Utah Utes football: MUSS-see game: U. students trek to bowl

Editor's note: Follow the MUSS buses on the road to New Orleans with blogger Sarah Thomas' reports on our Utah Utes blog.

The University of Utah's "MUSS buses" have left the building, and with them goes a small cheering section for the Utes as Utah takes on Alabama this weekend in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

As the undefeated Utah team heads to its second BCS bowl, the pressure is on to carry a banner for all of the Mountain West Conference schools, not to mention so-called mid-major conferences around the country.

Although some teams also received bowl-game invitations and have played their games, the U. stands to win big in Friday's game, as far as recognition goes.

In conversations with presidents of other Mountain West schools, U. President Michael Young has received the unofficial nod of approval and encouragement, "but the week isn't over; there may be more," said U. spokeswoman Coralie Alder. She said usually the support comes following other official or unofficial business.

The university has been pretty quiet about the game locally. But in Louisiana, the hype is rising, Alder said.

"We've been in communication with officials in Alabama — to 'jazz' up the hype a little bit," she said. In Utah, the Crimson Club is rousing alumni and the community, painting the town red before Friday's bowl game.

Tuesday, several members of the Mighty Utah Student Section (MUSS) boarded two "buses" — actually two rented Chrysler Sebrings — and left for the Big Easy to be there for game day. Jonathan Bowen, a finance student at the U., is leading the pack as the 2009 football MUSS vice president, carrying with him a 10-inch version of Ute mascot "Swoop," blogging along the way about the road trip and the countdown to the Sugar Bowl.

"We're really excited to be going to this game, where the Utes will make history as the first team from a non-BCS conference to twice get into one of the major bowl games," Bowen said. He and Li'l Swoop will chronicle their adventures during the 25-hour drive through New Mexico, Dallas and on to New Orleans.

"We want to get there as fast as we can possibly go," Bowen said. For the die-hard fans on the MUSS trip, the cost is about $400 per person, including tickets to the game, which is a small price to pay to see their undefeated Utes take on the Crimson Tide.

"There was no way I was going to miss this bowl game," Bowen said. "Our team is great. I love the fact that they just find a way to win. Every game."