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SALT LAKE CITY — A win is a win no matter how ugly or difficult it is to get. And for the University of Utah, a road win in its fourth year in the Pac-12 is a vital step in the right direction to proving its legitimacy in the conference.
The goal for the program coming into the season after back-to-back losing years was to at least make it back to a bowl game, according to head coach Kyle Whittingham. And considering Utah's daunting schedule, the likelihood of getting there seemed like an extremely difficult task — it still is.
Now, sitting at 5-1, with the season halfway over and the postseason in reach, it seems just making it to a bowl game should not be the goal. A 6-6 record at this point would be a letdown to what appears to be a promising season. But Utah still has a long way to go before they can officially say they’ve “arrived.”
“Are we there yet? No, it’s still a work in progress,” Whittingham said in a post game interview with ESPN 700 Thursday night.
And Whittingham is right. There is more to prove before Utah can say they’ve arrived in the Pac-12. And if Utah’s first three seasons in the conference are any indication, one season is not enough to consistently compete at a high level.
“You can never think you’ve arrived with what you’ve done well,” Whittingham continued. “You’ve got to continue to work hard.”
The talent level on Utah has certainly taken a step up since first joining the Pac-12, and it’s particularly noticeable on the defensive side of the ball who continues to dominate against opponents week-in and week-out.
You can never think you've arrived with what you've done well. You've got to continue to work hard.
–Kyle Whittingham
“We feel like this is the best Pac-12 team that we have brought into this stadium,” Whittingham said. “It was apparent tonight and we got the win.”
But Whittingham is the first to point out that for Utah to be effective and be considered as a top team in the “Conference of Champions,” Utah has to be consistent in all aspects of the game.
“If we are going to become a top-tier Pac-12 team, as we’ve talked about, we’ve got to figure out the throw game because right now it’s not good enough,” he said.
Despite the team’s recent success, Utah has an identity issue on the offensive side of the ball, particularly with the quarterback and receiver positions. And it's an issue Utah must address before they face the top-tier teams left on the schedule.
Speaking of his receiving unit and quarterback play, Whittingham said: "That's not good and that’s something that will hinder us if we can’t get it fixed; it’s already hindering us. It will be at some point where we won’t be able to overcome it. We’ve got to get that straightened out."
But time is running out as Utah prepares to take on a tough University of Southern California team that has yet to give up any ground to the Utes in the last three years.
"We’ve got to evaluate that and take a close look and see going forward what the best situation is going to be," Whittingham added. "Thank goodness we’ve got Devontae Booker. I think he’s the best back in the Pac-12."
Booker, who rushed for 229 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries Thursday night, is a viable option on offense but can't be relied upon to be the only aspect of the Utah’s offense. However, it is an aspect of the game Whittingham said is important to establish.
"I don’t care what type of offenses you face, what the evolution of the game or where it’s at, it still comes down just about every week to being able to run the football with your offense and being able to taking care of the run with your defense."
In the week that Utah has to prepare for the Trojans, Whittingham will once again be forced to decide upon a starting quarterback. If the week leading up to the Oregon State game is any indication, the starter will not be named until the Trojans find out on the field.
How Utah fairs in their final six games will be more telling than the first six at whether the program has “arrived.” If Utah can continue to show its dominance on the defensive side of the ball and improve on offense, Utah could have a special season. But if the offense continues to stagger each week, Utah will be just another average team in a good conference, flirting with bowl eligibility for years to come.
