Utah Utes football: Contrasting coaches

NEW ORLEANS — With apologies to Donny and Marie, one of this year's Sugar Bowl coaches might be a little bit country, the other a little bit rock 'n' roll.

At least that's the gist of what Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said after hearing that Alabama coach Nick Saban arrived at press conferences with a police escort and security detail.

"He's a rock star. He's an icon," Whittingham said. "I'm just a regular guy."

So much so, in fact, that Whittingham arrived at his first function at the media hotel with little fanfare. He was accompanied by a Sugar Bowl volunteer and Utah director of football operations Jeff Rudy.

It significantly paled in comparison to Saban's entourage.

"To live in his world ... he probably needs that. He's a very identifiable figure," Whittingham said. "I'm a little more — I don't want to say obscure — but not in the forefront."

After searching for a more apt description, the coach settled for the term "under the radar" after it was suggested by a reporter.

Whittingham's descriptions of himself and Saban made Utah defensive coordinator/Utah State head coach Gary Andersen chuckle.

"That sounds like Kyle. That's a pretty good analogy, I guess. I don't know Nick Saban very well. So I guess he knows him better than I do," Andersen said. "But I know Kyle definitely doesn't have any interest in being a rock star. I can tell you that much."

Alabama quarterback John Park Wilson also got a laugh out of the comment about Saban.

"Rock star? I don't think he would say that," said the senior. "But, I don't know, I think it's pretty funny."

Saban, he added, is without question a college football icon.

"He's on the cover of everything," said Wilson, who noted he'd love to hear what the coach thinks about being labeled as a "rock star."

Running back Glen Coffee said such talk is outside of football, and Alabama's head honcho is all about football.

"Coach Saban is always about business. Whenever he confronts us it's about football and how to affect the team and how to help the team. So we really don't get any of that," Coffee said. "Not when we're at the complex. Maybe when we're out in town — you know what I'm saying — people might speak of him like that, but when it's one-on-one with us and coach Saban it's all business."