Johnson talks about Utes' winning streak

Utes star quarterback Brian Johnson joined us in studio.

Tom Kirkland: What a week for you guys, and really the great season continues. What was your sense of the black uniforms and the blackout? That must have been fun.

Brian Johnson: I thought it was cool. I thought it was awesome for the fans too, a way to generate more excitement and to get some more fans in the stadium. You know, (it was) the second largest crowd ever at our stadium so it was obviously a wonderful atmosphere. So hopefully we can do it again some time.

Kirkland: Maybe against BYU?

Johnson: I don't know if they would let that one go down.

Kirkland: You've won 11 straight now. That's tied with Texas Tech for the longest winning streak in the country. You're up to 7th in the coach's poll. It might not have been as pretty as 2004, but the bottom line is, 10 and 0.

Johnson: Yeah, and you know at the end of the day that is all that matters is the win. It's been a fun ride so far, but we know that we still have a lot of work ahead of us, we still have two more games left.

Kirkland: People marvel at your work in the last two minutes. You've done it against Oregon State, you've done it in other games, and Thursday night obviously the winning drive. What happens in you mind? Do things really slow down? It seems like you are at your best when you have to be.

Johnson: I think that is what you want as a competitor and as a quarterback; you want to have a chance to win and you want the ball to be in your hands when the game is on the line. At that point it is do or die, so you've got to go out there and we just made some plays. We practiced the two minute situations a ton, and we were able to get it done.

Kirkland: What was it like when you guys got in the end zone, and the whole place was going crazy?

Johnson: When we scored the touchdown, it was probably the loudest that I have ever heard the stadium. It was a wonderful environment, wonderful atmosphere. It kind of just all came together.

Kirkland: I understand that Kyle is considering more "no huddle" that would give other defenses something more to prepare for, and you are obviously comfortable.

Johnson: Yeah, definitely. I think we are really good at it, and I think we are looking at doing it a little more often. The problem is that you do not want to over saturate it, but I think we will mix it in sparingly for the rest of the season.

Kirkland: In 2004, you guys were just killing people (destroying teams) but now, you guys are getting by and winning as we get the sense that you haven't played your best football yet.

Johnson: There is still room for improvement, but I think there are a couple of different factors. I think the league is obviously a lot better, as far as the teams go that we have been playing, since 2004. Not to take away anything from that team; they did an unbelievable job. The talent in the league and the overall play in the league has been a lot better, but we have shot ourselves in the foot a few times.

Kirkland: I know San Diego State is next, but in the back of you mind, you haven't beaten BYU as a starting quarterback, and I know you have a checklist of things you want to accomplish. That has to be somewhere near the top.

Johnson: It is what it is. But at the end of the day, we will get our opportunity soon enough and it'll be a great game. The reason we have been so good this year is that we have focused on our opponent from week to week. It's obviously one of the more underrated rivalries in college football and just being around it for five years -- and I am fully invested in it now -- it's an unbelievable deal. It's great, and we look forward to it. But at the end of the day, we have San Diego State, and we have to play that game first.

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