The Daily Utah Chronicle

I’m thankful for sports at a time like this

By By Tony Pizza | November 30, 2006

As I began to count the fingers and toes on my son Carson's hands and feet shortly after he emerged from the womb last Tuesday, I found myself in a thankful state of mind two days before the rest of the country would officially be thankful. Of course, I was thankful for the willingness of my wife, my mother and women in general for being brave enough to go through the pain of childbirth in order to bring babies into this world (not surprisingly, I also found myself thankful that none of my bodily orifices had to stretch 10 centimeters for Carson to come into this world).

Hammel lends helping hand

By By Tony Pizza | November 28, 2006

In a rough, injury-filled buildup to the 2007 gymnastic season, the Red Rocks finally got a bit of good news on Friday. The NCAA has granted the U's gymnastic program the opportunity to bring on former assistant coach Aki Hammel to perform spotting duty for U gymnasts this season.

Pressure cooker

By By Tony Pizza | November 27, 2006

From the way the 2006 edition of the Holy War started, it looked like John Beck didn't get an ample opportunity to carve the turkey on Thanksgiving, so the BYU quarterback decided to carve up the Utah defense instead. Beck started the game sharper than a Ginsu knife as he led BYU to an early 14-0 advantage behind 166 yards-on 7-for-8 passing-and a touchdown on BYU's first two possessions.

Rivalry boot camp

By By Tony Pizza | November 22, 2006

Church vs. State, Heathens vs. Mormons, Red vs. Blue, Utes vs. Cougars, Utah vs. BYU: The Holy War has grown to epic proportions--and to think it all started with a fight over a boot. Obviously, BYU and Utah have been playing football games against each other since much earlier than 1971, but when an authentic pioneer boot became the symbol of Utah college football supremacy, the rivalry began to develop to the magnitude it has reached today.

Tis the season?

By By Tony Pizza | November 22, 2006

After the Utes squeaked past the Air Force Academy 17-14 off the last-second kick of Louie Sakoda, the Utes (7-4, 5-2 MWC) are a virtual lock to play in one of the four games set aside for the Mountain West Conference. But before you grab the pots and pans, ring the bells, scream at the top of your lungs and start making pre-Christmas travel plans, take a look at where the Utes and the rest of the MWC will likely be bowling this holiday season.

Chill pill

By By Tony Pizza | November 17, 2006

Finding a guy who is willing to admit he doesn't know how to fix the toaster, or that he actually needs directions, is hard to find. It's "pot-of-gold-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow" hard. That is, unless you look at the U football team. After the Utes blew a 24-7 lead in New Mexico and wound up losing 34-31, head coach Kyle Whittingham knew something was broken and he decided to approach its repair differently.

Pizza’s deliveries

By By Tony Pizza | November 15, 2006

Short of being one of those lumberjacks in The Great Outdoor Games on ESPN or a photographer for Maxim, I think I have a pretty perfect job. Even though the pay isn't great--it basically averages out to minimum wage considering the hours involved--I would seriously consider doing this job for free if I had to.

Men improve, women cruise for Ute swim team

By By Tony Pizza | November 14, 2006

Typically a 1-3 record at anything should not warrant a pat on the back, but given the competition the men's portion of the U swim team was up against last weekend, 1-3 isn't bad at all. Despite the fact that the men lost to Georgia (259-94), Purdue (263-90) and Penn State (223-130), they did beat Louisville by a 224-105 margin and a few of the men performed exceptionally well.

Utes play the Utah way

By By Tony Pizza | November 13, 2006

One of the biggest problems the U football team has had during its fluctuating 2006 campaign is asserting itself on offense early in the game. In fact, the Utes are 1-4 when they don't score first, and in the three blowout losses the Utes have suffered this season, Utah failed to do much on offense at all.

Photo finishes

By By Tony Pizza | November 10, 2006

Utah's biggest rival might be a team from Provo, but it is a team from Fort Collins that has given the Utes fits over the years. Since the induction of the Mountain West Conference in 1999, the Utah/Colorado State football game has been one of the most intensely competitive games in the conference every year.