Utah Utes football: First-year coordinator Brian Johnson is determined to get the Utes' offense rolling

"Oh yeah, I've been booed out the Oregon State game my senior year, all kinds of stuff. That stuff doesn't bother me at all," Johnson said. "I've learned to develop an extremely thick skin here over the course of my career — both as a player and as a coach. All I can do is just come out and try to do my job."

It paid off as a player. In his final game for the Utes, Johnson earned Most Outstanding Player honors in the 2009 Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.

As for his age, Johnson discounts any notion that it may have something to do with his acclimation to being an offensive coordinator.

"I don't think it's necessarily my age that has anything to do with it. I think it's just being in a new position," he said. "I'm pretty sure there are guys who are 40 years old who are coordinators for the first time that have similar issues. It's just a football issue more so than anything else."

And when it comes to games, Johnson has a constant competitiveness about him.

"That never goes away. It never goes away whether I'm a coach or a player," Johnson said. "I don't care if I'm calling a football game or playing my little cousin in video games, you do things to win and play at a high level. So we'll get that done."

Utes on the air

Utah (2-3, 0-2) at UCLA (4-2, 1-2)

Saturday, 1 p.m. MDT

Rose Bowl

TV: Fox, Ch. 13 Radio: 700 AM

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