10 things to know about Utah vs. Idaho State


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SALT LAKE CITY — The wait is finally over. The 2014 college football season is now just hours away for the Utah Utes as they prepare for their first game of the season - at home against FCS foe Idaho State.

The Utes have fared very well against teams from the Big Sky, winning all 36 games against current conference members. Kyle Whittingham was quick to point out that while the Utes have had success historically against the FCS schools, the team is focus and has the utmost respect for the Idaho State Bengals.

"Fall camp was productive and we're now ready to begin the season," Whittingham said.

"We had competitive battles at virtually every position and feel as though we are assembling the quality depth we need for the level of play in the Pac-12 Conference. We're looking forward to our opener against the Idaho State Bengals in front of a full house in Rice-Eccles Stadium."

Utah (0-0) vs. Idaho State (0-0)
  • Utah (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. Idaho State (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky)
  • Date: Thursday August 28, 2014
  • Time: 5:30 p.m. MDT
  • Site: Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,807/FieldTurf)
  • TV: Pac-12 Networks
  • Radio: ESPN700 AM, Sirius 119
  • Series Record: Utah leads 6-0
  • Last Meeting: 1994 (Utah 66-0)
Series Snapshot
Utah leads the series with Idaho State 6-0, including a 5-0 mark in Salt Lake City. The Utes have won by an average of 38.7 points per game. Kyle Whittingham was in his fi rst year as a Ute assistant the last time these teams met back in 1994. Whittingham, who had spent the fi ve previous seasons at Idaho State, was Utah's defensive line coach in the 66-0 blowout of the Bengals in '94.

So while you scramble through your list of items to pack in the cooler for the tailgate Thursday night, here are 10 things to know about this week's matchup (please feel free to share some of that food if you see me roaming around):

  • Utah (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) hosts Idaho State (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky) in the season opener for both teams on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m. MDT in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Some bleacher seats and standing room tickets remain and may be purchased at UtahUtes.com, 801-581-UTIX and the Rice-Eccles Stadium box office. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. Radio is ESPN700 AM and Sirius 119.
  • Stadium expansion has already happened? A row of bleachers has been added in the standing room areas on the east, west and north sections of Rice-Eccles Stadium. Forty ADA seats were also added for a total of 790 new seats, bringing the capacity of Rice-Eccles Stadium to 45,807 (from 45,017). There will still be space for standing room behind the new row of bleachers.
  • Thursday's game is the second-annual Stripe the Stadium promotion. Fans are asked to wear red or white, depending on where they sit. More information can be found at here.
  • Kyle Whittingham's second game as a member of the Utah football staff was a 66-0 win over Idaho State back in 1994 when he was the defensive line coach. Whittingham came to the U. from ISU, where he was an assistant coach from 1988-93.
  • Utah has won its last six season openers (five straight at home) in a streak that started with a 2008 win at Michigan. The Utes are 70-49-1 all-time in season openers and 52-19-1 when the season opener was at home.
  • The Aug. 28 game is tied for the earliest opener in school history (2003 vs. Utah State).
  • Utah has played to 25-straight sellouts in Rice-Eccles Stadium extending back to the 2010 season-opener against Pittsburgh. Of the sellouts, 22 were played before standing-room only crowds that exceeded Rice-Eccles Stadium's former 45,017-seat capacity (starting this season, the stadium's seating capacity is 45,807). For the seventh-consecutive season, all 32,000 allotted season tickets were sold.
  • Hashtag U? Use the hashtag #GameDayU on Utah football game days to participate in and follow the conversations on the Utes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. During the week, search #PrepareU on Twitter for a behind-the-scenes look at Utah practices.
  • Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Dave Christensen first crossed paths at Idaho State in the early 1990s. Whittingham served on the Bengal staff from 1988-1993, coaching the linebackers and special teams his first three seasons and serving as the defensive coordinator from 1992-93. Christensen coached the ISU running backs and offensive line from 1990-1991. Two former Utes are on the current ISU coaching staff: Spencer Toone (co-defensive coordinator/safeties) and Steve Fifita (defensive line). Toone was an all-Mountain West Conference linebacker for the Utes in 2005 and led the team in tackles in 2004 and 2005. Fifita was an all-conference defensive tackle in 2004 and 2005 and was the defensive MVP of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.
  • WR Dres Anderson, LG Junior Salt, S Brian Blechen, DE Nate Orchard and K Andy Phillips were elected team captains.

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