Football Travels to UCLA for Saturday Game

10/8/2012 12:00 AM | Football

Oct. 8, 2012

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Game Links
	Gameday Central	Season Statistics
Rose Bowl	Interactive Fan Guide	Media Guide
TV: FOX	Radio: ESPN 700 \| SIRIUS/XM (139/201)

QUICKLY

> Utah (2-3, 0-2 Pac-12) plays UCLA (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) in the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kickoff is noon PDT (1 p.m. MDT). The game will be televised nationally on FOX. Radio is ESPN700 AM (espn700sports.com) and SIRIUS/XM (139/201).

> Utah hopes to snap a two-game losing streak after starting its Pac-12 season with losses to Arizona State and USC. Last season, the Utes started 0-4 in conference play before winning their next four Pac-12 games, including a 31-6 victory over UCLA.

> Utah trails the series 8-2 but has won the last two games with UCLA in 2007 and 2011. The Utes are looking for their first win on UCLA's home turf, where they are 0-5. For complete series notes, see page 2.

> Kyle Whittingham is 2-1 against UCLA with wins in Salt Lake City in 2007 and 2011 and a loss in Pasadena in 2006.

> Utah's only previous appearance on FOX was the 2009 Sugar Bowl--a 31-17 Utah win over Alabama.

> Utah starting sophomore wide receiver Dres Anderson's father Flipper played wide receiver for UCLA from 1984-87. He led the Bruins in receiving yards in 1986 and 1987 and ranks 10th in school history with 2,023 yards. A second-round draft pick, he played in the NFL for 10 years.

> Utah leads the nation in forced fumbles with 13. Opponents have fumbled the ball a total of 18 times.

CALIFORNIA CONNECTIONS

As many as 27 of the 37 California natives on Utah's team are likely to make the travel roster for the UCLA game. Of those, 20 hail from Southern California, including starters Dres Anderson (Riverside), Brian Blechen (Moorpark), Sam Brenner (Oceanside), Reshawn Hooker (Fontana), Miles Mason (Los Angeles), Trevor Reilly (Valley Center), Kenneth Scott (Fontana), Tevita Stevens (Hemet) and John White (Torrance). Both Utah quarterbacks are California natives: Jon Hays (Paradise) and Travis Wilson (San Clemente).

IN THE HUDDLE

Getting their first collegiate starts last week were junior defensive end Tenny Palepoi, true freshman linebacker Reshawn Hooker and redshirt freshman linebacker Jason Whittingham ... Hooker and redshirt freshman OL Kala Friel were pulled out of planned redshirt seasons against USC. Hooker started at rover linebacker and Friel played on special teams ... Four true freshmen have played for Utah this season: Hooker, Travis Wilson, QB; Jeremiah Poutasi, OL and Tom Hackett, P.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Utah is third in the conference and 35th in the nation in total defense (350.0), and fourth and 26th, respectively in rushing defense (114.8) ... Utah has allowed just three points in the third quarter ... The Utes' best offensive quarter is the second (38 points) ... The Utes have the scoring advantage in the second and third quarters (72-37), but are losing the first and fourth quarters (79-48) ... Utah and its opponents have both scored 16 touchdowns and the Utes trail in the scoring column by a field goal (123-120) ... Dating back to last season, Utah is 9-0 when John White rushes for 100 yards ... 16 players have caught passes for Utah this season.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson was on the team the last time the Utes visited the Rose Bowl in 2006, but was redshirting with a knee injury. Johnson, Utah's all-time winningest quarterback, returned to the starting lineup in 2007 and 2008 ... Utah has made 10 bowl appearances since 2000, going 9-1 with a 2-0 record in BCS bowl games. Utah is one of just three teams to win six bowl games in the last seven years (with Florida and TCU).

UTE-TWEETS

Kyle Whittingham is 8-9 against A.P. Top 25 teams and 1-1 this season (beat No. 25 Brigham Young, lost to No. 13 USC). #utes ... Utah is 7-2-1 all-time in games played on Oct. 13, but winless on the road (0-2-1) #utes ... Whittingham is 8-10 all-time vs. Pac-12 schools (4-7 as a member of the Pac-12) utes ... Utah's 89 wins in the last 10 years is tied with Oregon for 12th-most nationally utes ... The Kyle Whittingham Coach's Show is Wednesday at 6 pm at Harmon's City Creek. It is free to the public. #utes.