From Deseret News archives:
Utah Utes football: Utes get game plans, scouting reports for Sugar Bowl
"It's always a process," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "You've got to keep polishing it up and working the kinks out."
The Utes practiced for 1 1/2 hours at the Spence Eccles Field House as preparations for the Jan. 2 game against Alabama intensified and Finals Week came to a close. They'll practice again this morning.
"It's been so long it feels like the game plan is like a month late. It was good to get it in. We've been watching the film and we've seen all the looks," said quarterback Brian Johnson. "It's good to finally get everybody back off the road recruiting and get together.
"So for us it was huge," he added. "I think everybody took it in well and we'll be ready to execute it."
Though the game is still two weeks away, Whittingham is hopeful the team will digest the game plan over the upcoming Christmas break and get to know it inside and out.
"We've got to stay sharp," he said. "We've got to start polishing up the game plan."
All the while, Whittingham explained, not wearing the team out and doing what it takes to keep things crisp.
Utah's scout team sported a new look. They wore new practice gear that resembled Alabama's shade of red.
"We got the Crimson Tide jerseys in today. So we've got that going for us," Whittingham said. "We needed some new scout jerseys and we figured: 'Hey, what the heck? Why not?' What better time to break out the Crimson Tide color than now."
THE O.C.: Whittingham said he definitely won't name a new offensive coordinator until after the Sugar Bowl. The position opened up when Andy Ludwig opted to take a similar position at Kansas State after the upcoming bowl game.
"Nothing will happen before the bowl game and then I'll take my time after that," Whittingham said. "It may be a week. It may be a month."
EXTRA POINTS: Friday's bowl gifts were UnderArmour shoes and a commemorative football. ... The Utes have received their third letter-of-intent from the mid-year signing period. Cornerback Maxwell Lacy of Compton CC (Calif.) joins quarterback Terrance Cain of Blinn CC (Texas) and cornerback Kamaron Yancy of Pierce CC (Calif.) as Utah's signees. ... Starting linebacker Nai Fotu, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the BYU game, will be replaced by Kepa Gaison in the Sugar Bowl.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com
