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(AP Photo/Bill Haber)
The Utah football team finished its final conference game against BYU in impressive fashion, beating the rival Cougars at Rice-Eccles Stadium 48-24. That was 40 days ago (41 from Sugar Bowl game day) and what seems to almost be ancient history. What came with that win? The answer to that question is arguable, but it could be the biggest game yet involving a team from the state of Utah.
This is the second time the Utes have busted the BCS, the only team to do so from a non-BCS conference. What is different this time? The most storied college football program is standing in their way, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama has won 12 national championships and 21 conference championships. Alabama is making its NCAA-best 56th bowl appearance, and they have won 31 of those games which also more than any other team in college football history. This is the 13th time that Alabama will have played in the Sugar Bowl. The last time they played in the Sugar Bowl was in 1993 when they beat Miami to receive their 12th national championship.
In 2004 when the Utes pummeled Pittsburgh in the Fiesta bowl, Utah fans were upset about their opponent. They felt disrespected that the Utes did not face a better team. This year there is no such talk. Alabama is as good a team as the Utes could face, and Utah will certainly find out if and where they belong when it comes to nationally recognized programs.
Alabama Statistical Overviews
Alabama Defense
For Alabama the defense starts with stopping the run-and that starts with Terrence Cody. Cody is 6'5, 365 lbs and is the anchor in the middle. Alabama is 13-2 under head coach Nick Saban when they hold their opponent under 100 yards, and in 2008 they are 10-0.
Alabama's defense is ranked 4th in rushing defense behind TCU, Texas, and Nevada allowing only 73.6 yards a game during the 2008 season. The pass defense is ranked 21st allowing just 178 yards, and the scoring defense, is ranked 6th nationally. All of that added together has the Crimson Tide's defense ranked 3rd nationally. In so many words, stingy.
The Alabama defense doesn't just stop you, they score too. It has returned one fumble for a touchdown, four interceptions for touchdowns, two punt returns, and one blocked punt return for a touchdown. The Tide defense has forced 24 turnovers that have resulted in points on 17 occasions. Alabama has allowed only four rushing touchdowns all season. Alabama also has two first team All-Americans on defense (Terrence Cody and Rashad Johnson).
Alabama Offense
The Alabama offense revolves around the run and that run starts with a powerful offensive line. They have two offensive linemen that received first team All-American honors in Antoine Caldwell and Andre Smith. Andre Smith has been suspended for the Sugar Bowl.
Alabama averages 196 yards on the ground which ranks them 22nd nationally. Glen Coffee is the featured runner; he averages almost 104 yards which also ranks him 22nd nationally.
Alabama's passing offense is ranked 96th nationally. John Parker Wilson is 137-237 this season for 1,655 yards. He has a 57.8 completion rate. He has six touchdowns and five interceptions. The most he ever threw the ball this year was 31 times against LSU, and as few as 14 times against Arkansas.
The Alabama passing statistics are very mediocre because they haven't needed it. The Tide's running game is so powerful and so efficient, that is the focal point of the offense.
Utah Season Overview
The Utah Football team began the 2008 season with what was a huge win at the "Big House" versus Michigan. The Wolverines turned out not to be very good this year but nonetheless, the Utes got their first win of the 2008 season.
The Utes then came home, beat up on UNLV, then headed up to Logan and continued their winning ways beating the in-state rival Aggies 58-10. The Utes then traveled to Colorado Springs for their first road conference game of the season and struggled with Air Force, coming up with a big 4th quarter to finally put the Falcons away.
Ron McBride brought his Weber State Wildcats to Rice-Eccles Stadium, the former Utah Head Football Coach and his team fought hard, but the Utes cruised 37-21 in that game. After that PAC-10 foe Oregon State came to town as the hottest team in the country at the time. The Beavers had just beaten USC, but the Utes stayed with them, not playing a great game, but just doing enough and having Louie Sakoda on their side. Sakoda kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired to keep the Utes perfect season intact 31-28.
That was the Utes final non-conference opponent of the regular season. Their next game was at Wyoming, Utah took care of that game easily, as well as Colorado State as the offense really started operating efficiently against the Rams. The next game was a slugfest in Albuquerque and Utah outlasted the Lobos 13-10.
The Blackout was next, a nationally televised, highly touted game with 2 ranked teams. TCU started strong and really dominated early. Utah hung close and after the Horned Frogs freshman kicker missed 2 easy field goals, the Utes had their chance. Brian Johnson led the Utes on a final drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Freddie Brown.
Brian Johnson had a 5 touchdown performance to beat San Diego State the next week as the Utes took care of the Aztecs easily, then came rivalry week against BYU.
The Cougars still had a chance to win a share of the conference title; The Utes wanted it all for themselves. Brian Johnson had a game-defining performance while the Utah defense forced 6 turnovers and the Utes pulled away late to beat up on BYU 48-24 winning the conference title outright and securing a 2nd BCS berth, the first non-BCS conference school to bust into the BCS twice.
Game Preview
The toughest of all jobs has to lie with Utah Head Football Coach Kyle Whittingham keeping his players from getting too excited about this game. He has to make sure that Brian Johnson is relaxed but ready, that the offensive linemen aren't jumpy, to keep his guys from making the big early mistake.
Alabama is a very good 1st half team as they jump out to big leads and then run the clock out. If they don't have to throw the ball, they won't. It is imperative that Utah stay in the game early.
The Utah rush defense will be tested early and the entire game. Alabama wants to run the ball. They want to be the more physical team. The Utes got some good news earlier this week when Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban suspended Outland Trophy winner and first team All-American left tackle Andre Smith. That will affect Alabama and their rushing attack but the question is how much? For the Utes, that is on Paul Kruger's side, so Utah might end up having the edge in that match up.
If Utah is going to win this game, they have to make Alabama one-dimensional throwing the ball. For that to happen, Utah will easily have to play at least a plus one and possibly a plus two men in the box scenario. That would leave Brice McCain and Sean Smith in a one-on-one match-up. The Utes normally play a plus one man in the box, so that won't be that different.
Sean Smith will have his hands full with freshman receiver Julio Jones as well. Jones has broken most of Alabama's freshman receiving records and they don't throw the ball that often.
Another factor for the Utah defense is whether or not former defensive coordinator and new Utah State Head Football Coach Gary Andersen will be focused enough to put together a winning game plan. He has every reason to do his best because he is on the biggest of stages, but it will be a big question mark defensively.
The Utah offense will also be tested as much as it has been all season. The running game will have to give the Utes something. Alabama only gives up 74 yards on the ground. If the Utes can run the ball, they have a chance to stay close.
Running the ball will also help them throw it. Brian Johnson will have to be at his best. The Crimson Tide has Rashad Johnson lurking at his safety position waiting for Brian Johnson to make a bad mistake. Look for the Utah offense to start similar to the BYU game, maybe out of the no-huddle hurry-up offense trying to complete short, easy passes early in the game.
Louie Sakoda will also play a big role in this game as he usually does for Utah. Alabama has one of the premier return men in college football in Javier Arenas. If Sakoda can punt the ball away from Arenas, and Ben Vroman can get some touchbacks on kickoffs, Alabama's return game could possibly be negated.
Some interesting facts about the bowl game are that even with Alabama's storied history, this is their 1st BCS bowl game. Utah has played in more BCS bowl games than Alabama.
Utah has the nation's longest winning streak at 13, and the Utes have won 20 of 21 games. The Utes also have the longest bowl winning streak at 7 games.
Utah has more wins against BCS schools than any other non-BCS conference team (15) since 2000.
Alabama is 9-4-1 all-time in domed stadiums.
The Utes are 0-6 all-time vs. the SEC, but have not played a game vs. the SEC since 1984.
The Utes are 0-2 all-time in games that are televised by Fox Sports.
Conclusion
The Utes wanted a good opponent in this BCS bowl and they got one. It will take their best game of the season and probably their lives in order to win this game. The key is stopping the Tide's running game. If Utah can do that, they will be in this game. If they can't, it will be a long day.
The Utah Offense needs to play mistake free football and the playbook needs to stay wide open. The kicking game needs to go Utah's way. If the Utes play the game of their lives and win, it could be the biggest football win yet for the state of Utah.
