For Utah Utes, home has been kind

SALT LAKE CITY — They may as well hang a sign outside the place. Perhaps squeeze it between the banners honoring the undefeated seasons of 2004 and 2008.

For the ninth-ranked Utah Utes, "There's no place like home."

They've won 20 straight games at Rice-Eccles Stadium, a streak that began with a 44-6 win over UCLA on Sept. 15, 2007.

Since then, Utah has defeated every Mountain West Conference opponent at least once in Salt Lake City. New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV and Wyoming are two-time losers.

Today, the Utes will try to add Colorado State to the list. They'll attempt to do so with a little help from their friends — same as always.

"It starts off with our fan support, particularly 'The MUSS.' They give this team a big lift," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "We've got one of the best student sections in the country and our guys feed off of that. They really, really enjoy playing at home."

Junior linebacker Chaz Walker acknowledged the fans make a big difference.

"They are the 12th man of the defense. They really help us on third downs," he said. "They get it loud. They get it jumping in here."

Walker added that he's never heard a place as loud as Rice-Eccles Stadium. The noise sounds more like 90,000 fans rather than the 45,000 the facility holds.

"Everyone's jumping around. Our fans really get pumped and make a big impact in each and every game," Walker said. "We've got to thank them for that."

That's where the victories come in. Utah has beaten 15 different teams during the streak.

Quarterback Jordan Wynn said a lot of it has to do with the atmosphere at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"It's always sold out. The fans are loud," he explained. "I think the altitude has a little bit of play in it."

The combination, therein, works to Utah's advantage.

"I think we just have fun playing at home. We get real pumped up playing in front of the home crowd," Wynn said. "We kind of feed off of them. So it just kind of adds to an already talented team."

The home winning streak is the longest in MWC history. It's the second-longest in school history, trailing only a 26-game streak from 1928-34.

On the national front, only Oklahoma (34) and Boise State (28) have longer active runs of success.