From Deseret News archives:
Utah Utes football: Rebel with a cause Ex-Ute coach claims no ill will following '07 remarks
Last weekend's 27-17 victory over Utah State improved Sanford's record with the Rebels to 7-29. Two of those wins have come against the Aggies. Idaho, San Diego State, Idaho State, Air Force and Utah are the Rebels' other victims during that span.
The latter, a 27-0 triumph last season in Las Vegas, is Sanford's most significant win.
It also ignited a firestorm that caused some hard feelings with some of his former colleagues and players back in Salt Lake City. Sanford told the Las Vegas Review-Journal the Utes were trying to steer clear of UNLV running back Frank Summers, who ran for 190 yards and two touchdowns in last year's game.
"It's very evident on tape," he said in a quote to the newspaper. "They were avoiding trying to tackle him, no question in my mind."
At the Mountain West Conference meetings in July, Sanford said the remarks were "completely taken out of context" and "blown out of proportion." He then tried to set the record straight.
"I have tremendous respect for Utah, tremendous respect for their players, for Kyle, their coaching staff and their program," Sanford said.
But this time its significance is being downplayed.
"Every year is a new set of circumstances, it's own entity," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "So we don't get into that type of stuff digging up stuff from last year. We leave that to other people."
Gotta love the media.
"This is 2008. That's all 2007. That's all past history," Sanford said. "Our entire focus is on this season and on this game. And it's all about who plays good this Saturday in Salt Lake. In that time frame between 6:06 p.m. and whenever that game ends. It's all about that. I think the past is past and it's all about this game, this week."
Whittingham called last year's controversy "water under the bridge."
Defensive coordinator Gary Andersen also had little to say about the assertion that the Utes were afraid to tackle Summers or anyone else in the last year's meeting between the two teams.
"My only comment to that is we're looking forward to the game on Saturday, and we're looking forward to this year," he said. "We're looking forward to playing Saturday."
It's a stance the players are taking as well.
Recent comments
We beat Michigan last week and all BYU can talk about is 1984. The...
Pathetic | Sept. 6, 2008 at 10:03 a.m.
Its too bad sportswriters spend so much time writing about what...
Irvine Ute | Sept. 5, 2008 at 9:57 p.m.
Utah will win, but not by more than a td. BYU will kick Washington....
Close Game | Sept. 5, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.
- Aggies beat Spartans in snowy Logan 4:31 a.m.
- TCU 55, Utah 28 4:24 a.m.
- BYU 24, New Mexico 19 4:21 a.m.
- Jazz game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Stanford ends Y's soccer season 2:20 a.m.
- Jazz hope D-Will returns soon 2:19 a.m.
- Snow, SUU lose 2:18 a.m.
- Toone saves day for Wildcats 2:15 a.m.
- Win in New Mexico good for Y? 2:15 a.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Crash on snowy road kills woman
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- BYU happy to escape with victory
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- Born of water and the spirit
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
358 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - BYU happy to escape with victory
194 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - TCU creams U.
134 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
106 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!
mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...
Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...
I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...
financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...
This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...
I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...
What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...
Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...
This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...

