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The University of Utah Athletics
#BYUvsUTAH News Out of Practice
11/20/2018 4:02 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY - Before playing in its first Pac-12 Championship Game, Utah football team closes out the regular season at home in a non-conference game against BYU on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 8:00 p.m. on FS1.
Utah's 14 seniors that will be honored pregame are looking to go 4-0 in their careers against the team from the South. Search #BYUvsUTAHÂ for conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Some tickets do remain and can be purchased at UtahTickets.com.Â
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As is common when Utah plays BYU, the Utes will be sporting red from head to toe, with a new-look helmet for the week.Â
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With temperatures projected in the 20's and 30's at kickoff on Saturday, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was asked on his weekly #AskCoachWhitt Twitter Q&A about the coldest game he had ever coached in.Â
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In the latest College Football Playoff poll, the Utes rose two spots in the rankings to No. 17.Â
Utah also moved up three spots in the Associated Press poll to No. 18 and two spots in the Coaches poll to No. 17.Â
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Utah's special teams continue to be special, as Mitch Wishnowsky was named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award for the third time in his career. The 2016 winner is the first three-time finalist in the history of the award honoring the nation's top collegiate punter.Â
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For the second-consecutive week and fourth time this season, kicker Matt Gay was selected as the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after going 3-for-4 in field goals (51, 33, 31 yards) against Colorado in snowy conditions. With his fourth-quarter miss, he snapped a school-record streak of 21-straight field goals, which is the longest streak in the nation by a kicker this season.Â
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Quotes from Practice
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham on how much he has enjoyed this season:Â
"This is one of my most enjoyable years. This group is phenomenal to work with. The leadership, the personality of this team is just fun to be around, so it's been a very enjoyable year. Every team has it's own personality. The personality of this team is so positive and upbeat and has so much energy. It's just consistent all the way through. It's there every single day. We only have 11 scholarship seniors, so it's quality. There's not a lot of [seniors] but Cody Barton, Chase Hansen, Lo Falemaka, Jackson Barton, these guys have just been so good in that role, and that's huge. If you want to be a really good football team, you've got to have the leadership, and we've had exactly that this year."Â
Offensive line coach Jim Harding on his three senior starters:
"They've been awesome and we've had guys step up. Lo [Falemaka] was out for a little bit and Nick Ford stepped in. There have been a lot of things we have to improve upon yet, but they've come together. Jackson [Barton], Lo and Jordan [Agasiva], Jordan hasn't been here as long as the other two but I thought Jackson and Lo in particular, really did a nice job. They run meetings on their own, keep everything in line, keep practice the way that it should be run. A lot of credit to them. We still have some games left and we have to continue to get better."
Samson Nacua on his one-handed catch against Colorado last week:Â
"I remember Jason [Shelley] throwing the ball up, leaping off two feet and sticking my hand up because it's was so high. The ball and my glove was wet but for some reason it stuck to my glove for a bit when it fell down and fell into my lap. It was perfect."Â Â
Defensive line coach Lewis Powell on Maxs Tupai:
"We knew Maxs had all the talent, just him putting it all together and we're excited how he's come along. He's consistent, he's playing his butt off and it's helped a lot with our depth. He's out there making plays, he and Bradlee Anae were our defensive players of the week and we're excited to get him back on the field this weekend."Â
Cody Barton's got Thanksgiving on the brain:
"Sometimes we go prime rib, so if we do I'm looking forward to my mom's prime rib. I'm a mashed potatoes guy, mashed potatoes and gravy, but I'll eat anything. If it's store bought pie, I like raspberry pie heated with vanilla ice cream, but if it's homemade, I like heated peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. I'll ask whatever out of state guys we have on the team, whoever wants to come with me, bring some guys over to my house."Â
And keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, check out this story about Siaosi Mariner's bond with a young fan.Â
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Utah's 14 seniors that will be honored pregame are looking to go 4-0 in their careers against the team from the South. Search #BYUvsUTAHÂ for conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Some tickets do remain and can be purchased at UtahTickets.com.Â
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"There is so much tradition, passion and excitement surrounding the Utah-BYU rivalry, but let's all be respectful to each other and bring a positive energy to the game." #goutes #BYUvsUTAHhttps://t.co/8cSW7ukn5b pic.twitter.com/J7ZzyEngoK
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 19, 2018
As is common when Utah plays BYU, the Utes will be sporting red from head to toe, with a new-look helmet for the week.Â
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Another week, another ?? look.@UtesEquipment pic.twitter.com/rlqbYzOc5V
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 20, 2018
With temperatures projected in the 20's and 30's at kickoff on Saturday, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was asked on his weekly #AskCoachWhitt Twitter Q&A about the coldest game he had ever coached in.Â
Â
Wyoming sometime back in the late 90's early 00's. The field was frozen solid and it was about 5 degrees. My dad's pants caught on fire on the sideline as he was standing too close to a heater and they melted to his leg. https://t.co/fE8QC130b8
— Kyle Whittingham (@UtahCoachWhitt) November 19, 2018
In the latest College Football Playoff poll, the Utes rose two spots in the rankings to No. 17.Â
Utah also moved up three spots in the Associated Press poll to No. 18 and two spots in the Coaches poll to No. 17.Â
Â
Utah's special teams continue to be special, as Mitch Wishnowsky was named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award for the third time in his career. The 2016 winner is the first three-time finalist in the history of the award honoring the nation's top collegiate punter.Â
Â
Congratulations to @mitchwish, who becomes the first three-time finalist for the @RayGuyAward! https://t.co/DsJJpO8h7r @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/i0PIg72jk8
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 20, 2018
For the second-consecutive week and fourth time this season, kicker Matt Gay was selected as the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after going 3-for-4 in field goals (51, 33, 31 yards) against Colorado in snowy conditions. With his fourth-quarter miss, he snapped a school-record streak of 21-straight field goals, which is the longest streak in the nation by a kicker this season.Â
Â
Utah K Matt Gay has scored 107 points for the Utes this season (32% of Utah's total points this season). He has kicked 9 FGs of 40+ yards (at least two more than each of the Lou Groza finalists).
— Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) November 19, 2018
And yet, he's not a Lou Groza finalist.
Quotes from Practice
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham on how much he has enjoyed this season:Â
"This is one of my most enjoyable years. This group is phenomenal to work with. The leadership, the personality of this team is just fun to be around, so it's been a very enjoyable year. Every team has it's own personality. The personality of this team is so positive and upbeat and has so much energy. It's just consistent all the way through. It's there every single day. We only have 11 scholarship seniors, so it's quality. There's not a lot of [seniors] but Cody Barton, Chase Hansen, Lo Falemaka, Jackson Barton, these guys have just been so good in that role, and that's huge. If you want to be a really good football team, you've got to have the leadership, and we've had exactly that this year."Â
Offensive line coach Jim Harding on his three senior starters:
"They've been awesome and we've had guys step up. Lo [Falemaka] was out for a little bit and Nick Ford stepped in. There have been a lot of things we have to improve upon yet, but they've come together. Jackson [Barton], Lo and Jordan [Agasiva], Jordan hasn't been here as long as the other two but I thought Jackson and Lo in particular, really did a nice job. They run meetings on their own, keep everything in line, keep practice the way that it should be run. A lot of credit to them. We still have some games left and we have to continue to get better."
Samson Nacua on his one-handed catch against Colorado last week:Â
"I remember Jason [Shelley] throwing the ball up, leaping off two feet and sticking my hand up because it's was so high. The ball and my glove was wet but for some reason it stuck to my glove for a bit when it fell down and fell into my lap. It was perfect."Â Â
Defensive line coach Lewis Powell on Maxs Tupai:
"We knew Maxs had all the talent, just him putting it all together and we're excited how he's come along. He's consistent, he's playing his butt off and it's helped a lot with our depth. He's out there making plays, he and Bradlee Anae were our defensive players of the week and we're excited to get him back on the field this weekend."Â
Cody Barton's got Thanksgiving on the brain:
"Sometimes we go prime rib, so if we do I'm looking forward to my mom's prime rib. I'm a mashed potatoes guy, mashed potatoes and gravy, but I'll eat anything. If it's store bought pie, I like raspberry pie heated with vanilla ice cream, but if it's homemade, I like heated peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. I'll ask whatever out of state guys we have on the team, whoever wants to come with me, bring some guys over to my house."Â
And keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, check out this story about Siaosi Mariner's bond with a young fan.Â
Galatians 6:9. i luv u Beckham with everything i have, and I thank God that he allowed us to cross paths and put me in your life. u rubbed off on me with the fight that u have. u always let me know that there light at the end of every tunnel. Â forever ????https://t.co/FPejgfcchd
— $auce (@SdotGatsby) November 19, 2018
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