In order to prepare us for the upcoming season, we bring in Sean from Block Uto enlighten us on the Utah Utes. Oregon State will travel to Salt Lake City to play the Utes on October 2nd.

One: There are many pre-season predictions about your team. Why are they all so horribly wrong? Give us specifics.

They're wrong because they have Utah finishing behind BYU, well except for Phil Steele, who obviously doesn't have his head firmly planted up his own ass. Seriously, though, both BYU and TCU -- the other two Mountain West contenders -- have to travel to the City by the Lake and it isn't going to be an easy row to hoe for either team. Yeah, BYU has been able to get the better of Utah the past two seasons, but both games were closer than the past two presidential elections and while I expect much of the same, Utah should be able to close the season with a much needed W.

Two: Last season was a dream-come-true/nightmare/uneventful for your team. How do you expect that to effect this year's team? Convince us with a meaningless, out of context statistic.

How about all of the above? The season started out terribly with a loss to Oregon State, one that saw Utah's star quarterback and running back go down. Then they managed to lose at home against Air Force, before stunning the 11th ranked UCLA Bruins. Just when it looked like things were finally changing, they slammed into the football juggernaut known as the UNLV Rebels. Yes, the same Rebels that only managed to win TWO games last year. Things actually began to turn around, though, when Brian Johnson came back and Utah would not lose again...until the final regular game of the season. The Utes finished the year on a high note, doing what any fine American would do: beat up on a service academy, as they sunk Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Three: Who is your best player--what is the signature play of his career? Convince us of his greatness by comparing him to a superhero or movie character.

Brian Johnson should be Utah's best player if he remains healthy. This is a guy that is key to Utah's success, unfortunately, his signature play was the injuries he sustained at the end of the 2005 season and the beginning of the 2007 season. Like all men, all I want is a healthy Johnson.

via graphics.fansonly.com

Three-A:  Who does he rely on to achieve such greatness? Who is his sidek ick or supporting character?

As it is with any quarterback, they rely on receivers and a solid offensive line. Since Utah runs a spread offense, the offensive blocking, at the line and from the receivers, is key. Without that, down goes Johnson and maybe Utah's season.

Four: Your fans have many traditions surrounding the sport of football. What are some of your most questionable traditions? Do you have any good ones that aren't laughably ridiculous?

It's Utah, we don't have traditions. Seriously, I mean, there is the Block U (no, not a plug for my blog), which lights up after every victory. I guess that's cool, but other than that, this is a tradition-lacking school. Luckily, though, we're not BYU, whose fans sing 'Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree' when victory is secured. This song manages to do the unthinkable, it takes every ounce of manliness and replaces it with what can only be described as estrogen laced entertainment.

Ooooh..... Ahhhh,,,,,

Five: Napoleon (and later, Abba) had Waterloo, Sen. Larry Craig had difficulties meeting like-minded men; what will be the downfall of your team this year?

Injuries to our Johnson. If BJ goes down -- these are not sexual puns, get your mind out of the gutter -- the Utes could be in trouble. Though the extent of their troubles lie with Corbin Louks, who is a pretty decent quarterback and might be able to shoulder the load if Johnson were to go down.

Six: Your team would be unrecognizable to its own fans without strength in a certain area. What is your team's secret sauce?

Utah has traditionally been known for its strong defenses, especially since head coach Kyle Whittingham was the defensive coordinator here for years. His secret sauce, though, is definitely the sweat of polynesians.

Thanks, Sean. To find out more about Utah, check out Block U.