Utah Utes football: Program moving into new Pac-12 era

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's first spring practice as a Pac-12 football program was a little different. And it had nothing to do with the Utes' initial session being indoors because of snow.

"It's a new era in Utah football and you can sense it," said coach Kyle Whittingham. "There's an excitement among the players about it and it's a big challenge. No doubt about it. It's going to be exciting."

New offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who spent the past couple of seasons at UCLA, acknowledged "it's a different deal."

But in other ways, he noted, things are still the same for the players..

"It's nothing different. We've just got to go play football. They know that," Chow said. "They know the challenge that's ahead and the week-to-week competition that the Pac-12 brings. They're ready for that. They've been through big games before."

Switching conferences isn't the only change the program is undergoing.

The Utes are installing a new offense, replacing the spread with a multiple offensive scheme.

"We're going under center a lot more which is a big adjustment in and of itself," Whittingham said.

It's a big change, he explained, because the footwork is different for the quarterbacks and the angles are different for the running backs.

"So there is a learning curve with that," Whittingham said after Tuesday's two-hour, no-pads practice at the Spence Eccles Field House. "... For one day. I thought we made good progress."

With returning starter Jordan Wynn unable to throw because of offseason shoulder surgery, sophomore Griff Robles and freshman Tyler Shreve took most of the snaps at quarterback.

"It was a good start," Whittingham said. "The two young quarterbacks are getting all the reps, so that will be great for their development."

Everyone is being pushed hard — and encouraged to dig into their playbook during off-time — as the coaching staff seeks to install the new offense over the first five spring practices.

It's a lot to digest.

Chow said they're trying to get it done quickly.

"We're going to try to pound it for the next four days and get it all in," he explained. "Then kind of take a step back and try to get all the finer points and details."