Utah Utes football notebook: U. familiar with Thursday night openers

SALT LAKE CITY — For the fifth time in eight years, the Utah football team is beginning its season with a Thursday night game when it plays Pitt tonight (6:30 p.m.) at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Utes have made a habit of starting early each season, including 2005 when the Utes began with a Friday night game against Arizona.

So far the early games have been good to the Utes, who are 3-1 in Thursday night games and a victory in the Friday game. The only Thursday loss was at Oregon State in 2007.

Whittingham said he has no say in scheduling Thursday night games, which are usually "dictated by television" but says he is happy to play them.

"There's no adjustment because you start a couple of days earlier (for fall camp)," he said. "If you're going to play a Thursday game, you want to do it at the start of the season because it gives you a couple of extra days to prepare for your next game."

PITT FACTS: A few facts you may or may not have known about the Pitt football program.

Glenn (Pop) Warner, for whom Pop Warner football was named, coached at Pitt from 1915 to 1923.

The Panthers have won nine national titles in football, the last one coming in 1976 under Johnny Majors.

Tony Dorsett won the Heisman Trophy for his play in the 1976 season.

ESPN announcer Mark May played for Pitt and won the Outland Trophy in 1980.

NFL receivers Antonio Bryant and Larry Fitzgerald each played for Pitt and received the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.

Dan Marino played for Pitt and finished fourth in the 1981 Heisman Trophy voting just behind BYU's Jim McMahon.

Mike Ditka was an all-American end for Pitt in 1960.

Twenty-three men associated with Pitt football have been elected into the College Football Hall of Fame.

NO RESPECT: The Utes aren't getting much respect from national media, at least not on ESPN. In previewing the game earlier this week, the video was mostly of Pitt plays with the audio saying, "Utah is 0-5 against AP ranked teams in season openers," followed by "it's a chance to see (Pitt running back) Dion Lewis get it done."

GAME NOTES: The father of Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri, Sal Sunseri, was a captain and star linebacker at Pitt in 1981, the same year Utah coach Kyle Whittingham starred for BYU as a linebacker. ... Tonight's game is Pitt's first road opener since 1993.

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