IN THE DARK: The Utes played the Fiesta Bowl minus former offensive coordinator Mike Sanford.

Not that Sanford didn't want to be there. Since becoming head coach at Nevada-Las Vegas, he has been busy recruiting for his new team. But he told Las Vegas reporters he would have liked to have been with the Utes on Saturday. (He was prevented from coaching in the Fiesta Bowl by Ute officials, who told him they wouldn't allow a future conference opponent to coach with them in the bowl game.)

Meanwhile, Sanford has his work cut out for him. He described the recruiting when he arrived in Las Vegas as "still in the dark ages." In fairness, former UNLV coach John Robinson battled family health issues all last season.

PREGAME FESTIVITIES: Former Ute all-American Larry Wilson and Pittsburgh alum Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals served as honorary captains for the coin flip. The coin was tossed by Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch of the U.S. softball team.

Two decorated members of the armed forces with ties to Utah were honored before the game. First Lieutenant Cori Lynn Chapman of the U.S. Army and Captain Sam Porter of the U.S. Marines, a graduate and graduate student at the U., respectively, were introduced to an appreciative crowd in pregame ceremonies.

A 100-yard American flag was unfurled after the U.S. Air Force's Wings of Blue parachute team descended on the field. The Phoenix Police Chorus sang "God Bless America" and the United States Military Academy Cadet Glee Club followed with the national anthem. Three Apache helicopters then flew over the stadium.

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Contributing: Brad Rock, Jay Hinton, Linda Hamilton