Reader comments
Utah Utes' Whittingham named Coach of Year

elviejo | 5:34 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

As an old BYU fan, I am pleased to say I can't think of a more deserving person.

Mr. M | 5:33 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Congrats Coach Whit! Great job, great team, great year! Thanks and keep up the great work!

Go Utes!!!

you gotta love whit | 5:38 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

If anything coach Whit deserves, after he got shafted out of the NC. I'm proud of coach Whit and glad he didn't take the offer from the TDS and stayed to give us our "perfect" season. Thanks coach.

Comments continue below

Mr. Robinson | 5:45 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

When is an african american coach going to win?
All I see is injustice.

True Cougar Fan | 5:49 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Consolation prize indeed.

Nevertheless, how good is Whit really?? After all, Anderson coached the Defense and it was defense that beat Oregon, TCU and BYU. Why exactly does anyone think Whit deserved the prize?

Oh how it hurts to say this...but Utah deserved to be #1 (No, I will never say it again) but Whit, coach of the year?? For what exactly?

Save the post...If the Utes win more than 8 games next year, then I will wear red for a week, admit I was wrong and proclaim Whit the Coach of the year on Kfan, 710 or whatever roof top you want...

But it won't happen.

The fact is, Coach Anderson's scheme beat BYU. Nothing else. He deserves to be honored as the Coach of the Year.

Congratulations Coach | 5:52 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Well deserved. You represented the University and the state of Utah well. Congratulations!!

fdg | 6:34 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Mr Robinson, what black coach deserves this award this year? Coach W deserves this and its racist for you to say otherwise. I feel that when a black coach accomplishes what Caoch W did this year He will get it. You have to earn it not have it given to you because of race

Wayne Rout | 7:13 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

This BYU fan and normally a Utah hater, always cheers for the conference teams when they play out of conference. It was great to see Utah beat Alabama. They were well coached and well prepared. Congratulations to a great BYU grad as Coach of the Year. He's a good man and has proven to be a very good coach. Let's hope Utah can keep him...for awhile.

WR

re:mr robinson | 7:28 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Ty Willingham? I think not.

Still, seems like there are not enough black coaches. Of course, with oldsters hang on at Penn State and Florida state, it does mean turnover and progress are S-L-O-W.

Chris J. | 8:08 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Congratulations from a U of U alumnis.

GTO | 8:18 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Whit was well trained, educated and motivated by BYU and now his excellent education and knowlege goes to help the Utes. Seems this is typical! Where would the U of U be without BYU grads?

Bear | 8:57 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

re: GTO

The U would be the same place BYU would have been without a U.S.U. grad named Edwards. Or, the same place BYU women basketball would be without a U of U coach named Judkins. Same for BYU football for where ever the current coach came from...or basketball and the University of Houston. Who cares where they are from...what's significant is what they are currently doing for those that employ them. Coach Whit is serving the U well, and has for many, many years...sort of like Edwards did for BYU.

Hoosier Coug | 8:57 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

A BIG congratulations to both the Utes and their coach. It shows the class of their program, their team, and all of their coaching staff.

Well done.

TucsonUte | 9:00 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

RE: True Cougar Fan | 5:49 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

You must be a troll or the daftest BYU fan to ever post on a message board in here. Whittingham will acknowledge, if he hasn't already that his staff was a big part of him receiving the award. Norm Chow once stated that Edwards seldom sat in the offensive coordinator meetings when he was the head coach at BYU. So according to your logic--it was Norm Chow that should have been awarded Coach of the Year back in 1984 when BYU went 13-0--instead of LaVell Edwards.

Well done Coach Whittingham!!

RE: True Cougar Fan | 5:49 p.m. | 9:37 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Also My Little Couger by the Mountains, Coach Whit if I remember Right was the D coord at Utah for 11 years before he was named Head Coach. He was the Genius behind the shut downs when they went undefeated under Urban Meyer. If he were such a Bad Coach why did Urban Meyer ask him to Come to Florida and be his D coord there is he didn't get a Head Coaching Job? He is one of the Best Coaches in the Country and you are Kidding yourself if you think there will be a drop off in Defense when Anderson leaves. Caoch Whit has his Fingers all over that Defense and always will. That is what the Great ones do. And how many Times did BYU beat Utah when Coach Whit was the D Coord? Maybe 3

Re: True Cougar Fan | 9:52 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Yep, true to Cougar form, you're on here trying to divert some well-deserved limelight from the U to the Y. I hear they have a special on Pepsid AC down at Reams - that'll do more for your jealousy-induced heartburn than posting lame comments on here.

On a more serious note, all the media guys say when they go to practice, Whit is never very far from the defense, so Andersen may have had the official title, but I suspect they worked together on it quite a bit. And who do you think trained Andersen, anyway?

And to GTO, where would the Y be without Dr Samuelsen, who went to med school at the U and was their chief of staff for a bazillion years until the Church called him to be president at the Y. Check this out - they have to call people to lead the Y, but when given the choice, many Y people take their free agency to the U! (Michael Young, Coach Whittingham, and many of his assistants just for starters). Isn't repentance a be-Ute-iful concept?!

Go UTES!!

The dude responding to the True | 9:59 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Grow up dude, yes you the one responding to the True Cougar Fan. It is always about hating the Cougars for you.. Grow up!! No Ute fans like you. You make us look bad. If the Cougars had a year like the Utes I would be happy. Oh, and your math stinks. Later on!!!!!

Provo Dad | 10:54 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Coach Whit congrats. You and UofU Football are the top dawgs in MWC Football.

orson a. round | 11:05 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Great year Utah - being a BYU grad I am sorry it is not the Y nor its coach getting the credits - BUT the U earned them and had a great season. Hope they do well next year and come in right behind the Y. Still think the BYu should have a banquet and invite the U and give them credit for their accomplishment. Remember Brigham Young started both schools. Go cougars and you too Utes

Proud Ute | 11:10 p.m. Jan. 13, 2009

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy and here's why.

During the course of the season media people would ask him about his assistants and he would say words to the effect of: "Coach Anderson and others on the staff are going to get other opportunities. I'll do my best to keep them, but a capable assistant coach wants to be a head coach and I'll support them in their career."

When it's true to its 'better angels' (as Lincoln wrote) Coaching's a fraternity and KWit's has created a true brotherhood.

This award is a small acknowledgment of that. Good for him.

re;True cougar fan | 12:20 a.m. Jan. 14, 2009

I LOVED your comment about the church having to call people to the Y!!! Best comment of the night!
I will use my free agency and continue to be a member of the church of jesus christ and still be a utah fan, no need for repentence for me on this one!

Way to go Coach Whit. Keep the defence going strong and prove the whinners wrong.

rvalens2 | 1:20 a.m. Jan. 14, 2009

I think it's time for all good men to leave racism behind.

Let's acknowledge and congratulate people for the good that they do and the excellence they achieve in life.

My hat's off to Coach Whittingham, his staff, the players and the fans! It was a great, UNBELIEVABLE year! I'll cherish the memory of this season for the rest of my life.

Now ... if Utah can't do a repeat next season, then I hope BYU pulls it off!

And Yes, ... that's coming from a dyed in the wool Ute fan.

Lost it | 7:47 a.m. Jan. 14, 2009

If only he were a good coach, like Coach Bronco Mendenhall.

Ernest T. Bass | 7:47 a.m. Jan. 14, 2009

But how many Firesides has he won? When you really slow down, take a good hard look at it, it's the Fireside victories that really count.

RE: Ernest T. Bass... | 4:26 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Has a comment for everything. BYU is a religiously owned church-- good to know that it's okay to make fun of Mormons still. Make fun of any other church's religious meetings and it's politically incorrect. I don't know why people act so surprised that BYU does religious things! PEOPLE-- B.Y.U. stands for Brigham Young (early mormon leader) University! Get over it.. they are going to say religious stuff-- it's not the end of the world. Next thing you know people will be shocked to know that Notre Dame is a Catholic school and they might refer to religious stuff there.

Re: RE: Ernest T. Bass... | 4:26 | 9:54 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Lighten up! Smile, laugh once in a while.

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