Know Thy Enemy ... Know Thyself

For those of us who are serious BYU Rugby fans, even BYU Rugby Superfans, there's really only one opponent out there who means anything to us. No, sorry folks, I'm not talking about that pack of Redskins up north ... Competitive though they are in rugby, the Utes haven't really shown that they are fit for a National Title bid in recent years and hence don't quite register as Public Enemy Number One as far as BYU is concerned.

No, my friends, I'm referring to that great Gold and Blue Beast that somehow snatches away the coveted National Championship trophy, year in and year out. What's their secret? Why are they so good? How do they do it? Who are they? Where can I get some of their magic potion??? The questions are endless, yet anyone even semi-familiar with the Golden Bears of Cal-Berkeley knows the general answer ... It's a conspiracy!!!

Take a look at a recent article on their team website, and you'll see what I mean:  

Bears Welcome 17 Freshmen: New Players for 130th Year of Team

You don't have to read between the lines to see the writing on the wall here ... heck, even the title says it all! 17 Freshmen recruits? Most teams are lucky to get 3 with any experience ... 130 years since the team's founding??  I don't even know many teams that have existed for more than 30 or 40 years ... Seriously??? There's got to be something fishy going on here ... Or is it all just Cal Rugby as usual? Hmmm ...

If I were to paint a picture of the typical American college rugby team's organization, it would probably look like a drab and murky blob of indistinguishable color, shape, perspective, and even purpose. Harsh as that may sound, it's the truth. On the other hand, here's what the Cal picture looks like:

Read through the above-linked article ... See how many of the player profiles say "son of Cal alum" or something similar. You can just feel how there is obviously more going on behind the scenes with alumni relationships, recruiting, and most importantly, the establishment of a standard. Cal Rugby means doing and being the best in everything. There is no conspiracy, no fuzzy math, no question about it. The expectations are high ... always ... period.

So ... what about the BYU Cougars? Who are we? Where are our alumni? What are we doing? How are we so successful* in rugby? (*excluding National Championship Finals) What is our standard? How high are our expectations? How clear and crisp is our program's picture?

Again, there are many questions ... but I would submit, my fellow BYU Rugby friends, that we all know the answers ... collectively, at least ... but what are we doing about it?

Are we merely a team of Mormons from Utah or are we a mix of players and fans all over the Nation and the World? Are the BYU Cougars merely the American-college-knockoff version of the New Zealand All Blacks or are they something unique unto themselves? Do we have an alumni organization, and if so, where is it? What does it do? Do we want to see BYU win a National Title without paying for a ticket or are we encouraging our kids to go to the next BYU Rugby Summer Camp? Do we really want BYU Rugby to achieve victory or to just participate for the "experience"? How high do we want to climb? How long do we want to be there when we make it? Why? Why does it matter?

Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentleman, BYU Rugby Fans, we are a Family; we are proud of each other; we personally and collectively care about one another's successes and failures.

On a personal note, two years stand out in my mind ... two final games that hold significant meaning for me: 2006 and 2009. I wish the former occasion would have been the setting for as much pride and joy as was experienced on the latter occasion, but it was not.

In 2006, BYU had one of the best, most-talented teams ever seen before in college rugby. Even critics and coaches alike affirmed the fact. For the first time in the BYU Rugby program's history, the team made it to the National Title match against none other than UC Berkeley.

I badly wanted to attend the match but did not think I was able to afford the trip. My older brother, Craig, was starting at lock for the team, and I wanted nothing more than to see him succeed and be rewarded for his hard work over the years. He was the pioneer of rugby in our family. The two of us helped start the first rugby club in our town; we knew what it was like to lose in a championship final, and we didn't want to experience that bad taste in our mouths ever again.

The match was incredibly close. BYU made a strong second-half comeback to put the score within 3 points of victory. BYU's final drive came so close to success. There was no shortage of close calls, no lack of guts or unfailing hope for the win. Yet, win they did not ...

That was a tough day for me, because I knew how tough it was for my brother. We never had much outside of each other, and so each other's success meant that much more to us. To get so close to victory and then be deprived of it almost seemed unfair; it was such a sickening feeling.

Turn the page to 2009 ...

The BYU Rugby team was having a great season, looking more strong and dynamic than they had in previous years. Though it was the first time in a long while that I did not have a brother on the team, nevertheless I had made a commitment to myself to support the team more so than I had done in the past. I made it personal.

Again, BYU succeeded in making it to the Final Match against Cal. Again, the match was incredibly close with seemingly numerous setbacks. Yet, Our Boys displayed an incredible resilience, staying in the game to the very end, putting up an unbelievable wall of defense, and maintaining an ever-attacking offense. The result was again a 3-point margin ... however, this time in BYU's favor.

Unforgettable ... in every sense of the word. I was happy; I was emotional; I was overcome by the miracle. I was proud of the team, the coaches, the fans. I was proud of myself, my contributions and efforts, my sacrifices and hopes. I was so glad to have brought my friends to the game, to have them witness what to me was an incredible victory, years in the making. My family couldn't believe it; my brother and other former players who weren't even there struggled to sleep at all that night. The feeling was so validating.

I've wondered at times if my volunteered involvement with and support of the BYU Rugby team is right ... if I should instead be spending my time and means on other pursuits ... But I'm always reminded of those days in 2006 and 2009 when the BYU Men's Rugby team experienced a great loss and a great win. The emotions there were real. And that's when I see how BYU Rugby isn't just some commercial sport that wants my money without seeing my face or knowing my name. Rather, it's directly tied to my family, my friends, my university, my sport ... and even indirectly, to my religion. It's part of my identity, perhaps the most unique part of who I am.

My friends and fellow fans of the BYU Rugby Family, let us join together to make something more than ourselves. We've already got a great thing going here ... the BYU Rugby team and community are the Best of the Best! Let's make sure that we know it, that our friends and family know it, and that even our opposition knows it.

Then, and only then, will we have a clear picture of who we are, what we want to achieve, and how we can achieve it. And if, after everything else, you're still asking yourself, "Why?", then all I can say is, "Come to a game, and you'll see!"

Merry Christmas and BYU Rugby Forever!!!
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CPD National Final Replay: Cal edges BYU

2011 CPD Final: Cal vs BYU from BYU Rugby on Vimeo.

Well, my beloved BYU Rugby besties, the season may not have ended on a 100-percent-perfect note, but Our Boys sure gave it a great run! What a treat to experience the first-ever National Title match at home in Utah in front of more than 11,000 fans!!!

Congratulations to Cal for surviving the BYU onslaught to win their 26th title in 31 years, and congratulations to Our Boys for bringing it the entire 80 minutes! Here's looking forward to success in 2012 ... the End of the World!!!

Enjoy the video replay!

(Click here to watch the Semifinal: BYU slides past ASU)
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BYU vs. Cal Rugby: Learn from the Past ...

Watch on YouTube HD: BYU vs Cal Rugby 2009 National Championship Highlight

While much can be said of the BYU Men's Rugby team during this 2011 season—much good, and most recently, some not the greatest—nevertheless the week leading up to yet another Cal-BYU rematch for the National Title tends to leave one without sage words readily at hand ...

Permit me to borrow a few in the interest of time:

"Learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present."

— Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Let these words sink in for a moment, then remember the glory of an unforgettable day gone by ... the kind of day we hope to relive in the very near future!

Cougars on three: one ... two ... three ... COU-GARS!!!

(Video courtesy of BYU Rugby Forever)
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BYU Rugby 2010: Heads Held High

(Paul Meyers Photo)

The dust has quickly settled on yet another College Rugby National Tournament ... but why? Our defending 2009 National Champs BYU Cougars lost in a hard-fought match to the Cal Berkeley Machine, en route to a 25th National Title for the latter in only 31 years of tournament play.

You would think, my friends, that there would be another deluge of screaming, crying, and frustration from BYU fans (or at least from me!) over another tough loss to Cal in the final (our fourth in the last five years) ... And you would think that there would be an overabundance of cheering, lauding, and general embellishment coming from the Cal side in praise of their marvelous, undefeated season topped by an unheard of, 25th title ...

So you would think, folks ... but the reality is that no such response has emerged. Why?? Because, relatively speaking, nobody cares when Cal wins!!!

Of course, Cal fans and players were pleased with their win. But after a spot of post-game revelry, they rather quickly disappeared. After all, they had won again and so had little to talk about.

Ironically, BYU fans were extremely happy and proud of the BYU Rugby team's final performance in the face of defeat. BYU had fought hard and even performed above and beyond the mark of their entire season, so the loss didn't really feel that bad.

It seemed a matter of fears gone unrealized. After a season of unprecedented dominance, Cal was afraid to lose again in the final. And BYU, after a season of rebuilding and struggle, was afraid to win ... yes, you heard right: "win".

Only 24 hours earlier, Cal had carved up a physical opponent in Arkansas State, 83-37. Yet BYU, in similar fashion, discarded their Big Four opponent in Army by the score of 63-28. That's a nearly-identical points ratio of about 2.25:1 for both teams ... and while that might not sound like a big deal, perhaps some other numbers will better illustrate the point in question ...

In 2010 regular season play, the mighty Cal Bears outscored their opponents by an average of 15.34 points to 1 over the course of 22 games (1396-91 total points). The BYU Cougars' regular season consisted of 13 matches resulting in a ratio of only 3.58 points for every 1 point for their opponents (490-137 total points) ... not exactly the typical picture of BYU domination! (compare to last year's points ratio of 7.13:1, twice that of this year's team) But not exactly the usual level of Cal domination either ...

The annual "World Cup" of college rugby, a two-match tournament between Cal Berkeley and British Columbia, often presents Cal with its only real competition during the season. Historically, the tournament has often ended with both teams garnering a home win, with Cal taking the trophy on the cumulative points differential. The 2010 match-up, however, resulted in uncharacteristically comfortable wins for Cal at home (39-7) and away (41-10).

Additionally, Cal hadn't been held to less than 25 points in their entire season or even in the trip to the final against BYU. Moreover, Cal's dominance had seen 10 regular season shutouts and no opposing teams escaping the teens in all their scoring efforts. Cal hadn't lost many players from their 2009 lineup ... and the overwhelming W's showed the difference.

Either way the story is told, it's a given that Cal and rugby are a recipe for dominance ... but the 2010 season was that and more.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountains and desert, Our BYU Cougars faced the difficult task of rebuilding while defending their first National Title. The loss of seniors to graduation and freshmen to LDS missions left the team with some untested depth, now in line to start. And though such change in collegiate sport is typical, nevertheless the effects thereof were magnified by injuries to key starters before, during, and late in the season. The starting lineup never quite got set.

BYU was a different team than that of their undefeated 2009 squad, still struggling to find its identity ... and the results reflected the fact. After a controversial and extremely close loss to the Denver Barbarians, BYU squeaked by Utah for a lucky, 15-10 Wasatch Cup win and immediate #1 seed in the Round of 16. But only a few weeks later, BYU fell to Utah by two points in their first-ever Rio Tinto exhibition match. The score shouldn't have even been close ...

Nerves and tempers tested, BYU Rugby fans cringed at the prospect of not even returning to the national title game ... After all, Utah would most likely end up facing the Cougars in the Big Four. Only the last season game, a bout against then #3-ranked (on ARN) San Diego State, would provide any indication of BYU's playoff potential ...

Though the match proved to be no cakewalk, BYU walked away with a convincing 36-22 win. (Insert major sigh of relief here) Despicable line-outs and lackluster support play seemingly now in the past, Our Boys looked more primed for the national tournament than anyone had expected. Our Cougars then waltzed through the first two rounds of sixteen and eight with minimal resistance, beating Delaware (whom they had defeated early in the season) 33-13 and Arizona (who, honestly, worried BYU even less) 46-10. The real challenge facing Our Boys, upon reaching the Big Four, turned mysterious as Army, not Utah, stepped into the ring.

Coming off a double-overtime win over the Utes, the Black Knights of Army looked to be BYU's match ... for, if they were able to beat Utah, then it would surely follow that they could stand 'toe to toe' with the Cougars ... correct? Uhhh ... wrong!!! Critics' and observers' predictions on both ends fell completely short of foreseeing the degree of dominance with which BYU would eventually crush the cadets of West Point by 35 points. The difference then???

First of all, Army was not Utah. BYU's last meeting with Army happened five years previous in a quarterfinal match-up wherein the Cougars won a gritty struggle, 36-13 ... But that was five years ago. Translation: As far as the BYU Rugby team was concerned, Army was just another good team on the way to the title, just like Arkansas State or San Diego State last year ... no psychological baggage or strings attached, no rivalry, no extensive history to throw in BYU's face. Apologies to Army, but with all due respect, Utah is a whole different animal in BYU's eyes ... (how else would they ever beat us in anything! :D)

Last of all, Our Boys were just hitting their stride. With a solid lineup finally established, BYU still had room to grow as a team. Though they had passed through the semis relatively untested, they were then ready to come out 'guns blazing' ... and how much so, we BYU fans couldn't even imagine! When Our Cougars attacked through several phases to set up a center-Tupu-Folau try in the very first minute and a scrumhalf-Shaun-Davies try in the fifth minute, we knew we were in for a special treat!!

To Army's credit, they had a good ten- to fifteen-minute spurt in the first half where they pretty well controlled things and scored two tries. And in the second half, they did the same for a solid twenty minutes or so, putting up another two tries. And though they converted all four, yet their efforts still paled in comparison to the Cougars' nine converted tries (Thank you, Shaun Davies!).

And so the stage was set for another great final test between Cal and BYU: the former coming off a stellar season; the latter climaxing at just the right time! And while BYU was on the upswing, Cal had just experienced one of its tougher matches of the year in Arkansas State. Granted, Cal started a number of secondary players and still won by 46 points, but ASU put up a solid 37 points while star-kicker Keegan Engelbrecht wasn't perfect on the day, going 8 for 12 on conversions. For the first time all season long, BYU looked threatening and Cal looked relatively vulnerable ...

In not so many words, the final page turned in Cal's favor. Inadequate refereeing blurred the score into the realms of deception (there's a vast difference between making a decision and not even being there in time to see what happened). Honestly, the score could have been 19-12, 20-19, or even 25-22 in favor of either team, but the referee's score didn't accurately reflect the closeness of the match. Instead, both teams received the consequences of a guessing game, for better or for worse.

News outlets would give an impression of Cal dominating the entirety of the game in every facet, a typical display of Cal Rugby ... and such was simply not the case (for the disbeliever, hear it from Cal's head coach and players themselves). BYU never gave up; Cal never let up. BYU made mistakes; Cal made mistakes. Cal's first try of the night came off what looked to be a very forward pass; BYU's first try was discounted as "held up". Keegan Engelbrecht went 0/2 on conversions; Shaun Davies went 1/1. Engelbrecht went 2/2 on penalty kicks; Davies went 0/1. Cal scored a try at the beginning and at the end of the first half; BYU scored none. BYU scored a finally-allowed try toward the end of the second half; Cal scored none. The game wasn't exactly a tale of one team.

As BYU threatened to score again in the closing minutes, Engelbrecht attempted a drop-goal in the 77th minute. The ball just snuck over the cross bar, sealing the deal at 19-7 in favor of Cal. Even then BYU fought for a score in the remaining minutes, but a pair of BYU penalties and secure recycling by the Cal forwards ensured Cal possession until the clock ran out.

In some respects, it seemed a mirror opposite of the Cal-BYU final of last year. After the final whistle, Cal players stormed together in a flurry of emotion, some even collapsing to the ground in a mix of relief and disbelief. For several minutes afterward, Cal Head Coach Jack Clark seemed to be stuck in a stupor of shock at the realization that they had actually won the National Title back from BYU, going undefeated in the process.

For BYU fans, it was a bittersweet spectacle ... but only for a moment. BYU had lost again to Cal, true. But that was only on the surface, only on paper, only on the scoreboard. The reality of the game's intensity and the players' resolve on both sides said so much more ...

A BYU team that faced great adversity throughout the season ended on a very high note, and no BYU fan or player anywhere could deny the fact. For when was the last time Cal had been held to scoring less than twenty points in a game? When was the last time they had been kept try-less in the second half of any game? Had they ever experienced either of these deficiencies?? Ever at all??? Not even BYU's National Championship team of 2009 could lay claim to such achievements ...

And so Our Boys, Our 2010 BYU Men's Rugby team can stand erect, proud of their performance. We true BYU Rugby fans were there ... we saw and we know ... without shame, animosity, or regret. Instead, excitement, energy, and respect for both teams reigned in what proved an eventful test. We can all walk tall, all of us in the BYU Rugby community, with heads held high for this year, for the realization of expectations exceeded ... and especially for the prospects of tomorrow.

Congratulations to Our BYU Rugby Boys and the entire BYU Rugby Staff on another great and exciting season! (as long as #2 in the nation is it bad as it gets, we can all survive until next season, right?)

Keep on rolling, Cougars!! Next year, it's our turn!!!
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BYU Rugby 2009 Highlight Video Completed

PROVO, Utah– The nation's first-ever, high-definition collegiate rugby highlight video, featuring footage of the 2009 National Champion BYU Cougars' undefeated season, has passed through the final stages of completion.

"The sport of rugby is still relatively unknown in the US," said Scot Clark, author of the BYU Rugby Forever blog and primary project sponsor. "We wanted to create an easily accessible and highly visual means for people to experience just how amazing [rugby] is, especially as played here at BYU."

The video contains nearly 30 minutes of highlights from the Cougars' home games as well as from their national tournament matches in Atlanta, Georgia, and Palo Alto, California, respectively. Bonus footage includes an "uncut" version of the 2009 National Title match in which BYU staged a stunning upset over former national champion, Cal Berkeley.

Filming, editing, and graphics for the video project were realized as a joint effort between videographers, Ben Thompson and Micah Brown. "I was new to filming rugby, so I didn't really know what to expect at the start of the season," said Thompson. "But Micah and I got to know and love the sport pretty quick, and so the video came together nicely as a result." Over the course of 8 home games and 4 tournament games, Thompson and Brown logged nearly 24 hours of raw footage to create the final product.

DVD and Blu-ray duplication is set to take place in Salt Lake City within the coming week.

To obtain a copy of the BYU Rugby 2009 Highlight Video, payment may be submitted online at http://byurugbyforever.blogspot.com/. Alternate methods of payment can be arranged by emailing byurugbyforever@gmail.com. DVD copies are available for the price of $20, and Blu-ray (high-definition) copies are available upon request for $50, shipping costs included. Supplies are limited.

BYU Rugby Forever is a pioneering presence in the internet realm of American collegiate rugby. BYU Rugby Forever's principal commitment is to increase exposure and recognition of the BYU Men's Rugby team, now and in the future. For more details, visit http://byurugbyforever.blogspot.com/.

CONTACT:

Scot Clark
BYU Rugby Forever
801-369-5188
byurugbyforever@gmail.com

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BYU Rugby Head Coach David Smyth: Interview of the Week

BYU Rugby Forever's 'Interview of the Week' series continues with a few words from an extra special guest and household name among BYU Rugby fans, Head Coach David Smyth. After the hype and hectics settled following the spectacular National Title win last month, Coach Smyth agreed to answer a few questions to appease the curiosity of BYU Rugby Fans everywhere. (Photo courtesy of Paul Meyers)


BYU Rugby Forever:
Looking back on the BYU-Cal national championship meetings of the past few years, how has the consistent match-up affected your playoff approach? your team preparation and goals?

David Smyth:
In all honesty, we have kept our preparation very simple but focused. We never look past our opponent. We identify the things that we need to do well against the team we are playing against and then let the boys go to work. What we try to do throughout the course of the season is identify different options available to the players through good decision making as things unfold on the field. Very rarely do you go through a game where you are not tested to the point where you need to change things on the fly. The players themselves need to be able to identify these situations and make the changes. Our input during the course of a game is limited.

The playoffs do bring a different set of challenges through travel and the high level of competition, so on and so forth; we have a certain routine that we follow, but as I said, keeping things simple and focused is usually the order of the day.

BYU Rugby Forever:
In your view, what factors enabled BYU to come out on top in this year's championship bout?

David Smyth:
A number of things played a role in this year's result. Firstly, we were relatively healthy compared to past years. Our strength and conditioning program supervised by coaches McClure and Omer had a massive impact; our boys were fitter than they have been in past years. There was a sense of belief amongst the boys that if they worked hard and together and trusted each other that they could win. For them to trust each other, it required that every player needed to know his role within the team and perform to the best of his ability. I think they all did that!

BYU Rugby Forever:
With several teams "raising the bar" (especially this year) in college rugby, what is your outlook for the future? How will the BYU Rugby team maintain a competitive edge in the long run?

David Smyth:
I think the future looks bright! We are excited but not under any illusions when it comes to what lies ahead. There will be no shortage of challengers out there in the foreseeable future; we've just got to look 40 miles up the freeway to remind ourselves of that fact. We will continue to foster an environment where we test ourselves as coaches and players so that we can perform well.

We need to continue to bring athletes and rugby players into our program: these young men are the ones that make things happen on the field and without them we couldn't do it.

BYU Rugby Forever:
What will it take to establish the BYU Rugby team as the top program in the nation, even to the point of overshadowing the Cal mystique?

David Smyth:
I don't think you can overshadow the Cal mystique. To do what they have done has been nothing short of amazing! No one will ever come close to their level of success as college rugby continues to get better across the country. In saying that, however, we want to maintain our own identity at BYU by doing things in a way that works for us. Continually striving to get the best results and placing young men in the world who know what they have to do to succeed in their professions and within their families. Does that mean we will win a national championship every year? I don't think so...but if we are not close to it, we would all be disappointed.

BYU Rugby Forever:
You were recently named the "2008/09 ARN College Coach of the Year" as BYU claimed its first National Title. What does this honor, and especially the National Title, mean to you? your career? your family?

David Smyth:
I'm never really comfortable focusing on individual honors. It was a great honor for the program. It really reflects on the effort put forth by all the coaches and especially the players. The national championship was very special for everyone associated with the program. As far as my family, I should say how very grateful I am to my wife and children for all of their support through the years; they have been fantastic!

BYU Rugby Forever:
If you could send a message to all BYU Rugby alumni and fans, what would it say?

David Smyth:
Without the enthusiastic support of alumni, it would be impossible to contend for a national championship. In these difficult times, it sometimes requires a bit of a stretch for alumni to put forth even more support. Truly, there is a direct relationship between alumni support and our success on the field. Without their increased support, we will fail. Together, we can accomplish great things.

BYU Rugby Forever:
Thank you for your time and consideration, Coach Smyth. On behalf of BYU Rugby fans everywhere, I offer many congratulations on an amazing season and well-deserved National Title. Here's looking forward to next year!
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Cal Rugby Head Coach Jack Clark: Interview of the Week

A couple weeks ago, I sent an email to Jack Clark, Head Coach of the Cal Rugby program, requesting a small interview. Although somewhat reluctant to do so, he told me to go ahead and send my questions... (CalBears.com photo)

I must admit I was pretty excited to hear from the great Jack Clark, especially as I was hoping for some good perspective on the Cal Rugby program and thoughts on their recent loss to BYU (that and the fact that I thought it just plain fun to see if he would even reply!). Instead of answering my questions, however, Coach Clark referred me to an interview he had just had with the media relations people at Cal that morning. And so my questions got deflected! Shucks, of all the luck...

Well, what can I say... apparently my media muscle is still about as minuscule as that of a fledgling school newspaper! The score is Jack Clark 1, BYU Rugby Forever 0... for now... but it's on, folks, it's really on! Look out!!!

Ok, all kidding aside, I did finally find the aforementioned interview featured on CalBears.com to pass on to all of you, dated May 22, 2009:

Q&A with California Rugby Head Coach Jack Clark

Although the majority of the questions asked do not touch on the BYU-Cal meetings of the past few years, nevertheless a few of the questions did include some commentary with respect to BYU. I'll here include such relevant, question/answer excerpts, but the analysis thereof I leave to you...

My respect and thanks to Coach Clark for his consideration nonetheless; someday I'll try again! But in the meantime, enjoy the following Q&A:

(for the entire interview, click the above link)

California saw a remarkable run of 115 wins in a row against U.S. collegiate competition end against BYU at the 2009 national championship. The streak began after your regular-season loss to Cal Poly on April 3, 2004. What are your thoughts on that achievement?

I haven't paid any more attention to this streak than the streak before it, or the one before that. We are neurotic about reaching our potential as a team and, to a degree, about playing our best rugby at season's end, but the results in the middle are only about building the team. Maybe one day, when I'm finished, I'll take a look back at what we've accomplished, but for now I'm only concerned about the next season.

The four consecutive meetings now with BYU in the national championship are thought by many to be a streak that will continue for many years to come. The Bears edged BYU by three in 2006 and won the next two convincingly before falling three points short this year. Do you also envision this rivalry continuing at the championship level in the foreseeable future?

I have no idea if it will continue. Our focus needs to be on getting to the title match, not who we're playing in the match. With this said, I personally love coaching against BYU and I always have, dating back to the early '80s, partially because there's always so much on the line. The matches have largely been winner-take-all affairs. Even when we played them in 2001, when they had that great Kimball Kjar team, some billed it as an unofficial championship because BYU was unavailable for the national championship. It was as good of a victory for a "friendly" as is possible.

But look, BYU is our adversary, and as a foe to our university the Cougars are perfect. I wouldn't change one aspect of this BYU team - not the composition of their team, how they play or are coached to play, not the fans, nothing. They are the perfect opponent. If you can't get ready to play BYU, go see a cardiologist. They are everything you want in an opponent.

Does not winning the national championship this year change anything for the Bears going forward? In other words, does it get harder to win, or will the team possibly be more motivated next year?

No, not in my view. There is very little connection between this year's results and next. Remember, I've been at this awhile. We've both lost twice in consecutive years and we've won the championship every year for a decade. In my experience there isn't much connection between seasons.

I think the talk you hear in this regard is wrong. Many believe we will somehow be hungrier to win next year while others believe that, having lost, losing will come easier. It's all uninformed conjecture.

The championship is always won in the here and now. It's always competed for in the here and now. What happened last year is just that. Like this year, whoever wins next year's title will win it because they're the best team.

No amount of winning or losing is too much, and it's never the other team's turn to win or lose. It's the code of the sportsman, it's what we live by. It's called competition. You walk between the lines and you win or lose based on your preparation and performance in relation to your opponents'. There are no other factors.
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BYU Rugby vs. Cal on ESPNU

Just a reminder to those of you who didn't get a chance to go out to Palo Alto to witness the BYU Rugby team's first National Title win against the dynasty, Cal...

The National Championship bout will be broadcast on ESPNU at 7 PM (MDT). For those that live close to BYU campus, the game will be shown at Legends Grille, located in the Student Athletic Building (across from the RB and Smith Fieldhouse). Feel free to come and enjoy the game alongside coaches, players, and fans.

Don't miss out on watching the BYU Rugby team's greatest match ever played! See you there!
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BYU vs. Cal: "The Miracle" photos

My beloved BYU Rugby fans... if you have never taken a moment to check out the BYU Rugby photo archives this season, I encourage you to do so now. Paul Meyers has captured Our boys' finest moments as they snatched the National Title throne right out from under Cal, a moment that many of us will never forget! Please take a few minutes to enjoy the plethora of photos by clicking the following link:

National Championship, Final Match: BYU vs. Cal Berkeley


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BYU Rugby: National Champs in the News

More so than ever before, the BYU Rugby team has turned some heads locally and nationally with their National Championship win this past weekend!

Click the following links to see interviews and coverage highlighting the Cougars' epic win (both featuring video footage by our highlight video camera crew):

"BYU Rugby Wins National Championship in Huge Upset" on 2News-KUTV (click on the "Sports" tab)

"BYU Rugby wins national championship" on KSL 5 TV

Oh, and one last little morsel of goodness from California where, at least as they know it, it's the "end of the world":

"It's the End of The World-Until Next Year" from The Daily Californian

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BYU RUGBY: 2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

To everyone within the sound of my voice (which is actually nonexistent after yelling my head off this weekend!), it is with great pleasure that I announce that Our boys, Our team, Our BYU Men's Rugby team has defied all odds and won their first-ever, National Championship!!! Final score, BYU 25, Cal Berkeley 22!!! MIRACULOUS!!! (Photo by Laura Vincent)

Words cannot adequately express the emotion, the tension, and the anxiety felt during the game, nor the exhilaration, ecstasy, and sheer joy experienced by all BYU fans, present and abroad, when the referee blew the final whistle...

And to be perfectly honest, folks, the fact of the marvelous win still has not fully sunken into my spinning head! Yes, I was there... but I'm still in shock. Since last July, I have been writing on this blog with the faith that BYU would win a National Championship... but who knew for sure that it would come this year!!!

I know, I know... You're wondering how it is that the unofficial #1 BYU Rugby Fan had any doubts. Well, let me assure you that I share what I know. I say it how I see it... and if something doesn't look good, then who am I to falsely say otherwise? The fact is that Cal, the dynasty (or dinosaur, whichever you prefer), has ALWAYS been so dominant that no one, including myself, has ever been able to say with 100% confidence, "Today we will beat Cal!" So, no false hope here, just faith based on the facts as I see them...

Ironically though, I think many of us fans had more faith than in previous years... I mean, seeing BYU down at halftime isn't usually a time for high fives all around; rather, the fact that BYU had advanced in the face of similarly tough competition earlier in the tournament actually gave many of us BYU faithfuls a healthy dose of confidence... after all, it isn't every day you see Cal try-less at the end of the first half!!! To the unknowing spectator, a halftime deficit doesn't look too promising... but when that deficit is only 5 points against Cal (12-7 at the break)... well, let's just say that you have plenty of reasons to be fired up!!!

And also don't forget (the stats don't lie) that BYU has tended to be a "second-half team" this season, more often breaking their opponents' spirits in the final 20 to 30 minutes, notching points, and turning up the defense to seal the victory. Against more solid competition in this year's championship matches, BYU wasn't any different... it's just that they didn't score as many points, and they had to dig deeper than usual to bury the opposition!

Either way you cut it, my attempts to justify BYU's win are still only feeble at best... and though I could continue to rant and rave (as you know I will later!), I'll pause for now, let the emotions cool a bit, and give all of you BYU fans a chance to read up on the game, to hear all the other views and perspectives on Our boys' miraculous comeback win. The BYU Rugby team has done more than their part, and their work is done for now... but for some of us, it's only just begun! BYU Rugby Forever!!!

Read away, my fellow BYU Rugby fans:

"BYU DETHRONES CAL TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP"
"Bears Defeated by BYU in Final, 25-22"
"BYU Knocks off Cal, Wins First National Title"
"BYU scales the mountaintop"
"BYU BEATS CAL"
"AN AMAZING NIGHT FOR BYU, COLLEGE RUGBY"
"BYU rugby wins first national championship"
"National champions"
"Y. rugby club claims national title"
"Cal men fall to BYU in championship game"
"BYU stuns Cal to end five-year reign in rugby"
"Quest for Sixth Straight Title Falls at Foot of Davies, BYU"

(Photo courtesy of David Herschorn - The Daily Californian)

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