For at least the last two years, and I think 3 of the last 4, Kyle Whittingham has stated publicly that “this year’s team” is the best and most deep I have ever had.

Over the same timeframe he has stated, in an ongoing fashion, “Cam Rising is probably going to play this week”.

I am starting to think those two statements are related and intentional and strategic. And not to gain any advantage over the upcoming opponent. It is to get local and national pollsters and media types to buy in to the hype that Utah is going to have their best team ever. It is to build the hype. I don’t think Kyle believes it (any more than he has believed week after week that Cam was actually ready to play).

But it creates a higher than merited preseason ranking and sets them up for playoff contention - and then Gordon Monson and others say what they do and Utah is picked to be all world.

It is gamesmanship on a season level (not just for the next game) and works really well - as long as you win just enough to keep people believing.

He has time to turn it around and hold onto the dream, but Cam isn’t going to walk through that tunnel anymore and I am not sure the Utes’ mythical aura is going to sell with local or national talking heads for very much longer.

This time seems different…