Don’t usually pay much attention to social media, and if or when I do, I laugh at it. But in this particular case, I couldn’t help but to dial in, to notice this, to pay attention to this, to love this, because I need this. Truly. Maybe. It means so much to me. And it’s time to express deep appreciation for such erudite, nuanced, instructive rectification from all those who have cared enough to participate. Feedback on various platforms and messages by other means are so very … what’s the word? … facilitative.
And I deserve every bit of it … well, most of it.
So, I’d like to personally thank the hundreds and hundreds of BYU fans and a few others, too, from around the Big 12 who I’ve heard from of late pointing out to me the error of my ways in predicting in a previous column, no, kind of guaranteeing in that column that Utah would win the league this season and go on to qualify for the College Football Playoff.
The Utes’ consecutive losses to the Arizona schools seem to have sparked these responses.
It’s been brought to my attention that maybe I was just a smidge wrr … wrrr … wrong on that one, although we’ve seen cases in the past where the Utes have stumbled early and found a way to fight back, to face down adversity and at the end of the day, beat it and win it. But, then, I’ve been informed, that was in the namby-pamby Pac-12, not the rough-tough Big 12, where real football is played.
Not so sure, not anymore, that that huge Ute comeback will happen in 2024, but it did happen in other years when Kyle Whittingham discovered a way to fix his team’s problems on the run, like an Indy car making a successful pit stop in the middle of a race, the crew scrambling, and then the car seeing the checkered flag first.
It could happen again. It’s still possible. Perhaps not the way to bet, but possible.
“They’re bound to screw up a thing or two en route,” I wrote in the aforementioned prediction column.
I also wrote: “Powering through is something Utah football has mastered. The exception to that is a big part of what happened to the Utes last season, when injury swamped them. They were gone with the bend. If that were to happen again this season, they would be gone again.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) as the Utah Utes host the Baylor Bears, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
A healthy Cam Rising was key to that prediction. But a guarantee is a guarantee, damn the damaged fingers and ankles, and mine, at present, as I’ve been so lustily reminded, is not looking so good.
Either way, every once in a while, those of us who hang our butts out there, out over the edge, making our best guesses about what in the future will become the present … well, we do need stern correction. We’re not — I’m not — Nostra-freaking-damus. And so, I’m most grateful for the words and images shared by folks who have taken the time to express themselves on the matter, who have been nothing short of remarkable in helping me and everyone else in their individual realms understand that I likely was incorrect.
Clown faces and memes of confused, chortling mugs of various sorts have been particularly efficacious for me. Thank you for those.
Messages like, “Note to self: This dude doesn’t know jack about football.”
And, “Another [emoji of a pile of human defecation] take from this goober.”
And, an image of a woman spitting out her coffee in laughter, another of a couple of comedians busting up.
And, “You’re a joke.”
And, “Has this guy been right about anything ever.”
And, “As always, top notch reporting GoMo. Nailed it.”
And, “Damn, glad you don’t give financial advice.”
And, “Hope you put a lot of money on that Gordo.”
And, “Giving this guy a platform is one of our greatest mistakes as a society.”
And, “Yep, Monson is wrong about literally everything.”
And, “Like I said, a fool.”
And, “About as good a guarantee as Gordo writing more lies about his church.”
And, “Gordon’s sports takes and political takes are of equal value.”
And, “This is the exact moment I knew it was over for Utah.”
And, a meme of Dick Dastardly’s dog, Muttley, chuckling.
And, “Yeah, this take was almost as bad as the coaching job tonight against ASU.”
And, Will Ferrell laughing, saying, “What an idiot!”
And, “I’ll have bad takes for $1,000,000, Alex.”
And, “Hope you didn’t get a Natty tattoo of Utah 2024.”
And, “Thanks a lot Gordo! I blame you for this debacle of a season. Jerk!”
And, “Wassap fraud.”
And, a meme of a monkey laughing.
And, “A-plus analysis from Gordon per usual.”
And, “I’m honestly feeling bad for my Utah friends right now, but I’m not feeling bad about piling on Brother Monson at all.”
And, “Gordon is stooopid.”
And, “You’re a loser, just like the Utes.”
And, “You should go [expletive] yourself. You’re an [expletive]. You [expletive] [expletive]. Go Cougs.”
Ahhh, indeed. Is this not how we learn? A teachable moment. I feel expanded, enlightened, encouraged, even. And I’m grateful.
This here is just a small sampling. There were additional clarifications, declarations and instructions. All I can say to you all is a most humble … thanks. Yes, thank you and bless you, every one.
