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#22/23 Utah (1-0, 0-0 MWC) hosts UNLV (1-0, 0-0 MWC) in the conference opener for both teams. Game time is 6 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The game will be televised by the Mtn. Tickets can be purchased by calling 581-UTIX, online at utahutes.com and at the Rice-Eccles Stadium box office.
Utah is ranked No. 22 this week in the AP Top 25 and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. It marks Utah's first appearance in the national polls since the 2004 season, when the Utes were ranked for 17 weeks and finished No. 4 in the AP and No. 5 in the Coaches' poll.
Utah kicked off the 2008 season with one of the biggest road wins in school history - defeating Michigan 25-23 in the Big House before 108,421 fans. The Utes beat a team that has won 11 national championships and whose 869 all-time wins are the most in NCAA football history.
The Utes have more wins against BCS schools since 2000 (14) than any other non-BCS team. Utah is 11-4 against BCS schools since 2003.
Utah quarterback Brian Johnson and kicker/punter Louie Sakoda were named the Mountain West Conference Players of the Week for offense and special teams. It is the second career MWC player of the week award for Johnson and the eighth for Sakoda.
This season is the 10th anniversary of Rice-Eccles Stadium and Saturday's game against UNLV is just one week earlier than the first game held in the stadium. Utah beat Louisville, 45-22, on Sept. 12, 1998 in the stadium's inaugural game.
Utah's win over Michigan was career victory No. 25 for head coach Kyle Whittingham (25-14).
LAST WEEK
Brian Johnson, Louie Sakoda and a swarming defense led Utah to a 25-23 win over Michigan in the Big House before a capacity crowd of 108,421. Johnson passed for 305 yards and a touchdown while completing 21-of-33 passes. Sakoda put on a dazzling display before an ABC/ESPN 2 audience, making all four field goal attempts, including a career-long 53-yarder in the third quarter that gave the Utes a 25-10 lead. Sakoda also averaged 47 yards on six punts. Paul Kruger (9 tackles, 2.5 TFL, half a sack), Nai Fotu (7 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack) and Koa Misi (1.5 sacks) led a Ute defense that allowed Michigan just 203 yards (36 rushing). Michigan, held to four rushing yards in the first half, converted on only 3-of-14 third down attempts. Sean Smith had an interception and two pass breakups.
KYLE STYLE
Fourth-year Utah head coach, Kyle Whittingham is 25-14 overall and 3-0 in bowl games. He is 5-3 against BCS schools. Including 11 years as a Ute assistant, he has participated in more wins than anyone in Utah football history. Since he joined the staff in 1994, Utah has won 67-percent of its games (111-55). Utah has played in nine bowl games during Whittingham's tenure - winning eight. Prior to becoming Utah's head coach in 2005, he spent one season as the defensive line coach and 10 years as the defensive coordinator.
OUTSIDE THE LINES
More than 30,000 season tickets have been sold, leaving just a few hundred tickets available for season purchase. The old season ticket record of 25,138 was set last year. The school season ticket record has been broken all four years of Kyle Whittingham's head coaching tenure, during which time sales have increased by 11,000. Single-game tickets can be purchased by calling 581-UTIX, online at utahutes.com and at the Rice-Eccles Stadium box office ... Halftime activities at the Utah-UNLV game will include a presentation honoring the Rice and Eccles' families for their contributions. Also at halftime, a video chronicling the 10 years of Rice-Eccles Stadium history will be played. ... A fireworks show will follow Saturday's game between Utah and UNLV.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
Already slim at defensive tackle, the Utes lost starting nose tackle Kenape Eliapo (left foot) for six to eight weeks. Replacing Eliapo as the starter will be sophomore Lei Talamaivao with Aaron Tonga backing up. Watch for Dave Kruger or Sealver Siliga--both true freshmen--to join the tackle rotation ... Second-string quarterback Corbin Louks (right shoulder) is questionable for this week ... Tight end Brad Clifford (hip) missed the Michigan game with an injured hip and is out indefinitely ... Linebacker Lisi Leota (shoulder) is estimated out for two weeks ... Four players saw their first action as Utes at Michigan: Redshirt freshman Chaz Walker, and juniors Damilyn Tanner and Leota, played on special teams, while junior Ben Hendy got in at tight end ... Getting their first starts as Utes were junior tight end Chris Joppru, sophomore center Zane Taylor, sophomore linebacker Nai Fotu and junior linebacker Mike Wright.
Kyle Whittingham quotes from today's press conference
Opening statement:
Getting a win at Michigan is a good start to the season. We had a bunch of fans there, which was a great demonstration of the support for our team. Players and coaches appreciated that very much.
In the game itself, there were a lot of positives. We came away with a win. The defense was consistent from start to finish and they really controlled the game. Our offense was extremely efficient in the first half. They did a great job moving the football. In the second half, Michigan turned up the pressure and we didn't respond very well. We have begun addressing that. Louie Sakoda did a great job. We had some protection issues in the kicking game, but when he could get the kicks off, he was lights out as usual. It was just another day at the office for Louie.
Overall it was a positive win and a great experience. You can't put it into words what it's like to come out of that tunnel and have 108,000 people on top of you. It was an electric atmosphere and something we will never forget, but we have shifted our focus entirely to UNLV, and that's where we are.
This week is our home and conference opener. Every conference game is important and it's important to get started on the right foot. We need to stop the run more effectively than last year. If you can't stop the run, everything else is difficult.
Health-wise, our only significant loss was Kenape Eliapo. He is out 6-8 weeks. Several players are questionable: Corbin Louks, Zane Beadles and Robert Johnson. They are day-to-day and we will make a final decision on that later this week.
On learning the team moved into the rankings:
It is still early in the season. I am pleased for our players because they deserve the recognition. I am focused on UNLV - but the accolades are nice for our guys.
On the offense against Michigan:
Michigan had as much to do with it as anything. Their defense is a very good defense. We were on pace to put up outlandish numbers. The pace we set in first half was blistering. In the second half, it was a combination of them making adjustments and our level of execution dropping off. That all led to a dismal second half. We turned the ball over a few times - that disappointed me the most. Ball security and taking care of the football are important. We turned it over twice, once in red zone and another time in critical point in game. It was not good - we have got to take care of the ball.
On UNLV:
Frank Summers is the majority of their run game. He had a good weekend against Utah State. They have two good receivers, Ryan Wolfe and Casey Flair. There are a lot of new faces on defense, but beyond a new quarterback, most of their offense is the same cast of characters as last year. Frank did a lot of damage last year.
On Frank Summers:
Last year we missed tackles and didn't tackle the guy. He is a powerful runner. We just did not tackle well.
On how a win would affect recruiting in Nevada:
Jay Hill does a great job recruiting in Nevada for us. We have had the last few Gatorade players of the year from that state. Winning that game head-to-head is a positive for us.
