Football Opens Season vs. North Dakota

Thursday, August 31

Salt Lake City, Utah

5:30 PM

University of Utah

North Dakota

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8/28/2017 10:11 AM | Football

Game Notes Purchase Tickets Kyle Whittingham Press Conference Quotes

The Game
> Utah (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) hosts North Dakota (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky).
> Thursday, Aug. 31, 5:30 p.m. MDT, Rice-Eccles Stadium.
> Televised on Pac-12 Networks.
> Search #NDvsUTAH for conversation.

Season Openers
> Utah has won its last nine season openers in a streak that dates back to a 2008 victory at Michigan.
> In seasons where the first game was played in Salt Lake City, the Utes have won 12 straight starting with a 2001 win over Utah State.
>The Utes are 73-49-1 all-time in season openers and 55-19-1 when the season opener is at home.

Quick Hits
> Utah was ranked No. 25 in the preseason Coaches' poll and was just outside the top 25 (second among those receiving votes) in the AP poll.
> Some seats remain for Thursday's opener against North Dakota. Call 801-581-UTIX or visit UtahTickets.com to purchase tickets.
> The Utes have sold out 44 straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener, including 41 standing room-only crowds.
> Utah is 21-1 in non-conference games since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, including a 15-0 non-conference record in the last four years.
> Utah and North Dakota are meeting for the first time in football.
> Utah is 38-0 against current members of the Big Sky Conference.

Two-Minute Drill
The Utes have finished in the top 25 for the past three years, including a No. 23 AP and No. 21 Coaches' finish last season. Utah, No. 19 in the final College Football Playoff (CFB) ranking in 2016, is one of five teams to appear in every CFB weekly ranking since its inception in 2014. The others are Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Florida State … Utah was picked second behind USC in the Pac-12 South Division in the 2017 preseason media poll. Utah was the only Pac-12 South team to beat the Trojans last season … Returning unanimous consensus All-America punter and Ray Guy Award winner Mitch Wishnowsky has been named to five preseason All-America first teams (AP, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Athlon, CollegeFootballNews.com). For a complete list of the Utes on preseason watch lists, see sidebar on page 3.

In the Huddle
Sophomore Tyler Huntley won the starting quarterback job during preseason camp. Huntley, who played in relief in four games as a true freshman last season, unseated returning senior starter Troy Williams. Williams started all 13 games last year … Along with Huntley, other projected first-time starters include offensive linemen Lo Falemaka, Jordan Agasiva and Darrin Paulo; defensive lineman Bradlee Anae; defensive backs Casey Hughes, Julian Blackmon and Corrion Ballard or Phillip Afia; receiver Samson Nacua and kicker Chayden Johnston or Matt Gay ... Senior Troy McCormick is back at running back after spending spring ball and most of fall training camp at wide receiver … Punter Mitch Wishnowsky will also handle kickoffs and serve as the holder for place kicks … Three former teammates from Florida's Hallandale High School will often be on the field together as Utah sophomores this fall. Huntley and running back Zack Moss will start, while Demari Simpkins is in the two deep at two receiver positions.

Ute Insider
Offensive lineman Salesi Uhatafe and defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei are in their fourth season starting. Positions with no starters returning from 2016 include cornerback, placekicker and snapper … Utah's 2017 team captains are Uhatafe, Lotulelei, Filipo Mokofisi, Troy Williams, Mitch Wishnowsky and Christian Drews. Williams is in his second season as a team captain. All are seniors other than Wishnowsky (a junior) … Two full-time coaches will be up in the box on games days: tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham and linebacker coach Justin Ena … Two new coaches will make their first game-day appearance with the Utes this Thursday. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Troy Taylor and running backs coach Kiel McDonald came to Utah from Eastern Washington.

Game Day Activities
This Thursday's game is University of Utah Staff Appreciation Day. Faculty/staff will receive discounts of $20 a ticket for bleacher seats (while supplies last) and $10 for standing room, with a limit of four per member. The tickets may be purchased by clicking https://utahtickets.com/facultystaff-discounts/#single-game-appreciation-days … The Ute Walk begins at 3 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South. The first 250 fans at the Ute Walk to text UtahFB to 53535 will receive a clear bag. While clear bags will not be required at home football games this season, they will be mandatory in 2018 and fans are encouraged to begin complying on a voluntary basis this fall … Utah Village, an interactive fan/corporate hospitality area located on the grassy area north of the Eccles Tennis Center, opens two hours prior to kickoff. Fans can also watch the ESPN 700/ Utah Sports Radio Network pre-game radio show broadcast on location in the Utah Village … The 2017 NCAA Champion Utah ski team and the 2017 Pac-12 Champion and Super Six finalist Utah gymnastics team will be recognized at the game. Ski coach Kevin Sweeney will be honored as the 2016-17 Don Reddish Award winner. The men's basketball program will be featured during a break with appearances by former Utes Delon Wright, Jakob Poeltl and Kyle Kuzma, who represent three-straight first-round NBA Draft selections from 2015-17.

Fan Fun
Some new events will enhance the in-game experience for fans attending games at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2017, including the opportunity to purchase experiences and personal messages on the (north) auxiliary video boards, along with the addition of an in-house DJ. Experiences, which may be purchased by visiting UtahUtes.com/Experiences, include opportunities like leading the team onto the field or sitting in the ESPN 700 radio booth for a quarter. To have personal messages such as wishes for a happy birthday or anniversary displayed on the auxiliary boards, visit UtahUtes.com/SwoopWishes. A DJ from Salt Lake radio station U92 will play music during the pre-game team warm-ups. The DJ will be located in front of the MUSS section.

Cannon Call
The "Cannon Call" is coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium this season and will serve as notification to fans that they have less than 30 minutes to enter the stadium for the opening kickoff. The Utah ROTC will blast the Ute Thunder cannon when the Utes leave the field after pre-game warmups, announcing to fans that it is time to head for the entry gates.