PROVO - BYU will host its home season opener against Utah as part of the Deseret First Duel on Saturday, Sept. 17, with kickoff set for 7:15 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live from LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, on ESPN2, WatchESPN.com and KSL Radio 1160 AM, 102.7 FM and ksl.com.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- BYU and Utah are playing as non-conference opponents for the first time ever. The two teams began their series in 1922 as members of the Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference.

BYU (1-1) vs. Utah (1-1)

Week 3 Game Notes

• BYU (1-1) vs. Utah (1-1)
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011
• Time: 7:15 p.m. MT
• Site: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah (64,045/Grass)
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM and ksl.com
• Series Record: Utah leads 54-34-4
• Last Meeting: 2010 (Utah 17, BYU 16)
• Kickoff Weather: Chance of storms, temps in the low 70s

- Saturday, Sept. 17, marks the earliest date BYU and Utah have ever met. The only other time the two teams have met in September was on Sept. 27, 1958.
- Under head coach Bronco Mendenhall, BYU is 3-3 against Utah. Against the rest of the Pac-12, the Cougars are 7-4 under Mendenhall with wins over Arizona (2007), UCLA (2008), Washington (2008, 2010) and Oregon State (2009).
- Going into the game against Utah, BYU has the chance to beat teams from two different BCS conferences in the same season for the seventh time in program history. The Cougars also accomplished the feat in 1984, 1985, 1988, 1990, 2001 and 2009.

- BYU is currently on a four-game home win streak and has not lost to an in-state school in LaVell Edwards Stadium since overtime against Utah in 2005, Bronco Mendenhall's first season as head coach. Since then, the Cougars have gone 4-0 at home against Utah and Utah State.

THE BYU-UTAH SERIES
This will be the 87th matchup between the Utes and Cougars. In the latest chapter of the rivalry, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall have three wins apiece heading into the seventh year of their respective head coaching careers. Five of the previous six games have been decided by a touchdown or less, with two of them going to overtime. Last year the Cougars dominated for three quarters, holding Utah scoreless until the fourth. The Utes managed to score 17 points in the final 15 minutes to lead 17-16 and blocked BYU's 42-yard attempt at a game-winning field goal as time expired.

A GOOD UPBRINGING
Several coaches at Utah have either played for BYU or spent time on the staff over the years.
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
BYU LB (1978-81), Grad. Assist. (85-86)
Co-Off. Coordinator Norm Chow
Various BYU coaching positions (73-99)
Co-Off. Coordinator/WR Coach Aaron Roderick
BYU WR (96-98), Grad. Assist. (90-91)
Def. Coordinator/Linebackers Kilani Sitake
BYU FB (94, 97-00) Grad. Assist. (2002)

BYU vs. BCS AQs
With the victory over Ole Miss, BYU has defeated a team from a BCS automatic-qualifying conference six-straight years, the third-longest streak in the nation. The Cougars have defeated at least one AQ school in 15 of the past 16 years dating back to 1996.

THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM
The third game has been a successful one in recent years in putting points on the board. In the last six years BYU has scored an average of 36.2 points in the third game of the season, compared to an average of 22.9 in the first two games.

LUCKY SEVENS
This will be the seventh game against Utah for head coach Bronco Mendenhall. He currently has a 3-3 record against the Utes. Five of the six games have been decided by seven points or less.

INDEPENDENT PL AYERS OF THE WEEK
A nationwide media panel has been created to honor the most outstanding weekly performances among players at the four independent FBS institutions: Army, BYU, Navy and Notre Dame. Each week, players will be honored for contributions on Offense, Defense and Special Teams. The inaugural week of awards includeded BYU's own Kyle Van Noy for his performance at Ole Miss while in week two BYU sophomore kicker Justin Sorensen was honored as the Special Teams Player of the Week. Weekly winners are as follows:

Offensive Player of the Week
Week 1 - Navy QB Kriss Proctor, Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd
Week 2 - Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd
Defensive Player of the Week
Week 1 - BYU LB Kyle Van Noy
Week 2 - Navy LB Matt Warrick
Special Teams Player of the Week
Week 1 - Navy PK Jon Teague
Week 2 - BYU PK Justin Sorensen

BOUNCE BACK
Starting the season 1-1 is nothing new for head coach Bronco Mendenhall. In 2006 and 2007 Mendenhall and the Cougars started 1-1 in the first two games and went on to 11-2 seasons each year.

BALL SECURITY
Through two games, BYU has not lost a fumble. There has been one fumble of record but the Cougars were able to recover and keep possession. Meanwhile, BYU has managed to force three fumbles and recover two of them. In addition to intercepting two passes at Texas, the Cougars have a +1 turnover margin.

MORE THAN JUST A RUNNER
BYU's offense has featured the passing game for decades, including the running backs getting into the action. Often times the running backs can be seen spreading out into the slot receiver position or catching passes out of the backfield. Four different running backs have caught passes for the Cougars in the 2011 season, including JJ Di Luigi (eight catches for 56 yards), Michael Alisa (four catches for 33 yards), Bryan Kariya (three catches for 20 yards) and Josh Quezada (two catches for 8 yards).

HOFFMAN KEEPS IT GOING
As a top target and leading receiver in 2010, sophomore Cody Hoffman continues to make an impact, catching at least one pass in eight-straight games.
Hoffman caught his first pass for six yards with 44 seconds left in the first quarter at Texas. Hoffman finished the day with two catches for 11 yards. He extends his streak to eight games with at least one reception and 14 of 15 career games.

NO POINTS
BYU has given up just 30 points in its first two games of the season, the third time in seven starts under Bronco Mendenhall the Cougar scoring defense has held opponents to that mark.

SUPER SUB
In the first start of his career, in place of the injured Brandon Ogletree, sophomore Spencer Hadley led the BYU defense with 12 total tackles, including seven solo and five assisted. The action was the first significant game time Hadley has seen since his freshman season in 2008. That year, Hadley totaled 13 tackles, a number he nearly surpassed against Texas. Hadley had more tackles than any other player, for BYU or Texas, who saw action on Saturday.

SUB-100 YARD STREAK BROKEN
For the first time since October 16, 2010, the BYU defense allowed an opponent over 100 yards rushing as Texas totaled 166 yards on 43 attempts. The last time a BYU defense allowed 100 yards rushing also came in the state of Texas as the TCU Horned Frogs ran for 108 yard on that day in October. During the sub-100 yard streak, the Cougars were 6-1, with the lone loss coming against Utah in the 2010 regular season finale.

NO SOUP FOR YOU
In its last seven games, BYU has outscored its opponents 143-16 in the first half. UTEP scored 10 of those points in the New Mexico Bowl.

DOING IT AGAIN
BYU is ranked in the top-30 in nine different defensive categories after the first two weeks of the season, including a No. 22 ranking in total defense. Last season, the Cougars posted the 24th-best total defensive mark in the country.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For his efforts against No. 21 Texas last week, sophomore kicker Justin Sorensen was named the FBS Independent Special Teams Player of the Week and
an honorable mention Placekicker Performer of the Week from the College Football Performance Awards. Sorensen went 3 for 3 on field goals and converted his only PAT attempt, scoring a career-high 10 points against the Longhorns.

3 FG BAD LUCK?
Sophomore kicker Justin Sorenson nailed all three of his field goal attempts against Texas, the second time a BYU kicker has gone 3 of 3 on field goals since Mitch Payne did it against Utah - both games resulted in a 17-16 loss.

30, 31, 32, 33
With field goals of 30, 33, and 32 yards, respectively, sophomore kicker Justin Sorensen added to the only field goal of his career, a 31-yarder against Wyoming in 2008.

PINNING THEM BACK
Junior punter Riley Stephenson twice pinned the Ole Miss Rebels inside the 20-yard line, giving him 30 career punts downed inside the 20. Stephenson also placed one kick just inside the 10-yard line against the Rebels. Against Texas, Stephenson helped BYU win the field position battle with a punt that was downed on the Texas three-yard line.

ALL-PURPOSE
Redshirt freshman cornerback Jordan Johnson, led BYU in all-purpose yards in the second game of the season against Texas with 71 total yards all on kick returns.

Coach Mendenhall Press Conference - Utah

Opening Comments:
I'm looking forward to being at home for our home opener. It's interesting to see the Deseret Duel Banner already up. I am still getting used to the idea of Utah being the third week of the season. I expect a hard fought, physical battle and look forward to the next game in our BYU-Utah series. Where would you rank the offensive production right now?
I don't have a scale of any sort. I think we have good players and good ability. They're still optimistic and working hard. I think it's a work in progress.

Are the offensive results related to the talent of the opposition?
I'm not sure. I think we have a good program and good personnel and an exciting and challenging schedule. All the teams we play are talented and we're one play away from being 2-0 or one point away with two hard games on the road. Part of it is who we played and where we played.

Are you on board with the offensive play calling?
I'm on board. I think I was asked about the third down and draw after the game. Sometimes the best time for a draw is when no one thinks there will be a draw. I think the biggest issue right now is we have to find a way to run the ball more effectively. I'm fairly happy with our play action and intermediate throws. Ideally we'll get to that point as our targets emerge. You are sort of seeing Ross Apo emerge somewhat now, which I think is something Cody Hoffman did a year ago. We've got to get more consistently open down field for those shots to be taken. Eventually maybe 25 percent of those throws will be down field. In the Texas game a variety of pressure and a variety of looks made us a little more protection conscious, and downfield conscious

What are your feelings on the Utah Rivalry and how you want it to be more civil?
It's hard to say. Right now I'm having a hard time getting my own mind around playing the University of Utah this week knowing that it's so early. I would like it to be a first-class rivalry and the games already indicate that. They'll be down to the last play and the games are very competitive. I don't know how it will affect the surrounding fans.

What are the similarities between Utah and BYU in relation to how they are playing right now?
If you were to make an analogy right now both defenses are playing fairly solid and both offenses are working into their own identity. Not having analyzed them enough yet it appears there could be some similarities.

How will you adjust to playing Utah so early in the season?
Really we're going to try and go back and study UCLA where Norm Chow was and get carry over plays and carry over concepts. Knowing this is the third game where there will be some things that are a little different. We'll do our best to prepare and adjust. I'm not sure if there will be a play or two or a grouping of plays that we have to adjust on. You just do your best to predict it.

How do you feel about getting to come home after two hard road games?
I think the timing is great. I thought our responded very well to both our road challenges and competed very hard. The execution could certainly keep improving.

How do you think Jake Heaps progress has been?
I think he's right on. Again the biggest thing that will be helpful to Jake and our offense is to come out swinging and run the ball more effectively. I think we have to develop that and maybe right now he's carrying too much of the load.

What has Travis Uale brought to the defense?
Has the ability to put us in the right defense. With the exception of one play at Texas he's doing that at a really high level similar to watch Scott Johnson, Kellen Fowler, and those types of player have done. It's not that they have a dominant physical game but they put us in the right position. He's doing that and he's taking that role on. That's the most critical role at this point.

What do you see from Utah's running game?
No. 15, the running back, I was impressed with at the USC game. He runs hard and quick and can break tackles. He's not big but he is fairly elusive and more physical than you'd expect from a player that size.

What has your involvement with changing student seating?
I certainly have influence in saying that I would love all the students to be together. I think that's one of the neat things about college settings. I love the stadiums when the gates open early and the students have a section they are racing to get to. I like when they come early and stay late. I'm looking to promote that. I didn't have a final decision but I was an endorser of that idea. I think it'd be one more thing to add to the experience for the students and make LaVell Edwards Stadium even more of a home field advantage for us.

Running back Bryan Kariya
What are you looking forward to this week?
It's a great game to play. There is a lot of excitement and competitive drive in this week. As a team we're excited to go out and play another time against another good team.

Are there different emotions for players going into this game?
I try to approach it like any other game so I don't get swayed or messed up in my mental preparation. There is definitely a great drive to go out and win. It hurts a little more when you lost but it's a little sweeter when you win.

Safety Travis Uale
Does the rivalry add any extra motivation to prepare?
Utah-BYU has been huge rivalry ever since I can remember with close games dictated by last-second plays. Of course it's a big game but we prepare for it like any other game.

As a defensive player, what do you think when the offense is struggling?
We hope the best for our offense. We don't think we're better than the offense by any means we work together. We'll stand by them and support them and whatever they go through. Saturday wasn't a good day for them but we'll stand by them through thick and thin. We are family.

Linebacker Jamison Frazier
Do you think the rivalry game is coming at the right time?
It's another opportunity to get better and to continue on with our season. We have plenty of games left. I don't think one loss is going to make us hang up our cleats. So I think we're all really excited to see what we can do.

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