SALT LAKE CITY - Utah (1-1, 0-1 Pac-12) plays Brigham Young (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 17 in Provo, Utah, in a nationally-televised ESPN2 game. The fifth-annual Deseret First Duel Rivalry game will kick off at 7:15 p.m. MT in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Radio is ESPN700 AM (espn700sports.com).

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

> Utah leads the series with BYU 54-34-4, although the Cougars don't recognize six games (split equally 3-3) when it was known as the BY Academy. With or without those six games, this is the second-longest rivalry in Utah history. For a complete series history and last year's recap, see the boxed inset on page 2.

> Saturday's game marks the first time in 113 years that Utah and BYU will play as non-conference opponents. Their last non-conference matchup was on Nov. 24, 1898 (a 5-0 Utah win over BY Academy). The two universities did not play again until 1922 as members of the Rocky Mountain Conference.

> This is only the second September game played between the two schools, with the other falling on Sept. 27, 1958 (a 14-7 BYU win). The two teams have met in November continuously since 1968 and the game has served as the regular-season finale in 28 of the last 32 years (exceptions were in 1980, 1986, 1989 and 2001).

> Utah has won six of the last nine games against BYU (2-2 in Provo).

> Two rivalry trophies are at stake in Saturday's game: the Deseret Duel and the Beehive Boot. Both teams have won the Deseret Duel trophy twice in its four-year history, while Utah has taken possession of the Beehive Boot 11 times and BYU 22 times in the boot's 40-year history. Utah State, which won the Beehive Boot by a media vote over Utah last year (both teams beat BYU but did not play each other), has claimed the boot seven times.

CONNECTIONS
Utah's coaching staff has three BYU graduates, including head coach Kyle Whittingham (1978-81). As a senior, he was the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-WAC linebacker. Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake (fullback in 1994 and 1997-2000) and receivers coach Aaron Roderick (receiver, 1997-98) also played for BYU. First-year Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow coached for 27 years at BYU from 1973-99, calling the Cougar plays from 1982-1999 and serving as offensive coordinator from 1996-99. Cougar defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi was at Utah from 1994-2001as a graduate assistant and defensive line/ends coach.

OUTSIDE THE LINES
The Utah ticket office has sold out of its 2,800 tickets allotted for Saturday's game at BYU ... After this week's game the Utes have a week off before returning to action on Oct. 1 against Washington in Homecoming. Click here for Homecoming activities.

U-TWEETS
Utah is tied for 10th nationally in turnover margin (plus 2.0; five gained, one lost) ... Utah's record against Independents follows: Army (0-3), Navy (1-0), Notre Dame (0-1) and BYU (54-34-4) ... Utah is 11-4 in games on ESPN2 ... Utah's all-time record on Sept. 17 is 4-3 (1-3 on the road) ... Utah is out-scoring its opponents in the first three quarters but is scoreless in the fourth quarter after two games ... Until last week's game against USC, the last time a team returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown against Utah was Fresno State in 1999.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE
Miles Mason, who started the first game at left tackle in place of injured John Cullen, started at left guard last week when Cullen returned ... Nick Marsh has replaced Sean Sellwood at punter. Marsh also handles kickoffs ... Utah has played four true freshmen, including starting safety Eric Rowe. Other true freshmen who have played are defensive end Nate Fakahafua, running back Harvey Langi and receiver Charles Henderson (on punt returns) ... making his first career start against USC was junior free safety Keith McGill.

LAST WEEK
Trailing USC 17-14 with 11 seconds left in regulation, Utah had a chance to send the first Pac-12 game into overtime, but Coleman Petersen's 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown as time expired and Utah lost 23-14. Utah's defense was stellar, forcing three Trojan turnovers, two that led to Ute touchdowns. Turning in double-digit tackle nights were Chaz Walker (11 tackles) and Matt Martinez (10 tackles, 1 sack), while Ryan Lacy added seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. DeVonte Christopher led the offense with 136 receiving yards and caught Utah's first touchdown pass.

Quotes from Kyle Whittingham's Weekly Press Conference

Opening Statement:
Obviously it was a tough loss at the Coliseum for us. I am extremely proud of the way that our players hung in there and fought to the bitter end. We had the opportunity to put it into overtime and we didn't take advantage of that. We have things to build on. The defense played opportunistic and got key takeaways and key stops that we had to have. Offensively, the throw game was improved. It was more productive, we took more shots downfield and had more receivers making plays on the ball. The run game was not good and we've got to continue to address that. Going forward we need more production in the run game.

Even though this is week three, it's rivalry week. Our players will respond from this road trip and be ready to go. The team has a great attitude and great leadership and I don't see any issues getting back and getting in the right mindset to prepare for the upcoming game.

On the rivalry:
It is what it is, and what it's always been. It's a big in-state event, maybe the biggest sports event in the state every year. Players get up for this game and the fans are excited. The timing is different and it will have a different feel, but it should be every bit as intense and competitive as its been.

It has gotten a little overboard in situations. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and hopefully we will have uneventful situations on the field and in the stands. This is a great rivalry, but there is a line that we don't want to cross over - we being everyone involved.

Injury report:
Tauni Vakapuna should be good to go for practice tomorrow, as should Shawn Asiata. Health-wise, we are in pretty good shape. We had a few guys get nicked up last week, but it doesn't look like anyone will be missing.

On Jordan Wynn and BYU quarterback Jake Heaps: Our guy has won a lot of games for us. He is a true junior, so he is a year older than Jake Heaps is. They are similar in styles. They are both pocket guys, and Heaps has a very strong arm that is one of his main attributes. I don't know enough about him personality-wise to make any more statements, but our guy is a student of the game and knows where to go with the ball. He has an understanding of the game as a whole. He came in as a bright young quarterback but has matured and understands the intricacies at the college level. He has an exceptional football IQ. I believe both guys are playing in correct schemes for them.

On the score change at USC:
That was odd. I didn't know until the next morning and I still haven't gotten an official explanation one-on-one with the people in charge who made that decision, but I am scheduled to talk to Tony Corrente (Pac-12 Coordinator of Football Officiating) today. It was inconsequential on the outcome and it's not a big deal to me because we still lost, but I would like an explanation moving forward. We're not whining or crying, but we would like an interpretation.

On kicker Coleman Petersen:
He's our guy. Although the kick was lower than you'd like, there was a little push on the right side, so a combination of that led to the block. Although no one came through clean but got knocked back, their big lineman went through the flight of the ball. The hold was good and the snap was good. Coleman handled that well, it just didn't work out for us.

On the run game:
We have to look at all our options to supplement it, rather than just John White. We need to look at everything and decide what we are going to do to supplement it.

On Joe Kruger:
We spoke very highly of Joe during the spring and in the preseason, and he is living up to that billing. His upside is tremendous and he hasn't even scratched the surface of his abilities. He's just so gifted and rangy and athletic. He's been a very good player for us and we need him to continue on that upward plane and continue to be a force.

On the BYU defense:
They've been playing good defense, particularly against the run. They are stout up front, their linebackers are active and make a lot of plays for them. Through two games they have been very stingy.

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