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The University of Utah Athletics
Quoting The Utes On Receiving Fiesta Bowl Invitation
12/5/2004 12:00 AM | Football
Dec. 5, 2004
SALT LAKE CITY - Utah officially became the first team from a non-BCS conference to receive a bid to one of the four BCS bowl games on Sunday afternoon, earning a spot in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against Big East representative Pittsburgh (8-3). The Utes are 11-0 and won the Mountain West Conference title outright for the second consecutive season in 2004.
Utah and Pittsburgh will square off in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., at 6:30 p.m. (MST). ABC will televise the game.
Here are some quotes from the Utes after learning of their invitation to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Head Coach Urban Meyer
On preparing for the Bowl Game and distractions:
"We've had some great practices the past two weeks when we didn't even know who we were going to play. This team will be ready to play. At Utah, we don't just go to bowl games. We go to win them. We're going to prepare well and we're a very good football team when we prepare. There will be some distractions, but we'll get this thing organized. The focus on this team is great. They want to go 12-0."
On the announcement of going to the Fiesta Bowl and playing Pittsburgh:
"It's almost a relief. Everybody asked us before the season if our goal was the BCS. We said no, even though it really was (the goal). The team has been focused all season and that's a credit to a lot of people. Pittsburgh is a great opponent with a great coach. They have a great quarterback. It is going to be a battle."
On planning to coach the bowl game:
"It is very important to me. It is out of my hands. The players want me to coach and I want to coach. Our A.D. (Dr. Chris Hill) has been great about it. One of the things we said at the beginning of the season was we want to be perfect. Those aren't my words. That came from the players. They believe they are the most invested team in the country and they've proved it."
On officially getting into a BCS Bowl:
"To break all the barriers we've broken to get here has been phenomenal. That's a credit to a lot of people, but mostly our players."
Steve Fifita, Junior Nose Guard
On going to the Fiesta Bowl:
"I'm just glad to be in a BCS bowl game. Pitt is a good team, and I'm so happy to be a BCS buster this year. The coaching situation at Utah doesn't bother me. Our coaches deserve everything that they get and we have no hard feelings towards them."
Quinton Ganther, Junior Running Back
On the undefeated regular season:
"We worked really hard for this, it has been our goal all year. We just took it game by game and worked hard in practice to make this happen."
On playing Pittsburgh:
"We really don't know much about them. We have just seen some film, but we just need to keep doing what we've been doing to get the win."
On Head Coach Urban Meyer going to Florida:
"I'm not mad at him for leaving. I understand that this is a business and he has to do what is best for his family. I would have much love for him if he had decided to stay here."
Marty Johnson, Senior Running Back
On the 11-0 regular season:
"The undefeated season means a lot to the City of Salt Lake and to the entire football team. We played hard all season and we never overlooked any opponent. We prepared and played each opponent by going out and playing our game."
On Urban Meyer taking the Florida job:
"I think coach made a good decision for himself and his family. I'm really close to him; he is like a father figure to me. As a team, we support the decision. I understand that he wants to win a national title and he would have a tough time winning one at Utah because of the system. We can't complain. we are 11-0 and going to a BCS Bowl game."
"As of what we know, Coach will be coaching us at the game. It wouldn't feel right if he didn't coach us. We have one more game to go and we want to finish this thing right."
On playing Pittsburgh:
"We don't know much about Pitt. We know they are in the Big East and 8-3, but other than that we need to watch the tapes. I would rather be playing Auburn or someone like that, but we are happy to be in a BCS Bowl game."
Chris Kemoeatu, Senior Offensive Lineman
On the undefeated regular season:
"We're thankful to have such a great season. It hasn't hit me yet, but we are really excited and we are going to be really prepared. We are in a great position."
About Urban Meyer taking the job at Florida:
"The team is really sad about Coach (Meyer) leaving, but he did what he had to do. Hopefully, Coach will come in and pick up from where he started. We hope he coaches the game, but if he doesn't, we are going to go out and play like we have all season."
On playing Pittsburgh:
"We have watched a little tape on Pittsburgh, but not much. Now that it's official, we are going to really prepare and play hard."
Sione Pouha, Senior Defensive Lineman
On going to the Fiesta Bowl:
"I'm excited. We've been working the last couple of weeks without a lot of direction since we didn't know exactly where we were going and who we were playing. Now we know what to do and we start working hard in order to get the win."
On the changes going on around the team:
"There are a lot of variables, but Bo (Nagahi), Morgan (Scalley) and I have been in Coach Meyer's system for two years now, and I think he would trust us to keep the team motivated and do what we need to do to get the job done."
On playing Pittsburgh:
"We started watching film last week. Their offensive line is big and strong. They earned their way to the Fiesta Bowl just like we did. There isn't a whole lot of pressure. There was a lot of pressure when we were young and 5-0, but now we are 11-0, and are more experienced and older."
On playing in a BCS game:
"I never dreamed about it coming from East High (in Salt Lake City). I figured we would play a normal bowl game like the Liberty Bowl or something. It is amazing, now all we need to do is perform."
Steve Savoy, Sophomore Wide Receiver
On earning a BCS Bowl bid:
"Right now I am enjoying every moment of it. We had a good season this year and I am looking forward to playing in the Fiesta Bowl. It's cool having an undefeated season and getting the chance to play in a BCS Bowl even though we are not a BCS school. I am going to go out there and just have fun. Everyone is looking forward to playing in the Fiesta Bowl and playing against Pitt. We are just going to go out there and get it done."
On the match up with Pittsburgh:
"I haven't recently been following Pitt, but now that we know we are playing them, I will get in there and watch film and follow their game plan a little bit more."
"As far as us matching up with Pitt, I know they have a pretty decent offense. Their defense has a lot of good athletes from what I have seen over the tapes. We will match up pretty well. It's going to be a pretty interesting game, so hopefully we will get out there with a win."
Morgan Scalley, Senior Safety
On going 11-0 in the regular season:
"Going undefeated this season is the best feeling in the world. After the BYU game, I couldn't even express how happy I was for the team. I think it will take awhile to figure out what we've actually done, but we have one more game and we still have a lot to prove to the nation."
On getting ready for the Fiesta Bowl:
"The coaching situation doesn't really bother me because that's something that I can't control. What we can control is how well we prepare for the bowl game, and we're going to make our city proud."
Alex Smith, Junior Quarterback
On being invited to the Fiesta Bowl:
"All of the bowls are so prestigious and every team that makes it deserves it. So, no matter how it shook down, it was going to be a great thing - and it is. To go to the Fiesta Bowl, I think it's a natural fit for us. I think we'll travel extremely well with a lot of fan support, and we'll get to play a good team. Obviously, Pitt is the conference champ from the Big East and it will be a great game."
"We just wanted to be on the national stage against a formidable opponent to prove that we could play. We're going to get that opportunity because Pitt is a good team and we'll get that chance."
On being the first non-BCS conference team to make a BCS Bowl:
"It's a big honor to make history like this. We're the first non-BCS team to do this and we're proud. I'm proud to be a part of this team because this is something special and everyone on this team deserves this. And, I'm just happy to be a part of it."
"I think at the beginning of the season (the BCS) wasn't a realistic goal. But, as the season went on, it may have not been something we talked about but it was definitely a goal of ours."
"I'm looking forward to it. There was a lot speculation on weather we deserve this and there will be no second-guessing after this. We're going to get that chance to show everyone what we can do, and no one is going to take that away from us."
We could not have drawn up a better season than this. It's a dream come true. It's a credit to a lot of the players on this team and how hard they worked to get us here. They deserve this!"
On playing Pittsburgh:
"I think we match up well. Obviously, I think it's a very talented team. It won its conference, and it had to be very talented and very good to do that. We're just going to have to go out and execute and play our game."
Paris Warren, Senior Wide Receiver
On making the Fiesta Bowl:
"It doesn't get any better, so we will just take it one day at a time. We know that hard work pays off."
"This is the best senior class to come through here in many years. It's because of the way we carry ourselves, how we came together as a team and stuck it out throughout the year."
On playing Pittsburgh:
"Things happen for a reason. We are playing who we are playing. They are going to be another good team and they are going to get our best. We haven't really followed Pitt too much this year, but these last few weeks we have been watching a lot of film on them. They are a pretty good team overall."
"If our offense is clicking, it will be hard for Pitt to stop us. With our great defense, it is going to be hard for them to run the ball on us. It's going to be another good game."
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