Utah Football Hosts Southern Utah Thursday

Thursday, September 1

Salt Lake City, Utah

6:00 PM

University of Utah

Southern Utah

Buy Tickets

8/29/2016 10:23 AM | Football

fbsuu16 Complete Release in PDF

The Game
> Utah (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) hosts Southern Utah (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky).
> Thursday, Sept. 1, 6:00 p.m. MDT, Rice-Eccles Stadium.
> Televised on Pac-12 Network.
> Search #SUUvsUTAH for conversation.

Check It Out
> Rice-Eccles Stadium will go "checkered" for Thursday's game.
> A map of Rice-Eccles Stadium showing fans whether to wear red or white can be found at UtahUtes.com/CheckerRiceEccles

Season Openers
> Utah has won its last eight season openers in a streak dating back to a 2008 victory at Michigan.
> In seasons where the first game was played in Salt Lake City, the Utes have won 11 straight starting with a 2001 win over Utah State.
>The Utes are 72-49-1 all-time in season openers and 54-19-1 when the season opener is at home.

Five Facts
> Single seats and standing room-only tickets remain for Thursday's opener against SUU.
> The Utes have sold out 38-straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener, including 35 standing room-only crowds.
> Utah and Southern Utah have never met on the football field.
> Utah is 37-0 against current members of the Big Sky Conference.
> Utah is 17-1 in non-conference games since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, including an 11-0 non-conference record in the last three years.

Two-Minute Drill
Utah was third among "others receiving votes" in the 2016 AP and Coaches' preseason polls. The Utes finished the 2015 season ranked No. 17 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the Coaches' poll … The 2016 Pac-12 preseason media poll conducted in July projected Utah to finish third in the South Division. It is Utah's best preseason ranking since it was picked second in 2012 … Utah returns three first-team All-Pac-12 selections: junior defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei, junior free safety Marcus Williams and senior placekicker Andy Phillips (2014) … Phillips was named a 2016 preseason first-team All-American by ESPN and CBSSports.com and Lotulelei made the CBSSports.com preseason All-America second team.

Connections
Ute assistant coaches Aaron Roderick and Justin Ena previously coached at SUU and Utah director of football operations Jeff Rudy played for the Thunderbirds from 1994-95. Roderick, Utah's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks' coach, was at SUU in 2003 and 2004 as the Thunderbirds' offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ena, who coaches Utah's linebackers and is the co-special teams' coordinator, was at SUU from 2008-13. He served as the defensive coordinator his last four seasons at SUU and also coached the linebackers and special teams.

Inside the Huddle
The logjam at offensive tackle has been sorted out and junior college transfer Garett Bolles is anticipated to start at left tackle in his first game as a Ute. Senior Sam Tevi, who started all 13 games at left tackle in 2015, has won the job at right tackle. Sophomore Jackson Barton backs up both tackle positions … Redshirt freshman Darrin Paulo has moved into the two deep at left guard … Senior defensive end Hunter Dimick has returned to his old post on the left side, while senior Pita Taumoepenu is the projected starter at right end for the SUU game, backed up by senior Kylie Fitts … Two true freshmen cornerbacks have moved into the lead roles at kickoff returner: Terrell Burgess and Julian Blackmon. Burgess has also performed well at wide receiver in the preseason and is now considered a WR/DB.

Game Day Activities
Ute mascot Swoop will celebrate his 20th birthday on Sept. 1 from noon-2 p.m. at the Campus Store on 270 S. 1500 East and also at halftime of the Utah-SUU football game. Swoop's first appearance was at a 1996 men's basketball game … Utah's game against SUU is designated as University of Utah Staff Appreciation Day. University of Utah faculty and staff may purchase discounted tickets for $20 at https://utahtickets.com/facultystaff-discounts/#single-game-appreciation-days … The first 100 fans at the pre-game Ute Walk to text UtahFB to 53535 will receive a Circle and Feather Wall Decal. The Ute Walk begins at 3:30 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South … Free posters will be distributed to the first 1,000 fans at the promotional tables located in the southeast plaza and at the top of the west stadium stairs.

Outside the Lines
The first Kyle Whittingham radio show is Tuesday at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN700. The show will be broadcast live from the Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley Square and is free to the public … Use the hashtag #SUUvsUTAH all week to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram … 27 former Utes are on NFL rosters this week. See page 9 for a complete list of current Utes in the NFL.

Ute Insider
Five seniors are preparing to start for a fourth season: kicker Andy Phillips, defensive end Hunter Dimick, nickel back Justin Thomas, offensive lineman Isaac Asiata and snapper Chase Dominguez. Phillips has booted every placekick over the past three seasons and Dominguez has handled every snap for punts and field goals. The other three have started part to full-time over the past three seasons … Utah's roster includes 34 players of Polynesian heritage, including 17 members of this week's two deep: Bradlee Anae, Isaac Asiata, Cody Barton, Jackson Barton, Julian Blackmon, Lo Falemaka, Lowell Lotulelei, Kavika Luafatasaga, Evan Moeai, Filipo Mokofisi, Darrin Paulo, Pasoni Tasini, Sam Tevi, Pita Taumoepenu, Sunia Tauteoli, Jason Thompson and Salesi Uhatafe … Utah's 2016 team captains are Dominique Hatfield, Hunter Dimick, J.J. Dielman, Troy Williams and Jason Thompson … Senior running back Joe Williams has the team's fastest 40 time (4.35 seconds).

Standing Ovation
Utah has sold out 38 consecutive games in Rice-Eccles Stadium, dating back to the 2010 season opener. Of the sellouts, 35 were played before standing-room only crowds, including all seven home games last year when the team set the school's single-season attendance record (46,533). Utah has enjoyed a 98-percent renewal rate by its season ticket holders for seven consecutive years.