Whittingham said the Utes don't make a big deal out of their bowl streak to their players.

"We're not doing any focusing on that," he said. "Every year is a new year and a new challenge. People always ask me what the secret is to our bowl success. I just think it's the way we prepare for games and take it very seriously. It's a reward and it should be, but it's also a competitive situation and our guys understand that."

HAVING FUN: During the morning press conference featuring the two coaches, both Whittingham and Niumatatolo, who have known each other for a long time, had fun with each other.

"I understand he put in the shotgun offense the past two weeks with all that time he has on his hands. He's sandbagging me," said Whittingham.

"Being from Hawaii, I've been talking to June Jones, and we're going to go with the run and shoot tomorrow," said Niumatatolo.

Whittingham talked about former Ute Eric Weddle hanging out with the Utes all week

"We're sneaking him in at No. 7. If you see No. 7 out there, that's Eric Weddle. We're trading jerseys with someone on our team," Whittingham said.

When Navy's Niumatatolo had the podium, he said the Utes could use Weddle if they wanted.

"You guys can have him if we can have L.T.," he said, referring to Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

NAVY EXPERIENCE: While this is Utah's first-ever game against Navy, it isn't the first for Ute coach Whittingham, who played against Navy in the first-ever Holiday Bowl in 1978 when he played for BYU.

He said he mostly remembers a Navy receiver named Phil McConkey, whom the Cougars had a hard time stopping, that it was a low-scoring game (23-16 Navy) and all the pageantry surrounding the bowl, similar to this year. He also remembers one particular play.

"I remember I had a fake punt that got stuffed," he said. "I think it's the last time Brigham Young has run a fake punt. I had to get six inches and couldn't do it. That was my claim to fame in that game."

INTEREST IN ANDERSEN: Whittingham isn't surprised that defensive coordinator Gary Andersen's name is popping up for job openings at other programs.

"It should. He's an excellent football coach. We've been lucky to hang on to him," Whittingham said. "He's going to have some opportunities, and he's had some opportunities in the past. But there's a lot of reasons for Gary to be here."