The Romans are remembered as one of the fiercest military civilizations in all of antiquity. The U football team’s returning talent gives the Utes a shot at being the most dangerous non-BCS team in the national picture this year, but they’ll be in for an all-out war.
A Capite Ad Calcem
It’s Latin for “from head to toe.” The phrase has not been synonymous with the U football team for the past few years.
It has been four years since the Utes traumatized the college football world with their unprecedented run to a BCS-busting season.
There has not been this amount of versatile flair gracing the Rice-Eccles field since the days of Urban. It has taken four years to euthanize those days labeled “progress” since the Fiesta Bowl.
Acta Non Verba
It means “actions, not words.” Not since the days of King Urban, Prince Alex and Sir Morgan have the Utes had a brighter outlook heading into a season. After the past two years have worked as a giant teaser trailer, this season, Utah must act upon its talent and unique mixture of obliging youth and guiding astuteness. No more 27-0 losses to a UNLV team that finished 2-10. More 44-6 upsets of visiting No. 11s such as former Cougar Ben Olsen and his UCLA Bruins.
Fit Caedes Omnibus Locis
Quoting from Caesar’s book on the Gallic Wars, it means “Let there be slaughter everywhere.” Two seasons and two inexcusable mistakes inauspiciously aiding the insufferable rival. Too many times last season did the Utes fail to go for the jugular. Too many times the Utes were transparent on a battlefield they should have been governing. Yes, this is the dreaded “growing process” that coaches worldwide like to portray to their dearly beloved-the same goes for any war epic. The 2008 Utes are there and ready.
Graviora Manent
Latin for “heavier things remain.” Rich Rodriguez heavy. The Big House heavy. True Blue, 111,000 strong heavy. Andy Ludwig’s spread option to coincide alongside monster recruits of the Midwest. The mettle of the Utes will be tested out of the gates as Gladiators at the Roman Coliseum. Will the Utes prove their worth on the battlefield? Soon thereafter comes the West. Oregon State comes knocking-luckily for Ute fans without Yvenson Bernard. Is there a chance the season finale showdown could be a bigger task than the Wolverines? The Cougars have been labeled as the team to bust open the BCS this year. Who would be better to end that reverie for Bronco Mendenhall’s bunch? Circle this date: Nov. 22.
Iuventitus Veho Fortunas
This Latin phrase means “I bear the fortunes of youth.”
In all possibility, this could be the most athletic Utah football team to date. Not to mention the most youthful. Incoming freshman quarterback DeVonte Christopher has shown flashes of Vince Young-esque movement. Running back Sausan Shakerin is as East-West as you can get from a running back and is noted as an exceptional receiving back. Perhaps the Utes have found their own version of Darren McFadden merely five exits south on I-15. Defensively, the Utes boast pure athleticism. The secondary features the long-limbed Robert Johnson and Sean Smith alongside speedster Brice McCain. The linebacker core has a Ray Lewis mold in Stevenson Sylvester. The line has two blue-eyed Krugers from Utah County who simply terrify the opposing offensive line, named Paul and David, respectively.
Laboris gloria Ludi
Latin for “Work hard, play hard.”
The expectations are there for the Utes, but they were also on their shoulders last year. A fateful first-half in Corvallis, Ore., left the Utes in limbo for nearly seven games. The fact is that the Utes have a chance to be better this season. The team is healthy with three or four game-changing running backs to go along with a healthy Brian Johnson, who was put on the national map before enduring two injury-riddled seasons. However, queries certainly remain. Will the Utes come out of the gates ablaze compared to last year’s disastrous start? Will leaders such as Johnson and Sylvester stay healthy throughout the entire season? In football, questions are always there, but in the end become quite trivial. It really only matters how the Utes respond.
Hypotheses Non Fingo
It means “I do not fabricate hypotheses.” Brian Johnson returns to his form of 2005 and shatters MWC records and gets a story in ESPN magazine. Corbin Louks and Christopher duke it out over who is the more athletic back-up. “Sweet” Louie Sakoda kicks the game winning field-goal as time expires and the Utes escape “The Big House” with a victory, leaving Michigan with a second-straight season-opening loss.[email protected]
