(Editor’s note: Ty Cobb is the photo editor at The Daily Utah Chronicle.)

With TCU on the horizon, everyone has been so focused on pulling out a second win that I was worried we’d ignore the ever-present threat of the Lobos.

However, all my fears (and everyone else’s) were for naught as we not only beat them, we kicked their sorry asses to next week; I almost feel sorry for them.

With freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn getting his first start, Utah safely avoided the trap and made their match up against TCU a showdown for the Mountain West Conference Championship.

Last year in Albuquerque, the U also came away with a win, but it wasn’t very convincing as we only scored 13 points. It was a hard-fought game as previous games against New Mexico have been.

Even with the team not looking its best against the Lobos, I personally hit a zone that night in New Mexico. My best photos were from that game, including a crucial block against a Lobos kick that made the difference between win or lose.

After David Reed fumbled a punt in the second quarter, New Mexico had the ball on the Utah 42-yard line and moved down the field before attempting a field goal. I watched as James Aho approached the ball, swung his leg back and kicked it. But instead of it sailing through the up-rights, Aiona Key jumped above the line and blocked the ball, and I snapped my camera, capturing the moment forever. Utah left with a 13-10 win, and I had my picture of the year.

As I said earlier, usually games against New Mexico are difficult, but with the Lobos suffering from a new head coach and such a bad offseason only comparable to ones the Oakland Raiders face, this year’s game was almost too easy.

Wynn started just as I hoped and threw to Jereme Brooks for a 69-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter that gave Utah an early lead.

Our offense kept rolling, finishing with 45 points and 557 yards. They had finally executed the big win everyone was looking for.

As soon as the game against the Lobos was over, attention turned to the showdown against TCU just as it did last year. However, the roles are reversed this year as they are the undefeated team hoping for a shot at the BCS, and Utah is the team with an early loss to a nonconference team. We’re aiming for any chance at a BCS game, along with a shot at the Conference Championship.

Even with a freshman QB, and having to go to Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, I feel the Utes will give TCU a run for their money, just like TCU did last year when they came to Rice-Eccles Stadium for the first black out.

In J. Wynn I trust.

Editor’s Note: Ty Cobb is the photo editor for the The Daily Utah Chronicle.

I walked into Autzen Stadium still deluding myself that Utah had a chance at the BCS. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s true; they had shown questionable playing skills the last two games, still managing to scrape through with wins. But like all die-hard Utah Football fans, I still hoped they would pull through. However, when Terrence Cain threw an interception to the Ducks in the last few minutes of the 4th quarter, I felt empty. After watching our team’s mediocre performance the entire game, there was no desire to beat up the Ducks’ quarterback, just desolation. The 16-game winning streak was over.

Remembering back to 2008, I went to every game but one: the third game. Ironically enough, the Utes game against Utah State was the one I missed…for another athletics event that I had to cover at the Y of all things. Can you believe it? A staunch Utah fan like myself missing a game for an inferior rival team (whom I might add we beat in a blowout game last year)? But the chance to work with the Sports Illustrated photographer Bill Frakes—a once in a lifetime opportunity for an upcoming sports photographer—was too sweet a temptation to pass up.
Since I started taking sports photos as a mitigating factor against the slim chances I had of playing them professionally, I have dreamed of working at SI. I learned a lot from Bill, even though I spent the day watching the Y beat UCLA in a blow out (never a positive experience) and carrying around extra cameras and lenses.

As I drove back to the airport and Bill slept, I turned on the radio to the Utah-USU game and the fan inside of me started wishing I could be in Logan with the team. Lennie Mahler took my place at the game that ended up being a blowout for Utah— just as I had expected.

But this year did not go as well. Last week was the first time I had ever gone to Oregon. I drove more than 24 hours roundtrip and barely made it in time for the game. Driving through Oregon and Idaho was a tiring (and boring) experience, and I arrived with a sore butt. Oregon drivers can’t merge at all from what I saw, so we lost an extra hour of the trip. We passed the time by making up headlines for what a game with the South Carolina Game Cocks playing the Oregon State Beavers would be.
We arrived at the stadium just as players were being announced, but by the time we parked and set up my camera equipment, I had missed the kickoff. Jostling my way to the field was the first of many horrific moments as I watched the Utes punt the ball and the Ducks take it to the house for six. It took away almost all confidence I had for that game.

Nonetheless, Utah had pulled through in worse straits, including the brilliant game against TCU last year. And scoring 14 points in 17 seconds left Autzen stadium in stunned silence—a nice change if you’ve ever been inside that ear-destroying stadium. It makes 54,000 fans sound like 150,000.

But instead of intercepting the ball as we had done against other foes (see: BYU) so many times in the past, our beloved team gave the ball up in the last few minutes.

I watched as Utah walked off the field as if they had just watched a puppy die.

Then I noticed as Ducks’ fans started acting all high and mighty to their Utah counterparts. Beating an undefeated team would be an exhilarating feeling, especially compared to wins against Idaho State. But don’t get too comfortable Ducks; you won’t be having any more of those “lucky” wins. Utah Football obviously wasn’t at its best.

It was an unfortunate end to an amazing undefeated period, but I still hold true to the fact that our team has an amazing season left in them. Yes, Terrence Cain let down hopes that he was “able,” but that doesn’t mean the season is over. For the rest of it, I will be out there on the field or in the stands watching, hoping to see Utah show their true colors once again.

Editor’s Note: Ty Cobb is the photo editor for The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Fans watched from the stands or thousands of miles away as Utah Football marched onto the Spartan field, expecting them to wipe the floor with San Jose players. And 60 minutes later, we marched off the field winners—but the victory was hollow.

Utah has faced challenges before. Competing against conference foe UNLV in game two of 2008, our beloved team couldn’t score in the first quarter. The Rebels had embarrassed the Utes in Las Vegas in ‘07—leaving a bitter memory for staunch Utah fans, myself included. So coming home after Michigan last year, Utah was looking for vengeance against UNLV.

After tying the game by halftime, the Utes finally got their act together and scored four touchdowns—leaving the stadium with a 42-21 win over the team that had humiliated them the year before. Fans walked a little taller that day, ready to take on Utah State the next game.

But last week, Utah left with insecurity, not pride. I walked into the stadium last Saturday expecting an easy victory. Although the team played less than exemplary in its first game, I was sure the interceptions and fumbles would be cleaned up by week two. Instead, the same fumbles and missed kicks replayed over and over like a bad sitcom. Where was the former glory of the team that time again has done the Mountain West Conference proud?

This was the team’s first road game, where they had to pass through a sea of San Jose fans that were yelling every insult known to mankind. Utah fans were not immune to taunts either as Spartans berated passing Utes each time blue and yellow came across red. At one point in the game, I looked up and saw a big hole in the student section where security was rushing to break up a fight.

Utah did show promise in their first drive as they marched down the field. Matt Asiata offered a glimmer of hope as he punched it in on the 4th down.

The team played well enough in the second half to pull out a win, but it left fans with an uneasy feeling. MUSS tickets sold out before school even started as excited fans didn’t want to miss a single play of a potentially amazing season. And now fans are valiantly hoping Utah demonstrates its currently hidden talent, but it remains to be seen whether this will occur.

Next week, your roving photographer and blogger will travel to Oregon and walk into Autzen Stadium hoping for the best along with thousands of other Utah fans. Utah—make us proud.