TEMPE, Ariz. — Utah football players have spent the week enjoying the Fiesta Bowl festivities.

The Utes are getting star treatment as they've never seen. They were greeted at the airport Sunday by a mariachi band and hundreds of people welcoming them to a week of Bowl Championship Series hype that doesn't compare to what they saw a year ago at the Liberty Bowl.

They've been enjoying their bowl gifts of iPod digital music players as well as small video cameras. And after their final grueling workouts for departing coach Urban Meyer, it's back to a luxury hotel in suburban Phoenix.

"What an experience. It still hasn't actually hit me. We're in the BCS," defensive back Bo Nagahi said. "I don't care if we were in St. George, Utah, playing a bowl game. We're going to get ready to play the game. Once we get on the field, football is football. But honestly, the atmosphere here and all the people, it's just a great place to be."

About the only downside has been the weather. It rained Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the sun finally broke through on Thursday.

The Utah and Pittsburgh players were scheduled to appear Wednesday at Sun Devil Stadium, site of Saturday's game, but the interviews were moved to a Scottsdale hotel because of the rain.

It didn't seem to bother anyone.

"Everything's a first, so I can't really compare it to anything. Just having a media day in the restroom would probably be magnificent for me," Utah defensive lineman Sione Pouha said.

TURNING POINT: After a 2-2 start and trailing Temple by 10 in the fourth quarter, the season was looking grim for Pittsburgh. The Panthers rallied to beat the Owls and went 5-1 the rest of the way, tying for the Big East championship and getting the league's automatic bid to the BCS.

"We knew we had potential, and we knew that if given the chance, we could show a lot of people we are really a competitive team," receiver Greg Lee said.

BEATING THE SPREAD: Pittsburgh quarterback Tyler Palko is tired of hearing about point spreads for Saturday's game. Utah is favored by more than two touchdowns, but Palko isn't buying speculation that the game will be a blowout — or even a Utah win.

"I don't look into that stuff. Personally, I think those things are made by fat, out-of-shape guys who have never played football anyway," Palko said. "We've got to play football. That underdog stuff is for you guys to talk about and write about."

HANDS OFF: Meyer says he's been using a more relaxed approach in his final days with the Utes before he leaves for Florida. After five straight months of practices and games, there isn't a whole lot more he can teach this team.

"What's the job of a coach? Get them prepared and get the hell out of the way. We've been very good at that, so we're going to do it again this time," Meyer said.