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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utes took a big step in 2014 with their first winning record since joining the Pac 12, sweeping two traditional powers in the Los Angeles area, and capping off a nine-win season with a bowl victory and a spot in the Top 25.
Players from around the conference called Utah "a tough team," "gritty," "hard-nosed" and "a heavyweight brawl."
"When you go and play Utah, you'd better bring it," Arizona State coach Todd Graham said. "They're going to be physical up front, attack and just be physical in everything they do."
The hard-nosed football has earned the Utes — two of the newest additions to the conference — plenty of respect.
"I have a lot of respect for Utah because of the way they play the game," Stanford coach David Shaw said. "They play it the way we want to play it.
"I know Kyle always runs a great college football program."
Head coach Kyle Whittingham also drew rave reviews at Pac 12 media day.
"I think he's one of the best football coaches in this league," Graham said. "He may be underappreciated for the job that he does."
CFB Preview: Utah Utes
Expectations high for Utah RB Devontae Booker
Devontae Booker was the main man last season for the Utah football team, and there is no question he will be relied upon heavily again this year.Rice-Eccles Stadium and The MUSS has immediately put other teams on notice. Multiple players put it succinctly: "They're loud."
"You know when you're going there, you're going into a great environment," Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. "It's a fun college environment. You'd better buckle your chin strap, because it's going to be physical."
Several coaches have been asked about a team in the conference that gets less national respect than it deserves. For UCLA coach Jim Mora, the answer was easy.
"To me, that's definitely Utah," he said.
Washington coach Chris Petersen knows the Utes well, even going back to his time at Boise State.
"It's always a team you aren't looking forward to playing," he said. "They play hard, and they're a good team."
Contributing: Dave Noriega
