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SALT LAKE CITY — Splash some water on your face. Pinch yourself in the arm. Drink a can of Red Bull or Pepsi. Whatever you have to do to make sure you are actually awake and not dreaming, do it.
Still here? Good. Guess what? Football started today.
It was like Christmas morning for the 20-plus media members who watched Utah's first fall practice Thursday morning at the Ute baseball field in Salt Lake City.
"Good first day," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham following practice. "It was very apparent that we've helped ourselves with this last recruiting class. No doubt that we've upped our talent level."
And while it was non-contact, and the players were in shorts and helmets, watching the pigskin fly and listening to the sound of whistles and coaches yelling in the air set the scene for what should be another great season of Pac-12 football.
Some of the attention going into the first day of practice was the suspension of starting safety Brian Blechen.
Blechen was suspended for the first three games of the season for violating a team rule. Safeties coach Morgan Scalley said the team wishes they could have Blechen for the beginning of the season, but have many players to fill the gap. His likely replacement will be Quade Chappuis, who coach Scalley has complete confidence in.
Star Lotulelei (1:26)
Kyle Whittingham (3:39)
Jordan Wynn (2:06)
Brian Johnson (2:41)
Brian Blechen (2:05)
"It doesn't matter who you are, if you are the best guy for the job, and you've proven it, you are going to be rewarded," Utah safeties coach Morgan Scalley said.
Scalley said Blechen will have to earn his starting spot back when he returns from his suspension.
The defense, which is already a strong aspect of the Utes program, is ready to get things going. Top-defender Star Lotulelei said it felt good to be back out on the field.
"It felt good today. There is a lot of excitement. We've been working really hard in the offseason so it felt really good to finally play football," Utah defensive line Star Lotulelei.
When asked which position group he was most focused on, Whittingham replied, "(The) o-line has really improved themselves. We've added four or five bodies there. It looks like that group is looking like it is supposed to look for a Pac-12 offensive line."
