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It was no surprise to anyone when the Aggies of Utah State steamrolled in-state opponent SUU in Week 1. It was an even lesser surprise when the University of Utah shut out Northern Colorado.
But heading into Week 2, everyone thinks Utah's clash at Utah State will be an entirely different kind of game.
Game Notes- Utah (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. Utah State (1-0, 0-0 Western Athletic Conference)
- Date: Friday, Sept. 7
- Time: 6:00 p.m. MDT
- Site: Romney Stadium (25,513/AstroTurf) Logan, Utah
- TV: ESPN2
- Radio: ESPN700
- Series Record: Utah leads 77-28-4
- Last Meeting: 2009 (Utah 35-17)
- Kickoff Weather: Mostly sunny, temps in the lower 80s
University of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham expressed his appreciation for the way his team played last Thursday night but, as stated in his post-game remarks, he understands there are “bigger challenges on the horizon.”
Those bigger challenges start with the Aggies of Utah State.
Utah State will host this game against the University of Utah at the Merlin Olson Field at Romney Stadium in Logan at 6 p.m. Friday.
Here’s what coach Whittingham had to say about Utah State University’s football program:
On the matchup itself:
“Utah State is coming up on Friday. They are a very good football team and have outstanding skill. Their quarterback is a very good player. It is going to be a dog-fight. It's going to be a battle from start to finish. Our guys have worked hard and so far we've had a good week of preparation. We're looking forward to getting underway.”
On how good Utah State can be:
“Without question, we view this as a big challenge. (Utah State coach) Gary Andersen has done a great job with their program. He has recruited well and their speed and athleticism now compared to three or four years ago is night and day. They should have beaten Auburn last year at their place. If they are able to hang on to the three or four games they let get away from them in the fourth quarter last year, they are a good football team.”
On the relationship with Utah State Head Coach Gary Andersen:
We go way back together. He was my defensive line coach when I was a coordinator, and he was my coordinator when I got the head job. We have maintained our relationship. It's not as frequent as it was at one point, but we still talk to each other several times a month.
On the familiarity of the coaching staffs:
I think it's a wash on both counts — there is no advantage either way. It's not a big factor, as we create specific game plans week in and week out. There is familiarity, yes, but when all is said and done I don't think it's going to be a factor.
Alex Rivera is the Assistant Sports Editor of the UVU Review. You can contact him at arivera.2011@hotmail.com or through his Twitter account @A_River_Uh
