The contrast between the previous weekend’s glory and last weekend’s despair is as great as I can recall during my 20-plus years covering Utah collegiate football. To say all Utah schools are encircled about by gloom and doom isn’t totally accurate as one of the six opened conference play with a win and the three others who lost, at least made impressions that they can see the light at the end of the tunnel for their programs. But all in all, Saturday was a disaster for Utah collegiate football teams. Here is a brief summary.

One of Utah’s best kept secrets is the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Few know that SUU is a Division 1 AA school. Why? Nestled in the foothills of Cedar City, media gurus up north don’t think anyone up here wants to know about the exploits of the SUU football program, even if SUU has numerous alumni who live in northern Utah.

After beating Dixie State College in their home opener, and playing the San Diego State Aztecs tough in Jack Murphy stadium, the Thunderbirds traveled to Northern Arizona and lost a thriller by a field goal 42-39. In each of the last three games, the T-Birds have been sluggish during the first quarter, and coach Ed Lamb has said he is trying to rectify the problem. We will get a rare chance to see the Thunderbirds get out of the blocks faster when they take on the Utah State Aggies in Logan next Saturday.

Speaking of the Aggies, it was the clash of the Aggies this weekend when Utah State traveled to College Station Texas to take on the Aggies from Texas A&M. Utah State played Texas A&M tough despite freshman Uzoma “Easy” Nwachukwu hauling in three touchdown passes from Jerrod Johnson and running for another. Utah State managed to rack up 521 yards offensively in their 38-30 loss, but USU only managed to convert 5 of their 18 third downs and lost two fumbles. There were many ways USU could have made up that 8-point deficit, but just couldn’t get it done. With two down, dark clouds were gathering over the Beehive State. I don’t need these sunglasses.

Dixie State College traveled to Monmouth, Ore., to take on the Western Oregon Wolves in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener. The Dixie Red Storm held a 9 point lead going into the last half of the third quarter then darkness fell. Western Oregon threw a 34-yard touchdown right down the middle of the field late in the third quarter to pull within 2. Then with only 3:39 left in the game, the Wolves’ freshman kicker Kelly Morgan booted a 46-yard field goal for the win. Anyone bring an umbrella?

Despite the gathering storm, the Weber State Wildcats held their home opener against arch rival Idaho State University. The Wildcats represent Utah’s best chance for a National Championship and are the highest ranked team in the state now at No. 12. Almost beating Wyoming and Colorado State during the last two weeks, they finally met someone their own size and beat the tar out of the Bengals 44-17. Cameron Higgins threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns, while Trevyn Smith had a big day for the Wildcats carrying the ball 28 times for 177 yards and a touchdown. After the game neither Smith nor Weber State’s coach Ron McBride was very happy. Both felt WSU’s performance had taken a “step back” form the teams output in their loss to Colorado State. McBride feels they need to become a much better football team despite the fact they were the state’s only winner this weekend. Where’s my jacket?

Regardless of Weber State’s ray of sunshine, the tempest was in full gale when Utah traveled to Oregon to defend their 16-game winning streak, the longest in America. The Ducks were right at home in the rain as they jumped on the Utes early taking a 21-7 lead at halftime. The game, like the weather, turned ugly, as the contest became a big-play showdown with the Ducks taking full advantage, especially on special teams. The Ducks racked up over 200 yards in special teams play including a Sean Sellwood’s 78 yard punt return for a touchdown. Utah’s safety, Robert Johnson, tried to keep the Utes in the game, returning a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown and intercepting a fourth-quarter pass in the end zone for a touchback, but it was not enough. Utah lost the game and the streak 24-31 and fell out of the top 25. I think I need a flashlight!

No matter how dark things seemed to be for Utah teams on Saturday, no one could have seen the cyclone headed for Provo, except the Florida State Seminoles. They didn’t mind the weather, altitude or the hype about Brigham Young University’s No. 7 ranking or pending BCS bowl. They just quietly snuck into LaVell Edwards Stadium and smacked the Cougars right on the nose and then proceeded to pound reality back into BYU and their hopeful fans for the next 60 minutes. The Cougars were never in this one, as they were still in the clouds with their Oklahoma upset, pounding of Tulane and prospects of repeating a national championship in their 25th anniversary year. Not so fast. You forgot about Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles — no worse yet, you didn’t even see them coming.

BYU totally overlooked Florida State and were completely unprepared to play what was probably the biggest game in their schedule this year. Frankly, BYU fans have grown weary of the oratory about the special mission of the football program. The team is there to play football. The school gives scholarships for players to play football. The coaches are being paid handsomely to prepare the team to play football, so how about it — can we try and play football? Win, lose or draw, the team should be able to and prepared to compete! Jan Jorgensen said it best, “The way we came out and played today was tough. It’s actually embarrassing.” Yeah, we were embarrassed too. FSU’s quarterback Christian Ponder wasn’t, nor was his offensive line. They played the game of their lives racking up 512 yards of offense and scoring seven touchdowns and two field goals — BYU had no response. BYU loses big 54-28, drops to 19th in the polls, forget about anything that has the letters BCS in them and worst of all, lost their self respect.

At least one family in Tooele is all smiles about the BYU-Florida State game. Richard and Elizabeth Copeland, owners of Richard’s Roundup BBQ and Elizabeth’s Catering are avid Florida State fans, as they should be, their son Michael, who was a Grantsville High School star receiver and kick return specialist, plays for the Seminoles. They have been trying to convert me to their ACC ways and until now, I have been reluctant. However, under the circumstances, I may have to ponder (no pun intended) their proposal. The Tomahawk Chop looks sort of fun … I’ll be bundled up on the sidelines.