Utah Ute football: Plan is to shut fans up with outstanding play

EUGENE, Ore. — Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester is looking forward to this afternoon's game at Autzen Stadium. He knows what to expect from fans of the Oregon Ducks.

"I expect it to be hostile. We've got a top-20 team coming into their house," Sylvester said. "They've got great fan support. So I expect it to be the craziest place we've been in yet."

It's an environment the senior captain appreciates.

"I love going to other people's houses," he added. "So I can't wait to go."

Why? Stevenson reasoned it might be a linebacker thing.

"I just love the crowd to hate on you. You just shut them up with your play," he explained. "That's what we plan on doing."

A successful outing will extend the nation's longest active win streak to 17 games. Utah hasn't lost a game since 2007.

Head coach Kyle Whittingham said it's something the team doesn't pay a lot of attention to. Their focus is on getting wins one week at a time.

Although he wasn't pleased with a lot of things in last week's closer-than-expected 24-14 win at San Jose State, Whittingham liked the end result.

"There were no style points. But we don't care about that. We got the 'W' and that's all that matters," he said. "We did enough good things against San Jose State to get the 'W.' But we've got to do a much better job in a lot of areas this Saturday to come out with the 'W.' "

A task made even more difficult because of location, location, location.

"Autzen Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the country," said Whittingham, who has repeatedly noted that, once the game starts, it's all about the players.

Oregon coach Chip Kelly also downplayed the significance of how Utah will handle the environment at Autzen Stadium. Kelly noted that the Utes played in the Sugar Bowl and told reporters he didn't think this is going to be their first rodeo.

Utah quarterback Terrance Cain, however, will be making just his third start for the Utes. The junior college transfer's experience is limited to a home game against Utah State and an outing at San Jose State.

"It's not like Autzen Stadium but it's a road game in front of an opponent's crowd," Whittingham said. "Every experience he has is going to make him better. That's what he needs. He needs to just go through the process and experience everything."

Cain isn't too worried about it.

"It's going to be loud. It's going to be hostile," he said. "But you've just got to block it out and try the best you can just to play the game."

EXTRA POINTS: Oregon leads the series, 17-8. Utah, however, won the last meeting, 17-13, in Salt Lake City in 2003. ... The Utes are 51-89-3 all-time against Pac-10 opponents. ... Utah is 6-0 in games played on Sept. 19.

Utes on the air

No. 16 Utah (2-0) at Oregon (1-1)

Today, 1:30 p.m.; Autzen Stadium

TV: ESPN Radio: 700 AM

Live game blog: deseretnews.com/blogs

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com