Meyer hopes to end personal bowl-win drought

When it comes to winning bowl games, Utah coach Urban Meyer is in a bit of a drought. Though he's never been the boss in one — that will change on New Year's Eve when the Utes face Southern Mississippi in the Liberty Bowl — Meyer has worked as an assistant in seven contests. The first two were victories; the next five were not.

Meyer's postseason career began in the 1987 Cotton Bowl. As a graduate assistant at Ohio State, he was on hand for the Buckeyes' 28-12 victory over Texas A&M. Three years later as the receivers coach at Colorado State, Meyer helped guide the Rams to a 32-31 win over Oregon.

That was the last time Meyer was part of a winning bowl-game staff. Over the next decade, five setbacks followed.

CSU dropped successive Holiday Bowls in 1994 and 1995 to what Meyer said were better teams in Michigan (24-14) and Kansas State (54-21). That wasn't necessarily the case at Notre Dame. With Meyer as their receivers coach, the Irish fell to Louisiana State 27-9 in the 1997 Independence Bowl, Georgia Tech 35-28 in the 1998 Gator Bowl, and Oregon State 41-9 in the 2000 Fiesta Bowl.

The problem? Attitude. Aside from the Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame wasn't all that thrilled to participate in the pomp and circumstance associated with the bowl experience — particularly ones that aren't considered major.

"I just don't know if we did it the right way," recalled Meyer, who has worked hard to ensure his first bowl trip as a head coach is a positive one.

Utah is eager to make the most of its first outright conference championship in 46 years. Enthusiasm is running high.

"I like our attitude," Meyer said. "I think so much now is attitude."

Defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham, who will soon be part of half of Utah's 10 bowl appearances, appreciates Meyer's approach. Before breaking for a few days off around Christmas, the Utes practiced regularly — every other day for a while and six times last week.

"We certainly haven't worn our kids out," Whittingham said. "But I think we've taken good advantage of the opportunity we've had to develop our young guys."

Going to a bowl, he added, is a big deal — especially as an outright champion that is nationally ranked.

"Attitude is so important right now," Meyer reiterated after a quasi-scrimmage between coaches and players last week left both sides laughing. A good time, it could be said, was had by all.

That, however, doesn't mean any focus was diminished.