Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — When Kyle Whittingham addressed the media on Oct. 3 during Utah's bye week, he laid out his quarterback plan if Cam Rising could not play.
It would be Nate Johnson starting Saturday vs. Cal, and either Brandon Rose or Luke Bottari as the backup. That plan was based not only on Rising's presumed unavailability, but also the unknown status of Bryson Barnes.
Four days earlier at Oregon State, Barnes came on in relief of Johnson in the second half but soon left after he was speared. The play was severe enough that Barnes was taken to a local hospital to get checked out before flying home with the team that night from Eugene Airport.
By the time Monday and a new Utah game week came around, Whittingham's initial quarterback plan changed.
In spite of the spearing, the diagnosis on Barnes was merely bruised ribs. Whatever pain tolerance there may have been apparently was not a problem as Barnes started vs. the Golden Bears in a 34-14 Utes win, finishing 15-for-21 for 128 yards, plus another 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
As Whittingham promised last week, the Utes were not going to wait until late in the week to see if Rising could go. They were going to get an update on his status Monday, and if he could not play Saturday, they were going to pick a starter then and give that player all of the reps.
Barnes indeed got all the first-team reps after Whittingham said Saturday he did not practice at all during the bye week.
"If you've got bruised ribs, that's not pleasant," Whittingham said late Saturday afternoon as his 16th-ranked Utes moved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12. "Those things can be very painful, but he's a tough guy. Bryson is a throwback and a guy that if he's able to play at all, he's gonna be out there. They cleared him; he got the nod and got the win this afternoon."
Added Barnes: "It's absolutely great to be out there. I wasn't expecting to be back as soon as I was, but you have to stay in that training room, make sure you get right with your trainers, and I was able to get back within a week."
Barnes was by no means spectacular, but on a day where the Utes produced a quintessential Whittingham offensive game by running for 317 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries, he didn't need to be. Instead, he did exactly what he was asked to do.
He controlled the game, he did not turn the ball over, and he made timely plays here and there when he had to.
On third-and-5 from his 47-yard line on the opening drive of the second half, Barnes had time in the pocket before dropping a 41-yard bomb down the left sideline right into the hands of Munir McClain to set up first down at the 12-yard line.
There was an 11-yard scramble on third-and-4 from his own 27 early in the second quarter to keep alive what eventually became a 15-play, 89-yard touchdown drive. Earlier, on a 10-play, 48-yard touchdown drive that opened Utah's scoring, another 11-yard run came on third-and-6 at the Cal 44.
Barnes' own day mirrored that of Utah, straightforward and to the point, not to mention very necessary for an offense that has been maligned by injuries and a lack of execution. For a day at least, the lack of execution disappeared as the 317 rushing yards were part of a season-high 445 yards of total offense. Utah entered the day ranked 125th nationally at 297.6 yards of total offense.
"When it comes to the quarterback's preparation, you need to make sure when you step in, it's a seamless process," Barnes said. "You have to rally the guys together, and when you're calling that play in the huddle, you're calling it with confidence, because if you're in the huddle like you're chewing rocks, it's going to get executed like you're chewing rocks.
"You have to make sure you're always prepared, like when that play comes out of your mouth, it's the best play in the game."
Whittingham has made clear that if and when Rising is ready, he will be the starter, but Rising playing at all this season has become a legitimate question. That will only continue, if not intensify, with each passing week. That's the bad news. The good news is, the season-long merry-go-round behind Rising appears to have come to at least a temporary stop.
Barnes started against Cal, and there is no reason to believe he will not start against USC if Rising is not ready. Barnes earned that right Saturday, a fact backed up by Johnson not being part of the game plan, per Whittingham; although he was the No. 2 QB if something were to have happened to Barnes.
"Had we had a game last week, he would not have been able to start, so the bye really helped us in that respect," Whittingham said. "We thought he gave us the best chance to win this week, and that's really what it all boils down to is which guy or guys when you're looking at different options of who's gonna play, who gives you the best chance to win the game."
