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Quotes from Kyle Whittingham's Weekly Press Conference
Opening Statement: We got beat by an outstanding TCU team this weekend. We knew we were going to have to play near-flawless football to compete and we were far from that. We had a stretch the last part of the first quarter and early in the second quarter where the game really got away from us and we dug ourselves an insurmountable hole. We hung in there though and the guys played hard. Our lack of production was to TCU's credit and the reason for a lot of our inefficiencies.
Injury report: We did lose Derrick Shelby to an ACL tear for the rest of the season and the bowl game. Victor Spikes has a hand injury that will not allow him to play. Kenape Eliapo (eye) is definitely out for the next two weeks, but we are optimistically hoping he will be back for a bowl game.
On the senior class: As far as what they have accomplished on the field, they are undefeated in bowl play and had some great experiences there. They all also played in several different bowls. They won the MWC Championship last year. They are just a good group. Overall they have done a nice job leading the football team this year.
On moving on after a loss: This is a mature football team. When we have a loss, you evaluate it, learn from it, and put it behind you. We did a very good job of that after the Oregon game.
On Jordan Wynn against TCU: The game was a big positive for Jordan. He handled himself very well. He hung in there and showed a great deal of toughness and resiliency and was very poised. He did a solid job given the circumstances and learned a great deal. He will be a better quarterback because of this.
On San Diego State: With Rocky Long as their defensive coordinator, he has brought that 3-3-5 defense with him. It's a challenging week for our offense. Much like the Air Force offense, playing the 3-3-5 is a different animal and requires some different tactics. Their offensive coordinator has been around and done some very good things. His offense is very sound and the two-back power run game has been his forte over the years. It will be the typical athletic team we expect out of SDSU. They have put a bunch of guys in the NFL and they have got some guys now who are going to go there as well.
On looking ahead: It's easy not to look ahead, especially when you come off a disappointing game. All of our efforts this week are for San Diego State.
Game Notes
> No. 21/23 Utah (8-2, 5-1 MWC) plays San Diego State (4-6, 2-4) on Saturday, Nov. 21. Kickoff is 2 p.m. MT in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The game will be televised live in HD on VERSUS. Radio is KALL 700.
> Utah ranks No. 21 in this week's BCS Standings and is No. 23 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' polls.
> Utah's 24 seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. They are Matt Asiata (who may seek a medical hardship extension), Zane Beadles, Joe Dale, Tatum Drecksel, Kenape Eliapo, Junior Fonua, Kepa Gaison, Ben Hendy, Robert Johnson, Justin Jones, Chris Joppru, Aiona Key, Koa Misi, Trevor Moss, Viliamu Nau, John Peel, David Reed, R.J. Stanford, Ray Stowers, Stevenson Sylvester, Ben Vroman, Elijah Wesson, Tyler Williams and Mike Wright.
> Utah has won 16 straight home games since losing to Air Force on Sept. 8, 2007.
> The Utah-SDSU series has been a tale of two decades, with the Aztecs winning seven of 10 before the Utes turned the tables by winning eight of the last 10. Utah is 8-6 against the Aztecs at home and has won four of the last five in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
> TCU's 55 points last week was the most by a Utah opponent since San Diego State pinned 66 on the Utes in 1990.
> Utah is 4-4 all-time in games played on Nov. 21. Saturday's game marks the first time in 69 years the Utes have played a team other than Brigham Young or Utah State on Nov. 21. Utah's last win on Nov. 21 was in 1970 (vs. BYU) and its last loss on Nov. 21 was in 1998 (to BYU).
> Last week's loss to TCU snapped a 13-game Mountain West Conference win streak for Utah.
> After last week, the Utes are now 7-1 all-time in games when both they and their opponent are ranked in the Associated Press poll.
> Utah has won 22 of its last 24 games and 29 of its last 32 games.
