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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah's 2003 Football Schedule Is Released By MWC Office
2/24/2003 12:00 AM | Football
Feb. 24, 2003
SALT LAKE CITY -
The University of Utah will play one of its toughest-and most unusual-schedules ever in 2003, it learned today from the Mountain West Conference office. With three Bowl Championship Series teams on the non-conference schedule and road games at Colorado State, Air Force and Brigham Young, the schedule facing first-year head coach Urban Meyer is certainly a difficult one. Making it unusual are two Thursday games and one Friday game, all at home.
"I hear this ranks as one of the better non-conference home schedules ever for Utah and I really like the fact that we have two Pac-10 teams coming in for nationally televised games," says Meyer. "The thing I like the most about this schedule is our opportunity for exposure. We are trying to build a program and the best way to accomplish that is for prospects to see Utah on national television. The hardest part of this schedule is playing Texas A&M, and then five days later, playing Cal."
The untraditional home schedule came about from a desire to be fan-friendly and for the opportunity to play before a live national television audience. Utah's game with Utah State was moved to Thursday, Aug. 28 to allow fans of both schools to take advantage of the long holiday weekend. The Utah-California game is slated to be nationally televised on Thursday, Sept. 11, although the network won't be released until a later date. Oregon agreed to play Utah on Friday, Oct. 3 to accommodate Ute fans involved in LDS Conference activities that weekend. That game will likely be televised nationally as well.
"We are excited about our upcoming schedule and the quality opponents we have, both home and away," says Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill. "It is important to strike a balance between a fan-friendly schedule and television exposure and we feel this schedule accomplishes that goal."
Utah State Athletics Director Rance Pugmire expressed enthusiasm about a Thursday contest between the two schools. "This makes great sense. We are planning on doing the same thing when we open at home on Labor Day weekends in the future. We want our fans to be able to enjoy what may be their last chance to get away for the summer."
Regardless of the day, Utah's 2003 non-conference schedule is certainly one of the toughest in school history. The Utes will play the first of three BCS teams on Sept. 6, when they go to College Station, Texas, for a game with Texas A&M. The Aggies were 6-6 a year ago, with a win over then No. 1 ranked Oklahoma. The Utes then play a pair of Pacific-10 Conference teams at home, hosting California on Sept. 11 and Oregon on Oct. 3. Cal is coming off a 7-5 season in which the Bears led the Pac-10 and finished 10th nationally in scoring offense (35.6 points per game). Oregon finished 7-6 and played in the Seattle Bowl.
Things won't get any easier once the Utes head into conference play. They'll meet three of the league's perennial powers, Colorado State, Air Force and Brigham Young on the road. Utah opens league play against defending MWC champion Colorado State on Sept. 27. Utah's first home conference game is against San Diego State on Oct. 11. The Utes also play league foes New Mexico and Wyoming in Salt Lake City.
Utah's complete 2003 football schedule follows. As has been the case for several years, game times will not be determined until later, dependent on the MWC's television agreement with ESPN.
2003 Utah Football Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 28 Utah State Salt Lake CitySaturday, Sept. 6 Texas A&M College Station, TexasThursday, Sept. 11 California Salt Lake CitySaturday, Sept. 20 openSaturday, Sept. 27 Colorado State* Ft. Collins, Colo.Friday, Oct. 3 Oregon Salt Lake CitySaturday, Oct. 11 San Diego State* Salt Lake CitySaturday, Oct. 18 UNLV* Las Vegas, Nev.Saturday, Oct. 25 New Mexico* Salt Lake CitySaturday, Nov. 1 Air Force* Colorado Springs, Colo.Saturday, Nov. 8 openSaturday, Nov. 15 Wyoming* Salt Lake CitySaturday, Nov. 22 Brigham Young* Provo, Utah
*Mountain West Conference game
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