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SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah will again be on the road this week, although it is a much shorter trip for the team and fans as the 1-1 Utes travel only 45 miles to play the BYU Cougars in the 2011 edition of this heated rivalry.
This game will be the seventh meeting between coaches Kyle Whittingham and Bronco Mendenhall, with each team winning three times so far since 2005.
“Even though this is week three, it’s rivalry week. Our players will respond from this road trip (to USC) and be ready to go,” Whittingham said. “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.”
Wittingham spoke to the press at length about the annual grudge match. Here's what he had to say.
On the postgame score change against USC:
Related:
BYU expects physical battle against rival Utes
BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall met with the media earlier this week leading up to the annual rivalry game against Utah. A summary of his comments is below.“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 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 kicker Coleman Peterson:
“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 defensive end 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 QBs Jordan Wynn and 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 BYU Defense:
“They've been playing good defense, particularly against the run. They are stout upfront; their linebackers are active and make a lot of plays for them. Through two games they have been very stingy.”
On the rivalry game:
“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 it’s 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.”
Landon Walters is a history and political science major currently studying at Salt Lake Community College and is an avid sports fan. He can be reached at mavericksoccer_22@hotmail.com
