SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah 2008. The stars were aligned perfectly. Everything that could go right did go right. 2008 was the complete opposite of 2007; however it was the way 2007 finished that spurred the Utes to the perfect season in 2008.

At the start of 2007 the Utes lost their starting quarterback for two and a half games, their running back for the entire season and their "go to" receiver was injured for all but one game. Somehow Kyle Whittingham plugged in the players to finish the season at 9-4, 8-1 in the final nine games and with a win over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl. With all the injuries in 2007, those players who filled in received valuable experience and confidence as did the entire team heading into 2008.

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2009 Season Preview: Utah

The 2009 Utes are faced with the daunting task of replacing the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback, three starting receivers, the starting running back and two starting offensive linemen. Oh, and the offensive coordinator and the offensive line coach. And that's just on offense.

The first game of 2008 set the tone for the rest of the season. Going into the ‘Big House' and beating Michigan in front of 100,000 Wolverine faithful. Even though the Wolverines struggled the rest of the season, the way the Utes dominated in the first half and held on to win was a sign of things to come.

After two non eventful wins over UNLV and Utah State, Utah was ranked 20th in the country heading into Colorado Springs to meet the Air Force Falcons. The way this one ended was also a sign of things to come. After the Falcons scored a touchdown to tie it up in the final couple of minutes of the game, the Utes took over and had to drive the length of the field to keep their perfect season alive. While watching this game at the KSL studio I turned to my producer and said this drive could be a deciding factor on how the rest of the season will turn out. Brian Johnson was perfect on the final drive and with 58 seconds remaining in the game Darrell Mack scored the game winning nine yard touchdown. The stars were still aligned and the perfect season is still intact.

Utah returned home to face their old coach and friend Ron McBride. Many felt this game was too close for comfort as Utah Beat Weber State 37-21. After the win over the Wildcats the Utes jumped two spots in the national rankings to #15 as they played host to Oregon State out of the PAC-10.

The Beavers came to Salt Lake City on an emotional high after knocking off the top team in the country, USC the week before. The Utes were down 28-20 with 2:11 remaining in the 4th quarter and once again they had to rely on determination and execution if they wanted to keep the perfect season intact. Brian Johnson completed seven of his final eight passes including a 25 yard touchdown to Bradon Godfrey to cut the lead to two. He then ran in the two point conversion to tie it with 1:29 left in the 4th.

The defense forced a punt and the Utes moved the ball to the Oregon State 20 yard line and Louis Sakoda did the rest, kicking the game winning field goal with no time left on the clock. The stars were still aligned and the perfect season still intact.

The next two games the Utes cruise to wins over Wyoming and Colorado State, but struggled against New Mexico, escaping Albuquerque with a 13-10 win over the Lobos. Maybe the Utes were looking ahead to the following week, and who could blame them because it was being billed as the game of the year; Utah, now ranked 9th in one poll, hosting TCU.

The Horned Frogs were ranked 11th in the nation with their only loss coming at Oklahoma. Utah trailed the entire game until the final moments of the 4th quarter. The Utes took over the ball with 2:48 left in the game. Brian Johnson completed seven of nine passes on the drive including a 4th and 5 hook-up with Freddie Brown to keep the drive alive. With 48 seconds left Johnson found Brown in the end zone. Game over! Again the Utes win in dramatic fashion. The stars were still aligned. The perfect season still intact.

After a sleepwalk win at San Diego State, the moment had arrived: Utah hosting BYU. The Utes built a 10 point lead at the half and then blew it open in the 4th quarter with 21 straight points to beat the Cougars 48-24. In front of the second largest crowd in school history (46,488) the Utah defense intercepted BYU's Max Hall five times. It was a big win over their rival. Stars were still aligned. The perfect season still intact.

So the Utes headed to the BCS and the Sugar Bowl ranked 7th in the country. Alabama, ranked 4th and who previously held the top spot in the country, was the only obstacle in Utah's way of a perfect season and a legitimate claim to a national title. All of the so-called national experts gave the Utes no chance at big bad 'Bama. But from the opening kickoff, it was NO CONTEST!

Utah dominated, humiliated and pounded the Crimson Tide. While all the so-called experts said Utah didn't deserve to be on the same field as Alabama… it was the Crimson tide that didn't deserve to be on the same field as the Utes that night in New Orleans. Utah with a 31-17 pounding of Alabama.

The Utes finished the season 13-0, ranked 2nd in the AP poll and 4th in the coaches' poll.

In 2008 the stars were aligned for a perfect season!

E-mail: rzundel@ksl.com

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