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The University of Utah Athletics
Football Hosts San Jose State Saturday
9/11/2017 11:39 AM | Football
The Game
> Utah (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. San Jose State (1-2, 0-0 Mountain West)
> Saturday, Sept. 16, 8:00 p.m. MDT, Rice-Eccles Stadium
> Televised on ESPN2
> Search #SJSUvsUTAH for conversation
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Quick Hits
> Utah is in the coaches poll for the third-straight week, dropping one position to No. 24 after its 19-13 win at BYU last Saturday. The Utes are first of the others receiving votes in the AP poll for the second week in a row.
> Utah is 23-1 in non-conference games since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, including a 17-0 non-conference record in the last four years.
> The Utes have sold out 45 straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener, including 42 standing room-only crowds.
> Utah also played San Jose State in game three of the 2016 season (winning 34-17 in San Jose).
> Utah leads the series with San Jose State 7-1 and its only loss came in the 1974 Homecoming game in old Rice Stadium. The Utes lead 2-1 in Salt Lake City. See page 2 for the complete series history.
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Conference Call
Utah and San Jose State share a conference history. Both schools competed in the Western Athletic Conference from 1996-98—Utah's final two years of a WAC affiliation that began in 1962. Both teams have also competed in the Mountain West, although their conference paths did not cross. The Utes departed for the Pac-12 after the 2010 season and the Spartans joined the Mountain West in 2013.
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Statchat
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks second in the nation in punt return defense (-1.00).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks No. 12 in the nation in rushing defense (59.0).Â
> Utah leads the Pac-12 in time of possession (33:26) and is No. 26 nationally.
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks No. 18 in the nation in pass efficiency defense (90.84).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 in fewest opponent first downs (25).
> Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 and third in the nation in net punting (47.83).
> Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 and tied for sixth in the nation in interceptions (4).
> Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 and No. 14 in the nation in total defense (237.5).
> Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (14.5).
See sidebar on page 3 for more Utah rankings.
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In the Huddle
Senior running back Troy McCormick Jr. has moved into the two deep at running back behind sophomore Zack Moss. McCormick made his first career start against BYU last week … Senior Kenric Young has joined the starting kickoff return unit alongside Kyle Fulks … Six true freshmen have played: Chayden Johnston; Tyquez Hampton, Jaylon Johnson, Javelin Guidry, Ali'I Niumatalolo and Orlando Umana … Utah's roster contains 32 players of Polynesian descent.
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Two-Minute Drill
Utah is 17-6 all time in games televised on ESPN2, including last week's 19-13 win over BYU … First-year kicker Matt Gay is tied for the national lead in field goals (7), field goals made per game (3.50) and field goal percentage (1.000). Gay, in his first season as a college kicker, is 7-of-7 in field goals and 5-of-5 in PATs … Running back Zack Moss' first career start came last year at San Jose, when he led Utah in rushing with 95 yards and a touchdown.
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Game Day Activities
Saturday's theme is Ute Proud and Utah Athletics will honor the Ute Indian Tribe at the game. Members of the tribe in attendance will be recognized on the field in the fourth-annual Ute Proud game. Halftime will feature a cultural demonstration by the Ute Indian Tribe's Pow Wow committee. Fans are encouraged to wear Ute Proud t-shirts with proceeds benefitting Ute Tribe scholarships and youth programs … In celebration of Navy Week, the Navy's skydiving team the Leapfrogs will deliver the ball into Rice-Eccles Stadium. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early to see the flyover and skydive ... The Utah ROTC's Ute Thunder cannon will blast the pre-game Cannon Call to notify fans outside the stadium that kickoff is 30 minutes away … In honor of the Extra Yard for Teachers, Utah Athletics, in partnership with the Pac-12 Conference and College Football Playoff Foundation, will present a $10,000 check to Wallace Stegner Academy, which serves the Glendale and Rose Park neighborhoods … The Ute Walk begins at 5:30 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South. The first 125 fans at the Ute Walk to text UtahFB to 53535 will receive a Utah Utes' pint glass.
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Game Honorees
The Utah soccer team will be introduced on the field in honor of its first ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance last season … Former Ute and NBA basketball players Andre Miller and Michael Doleac, who led the 1998 Utes into the NCAA Championship game, will be will be recognized as the winningest Runnin' Ute basketball players in school history. They both participated in 114 wins during their Utah careers.
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Outside the Lines
The Kyle Whittingham radio show is Tuesday at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN700. The show will be broadcast live from the Smith's on 876 East and 800 South and is free to the public … Use the hashtag #SJSUvsUTAH all week to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram … 31 former Utes are on NFL rosters this week. See page 9 for a complete list of current Utes in the NFL.
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> Utah (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. San Jose State (1-2, 0-0 Mountain West)
> Saturday, Sept. 16, 8:00 p.m. MDT, Rice-Eccles Stadium
> Televised on ESPN2
> Search #SJSUvsUTAH for conversation
Â
Quick Hits
> Utah is in the coaches poll for the third-straight week, dropping one position to No. 24 after its 19-13 win at BYU last Saturday. The Utes are first of the others receiving votes in the AP poll for the second week in a row.
> Utah is 23-1 in non-conference games since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, including a 17-0 non-conference record in the last four years.
> The Utes have sold out 45 straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium since the 2010 season opener, including 42 standing room-only crowds.
> Utah also played San Jose State in game three of the 2016 season (winning 34-17 in San Jose).
> Utah leads the series with San Jose State 7-1 and its only loss came in the 1974 Homecoming game in old Rice Stadium. The Utes lead 2-1 in Salt Lake City. See page 2 for the complete series history.
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Conference Call
Utah and San Jose State share a conference history. Both schools competed in the Western Athletic Conference from 1996-98—Utah's final two years of a WAC affiliation that began in 1962. Both teams have also competed in the Mountain West, although their conference paths did not cross. The Utes departed for the Pac-12 after the 2010 season and the Spartans joined the Mountain West in 2013.
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Statchat
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks second in the nation in punt return defense (-1.00).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks No. 12 in the nation in rushing defense (59.0).Â
> Utah leads the Pac-12 in time of possession (33:26) and is No. 26 nationally.
> Utah leads the Pac-12 and ranks No. 18 in the nation in pass efficiency defense (90.84).
> Utah leads the Pac-12 in fewest opponent first downs (25).
> Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 and third in the nation in net punting (47.83).
> Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 and tied for sixth in the nation in interceptions (4).
> Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 and No. 14 in the nation in total defense (237.5).
> Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (14.5).
See sidebar on page 3 for more Utah rankings.
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In the Huddle
Senior running back Troy McCormick Jr. has moved into the two deep at running back behind sophomore Zack Moss. McCormick made his first career start against BYU last week … Senior Kenric Young has joined the starting kickoff return unit alongside Kyle Fulks … Six true freshmen have played: Chayden Johnston; Tyquez Hampton, Jaylon Johnson, Javelin Guidry, Ali'I Niumatalolo and Orlando Umana … Utah's roster contains 32 players of Polynesian descent.
Â
Two-Minute Drill
Utah is 17-6 all time in games televised on ESPN2, including last week's 19-13 win over BYU … First-year kicker Matt Gay is tied for the national lead in field goals (7), field goals made per game (3.50) and field goal percentage (1.000). Gay, in his first season as a college kicker, is 7-of-7 in field goals and 5-of-5 in PATs … Running back Zack Moss' first career start came last year at San Jose, when he led Utah in rushing with 95 yards and a touchdown.
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Game Day Activities
Saturday's theme is Ute Proud and Utah Athletics will honor the Ute Indian Tribe at the game. Members of the tribe in attendance will be recognized on the field in the fourth-annual Ute Proud game. Halftime will feature a cultural demonstration by the Ute Indian Tribe's Pow Wow committee. Fans are encouraged to wear Ute Proud t-shirts with proceeds benefitting Ute Tribe scholarships and youth programs … In celebration of Navy Week, the Navy's skydiving team the Leapfrogs will deliver the ball into Rice-Eccles Stadium. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early to see the flyover and skydive ... The Utah ROTC's Ute Thunder cannon will blast the pre-game Cannon Call to notify fans outside the stadium that kickoff is 30 minutes away … In honor of the Extra Yard for Teachers, Utah Athletics, in partnership with the Pac-12 Conference and College Football Playoff Foundation, will present a $10,000 check to Wallace Stegner Academy, which serves the Glendale and Rose Park neighborhoods … The Ute Walk begins at 5:30 p.m. on the corner of Guardsman Way and 500 South. The first 125 fans at the Ute Walk to text UtahFB to 53535 will receive a Utah Utes' pint glass.
Â
Game Honorees
The Utah soccer team will be introduced on the field in honor of its first ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance last season … Former Ute and NBA basketball players Andre Miller and Michael Doleac, who led the 1998 Utes into the NCAA Championship game, will be will be recognized as the winningest Runnin' Ute basketball players in school history. They both participated in 114 wins during their Utah careers.
Â
Outside the Lines
The Kyle Whittingham radio show is Tuesday at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN700. The show will be broadcast live from the Smith's on 876 East and 800 South and is free to the public … Use the hashtag #SJSUvsUTAH all week to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram … 31 former Utes are on NFL rosters this week. See page 9 for a complete list of current Utes in the NFL.
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Players Mentioned
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