Utah Utes football: Forget BCS; U. is No. 1 for Utahns

It's just a shame that the team's 31-17 victory over Alabama and its 13-0 season still don't win enough respect from the Bowl Championship Series officials, many Utahns said Saturday.

"I'm going to call (the Utes) national champs everywhere I go," said Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. "We would be the undisputed national champion in collegiate football right now but for this crazy BCS ranking system. It's time to throw that recipe out and look a little differently at how you evaluate teams."

Huntsman watched the Allstate Sugar Bowl on television and called coach Kyle Whittingham while Whittingham was still in the locker room after the victory to congratulate him.

"I told him he made our state exceedingly proud," the governor said. "It is the best team that ever was in Utah."

Huntsman's reaction was echoed by numerous Utah leaders and fans, who praised the team and its coaches — then flayed the BCS and its ranking system, which means that despite having the country's only perfect record and displaying a flawless bowl performance, the title of national champions will be awarded to the winner of Thursday's FedEx BCS National Championship Bowl in Florida.

The BCS is also frustrating to University of Utah President Michael Young, who was in Louisiana Friday night, watching from the stands as the Utes plowed through the No. 4-ranked Crimson Tide.

"I called my old friend from the NCAA," Young quipped. "I said I'd be willing to fly down to Indianapolis (the NCAA headquarters), go pick up the (national championship) trophy. They didn't have to deliver it.

"We proved ourselves on the field," he continued. "For us not to have a chance to be in the (national championship) mix is silly. There's no other word to describe it. The whole thing is just a scam."

But even without the national kudos, there's plenty to celebrate back home.

On Monday, when Huntsman is sworn in again as governor of the state, he said he may take time to honor the team, their coaches and their accomplishments.

"Maybe we should designate (Monday) as Utah Utes day," Huntsman mused.

After all, the win doesn't just benefit the University of Utah or football fans. It's much bigger than that, leaders insist.

"This does more for our image than anything else you could imagine," Huntsman said. "To have a winning football team that gathers this kind of national following, image and reputation is a hugely important deal for a state in the way people see our state and the quality of our educational institutions."

The game was even broadcast in Mexico, where Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker was traveling. He said he watched it in Spanish.

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