Ute quarterback Brian Johnson said his team once moved the Chuck-A-Rama dinner to Wednesdays, but players missed the Asian fare, and it was moved back to Tuesdays.

It doesn't hurt that Chuck-A-Rama's owners, Evan and Duane Moss, are huge Ute fans.

They've been attending games with their father and restaurant founder, Donald, since they were children.

Duane and Donald even made the weekend drive to San Diego for Utah's 63-14 win over San Diego State on Saturday.

And Duane recalls with fondness the couple of times he's flown with the team to away games.

One time, he and Donald sat in the front seat of the cabin and were informed they needed to move because that was then-coach Urban Meyer's seat. So they moved across the aisle and were told to move again because that one was the seat reserved for Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Mosses happily gave up those prime seats for ones in the back of the plane.

But on Tuesdays, they happily host the team that's had some pretty good luck this year. If you call an undefeated season luck.

And it's like the Mosses get to help the team in a small way throughout the year.

Duane Moss says the university's basketball team used to eat there regularly with former coach Rick Majerus.

And even though he's a University of Utah guy, he'd be willing to have a similar contract with BYU's team if they wanted it.

After all, Duane Moss has ties to both schools. He studied business at BYU before transferring to Utah to finish up his degree. He jokes that it was his "repentance." But his advertising dollars still go to both schools, he says.

Football food facts for the hungry Utes

Players burn up to 1,500 calories a game or up to 2,000 in practice.

Team members say that linemen Robert Conley and Walter Watts can eat the most.

Team nutritionist Beth Wolfgram urges the following for the team:

Eat breakfast.

Have a high-carb pregame or pre-practice meal.

Drink water or sports drinks at every available opportunity.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced postgame or post-practice meal.

E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com