t get any invites and it is highly unlikely that any BYU players will get drafted.
Now, a high draft pick doesn’t always translate to a good or lengthy NFL career. The guys go into the second half talking about the players from the state of Utah that will have great or impactful NFL careers.
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The Cougars stole a Ute on national signing. Devon’tae Henry Cole, a running back, transferred from Utah to BYU in order to get more carries. Scott and Jason talk about the success and failures of the Utes and the Cougars in this off season’s recruiting period. The duo talks about which players for both schools can make an immediate impact.
Next, we talk about the Super Bowl. Jason Buck gushes over how happy he is Andy Reid. It’s really quite adorable.
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Scott and Jason are shocked to hear that BYU hasn’t had any Top 25 rankings in the past decade. They look back on the last time the school has had such a disappointing decade...it was the 1960s. Jason admits that independence isn’t the only factor...but it is a big one. Utah finished at #16, which is a huge disappointment following the preseason hype and regular season success.
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The NFL is ushering in a new era. Guys like Drew Brees and Tom Brady are on their way out. Should they throw in the towel? Or give themselves a few more years. Scott Mitchell is a former NFL quarterback and has great insight into this topic. There is a lot of youth talent in the NFL. Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck offer their predictions on who will be the next legend.
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The NFL Playoffs are in full swing after a wild, wildcard weekend. The Saints and the Patriots lost, shocking the football world. Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck are offering up their predictions for the conference champions and Super Bowl Champions. Both Scott and Jason predict the Ravens making it far. Jason Buck tells listeners what it is really like to play through the NFL Playoffs to the Super Bowl. The guys agree the teams that have to travel will be at a serious disadvantage.
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What is the biggest indicator of the strength of a college football program? Recruiting class? Championships? Guys you put in the NFL? Jason says it is the amount of guys who make it to the NFL and more importantly actually make it in the NFL.
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Utah landed its highest recruit ever Thursday. Clark Phillips III committed to Utah. He is a cornerback who will start immediately. The guys talk about the beginning of Utah’s recruiting success with Ron McBride the idea he sold. The guys talk about the decisions they made when they were being recruited. From the transfer quarterbacks like Bently and Rising to the depth at defensive end with Carlton and Fillinger, the Utes have had an amazing couple of days.
Unlike Utah, BYU doesn’t have a stellar season to sell recruits but they have been successful on this early signing day with names like Kody Epps, Isaiah Tupou and Bruce Garrett. Overall Jason is pleased that the Cougars went heavier on defensive line. The guys agree it is a good idea to go to the transfer portal for a running back. Something BYU fans have to remember is that a lot of these new recruits will leave for an LDS mission.
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Jordan Love, Utah State’s highly touted quarterback, decided to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. Scott thinks this is a horrible decision. He believes you should enter the NFL Draft on a high note. Scott shares his personal experience with a similar situation.
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What can we reasonably expect for the Utes and the Cougars next season? Scott and Jason discuss. Jason says the Cougs will be nearly the same as they were this year. There will be some wild wins and bad losses. He predicts 6-6. Jason sticks with his take that independence is killing them. As for the Utes, there will be an interesting battle at quarterback and a lot of new faces on defense. While the team is losing a lot of NFL caliber seniors, Scott and Jason agree they will still be in contention for the Pac-12 South division title.
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It seemed like the University of Utah Utes football team just didn’t show up to play in the Pac-12 Championship when they lost to the Oregon Ducks. Scott and Jason agree, the team was not ready to handle the pressure of the situation. The guys talk about learning to thrive on pressure. Every player who gets to the next level learns to thrive under pressure and avoid the tightness the Utah football faced. Scott said the team was just playing too hard, too tense. Jason noticed a lot of technique and fundamental errors on the defensive side of the ball.
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The Utah Football team is good. Really good. And the national media is finally starting to recognize this special Utah football team. The cherry on top is that the Utes have a chance at College Football Playoff or Rose Bowl. Scott and Jason talk about the east coast bias and whether or not Utah can overcome it and get to their first ever College Football Playoff.
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Kalani Sitake received a contract extension through 2023. Scott and Jason think BYU needs to be honest with themselves about where they are and own independence. Scott also pointed out that part of the reason Sitake was extended is because of recruiting. Right now, things are as good as they can get at BYU but the guys think it needs to be better.
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Eric Munoz a walk on linebacker at Utah State got emotional after a stellar start. The first of his football career as a junior. It was touching to see football and teammates impact the young man so much. Scott and Jason are discussing the most emotional moments, good and bad, of their football careers from high school to the NFL.
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Scott and Jason agree Andy Ludwig has been beyond impressive this season for Utah, but has made him so great? Talent management. Tyler Huntley has been playing lights out, and part of it is that Andy Ludwig understands how to play to Huntley’s strengths, rather than sticking to his old playbook. Ludwig is a master at maximizing the talent he has. Jason talks about the challenges a defense could face against Utah’s offense.
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BYU is 4-4, which is close to the predictions Scott and Jason made preseason. The Cougars have had a very realistic season. They have been faced with plenty of adversity, especially at the quarterback position. Zach Wilson had surgery and Jaren Hall (his backup) has had two concussions. Baylor Romney, the current quarterback, is battling a foot injury. With all of those injuries the Cougars could have had a much worse season. The depth has been impressive to both Scott and Jason
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As surprising as it feels, this is a real questions Ute fans are facing. Would you rather win the Rose Bowl or play for a National Title? Scott and Jason disagree on this. Scott lets nostalgia get to him. Jason explains that every year, every team should be playing like they’ll win a national title game.
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Is it the athletic director? Head coach? Quarterback? Lineman. None of the above. Scott and Jason are talking about the most important person (people) for any college football program to be successful long term. Scott and Jason share personal examples of the most important quality in a coaching staff. Being humble tops the list.
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In this episode of Rivals Scott and Jason discuss whether or not they believe BYU and Utah State are rivals. The teams meet this weekend in Logan. The disagreement between the two in this episode comes from the definition of “rivalry.” All of our in state rivalries seem to only exist because of proximity and closeness. None of the teams are in the same conference, which Jason believes makes a rivalry stronger.
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Scott and Jason are both truly enamored by Utah’s defense. Kyle Whittingham’s Utes shutout Cal last weekend and now they are heading to Seattle for probably their biggest game of the season against the University of Washington. Jason said one key to the defensive success is their confidence. They are confident that there are no weak spots in the defense.
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The BYU Cougars head to Logan, Utah this weekend to take on the Utah State Aggies. Jason Buck has said this is a trap game for the Cougs and they MUST take the Aggies seriously. The guys also talk about how the Aggies will (or should) prepare if they don’t know who BYU will start at quarterback. Jason said for Kalani to keep his job, they must win.
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BYU defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku talked about playing in Logan this weekend and what he expected, he started some light trash talk about dairy farms in Logan. Jason Buck wonders when these young kids will learn their lesson about trash talk. Scott just doesn’t understand what in the world the dairy farms have to do with BYU’s upcoming game against the Utah State Aggies. Jason grew up on a farm and takes ISSUE with the comment.
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Scott is in awe that BYU beat Boise State but couldn’t beat South Florida. Jason is just happy, calling it a fantastic win. They agree on one thing - it was shocking. They guys get real and talk about how inconsistent the 2019-20 BYU Cougars are. They also talk Baylor Romney and the offensive changes. Was there someone new calling offensive plays? Scott thinks yes. Scott nails down BYU’s problem, Sitake is not Uncle LaVell, he needs to be tougher. He needs to be more hard nosed and being genuine to himself.
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The University of Utah Utes beat the Arizona State Sun Devils but not without a fight. The Sun Devils quite literally came out fighting. There were multiple cheap shots and unsportsmanlike conduct calls. After the game Herm Edwards apologized to Kyle Whittingham. Scott asks his defensive counterpart what he thought of the dirty playin
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Tyler Huntley is the only quarterback in college football who has not thrown an interception. Jason is sticking with his original assessment - Huntley is a runningback who can throw. Scott and Jason heavily disagree on this matter. Buck does offer praise to Huntley, putting him in the category of Brian Johnson or RG3. The guys also talk about the USC game and how it was the wake up call the Utah football team needed.
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Jason Buck and Scott Mitchell discuss the state of the BYU football program and whether or not they predicted it would end up like this at the beginning of the season. Buck admits he was excited after the Cougars’ first four games, but when looking at their record at the midway point - he isn’t surprised with the number of losses, but by where they came. Scott and Jason also talk about the conversation surrounding BYU - whether or not Kalani Sitake should be fired. They agree, this is not all his fault.
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It looks like BYU lost Zach Wilson. They’ve already for sure lost Ty’Son Williams. Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck discuss how bad it actually is for BYU and what the rest of their season may look like. The duo also discuss why they lost to Toledo, Scott thinks it comes from an attitude that they were the superior team to Toledo and almost got complacent when the took the lead. It is easy for young players to lose control of the game.
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Vontaze Burfict is the wild card you don’t want on your team, according to Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck. He has no business being on the field. Scott is baffled by his lack of respect for the NFL, his team and every other player in the league. Scott and Jason describe him as a bully, who creates more risk than normal on an NFL field.
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Utah’s stellar receiver Britain Covey will likely take a medical redshirt for this season because he hasn’t reached the limit of the new rule yet. He will take the time to heal his knee after suffering an ACL tear last season. Scott and Jason agree the new red shirt rule is really good for student athletes. It helps keep players healthy so that they can have long, healthy careers. Coming back too quickly can really put student athletes at risk. The guys also talk about the NCAA’s ruling about Utah’s GIANT new O-lineman who has two years to play one.
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We haven’t talked much about the NFL this season because local college teams have kept us busy, so we wanted to get Jason’s read on what he has seen this season in the NFL. We are discussing the teams that surprised Scott and Jason for the better...and for the worst.
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One weakness Jason sees with Utah is Tyler Huntley. He says he is a running back who can throw. Scott disagrees as he has been impressed by the way Huntley has been playing. Jason’s biggest problem with Utah football is lack of leadership and character. He said the penalties Utah got during USC shows lack of discipline. Scott said a lot of the penalties were just wrong but what he did see is lack of preparation. We also talk a little about the whopping Washington put on BYU.
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Cal is the last undefeated in the Pac-12. Scott mentions their head coach is a disciple of Chris Petersen. Makes sense why they are rolling. Scott and Jason talk about the likelihood of a Pac-12 team making the college football playoff. Jason thinks it is possible to be a one loss team and make the playoffs. He said even Utah could do it since their loss to USC came early. Jason and Scott discuss what makes the Pac-12 different than other P5 conferences. In order for the Pac-12 to get an elite team they should put Chris Petersen at USC.
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Zack Moss left the Utes’ game against USC with an undisclosed shoulder injury that is not season ending. BYU lost their star running back Ty’Son Williams who was a graduate transfer to a torn ACL. Scott and Jason discuss how both teams will move on. Utah has an easier time but Scott wonders why this happens to be BYU every season...it seems like.
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Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck are talking about their alma maters’ skipping out on a few rivalry games to play other opponents. It is reported that Utah will play games against the Florida Gators. As much as is pains Jason, he understands why the game doesn’t carry as much bang for Utah as playing an SEC team on the East Coast. BYU has scheduled games with Central Florida. Scott has his own ideas about why Utah is doing this and it is because of the Pac-12 needing an image change.
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Head Coach Of BYU Kalani Sitake has had two big Power-5 wins already this season against Tennessee and USC. Some BYU fans say he should be given a contract extension right now. Others disagree and think he needs to do more to earn an extension. Scott and Jason talk BYU’s matchup this week. They take on the Washington Huskies. Jason Buck, a former Cougar, thinks BYU has a possibility of winning this because Jeff Grimes has shown improvement over the first few games. Jason and Scott agree that Kalani has a big heart and is good for BYU.
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Number 10 ranked University of Utah head to LA to take on USC. The Utes haven’t won at the LA Coliseum in 103 years. Jason Buck thinks Utah will win because of how poor the coaching was against his alma mater, BYU. Clay Helton is the head coach at USC and his name is being thrown around as being on the coaching hot seat. The thing about the USC v Utah game that worries Scott is that USC always has amazing athletes whether they are well coached or not. He also says you never know what you will get a true freshman quarterback like the Trojans have right now. Scott and Jason talk about what Utah HAS to do to come away with a win.
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Ranking low is usually bad but not for this one. Utah is 119th in the country for offensive snaps played. This benefits Utah as they head into a Friday game against BYU. Usually it would be a concern for coaches to have one less day of rest or preparation but Kyle Whittingham isn’t concerned about the physical rest because his team has slowed the game down so much to the point they are playing the least amount of snaps out of every Pac-12 team.
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Zach Dawe #99 and a defensive end for the Cougars threw his opponent's show during BYU’s game against Tennessee. We have our own former defensive end #99 Jason Buck who has some similar stories. Is it the position? Is it the number? Scott and Jason have a good laugh about this story but say he is lucky there was no penalty called on the shoe-throw.
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BYU went into Knoxville and beat Tennessee in double over time. Jason Buck, former Cougar, said it was a very important, much needed win. The Cougars hit Tennessee at the right after they lost against Georgia State. Jason and Scott talk about the elementary level mistakes Tennessee made during the game. Scott talks about Zach Wilson’s key role for the Cougars. Someone with his talent can make a break at least two wins per season for a team.
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BYU plays 24th ranked USC this weekend. The University of Utah plays USC the following week. Scott and Jason discuss how this game will impact the Utah v. USC game. Scott wonders if Utah playing an easier game against Idaho State this week is good or bad leading up to their first Pac-12 match-up. The consensus: Utah will get more advantage out of the BYU, USC film. Jason predicts that BYU head coach Kalani Sitake will send some tips Kyle Whittingham’s way.
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Scott Mitchell, former quarterback, has a saying about playing quarterback, “live to play another down.” One way you live to play another down is to slide. It can help quarterbacks avoid getting hit. Scott and Jason would tell Wilson to slide if they were his coach. You don’t want your quarterback to take more hits than he has to.
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An ESPN host gained some traction when he talked about the BYU football team being a great missionary tool for the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Scott and Jason completely agree, when BYU won the National Championship in 1984 baptisms in the church went up. It is no secret that BYU Football draws a crowd no matter where they are playing nationwide.
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Jason Buck is frustrated by his alma mater. He doesn’t think they lived up to their potential in the season opener against Utah. He thinks Ty’Son Williams should have had more chances to carry the football. The guys talk about they things they know for sure about BYU and the things that are still question marks as they head to play Tennessee this weekend.
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Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck expected more from their alma maters at the rivalry game. This episode is about what the duo saw from the Utah Utes. This is the 9th time in a row the Utes have beat the Cougs. Scott emphasizes 9 times. The guys talk about the things they know for sure about the Utah Football team. Scott is sure Zack Moss is NFL talent.
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Scott Mitchell’s Utes are ranked #14 in the AP Preseason Polls. He wonders if anyone really cares? Personally he doesn’t think anything matters but wins. Jason and Scott wonder how Utah will handle the pressure and Jason talks about how he has handled the pressures in his career.
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Jason Buck, former Cougar, and Scott Mitchell, former Ute are sharing their favorite games and moments from past rivalry matchups. Jason Buck stars with a 4th & 18 play that will forever be in Cougar fans’ hearts. Scott had a different experience during that game where he was taunted by children. Scott is taking us to Vegas for his match up.
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Like most KSL Sports contributors Jason Buck was shocked by ESPN’s recent list of the top 50 college football programs in the last 150 years. Scott Mitchell, former Utes, think his riva school belongs on the list, especially with some of the other names included like Boise State. Scott and Jason talk about the accolades BYU football and their players have that should have gotten them a spot on the list.
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Jason Buck was one of the lucky few who got to watch the BYU Cougars practice this fall. While he can’t share specifics he gives his takeaways. He was most impressed by the offensive line, but had some high compliments for freshman quarterback Zach Wilson. He also has some insight on the running back question facing the Cougars.
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Rivals is joined today by Craig PoVey from Use Only As Directed. Use Only As Directed is a campaign trying to prevent death by overdose and opiod addiction. PoVey talked to Scott Mitchell about athletes being overprescribed pain medications. They talk about how quickly you can become addicted to opiods and alternative care for athletes and regular people who find themselves in pain.
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Scott Mitchell (former Utah quarterback) and Jason Buck (former BYU defensive end) are talking about the most electrifying player on Utah’s football team and BYU’s football team. Some picks may seem obvious while others will shock you. Who is your favorite player to watch from the Utes and the Cougars? Tell us on Twitter @therivalsshow.
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The rivalry game is here...well almost. Utah plays BYU at Lavell Edwards Stadium in two weeks. Our Rivals Scott Mitchell (former Ute) and Jason Buck (former Cougar) make their (hairy) bets and predictions for the biggest rivalry in the state of Utah. We dive deep into scores and how the game will play out.
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Most coaches are pretty tight lipped about injuries unless a player’s season is over, including Utah’s coach Kyle Whittingham. Scott and Jason discuss the head games coaches try to play with each other by reporting or not reporting injuries. They say you have to pump them up or keep them very quiet. This one is full of Monty Python references. ENJOY!
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Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae repeated something he heard to another reporter at Pac-12 media day.
His quote was later taken out of context on a tweet that went viral. Scott and Jason talk about what it’s like being an athlete in the world of media misquoting you and pushing the agenda they are interested in. They share personal stories of times they “stepped in it.”
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The University of Utah Utes have been picked by a media poll to win the entire Pac-12 conference. Jason Buck, former BYU defensive lineman gives his take on preseason polls. Historically, as of late the poll has been about 50% correct. Buck says it looks great for the state of Utah. They guys also talk about being on top versus being underestimated.
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Scott and Jason talk a lot about how BYU is handling independence on Rivals. Today they are breaking down the pros and cons that being in a conference (or not) has on players.
Scott draws on Notre Dame, saying they are a school who has been successful in independence. Jason predicts BYU won’t be like Notre Dame because it takes excellent recruiting.
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Warren Fisher of The Warren Report on the Golf Channel Joined Scott and Jason to talk about his favorite football team and whether or not he is a Cougar or a Ute. Warren turns the tables on Scott and Jason and asks them some questions about their football careers.
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The debate isn't dead. Scott Mitchell has a few strong reasons why he thinks the BYU Cougars should join the AAC. Jason Buck, former BYU defensive end agrees with Scott. The travel, the altitude and few other factors will benefit the BYU Cougars.
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Trevor Lawrence is the best quarterback in college football. The Clemson Tigers thrower already has NFL teams preparing for him. Scott Mitchell, former NFL quarterback picks apart his play and thinks he is a replica of Peyton Manning, but more athletic.
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Sports Illustrated released their list of the top 100 college football players. Bradlee Anae, Jaylon Johnson, Leki Fotu are a few of the Utes who made the list. You will also find an Aggie linebacker on the list. Jason Buck blames independence as to why no BYU Cougars are on the list.
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Jason Buck, former NFL defensive end, said his first thought when the conversation of extending the NFL season comes up is "heck no." He is more OK with it if some preseason games are eliminated. Scott Mitchell, former NFL quarterback, is all for extending the season. The duo debates.
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BYU phenom quarterback Zach Wilson posted a picture on Instagram of himself with Drew Brees. Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck talk about whether or not meeting our role models or successful people actually matters or helps in player development. Scott shares a story about how impactful his mentors have had on him.
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The ESPN FPI has BYU winning eight games. They have Utah winning nine. Scott Mitchell, former Ute, and Jason Buck, former Cougar, discuss the rankings. They are both shocked that they have BYU winning so many games. The ESPN FPI has BYU losing the first four and running the table. That's unrealistic. As for the Utes, winning only nine games would be a disappointment.
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Mike Conley Jr. was formally introduced by the Utah Jazz yesterday. One comment struck Scott. Conley said, "We don't know what it takes to win a championship." Jason Buck won one Super Bowl and lost one. He talks about the experience and finally understanding what it takes to win a championship. What are your expectations for the Utah Jazz?
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College Football News ranked the coaches in the Pac 12. Kyle Whittingham, coach of the University of Utah Utes, came in at number three, a step above last year's ranking. Jason Buck said the reason he isn't one or two is that he can't seem to get the team's offensive output up. Scott appreciates Jason admitting the importance of offense and recruiting a quarterback.
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Pass interference is now reviewable after last year's NFC Championship no call between the Saints and the Rams. Scott thinks this innovation will change the NFL. Scott and Jason talk about the innovations they were apart of during their time in the NFL.
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We ask Jason Buck if his alma mater BYU has been surpassed by Utah State University on a national scale when it comes to their football program. He explains that locally no, but nationally yes. His reason? independence. He recalls when Utah State fell off the map because of independence.
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Mitch Harper, our own BYU insider and host of the podcast Cougar Tracks and the radio show Cougar Sports Saturday in joining Jason Buck and Scott Mitchell to talk about the recent arrest of BYU Wide Receiver Neil Pau'u and accused of drunk driving.
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BYU and Utah players have already started the banter, or trash talk, on Twitter leading up to the Rivalry game. Jason Buck thinks this is stupid and can absolutely have an impact on the game because trash talking can motivate the other team. His advice to the Utes and the Cougars - let it out on the field.
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The University of Utah has the crazy dancing lady and the third down jump. BYU has Cougar Tails. We are talking about college football traditions from the fan perspective. Scott and Jason talk about their favorite from schools across the country. Share your favorite traditions on Twitter @therivalsshow.
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Hey BYU fans, if you could steal one player from Utah to join the BYU football team, who would it be? Scott Mitchell and Jason buck both give their choices. Scott's choice will surprise you. But it fills his biggest question mark with Utah.
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Pro Football Focus has Zach Wilson ranked as the 18th quarterback in the nation and the second highest rated quarterback in the western united states. Zach Wilson had shoulder surgery in the offseason. That makes Scott disagree with this ranking. Jason Buck thinks the rankings are fitting.
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Hey BYU Fans, If you could have one University of Utah Ute football player join your team who would it be? Scott Mitchell and Jason Buck give their picks. Of course, Jason wants someone from Utah's defense.
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Tanner Mangum, former BYU quarterback, was spotted at an XFL event. This brought up a discussion between Scott Mitchell, former Utah and NFL quarterback, and Jason Buck, former BYU and NFL defensive end, about when football players should throw in the towel.
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Scott Mitchell, former Ute, and Jason Buck, former Cougar, are building their ultimate Utah Utes quarterback with parts from previous and possibly current players. When the guys sat down to discuss Utah quarterbacks they found they would really only need two quarterbacks throughout Utah's history.
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