No. 13 Ranked Ute Football Team Hosts San Jose State

9/20/2010 12:00 AM | Football

Sept. 20, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY

Whittingham's Text Quotes from Press Conference

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QUICKLY

> It's Homecoming for No. 13/13 Utah (3-0, 2-0 MWC) when it hosts San Jose State (1-2, 0-0 WAC) on Saturday, Sept. 25 in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m. There is no TV. Radio is ESPN700 AM (espn700sports.com).

> The Utes moved up one spot in both polls to No. 13. It is their highest ranking since the Sugar Bowl champion Utes finished the 2008 season ranked No. 2 in the nation (Associated Press) and No. 4 (coaches).

> Utah's home win streak, now at 19 games, is the longest home win streak in MWC history, the second-longest in school history and the third-longest active win streak in the nation. "The Streak" dates back to a Sept. 15, 2007 victory over 11th-ranked UCLA and currently ranks behind only Oklahoma (33) and Boise State (26). The school record for consecutive home wins is 26, set 1928-34.

> Utah leads the series with San Jose State 5-1 with its loss coming on Homecoming of 1974 in Salt Lake City. For more on the series, see box on page 2 of this release.

> Utah's all-time record in homecoming games is 55-30-4. The Utes have won their last three homecoming games (Utah State, 2007; Weber State 2008; Louisville, 2009).

> Utah leads the Mountain West Conference and is ranked in the top 20 in the nation in both passing efficiency offense and passing efficiency defense. Utah's 177.7 passing efficiency offense is No. 7 nationally and its 101.8 passing efficiency defense is No. 19.

> Utah returner Shaky Smithson won his second MWC Special Teams Player of the Week award in as many weeks and cornerback Lamar Chapman won his first MWC Defensive Player of the Week award following Utah's 56-14 win over New Mexico.

> Utah's coaches will participate in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)-sponsored Coach to Cure MD program at this Saturday's game. The coaches will wear a Coach to Cure MD logo patch in support of research projects for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

LAST WEEK

Terrance Cain completed 20-of-23 passes, including 20 of his final 21 attempts, to break the school single-game record for completion percentage (86.9%) and Utah crushed New Mexico 56-14. Cain finished with 248 yards passing and three touchdowns (no interceptions), while also rushing for a touchdown. Jereme Brooks caught six passes for 99 yards--one a 75-yard touchdown catch--while third-string quarterback Griff Robles led Utah's rushers with six carries for 64 yards. Joe Phillips made all eight PATs to tie for the second-most in school history. Utah, which allowed just one defensive touchdown, got eight tackles from Lamar Chapman, Chad Manis and Chaz Walker. Each had two tackles for loss and Chapman had a sack. Matt Martinez returned his first career interception 36 yards for a touchdown.

KYLE STYLE

Now in his sixth year as Utah's head coach, Kyle Whittingham has been honored as the National Coach of the Year (2008), averaged over nine wins a season, is undefeated in bowl games, led Utah to its best season ever and engineered the biggest win in school history. He is just the second Utah coach--and the first in 100 years--to achieve a winning record in each of his first five seasons, and his 51-17 overall mark includes an 11-4 advantage over BCS schools. His 6-0 bowl record includes the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, when he and Urban Meyer served as co-head coaches. On the staff since 1994, when he coached the defensive line, Whittingham was the team's defensive coordinator from 1995 until his appointment as head coach in 2005. During his 17-year tenure, the Utes have won 70-percent of their games (136-58) and played in 11 bowl games (winning 10). Whittingham has coached four first-team All-Americans--Luther Elliss (1994), Eric Weddle (2006), Louie Sakoda (2008) and Zane Beadles (2009)--and has sent 34 players to the NFL.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

The Homecoming Court will be presented at the first quarter break ... It will be Family and Parent Weekend on campus ... The Varsity Club is holding its annual reunion and former U. varsity athletes will gather in the Eccles Field House prior to the game and will be recognized at the game ... This Saturday marks Utah's last home game until Oct. 23 ... The Utes are averaging 45,416 fans in two games in Rice-Eccles Stadium, which seats 45,017.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

Preseason all-conference center Zane Taylor (knee, missed UNM) is probable for the San Jose State game, quarterback Jordan Wynn (thumb, missed UNLV, UNM) is day-to-day, tight end Brad Clifford (shoulder) is out, linebacker J.J. Williams (foot, missed Pitt, UNLV, UNM) is out, running back Sausan Shakerin (concussion, missed Pitt, UNLV, UNM) is out. Expected to return to play is DL Derrick Shelby (ankle, missed UNM) ... Utah has garnered five MWC Player of the Week awards in the first three weeks of the season: DeVonte Christopher (offense) and Brian Blechen (defense) were honored on Sept. 6; Shaky Smithson (special teams) on Sept. 13; and Smithson (special teams) and Lamar Chapman (defense) on Sept. 20 ... The first field goal attempt and make of Joe Phillips' career came last year against San Jose State--a 25-yarder. He went on to lead the MWC in field goal percentage (91%), making 20-of-22 attempts in 2009. Phillips is 3-of-3 this season ... Six true freshmen have played for the Utes: Brian Blechen, Wykie Freeman, Mike Honeycutt, Joe Kruger, Westlee Tonga and Michael Walker.