From NCAA College Football Information & Resource
Utah Utes
University University of Utah
Nickname Utes
Team Colors Crimson and White
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
Location Salt Lake City, UT
Conference Mountain West Conference
NCAA Division I-A
Stadium Rice-Eccles Stadium
Mascot Swoop
Website Utah Football Official Website
The University of Utah is represented by the Utah Utes in the NCAA Division I-Bowl Subdivision football tournament, playing under the Mountain West Conference. Utah's football program began play in 1892 as an independent team, losing its first game to Utah State via shut-out but managed to snatch its first win against Salt Lake YMCA in the same year. The Utes finished their first season with a 1-2 record. In 1902, Utah became a member of the Colorado Football Association from 1902 through 1908 then with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1909 through 1937. The Utes first major accomplishment happened in the 1922 season, winning all of their five conference assignments enroute to the team's first RMAC championship. The Utes turned out a couple of lackluster seasons before regaining championship form in 1925 under Coach Ike J. Armstrong. The Utes first undefeated season took place in 1926, leading to the team's 2nd conference title. It was the start of Utah's impressive run in the RMAC, as in 1928, the Utes would begin a six year title reign, highlighted by three undefeated seasons (1928, 1929, and 1930). By the time Utah transferred to the Mountain States Conference in 1938, the team were already perennial contenders and were eight-time conference titlists. The team's winning form did not waver a bit in the MSC as the team captured its ninth conference championship on its debut year with Mountain States. The team would in fact go on to its first Bowl game that very same season, shutting out New Mexico in the Sun Bowl (26-0). The team strung up three conference titles a few seasons later, (1940, 1941, and 1942) but were surprisingly winless in seven games after the three-peat title reign. The Utes won ten championships with the Mountain States Conference under two coaches (6 by Coach Armstrong and 4 with Coach Jack C. Curtice). After 24 seasons with the MSC (1938-61), Utah left and joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1962 where the team would win its 19th championship (WAC co-champs) in 1964. Later that year, the Utes also appeared in its first bowl game since 1939 with a 32-6 victory over West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl.
Aside from two Bowl Game losses in the early 1990's, Utah would experience a long title drought that would span almost three decades. The team resurged in 1994 with a Freedom Bowl victory over Arizona then followed it up with the team's second conference title in 1995. A new chapter in Utah football began in 1999 when the team became a charter member of the Mountain West Conference. The Utes were also heralded as co-MWC champs with BYU and CSU then went on to beat Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl, 17-16. The team was quite a success in Mountain West with three conference titles, a national championship selection (in 2004 by the Annual Football Predictions), and six bowl game appearances (including 4 consecutive from 2003-2006).
Utah's main rivals are BYU (teams meet in "The Holy War" where the winner gets the Beehive Boot), New Mexico (the rivalry game is called "The Bowl"), and Utah State (teams meet in the Battle of the Brothers, with the winner claiming the Beehive Boot).
[edit ] Ranking
Year Record AP Rank Coach Rank
1964 9-2-0 14
1994 10-2-0 10 8
2003 10-2-0 21 21
2004 12-0-0 4 5
[edit ] Scouting Report
Category MWC Rank Nat'l Rank
Scoring Offense 3 68
Scoring Defense 1 5
Total Offense 7 79
Total Defense 4 18
Turnover Margin 1 13
Pass Efficiency Defense 1 1
Kickoff Returns 9 96
Net Punting 5 37
Passing Offense 7 81
Passing Defense 1 11
Passing Efficiency 5 63
Punt Returns 2 19
Rushing Offense 2 43
Rushing Defense 6 52
[edit ] Championships Conference Championships
1922 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions
1926 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions
1928 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions
1929 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions
1930 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions
1931 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions
1932 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions
1933 - Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Co-Champions
1938 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1940 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1941 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1942 - Mountain States Conference Co-Champions
1947 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1948 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1951 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1952 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1953 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1957 - Mountain States Conference Champions
1964 - Western Athletic Conference Co-Champions
1995 - Western Athletic Conference Co-Champions
1999 - Mountain West Conference Co-Champions
2003 - Mountain West Conference Champions
2004 - Mountain West Conference Champions
Other National Championship Selections
2004 Annual Football Predictions
[edit ] University of Utah Bowl History
Division I-A Bowl Games
Date Bowl Game Result Opponent Score
Dec 20, 2007 Poinsettia Bowl W Navy 35-32
Dec 23, 2006 Armed Forces Bowl W Tulsa 25-13
Dec 29, 2005 Emerald Bowl W Georgia Tech 38-10
Jan 01, 2005 Fiesta Bowl W Pittsburgh 35-7
Dec 31, 2003 Liberty Bowl W Southern Mississippi 17-0
Dec 25, 2001 Las Vegas Bowl W Southern California 10-6
Dec 18, 1999 Las Vegas Bowl W Fresno State 17-16
Dec 27, 1996 Copper Bowl L Wisconsin 10-38
Dec 27, 1994 Freedom Bowl W Arizona 16-13
Dec 30, 1993 Freedom Bowl L Southern California 21-28
Dec 29, 1992 Copper Bowl L Washington State 28-31
Dec 19, 1964 Liberty Bowl W West Virginia 32-6
Jan 02, 1939 Sun Bowl W New Mexico 26-0
College Division/Other Bowl Games
Year Bowl Game Result Opponent Score
Jan 01, 1947 Pineapple Bowl L Hawai'i 16-19
[edit ] Highlights
In the final few weeks of 2006, Mountain West Conference-mates Air Force and Utah faced off in a tight contest with the game only decided in the last few seconds. The Utes' Louie Sakoda clinched the game for Utah with a final field goal to give his team its 7th victory and in the process securing the Utes' spot in the Armed Forces Bowl.
[edit ] Schedule
Utah Utes 2008 Games Schedule
Date Opponent Location Result
08.30.08 Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. W, 25-23
09.06.08 UNLV Salt Lake City, Utah W, 42-21
09.13.08 Utah State Logan, Utah W, 58-10
09.20.08 Air Force Colorado Springs, Co. W, 30-23
09.27.08 Weber State Salt Lake City, Utah W, 37-21
10.02.08 Oregon State Salt Lake City, Utah W, 31-28
10.11.08 Wyoming Laramie, Wyo. W, 40-7
10.18.08 Colorado State Salt Lake City, Utah W, 49-16
11.01.08 New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. W, 13-10
11.06.08 #11 TCU Salt Lake City, Utah W, 13-10
11.15.08 San Diego State San Diego, Calif. W, 63-14
11.22.08 #16 BYU Salt Lake City, Utah W, 48-24
[edit ] Roster
Utah Utes 2008 Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown Prev. School
1 Brice McCain DB 5-9 189 JR Terrell, Texas Terrell HS
2 Lisiate Leota DB 6-4 217 JR Salt Lake City Snow College
2 Marquis Wilson WR 5-11 175 JR Salt Lake City Juan Diego HS
3 Brian Johnson QB 6-1 210 JR Baytown, Texas Robert E. Lee HS
3 John Peel WR 6-2 196 JR Scottsdale, Ariz. Chaparral HS
4 Sean Smith DB 6-3 217 SO Pasadena, Calif. Blair HS
5 Brent Casteel WR/RB 5-10 193 JR San Francisco, Calif. Antioch HS
5 Terrell Cole DB 5-11 190 JR Long Beach, Calif. Cerritos College
6 Nick Morrell DB 5-11 200 FR Centerville, Utah Bountiful HS
6 Darrell Mack RB 6-0 219 JR Spring Valley, Calif. Monte Vista HS
7 RJ Rice DB 5-8 183 JR Salt Lake City Southern Utah
8 Chad Manis QB 6-5 215 SO Lakewood, Calif. Cerritos College
8 Elijah Wesson DB 5-11 175 SO Los Angeles, Calif. Dominguez HS
8 Chad Manis QB 6-5 215 SO Lakewood, Calif. Cerritos College
9 Darryl Poston RB 5-11 200 SR Huntington Beach, Calif. Southern California
10 Stevenson Sylvester LB 6-2 220 SO Las Vegas, Nev. Valley HS
11 David Cravens WR 5-9 175 RS FR La Jolla, Calif. La Jolla HS
11 Paul Kruger DE 6-5 255 RS FR Orem, Utah Timpanogos HS
12 Corbin Louks QB 6-0 171 FR Danville, Calif. San Ramon Valley HS
12 Sam Ewalefo WR 6-1 202 RS FR Las Vegas, Nev. Palo Verde HS
12 Joe Dale DB 5-11 197 SO Irving, Texas Nimitz HS
13 Alex Puccinelli DE 6-2 252 SR Toluca Lake, Calif. Notre Dame HS
14 Kyle Brady LB 6-1 234 SR Tooele, Utah Tooele HS
15 Tommy Grady QB 6-7 235 SR Huntington Beach, Calif. Oklahoma
15 Nick Liefting DB 6-1 180 FR West Valley City, Utah Hunter HS
16 Brian Hernandez WR 6-0 183 SR Phoenix, Ariz. Pima CC
17 Robert Johnson DB 6-3 185 SO Los Angeles, Calif. Los Angeles Southwest College
18 Josh Broughton DB 5-11 185 JR Virginia Beach, Va. Citrus College
19 Kyle Bowen QB 6-4 210 FR Draper, Utah Dixie State
19 Ben Macey WR 6-1 180 FR Salt Lake City Logan HS
19 Matt Martinez LB 6-0 230 RS FR Murray, Utah Cottonwood HS
20 Mike Wright LB 6-2 225 SO Bountiful, Utah Southern Utah
20 Jake Cook RB 6-0 193 FR Salt Lake City East HS
21 Trevor Moss RB 5-11 192 SO Sandy, Utah Northwest CC
21 Mychal Robinson WR 5-9 185 FR Salt Lake City Juan Diego HS
22 Malakai Mokofisi LB 6-2 243 SR Laie, Hawaii Kailua HS (Hawaii)
23 Mookie Murphy DB 5-9 167 RS FR Salt Lake City Juan Diego HS
24 Ray Stowers RB 6-0 223 JR Honolulu, Hawaii Iolani HS
24 Chaz Walker DB 6-2 196 FR Farmington, Utah Davis HS
25 RJ Stanford DB 5-11 180 SO Chino, Calif. Chino HS
26 Derrek Richards WR 5-11 175 SR American Fork, Utah American Fork HS
27 Brandon Burton DB 6-0 172 FR Houston, Texas Clear Creek HS
28 Steve Tate DB 5-11 195 SR Salt Lake City Utah State
29 Justin Jones DB 5-10 170 SO Marshall, Texas Marshall HS
30 Ben Vroman K/P 5-11 187 JR Salt Lake City Skyline HS
31 Deshawn Richard DB 6-1 196 JR Las Vegas, Nev. Victor Valley College
32 Matt Asiata RB 6-0 235 JR West Valley City, Utah Snow College
33 Chris Jones DB 5-10 182 RS FR La Jolla, Calif. La Jolla HS
34 Tysen Clements DB 6-0 203 RS FR Salt Lake City Skyline HS
35 Louie Sakoda P/K 5-10 178 JR San Jose, Calif. Branham HS
36 Tyler Cahoon DB 6-2 190 FR Sandy, Utah Alta HS
36 Eddie Wide RB/DB 5-10 170 FR Las Vegas, Nev. Cimarron Memorial HS
37 Loma Olevao LB 6-1 230 SR Kahuku, Hawaii Kahuku HS
38 Toby Titus LB 6-0 218 RS FR Orem, Utah E.A. Laney HS (N.C.)
39 Clint Mower LS 6-0 210 JR Alpine, Utah Dixie State College
40 Zac Eldridge RB 6-0 225 RS FR Sandy, Utah Cottonwood HS
41 Koa Misi DL 6-3 263 SO Santa Rosa, Calif. Santa Rosa JC
42 Nai Fotu DE 6-1 232 FR Laie, Hawaii Kahuku HS
43 Lei Talamaivao DT 6-2 290 FR Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Rancho Cucamonga HS
44 Joe Jiannoni LB 6-0 235 SR La Quinta, Calif. La Quinta HS
45 Colt Sampson TE 6-4 250 JR Pleasant Grove, Utah Pleasant Grove HS
46 Justin Taplin-Ross LB 6-3 210 FR Murietta, Calif. Vista Murietta HS
47 Kevin Freestone LB 6-0 229 SO Sandy, Utah Jordan HS
48 Matt Sims TE 6-1 251 SR Lompoc, Calif. Allan Hancock College
48 Troy Bunting LB 5-10 215 SO Draper, Utah Glendale CC
49 Ryan Taylor DL 6-4 219 SR Sandy, Utah Utah State
51 Jamel King LB 6-3 217 FR Murrieta, Calif. Vista Murietta HS
52 Vilisoni Kotobalavu LB 6-4 209 RS FR Kahuku, Hawaii Kahuku HS
53 Mo Neal LB 6-2 220 FR Oakland, Calif. San Leandro HS
54 Christian Cox LB 6-2 232 SO Bountiful, Utah Southern Utah
55 Tatum Drecksel LB 6-1 225 SO Salt Lake City Southern Utah
56 Greg Newman DL 6-4 260 JR Thousand Oaks, Calif. Colorado
57 Tyler Williams OL 6-1 300 JR Mililani, Hawaii Kamehameha HS
58 Matt Black DL 6-4 211 FR Washington, Utah Southern Utah
59 Kepa Gaison LB 5-10.5 230 SO Kaneohe, Hawaii The Kamehameha School
60 Scott Coleman LS 6-2 210 JR Salt Lake City Olympus HS
62 Michael Steckling OL 6-6 258 FR Bountiful, Utah Woods Cross HS
63 Kyle Gunther OL 6-4 304 SR Camarillo, Calif. Adolfo Camarillo HS
64 Mike Lehr OL 6-3 265 FR Salt Lake City Hillcrest HS
65 Dustin Hensel OL 6-7 320 JR La Palma, Calif. Golden West CC
66 Robert Conley OL 6-1 316 JR La Marque, Texas La Marque HS
68 Zane Beadles OL 6-4 312 SO Sandy, Utah Hillcrest HS
69 Jason Boone OL 6-4 300 SR Fillmore, Utah Millard HS
70 Jordan Nelson OL 6-5 305 FR Idaho Falls, Idaho Idaho Falls HS
71 Walter Watts OL 6-2 300 RS FR Los Banos, Calif. Los Banos HS
72 Caleb Schlauderaff OL 6-5 300 RS FR Shelton, Wash. Shelton HS
73 Daniel Bukarau OL 6-2 283 RS FR Kailua, Hawaii Kailua HS
74 Corey Seiuli OL 6-3 320 JR Provo, Utah Dixie State
76 David Astle OL 6-6 294 RS FR Park City, Utah Park City HS
77 Zane Taylor OL 6-3 305 RS FR Moab, Utah Grand County HS
78 Louie Finner OL 6-3 289 FR Plano, Texas Plano East HS
80 Chris Joppru TE 6-6 255 SO Minnetonka, Minn. Minnetonka HS
81 Bradon Godfrey WR 6-3 197 JR Layton, Utah Southern Utah
82 A.J. Reilly WR 5-9 180 FR San Diego Valley Center HS
83 Ben Hendy TE 6-3 250 JR Salt Lake City Temple
84 Brad Clifford TE 6-4 235 RS FR Salt Lake City Olympus HS
85 Jereme Brooks WR 5-9 165 FR League City, Texas Clear Creek HS
86 Mike Hicken WR 6-0 195 RS FR Salt Lake City, Utah Brighton HS
87 Collin Robinson WR 5-10 180 FR Draper, Utah Alta HS
88 Freddie Brown WR 6-3 207 JR La Verne, Calif. Citrus College
89 Dallin Rogers TE 6-4 230 FR Placerville, Calif. Union Mine HS
90 Derrick Shelby DE 6-3 225 FR Houston, Texas Hightower HS
91 Casey Sutera DL 6-3 266 SR Murray, Utah Southern Utah
92 Kenape Eliapo DL 6-0 303 SO San Francisco, Calif. South San Francisco HS
93 Martail Burnett DE 6-3 262 SR Los Angeles, Calif. David Starr Jordan HS
94 Gabe Long DT 6-3 290 SR Yorba Linda, Calif. Fullerton JC
95 Neli A'asa DT 6-2 300 RS FR Big Rapids, Mich. Big Rapids HS
96 Nano Tonga DL 6-5 270 JR West Valley City, Utah Granger HS
97 Isley Filiaga DL 6-0 305 SO Orem, Utah BYU
98 Aaron Tonga DL 6-2 290 JR Pomona, Calif. Mt. San Antonio College
99 Zeke Tuinei-Wily DT 6-4 308 SO Orem, Utah Orem HS
[edit ] Coaches/Team Officials [edit ] Notable Alumni in NFL
Utah Utes in NFL
Mike Anderson - Baltimore Ravens, RB
Jesse Boone - Oakland Raiders, C
Martail Burnett - Minnesota Vikings, DE
Andre Dyson - New York Jets, CB
Jonathan Fanene - Cincinnati Bengals, DE
Steve Fifita - New England Patriots, NT
Quinton Ganther - Tennessee Titans, RB
Jordan Gross - Carolina Panthers, T
Chris Kemoeatu - Pittsburgh Steelers, G
Maake Kemoeatu - Carolina Panthers, DT
Gabe Long - Houston Texans, DT
John Madsen - Oakland Raiders, TE
Sione Pouha - New York Jets, DT
Brett Ratliff - New York Jets, QB
Derrek Richards - Jacksonville Jaguars, WR
Kevin Robinson - Kansas City Chiefs, WR
Cliff Russell - Denver Broncos, WR
Josh Savage - New Orleans Saints, DE
Barry Sims - Oakland Raiders, T
Alex Smith - San Francisco 49ers, QB
Steve Smith - Carolina Panthers, WR
Paul Soliai - Miami Dolphins, DT
Kelly Talavou - Baltimore Ravens, DL
Paris Warren - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR
Eric Weddle - San Diego Chargers, SAF
[edit ] References [edit ] External Links
