Utah Utes football: What lies ahead?

Post-Bowl Championship Series summers are nothing new for Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham. He's been down this road before, having experienced the follow-up from the Fiesta Bowl in 2005.

Now it's the aftermath of his team's Sugar Bowl success.

And according to Whittingham, it's not a lot different than any other offseason.

"It's been busy, there's no doubt about that," he acknowledged. "But other than the increased speaking (engagements) and that type of thing, it's fairly normal."

So, too, is heading to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Conference football meetings. The annual gathering begins today and continues through Wednesday at the Green Valley Ranch resort in suburban Henderson, Nev.

"For the most part, it signifies that the new season is right around the corner," Whittingham said. "As great as last year was, it's over with and we've got new challenges that lie ahead. That's just what it's all about at this point. All the focus is on 2009."

Looking back, he insists, just isn't in the cards — even if the Utes did finish 13-0 and No. 2 in the nation after defeating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. They enter the upcoming campaign with 14 consecutive victories, the longest active win streak in the nation.

"Each season is its own entity," said Whittingham, who noted that circumstances, the schedule and the Utes' team are different. "We talked all spring ball long about putting last year behind us, and it's time to move on."

Even so, there is some carryover.

"You want confidence. I don't think that's a bad thing at all. You want your guys to be confident," Whittingham said. "As long as their work ethic is intact, they're focused and their concentration remains at a high level, I think you're OK.

"I don't want to use the word 'cocky' but have that swagger to you," he added.

The Utes, however, aren't worried about where they'll be picked to finish in the MWC at this week's meetings.

"I've never really paid too much attention to preseason polls or predictions," Whittingham said. "But I would say in my mind, TCU has got to be the favorite going into this year."

The Utes visit the Horned Frogs in November. They'll also travel to face projected conference contender BYU that same month.

"If you want to be a championship team, you've got to play well in November," Whittingham said. "That's not ever going to change."