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This morning the weather returned the warm, balmy moist conditions you would expect in Bayou country. As I was taking a morning walk, I was treated to the blaring sirens of the police escort for the Utes team bus heading over to the Superdome for the game-day walk-through; the first sign that finally, 41 days from when Utah beat BYU to complete their perfect season and punch their ticket here, they finally get to hit Alabama in the Sugar Bowl!
The walk on the streets reminds you this is SEC and Alabama country (except for those enlightened LSU and Auburn fans we met that say they're wearing red and yelling loud for the Utes tonight) as game time approaches it's more evident the crowd will be mostly Crimson Tide, but I don't think that will affect Utah too much, too much senior leadership to be overwhelmed by the venue.
It's the tide team they need to worry about and, judging by last night's electric Utah pep rally at the team hotel (see our Sportsbeat Icast ), many of the estimated 11,000 Ute fans were there loud and proud, firing up the team one last time. It was quite a sight to behold. Everything you'd expect from what's been a wonderful "BCS Big Time" event like the Sugar Bowl!
I must admit I am sick of the steady stream of 'bama fans saying "roll tide" when they pass each other or come across Utah fans, but it reminds me that that's just how they worship their football in the SEC and especially at a tradition-rich school like Alabama.
Today we get back into the superdome, this time for pregame preview live shots on KSL 5 at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., then live on the field with postgame interviews in our 10 p.m. news.
Key's to a Utes win, oldest one on record "ball security" turnover-free game (like the BYU win)
Weather the early "high tide," Alabama's going to want to establish their physicality early and discourage the Utes.
Brian Johnson must dominate the quarterback matchup with the QB with three names. As Paul Kruger told me, "I don't go by Paul Christian Kruger, so this John Parker Wilson must be pretty important. I'd love to get a couple of sacks on the QB with three names."
Close in the 4th quarter and who knows, the longer the Utes stay in, the greater the pressure will be on Alabama. If things go right and "King Louie" is his usual "never miss" self, there could be another party in New Orleans tonight: New Year's Eve Romp, part deux!
E-mail: tkirkland@ksl.com
