Utah Utes football: Road victory streak on line against Spartans

SAN JOSE, Calif. — With 12 straight victories at Rice-Eccles Stadium, there's no place like home for the Utah Utes.

The road hasn't been all that bad, either.

Utah enters tonight's game against San Jose State with eight consecutive wins in games (including bowl appearances) played outside of Salt Lake City.

It's tied for the second-most successful streak in U. history. It's also part of the nation's longest active run of success. The Utes have won 15 games in a row overall.

"We have the same routine each and every week. That's a relative statement. Short weeks or long weeks can vary some of the preparation," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "We have all the same routines and do all the same meetings. We take care of practice on Friday before we get on the plane. Then we get there, have dinner, (watch) a movie and relax.

"I can't attribute our success on the road to any one thing," he continued. "It's just the way the guys prepare in general."

Senior defensive end Koa Misi thinks it's a mental thing with everybody getting in their playbooks and learning their plays.

"Just being on the road and getting ready for a game is different than being at home," he said. "Same routine, same everything. It's just a different feeling."

There is a constant, however.

"We come to each game with the mindset that we've got to give 110 percent to win," said senior linebacker Mike Wright. "We can't overlook anyone we're playing, regardless of their statistics. We've been able to do that each and every week."

Utah's success away from home began with a 35-32 win over Navy in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. The streak picked up steam during the unbeaten season that followed. The Utes prevailed at Michigan (25-23), Utah State (58-10), Air Force (30-23), Wyoming (40-7), New Mexico (13-10) and San Diego State (63-14) in 2008.

The latest triumph came in New Orleans on Jan. 2 when Utah upset Alabama (31-17) in the Sugar Bowl.

A win in their 2009 road-opener will move the Utes a step closer to the school record of 11 consecutive neutral site/road wins that concluded with the Fiesta Bowl victory in January 2005.

EXTRA POINTS: Utah leads the series with San Jose State, 4-1. This is the first meeting since 1998, when the Utes prevailed 49-17 at Spartan Stadium. SJSU's lone win came in 1974, 24-6 in Salt Lake City. ... San Jose State head coach Dick Tomey has two direct ties to Utah. He coached linebacker Kepa Gaison's father, Blain, at Hawaii and tight end Chris Joppru's brother, J.J., while at Arizona. ... Utah cornerbacks coach J.D. Williams was a San Jose State assistant in 1999.

Utes on the air

No. 17 Utah (1-0) at San Jose St. (0-1)

Today, 8:30 p.m.

At Spartan Stadium, San Jose, Calif.

TV: ESPN-U Radio: 700 AM

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com