Utah Utes football notebook: Work ethic, high demands key to Utes' success

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Utah football's fastest climb to Top 10 status has been accompanied by a strong work ethic.

The players, explained head coach Kyle Whittingham, enjoy both practices and games. They also like being around one another.

"It comes from great senior leadership," Whittingham said. "The seniors, the upperclassmen set the pace and demand everyone adhere to that standard they set."

Accolades and high rankings have yet to alter perspective within the program.

"It's a very grounded team," Whittingham said.

So much so, in fact, that no one is satisfied even though the Utes have won six consecutive games dating back to last year's victory over California in the Poinsettia Bowl.

"It's been great. It's been a great ride so far," said senior cornerback Lamar Chapman. "We've just got to keep it up. We've got room for improvement and we need to make it happen."

Senior linebacker Chad Manis agrees.

"I think the best thing about this team is we're never satisfied," he said after last week's 68-27 thrashing of Iowa State. "Even in a win like this we are always going to find things to improve on."

ALWAYS SOMETHING: As a player at BYU and a coach at Utah, Whittingham has plenty of memories about visiting Laramie.

"It's a tough place to play," he said, while noting it can be a hostile environment. "They get on you pretty good here."

And then there's Mother Nature.

Windy games, cold games.

"You get it all," Whittingham said.

MOTIVATED MEN: Quarterback Jordan Wynn said this year's Utes are a pretty self-motivated group. Even so, he sees the benefit of Whittingham's motivational tactics.

"He definitely knows how to get us hyped and he's really good with that," Wynn said. "He definitely knows what buttons to push. He knows each guy so individually."

So what motivates Wynn?

Reminders that Utah is not currently a BCS school. That, he said, continually inspires a lot of the players.

WHIT'S WORLD: Whittingham considers himself a reader, but coaching books aren't part of his rotation. He draws inspiration in that regard from his late father, Fred, as well as LaVell Edwards, Ron McBride and Urban Meyer.

"Just the great coaches I've been around," said Whittingham, who added that it is a goal of his to never write a book.

WHERE IT STARTS: Utah's starting offensive line has yet to give up a single sack this season. Besides protecting the quarterback, the Utes in the trenches have done a solid job blocking for the run game.

"If you don't have a solid front everything is difficult," Whittingham said. "And our front is playing very well."

EXTRA POINTS: This is Wyoming's homecoming game. … The Cowboys have the MWC's top tackler in sophomore safety Shamiel Gary. He averages 10.7 stops per game. … The Utes are 18-20 all-time in Laramie.

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com