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Utah Utes Football

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - You could almost hear Kyle Whittingham and the rest of the University of Utah coaching staff yelling the same message to their players on the sideline of Wednesday's 37 - 27 victory over the Cal Bears.

The players for their part, got the message and responded. The message was simple enough, "Settle down!"

Multiple defensive players from Robert Johnson and Mike Wright, to Poinsettia Bowl Defensive MVP Stevenson Sylvester all told me the same thing after the game, "We didn't make any adjustments."

None? Not when Cal jumped out to a quick 14 - 0 lead? Or when Cal's offense accounted for 100 offensive yards in the first quarter? None, really?

None! Ute Defensive Coordinator Kalani Sitake thought the defensive scheme was sound and it was his players who were allowing the miscues. They were just too excited.

"The first run out of the gate, we had a gap, a missed assignment...but from that point forward we played well," Whittingham said after the game about his defense.

The same message was given to Offensive MVP, freshman quarterback, Jordan Wynn. Although his message seemed to come from himself and in a very odd circumstance.

Wynn wowed his crowd by throwing for 338-yards on 26 for 36 passing with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. It was the interception that was the cause for the message sent to Wynn from himself. You see, Wynn was picked off by Cal defender Eddie Young on a poorly thrown ball into a zone coverage that Wynn did not see. Young took the interception back to the end zone to give the Bears a 14 - 0 lead with 5:55 left in the first half.

"I really just kept thinking that it was early in the game," Wynn said. "There was so much time left, especially with how explosive our offense can be. there was no reason to worry yet. It was early in the game and we knew we had to get back into it, and we did."

That's a good sign for the future for Ute fans. Wynn in the biggest game of his career, started about as bad as he could, and righted the ship and lead his team to a decisive victory.

As the Utes settled down, they made a statement. A statement to all that would listen. The Utes (and the MWC) is for real.

"We're up there with everyone now, especially after last season," Wynn said, "We're just continuing to grow and hopefully it's showing."

Other Utes coupled their victory with BYU's as proof that their conference is on par with the Pac-10 or any other BCS automatic qualifying conference out there.

If the message wasn't received last year after the victory over Alabama, it's beginning to sink in now.

The Sportscenter headline was "The Best in the West." And it compared the Pac-10 to the MWC in the 2 head to head games in this post season. BYU vs Oregon State, and Utah vs Cal. If that is the scoreboard that everyone is going by, it's a good win for BYU, Utah and the MWC.

Ute Football

Utes Football

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - Call it what you want. A desire to push the streak from 8 to 9. Or making a rebuilding year look really good with double digit wins. Or keeping up with "the team down south."

Or simply call it a fight to continue a drive for recognition. A need to be seen by the "big boys" (see BCS) as equals. No matter what you call it, or want to think it as the University of Utah will face off against the 8 - 4 Cal Bears.

Truth be told it probably a combination of all of the above, but in his pre-game press conference Kyle Whittingham focused on the importance of this game to the big picture of the automatic/nonautomatic qualifying status of Mountain West Conference teams.

"As long as we are fighting for the AQ status, we're on what feel is a uneven playing field," Whitthingham said during the press conference.

He went on to talk about the process saying, "We are 2 years into the 4 year evaluation cycle. Right now we are making progress."

This seems to be at least in part some of the driving force behind the motivation of this Utah team, this year. In past years, including last years Sugar Bowl victory, the Utes have not made as big as deal about the conference of the opponent.

Yes there was always the BCS vs Non-BCS rhetoric, but somehow this year the talk is different. More out in front. Telling the media some of what he's telling players, about having a "chip on our shoulders," and playing up the underdog status of the Utes. More focused on a goal of helping this team, and by doing so the Mountain West Conference, gaining the AQ status.

Whittingham continued to say, "We got a point to prove. Each and every week we are trying to prove that point."

Cal Coach Jeff Tedford did his part to help the Utes (and MWC's) cause by declaring that the Utes are very capable of competing in the Pac-10 conference.

"They're very physical, very athletic. They are a fast team. Very well coached. It's no different than every week in the Pac-10 what you play against. I think Utah could fit in the Pac-10 and compete every week, just as well. It's a tribute to what Kyle has done," Tedford said.

Is Tedford playing nice? Complimenting his opponent, instead of saying what he truly believed?

Are the Utes kidding themselves? Talking and thinking like they do belong as a AQ school.

Today, they will find out. Has little brother grown up enough to play with big brother, or does big brother (Pac-10 foe Cal) pat the Utes on the head and say, "Nice try kid. Now go back to the sandbox."

The Team Down South - Don't think that the Utes weren't keeping an eye on and as painful as it might have been, possibly even cheered for BYU in their Las Vegas Bowl win over Oregon State (44 - 20). Whittingham made reference to the entire MWC as needing to preform in the post season to be able to continue to make a statement to the BCS, that the MWC is worthy of AQ status.

Injured Utes to Play -  Both Kenape Eliapo and John Peel are expected to play today. Eliapo who is coming off a virus that attacked his brain and spinal cord. Whittingham said he expects Eliapo to play 20 - 25 snaps against Cal. Whittingham said he did not expect Peel, who is recovering from a foot injury, to get that many snaps but will see playing time.

Is Asiata back? - Matt Asiata announced at Tuesday's Prep Rally that he will appeal to the NCAA for another year of elidgibility under the medical hardship rule. Asiata tore his ACL while scoring a touchdown against Louisville earlier this season. The University expects the process to go smoothly and Asiata to be granted the extra year to play.

Now the question is, will Asiata return as a the starter, backup, or co-star to Eddie Wide. Wide has been more productive in taking over the starting role after Asiata's injury, than Asiata was before the injury.

Key Matchup - In my opinion, the matchup to watch is two fold and it comes down to Cal defensive lineman Tyson Alualu and which Ute tackle he matches up with. Alualu vs Zane Beadles would match a 1st Team Pac-10 player against a 1st Team MWC player and be a very fun matchup to watch. Alualu vs. Tony Bergstom could be trouble for Utah. Bergstom struggled mightily against TCU's Jerry Hughes and has had his struggles this year. More than likely, Alualu may matchup on both but either way it'll be fun to watch.

The Utes offensive line needs to keep freshman QB Jordan Wynn free from pressure. Wynn has already said this week he is feeling the pressure of the bowl streak and playing in front of friends and family in a hometown bowl game.

Prediction - I really don't have a definite feel for the game and who has the upper hand. I'm basing my pick on being very wrong last year. Until Kyle Whittingham proves me wrong, I can't pick against the Utes in a bowl game. Utah wins.....27 - 20