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Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham is looking forward to a home-and-home series vs. Florida. “The Swamp is one of the best venues in the country,” he said, although the 2022 game with the Gators “in coaching terms, [is] so far away you can’t even fathom it.”
The school has announced only that a Southeastern Conference opponent will replace BYU on the schedules in ’22 and ’23. Whittingham, whose new contract runs through the ’23 season, said he’s “fine” with interrupting the rivalry for two years.
Whittingham likened the Florida series to Utah's 2014-15 games vs. Michigan. What's more, he said, “You want to play in your recruiting footprint. So that's another reason it makes sense.”
The Utes opened Pac-12 play last Friday, with disappointing results. Here’s my game story from the 30-23 defeat and Tribune columnist Gordon Monson’s analysis from the Coliseum.
With another weekend day to process the game, I reported how the Utes were eager to move on from USC, but it wouldn’t be easy. Monson examined how Utah’s being 0-1 in the conference changes the outlook of the season.
Then came Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon’s 570-yard, nine-touchdown performance in a 67-63 loss to UCLA. Those are hardly encouraging numbers for a vulnerable Utah secondary.
Amid concerns about the health of running back Zack Moss and quarterback Tyler Huntley, Whittingham reiterated his injury policy of not saying much about the subject. Huntley then said after Tuesday’s practice that he plans to play Saturday.
Ute linebacker Devin Lloyd professed a good attitude about a play that got away from him at USC, and the truth is, he’s having a great season.
Monson used the one-third checkpoint of the season to ask some interesting questions about the Utes (and BYU). And then he lamented the loss of the two upcoming rivalry games in this decade.
Whittingham’s DNA is all about stopping the run. So what happens when he faces an offense like Washington State’s?
Ute men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak had his first media availability session in six months, and he was in a good mood. That’s a reflection of how much he likes his young team.
Other voices
Pac-12 expert Jon Wilner compiled a list of miraculous, historic plays in each program (MERC).
Amid questions about Moss’ status, Christopher Kamrani of The Athletic looked into the Louisiana background of running back Devin Brumfield (ATH).
Theo Lawson of The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) examined Utah’s defensive strategy (SPOKE).
Around campus
• Utah’s Carly Nelson was named the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week in women’s soccer after the Utes (5-3-1) completed nonconference play with home shutouts of Butler and San Diego. Utah will open its Pac-12 schedule Friday at Arizona State.
• With four players who were taken in the Major League Baseball draft in June but didn’t sign contracts, Utah’s 2019 recruiting class is ranked No. 18 by Collegiate Baseball. The Utes lost Cottonwood High School pitcher Porter Hodge to the Chicago Cubs, who picked him in the 13th round, but the other draftees chose to attend Utah, deferring their next draft opportunities to 2022.
• Utah’s No. 18-ranked women’s volleyball team opened Pac-12 play Wednesday by sweeping Colorado Utah (9-3) won 25-11, 25-22, 25-23 at the Huntsman Center. The Utes will play Sunday at No. 24 Oregon.
