09/03/2012
Sept. 3, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY
Complete Release as a PDF 
QUICKLY
> Utah (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) plays at Utah State (1-0, 0-0 Western Athletic) on Friday, Sept. 7 in Logan, Utah. Kickoff in Romney Stadium is at 6 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Radio is ESPN700 AM (espn700sports.com) and SIRIUS/XM 91.
> Utah State is Utah's oldest rival and the series, in its 110th game, is the 12th-longest in NCAA FBS history. Utah's first football game ever was against USU in 1892. The two teams did not play in 2010 and 2011.
> Utah has won the last 12 games against Utah State (and 20 of 22), including the last six games in Logan.
> Utah's record in road openers against the Aggies is 8-2. See page 2 for more series information.
> Utah's record against current WAC schools (Utah State, Idaho and San Jose State) is 97-41-6.
> Aggie head coach Gary Andersen is one of four former Utah assistant coaches on the USU staff, while the Utes have three former Aggie coaches on their staff. See "Connections" for more.
> Utah was picked to finish second in the Pac-12 South in the 2012 preseason media poll.
> Utah has made 10 bowl appearances since 2001, going 9-1 with a 2-0 record in BCS bowl games. Utah is one of just three teams in the country to win six bowl games in the last seven years (with Florida and TCU).
CONNECTIONS
Utah and USU have made several coaching "trades" in recent years. Three former Aggie coaches are now on the Ute staff, while four former Utah coaches and three staffers are now on the Aggie sidelines. Second year Ute defensive line coach
Chad Kauha'aha'a held the same position at USU from 2009-10, first year fullbacks/tight ends coach
Ilaisa Tuiaki held three positions at USU from 2009-11 (running backs, special teams, recruiting coordinator) and offensive GA
Robert Conley served in the same capacity at USU in 2011. For the Aggies, fourth-year head coach
Gary Andersen was a Ute assistant for 11 years (the last four as defensive coordinator), running backs/tight ends coach
Mike Sanford was Utah's offensive coordinator from 2003-04, and linebackers coach Kevin Clune was a U. graduate assistant in 2001-02. Others now on the USU staff include strength coach Evan Simon and directors of football operations Mark Andersen and
Steve Mathis.
IN THE HUDDLE
Junior QB
Jordan Wynn led Utah to victory over UNC in his first game since suffering a season-ending injury against Washington in the fourth game of 2011 ... 64 players saw action last week and backups played out the fourth quarter ... Expected to miss Friday's game at USU is tight end
Westlee Tonga (concussion).
TWO MINUTE DRILL
John White rushed for 119 yards vs. UNC and Utah improved to 9-0 when White nets 100 yards ... Utah was one of five teams to pitch a shutout during the opening weekend and its 41-0 win over Northern Colorado was its first shutout since 2007 (50-0 vs. Wyoming)... Utah held Northern Colorado to just 35 rushing yards, which was the eighth-lowest total in the nation, as was its 79 passing yards allowed ... UNC's 114 total yards and seven first downs were the third fewest in the country last week ... The Bears did not cross midfield on offense ... Utah's offensive line, featuring first-time starters
Jeremiah Tofaeono and
Percy Taumoelau, did not allow a sack ... The Utes set Rice-Eccles Stadium records (opened in 1998) for plays (21) and time of possession (10:43) on a 91-yard touchdown drive vs. UNC.
OUTSIDE THE LINES
Utah's crowd of 45,273 against Northern Colorado marked the 13th-straight sellout in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes sold out every home game in 2010 and 2011 and the average attendance for the past four years exceeds Rice-Eccles Stadium's 45,017 seating capacity.
UTE-TWEETS
Utah is 19-10 all-time in Friday games #utes ... Utah is 12-4 in games televised by ESPN2 #utes ... Utah's record in September games is 118-93-2 #utes ...
Kyle Whittingham's coach's show on ESPN700 is Wednesday at 6 pm at Harmon's City Creek & is open to the public #utes.
LAST WEEK
Utah's offense came to life in the second quarter and the defense never allowed Northern Colorado past midfield in a 41-0 romp before a standing room only crowd of 45,273 in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Jordan Wynn completed 19-of-27 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in his return from injury and
John White rushed 24 times for 119 yards and a score. Sophomore tight end
Jake Murphy had a career day, catching six passes for a team-high 78 yards and two touchdowns, and true freshman
Travis Wilson debuted by rushing for two TDs. The Bears gained just 114 total yards (35 rushing) and fumbled five times, losing one.
Dave Fagergren's six tackles led a balanced defense and defensive end
Joe Kruger scored on an interception.
