Utah Football ranking 2008 MWC CHAMPIONS FOUR MWC TITLES IN THE LAST DECADE 2009 SUGAR BOWL CHAMPIONS TWO BCS BOWLS Red Hot!
Utah Fo CADE 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecutive bowl wins no. 2 ap ranking 2008 mw Utes Give Back Alex Smith Utah is the only school that gave me a chance out of high school and it is where I developed into what I am today. Even though I was only here for three years, I got my degree and I gained a lot of life experiences as well. I wanted to give back to the school and people who changed my life. Feb. 12, 2007 Andrew Bogut My time at the University of Utah was probably the best two years of my life the atmosphere, the program, the fans, the team. Everyone was so positive. Even through the tough times, people stuck by me. That s something that really means a lot to me and it will be in my heart forever. T he University of Utah is proud of the allegiance its studentathletes maintain for their alma mater after their college careers are over. Professional athletes like Andre Miller, Alex Smith, Steve Smith and Andrew Bogut have taken their loyalty to a new level by pledging major gifts to the Utah athletics department in the past few years. Miller and Alex Smith both gifted $500,000, while Steve Smith gave $250,000 and Bogut $125,000. Of Miller s contribution, $300,000 was earmarked for funding the endowed Andre Miller Point Guard Scholarship and $200,000 went toward the basketball locker and team room renovation. Alex Smith s donation served as the lead gift for the 2009 renovation and expansion of the strength and conditioning center facility that bears his name. Steve Smith and his wife Angie s pledge endowed an annual Steve Smith Receiver Scholarship. Bogut s gift like Miller s went toward the renovation of the basketball locker and team rooms. Miller, a two-time All-American who led Utah to the NCAA Championship game in 1998, was the eighth pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. One of the top point guards in the NBA, the 10-year veteran currently starts for the Philadelphia 76ers. Alex Smith, a 2004 Heisman Trophy finalist who led Utah to a 12-0 record and the first BCS bowl invite for a team from a non-bcs conference, was the first player taken in the 2005 NFL Draft. He is in his fifth year with the San Francisco 49ers. Steve Smith, a record-setting receiver during his time at Utah, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2005, 2006 and 2008) for the Charlotte Panthers. The seven-year pro won the Triple Crown in 2005 by leading the NFL in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns. He was also the 2005 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Bogut, the 2005 National Player of the Year and a Consensus All-American, was the first player taken in the 2005 NBA Draft. The three-year pro is the starting center for the Milwaukee Bucks. March 28, 2005 Andre Miller I am very fortunate to be in a position where I can give back and help others. The University of Utah opened a lot of doors for me and hopefully this scholarship will do the same for someone else. I consider Utah to be the best university in the country and I hope other former Ute athletes will follow in my footsteps. April 11, 2006 Steve Smith It is an honor for Angie and me to give back to the University of Utah football program in the form of an athletic scholarship and provide another student-athlete the same opportunity that was afforded to me here at the U. Giving back is one of the areas I feel very strongly about. The faces change but the institution doesn t. I will always be linked with Utah and this is another way to connect in a positive way. March 26, 2008 4 2 0 0 9 m e d i a g u i d e
otball c champions four mwc TITLES IN THE last decade 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecu From Utah to the NFL The way that Utah runs its program made me NFL-ready in terms of life in the NFL and the NFL game. I liked that it was a family-oriented program and the U. will always be part of my life. I view Utah as a second home. ERIC WEDDLE San Diego Chargers I grew up while I was at the University of Utah. It was my first time away from home and I learned a lot about life. I had great classes and obviously my football experience gave me a head start on performing on the big stage. I really liked Utah and that s why I come back to visit every year. STEVE SMITH Carolina Panthers The University of Utah was an excellent place to go to college for many reasons. The facilities, the faculty and the overall campus experience made it possible for me to reach my goals of getting a college degree and playing in the NFL. JORDAN GROSS Carolina Panthers My journey and the success that followed could not have been possible without the unbelievable support of Salt Lake City. My decision to attend the University of Utah was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The memories I created there I will carry with me forever. I was able to grow as a student-athlete, but more importantly, as a person. ALEX SMITH San Francisco 49ers W W W. U T A H U T E S. C O M 5
U ta h F o E C A DE 2 0 0 9 s U G A R bo W L c H A M P I O N S t W O bcs bo W L S I N f I V E y E A R S e I G H T co N S E C U T I V E bo W L w I N S no. 2 ap r A N K I N G From Utah To The NFL Alex Smith accepts jersey No. 1 from NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after the 49ers selected him first in the 2005 draft. Sports Illustrated recognized Alex Smith as its 2004 National Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. Offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu (right) celebrates the Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Super Bowl title. Barry Sims, an NFL starter for a decade, played nine years for Oakland before signing with San Francisco in 2008. Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers has been a four-time Pro Bowl selection. 6 2 0 0 9 m e d i a g u i d e Defensive end Jonathan Fanene has been with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2005. 2 0 0 8 mwc
ootball mwc c H A M P I O N S fo U R mwc T I T L E S I N T H E l A S T d E C A DE 2 0 0 9 s U G A R bo W L c H A M P I O N S t W O bcs bo W L S I N f I V E y E A R S e I G H T co N S E C U From Utah to the NFL Defensive back Andre Dyson played in the 2006 Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Offensive lineman Sione Pouha was a third round draft pick of the New York Jets in 2005. Ma ake Kemoeatu has been in the NFL since 2002 and signed with Carolina in 2006. Utah s NFL Newsmakers Jordan Gross, OL Carolina Panthers 1st Round Pick NFL Starter since 2003 2004 Super Bowl Starter 2008 Pro Bowl & All Pro Barry Sims, OL San Francisco 49ers 10 years in the NFL Started nine years for Oakland Steve Smith, WR Carolina Panthers Four-time Pro Bowl Selection (2001, 2005, 2006, 2008) 2005 Triple Crown* 2005 NFL Comeback Player of the Year *Led the NFL in receptions, yards, TDs Chris Kemoeatu, OL Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Super Bowl Starter Eric Weddle, FS San Diego Chargers Started all 16 games in 2008 Alex Smith, QB San Francisco 49ers 2005 No. 1 NFL Draft Pick Utah had five players from its 2008 team make NFL rosters, four of whom were drafted. Paul Kruger was taken in the second round by Baltimore, Sean Smith went in the second round to Miami, Brice McCain was picked in the sixth round by Houston and Freddie Brown went in the seventh-round to Cincinnati. Bradon Godfrey (not pictured) signed as a free agent with Atlanta. W W W. U T A H U T E S. C O M 7
U ta h F o E C A DE 2 0 0 9 s U G A R bo W L c H A M P I O N S t W O bcs bo W L S I N f I V E y E A R S e I G H T co N S E C U T I V E bo W L w I N S no. 2 ap r A N K I N G The only Ones Utes Go No. 1 Utah is the only school in the history of collegiate athletics to produce the No. 1 selections in the NFL and NBA drafts in the same year On April 23, 2005, the San Francisco 49ers chose Ute quarterback Alex Smith No. 1 in the NFL draft. On June 28, 2005, the Milwaukee Bucks chose Ute center Andrew Bogut No. 1 in the NBA Draft. Andrew Bogut was a Consensus All-American. He also won all of college basketball s top honors in 2004-05, including the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy and the Associated Press Player of the Year award. Alex Smith, a Heisman Trophy finalist, was named the 2004 National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News. The first-team All-American (FWAA) finished fourth in the Heisman balloting. 8 2 0 0 9 m e d i a g u i d e 2 0 0 8 mwc
ootball mwc c H A M P I O N S fo U R mwc T I T L E S I N T H E l A S T d E C A DE 2 0 0 9 s U G A R bo W L c H A M P I O N S t W O bcs bo W L S I N f I V E y E A R S e I G H T co N S E C U Team for the 2000 s Here s What We ve Done Since 2001 Longest Bowl Win Streak in the Nation (8-0) 2-0 in BCS Bowl Games Two Undefeated Seasons No. 2 in the Nation in 2008 No. 4 in the Nation in 2004 Three MWC Championships (2003, 2004, 2008) Two National Coaches of the Year Three Consensus All-Americans One Heisman Trophy Finalist One No. 1 NFL Draft Pick 20 NFL Draft Picks Six MWC Players of the Year Kicker/punter Louie Sakoda, a Consensus All-American, was named the MWC Special Teams Player of the Year three times. He was carried off the field after kicking the game-winning field goal against Oregon State in 2008. Defensive back Eric Weddle was the MWC Defensive Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2006. Quarterback Brian Johnson was the 2008 Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year and MVP of the 2009 Sugar Bowl. Quarterback Alex Smith was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2004. Defensive back Morgan Scalley was voted the 2004 MWC co-defensive Player of the Year. W W W. U T A H U T E S. C O M 9
Utah Fo CADE 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecutive bowl wins no. 2 ap ranking 2008 mw BCS Beaters Can t Beat This 2005 Fiesta Bowl Champion 2009 Sugar Bowl Champion 2-0 in BCS Bowl Games Original BCS Buster Only Team to Go Undefeated Twice Since the BCS Began 2005 Fiesta Bowl BCS Undefeated Teams 1998 Tennessee 13-0 1999 Florida State 12-0 2000 Oklahoma 13-0 2001 Miami 12-0 2002 Ohio State 14-0 2004 Utah 12-0 USC 13-0 Auburn 13-0 2005 Texas 13-0 2006 Boise State 13-0 2008 Utah 13-0 10 2 0 0 9 m e d i a g u i d e
ootball mwc c H A M P I O N S fo U R mwc T I T L E S I N T H E l A S T d E C A DE 2 0 0 9 s U G A R bo W L c H A M P I O N S t W O bcs bo W L S I N f I V E y E A R S e I G H T co N S E C U BCS Beaters A League of Their Own Highest-Ranked Non-BCS Team in History Ranked No. 2 in 2008 and No. 4 in 2004 16 First-Place Votes in the Final 2008 A.P. Rankings 17 Wins over BCS Schools since 1998 Most wins over BCS Teams by a Non-BCS Team Only Non-BCS School to Play in Multiple BCS Bowls BCS Bowl Unbeatens LSU Texas Utah West Virginia Wisconsin Auburn Boise State Kansas Louisville Oregon Oregon State Washington 4-0 3-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2 0 0 9 S u g a r B owl W W W. U T A H U T E S. C O M 11
Utah Fo CADE 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecutive bowl wins no. 2 ap ranking 2008 mw Bowl Roll CADE 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecutive bowl wins no. 2 ap ranking 2008 mw 1999 Las Vegas Bowl Utah 17, Fresno State 16 2001 Las Vegas Bowl Utah 10, USC 6 2003 Liberty Bowl Utah 17, Southern Miss 0 2005 Fiesta Bowl Utah 35, Pittsburgh 7 2005 Emerald Bowl Utah 38, Georgia Tech 10 2006 Armed Forces Bowl Utah 25, Tulsa 13 2007 Poinsettia Bowl Utah 35, Navy 32 2009 Sugar Bowl Utah 31, Alabama 17 Mike Anderson, Steve Smith, Ron McBride and Jay Hill celebrate Utah s 1999 Las Vegas Bowl win over Fresno State. Mountain West Conference Champions 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008 USC s Carson Palmer was no match for the Ute defense in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl (a 10-6 Utah victory). Head coach Kyle Whittingham and Brian Johnson join Chris Myers of FOX-TV as they accept the 2009 Sugar Bowl championship trophy. It was Utah s second BCS Bowl victory in five years. The Utes defeated Southern Miss 17-0 in the 2003 Liberty Bowl. 12 2 0 0 9 m e d i a g u i d e
otball c champions four mwc TITLES IN THE last decade 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecu Bowl Roll c champions four mwc TITLES IN THE last decade 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecu Best in the Bowls Nation s Longest Bowl Win Streak (8-0) Bowl Wins over the SEC, Pac-10, ACC, Big East and WAC 11-3 All-Time Bowl Record Best Bowl Win Percentage in the Nation (78.6%)* 2-0 in BCS Bowl Games 11 Bowl MVPs since 2001 * Teams with at least 10 bowl appearances Georgia Tech didn t come close to catching the Utes in the 2005 Emerald Bowl, a 38-10 Utah win. The Utes hoisted the championship trophy after the 2006 Armed Forces Bowl. Utah beat Tulsa 25-13. Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP Steve Fifita and his teammates sacked Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. Utah made history by appearing in the BCS Bowl. Offensive MVP Brian Johnson led Utah to a 35-32 win over Navy in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl. W W W. U T A H U T E S. C O M 13
U ta h F o E C A DE 2 0 0 9 s U G A R bo W L c H A M P I O N S t W O bcs bo W L S I N f I V E y E A R S e I G H T co N S E C U T I V E bo W L w I N S no. 2 ap r A N K I N G Utes on Network TV Paul Kruger, Kyle Whittingham and Brian Johnson (left to right) address the media following Utah s 2009 Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. A FOX-TV national audience saw Utah defeat Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Matt Asiata is shown here scoring the Utes second touchown in the 31-17 win. The Mtn. network is available on satellite and cable television and is devoted exclusively to Mountain West Conference teams. Sammy Linebaugh interviews Ute head coach Kyle Whittingham. Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Mike Tirico were in the booth for Utah s home game against Cal in 2003. Utah s Record on Network TV ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+Plus FOX VERSUS CBS C CSTV The Mtn. Raycom Totals 14 2 0 0 9 m e d i a 11-2-1 10-7 10-4 13-6 1-2 6-2 1-2 13-6 1-1 67-32-1 g u i d e Utah coach Kyle Whittingham spent the day at the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn., last October. 2 0 0 8 mwc
otball c champions four mwc TITLES IN THE last decade 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecu Utes on Network TV Utah Football on Network TV 1981 11-7 New Mexico (T) ABC 1983 10-15 Wyoming (W) ABC 1991 10-26 San Diego State (L) ABC 1992 12-29 Washington State (L) ESPN 1993 12-30 Southern California (L) Raycom 1994 10-22 Colorado State (W) ABC 12-27 Arizona (W) Raycom 1995 11-18 Brigham Young (W) ABC 1996 9-7 Stanford (W) ABC 9-28 Kansas (W) ESPN2 11-9 New Mexico (W) ESPN2 11-23 Brigham Young (L) ESPN 12-27 Wisconsin (L) ESPN 1997 9-13 TCU (W) ESPN2 10-2 Fresno State (L) ESPN 11-22 Brigham Young (W) ABC 1998 11-21 Brigham Young (L) ESPN2 1999 10-16 Air Force (W) ESPN2 10-23 San Diego State (W) ESPN+Plus 10-28 Colorado State (L) ESPN 11-6 Wyoming (L) ESPN2 11-13 New Mexico (W) ESPN+Plus 11-20 Brigham Young (W) ESPN+Plus 12-18 Fresno State (W) ESPN2 2000 9-2 Arizona (L) ESPN2 9-23 Air Force (L) ABC 10-14 San Diego State (W) ESPN+Plus 10-28 New Mexico (L) ESPN+Plus 11-4 UNLV (W) ESPN+Plus 2001 9-29 New Mexico (W) ESPN+Plus 10-20 Wyoming (W) ESPN+Plus 10-27 Colorado State (L) ESPN+Plus 11-3 UNLV (W) ESPN+Plus 11-17 Brigham Young (L) ESPN2 12-25 Southern California (W) ABC 2002 9-21 Michigan (L) ESPN 9-28 Air Force (L) ESPN+Plus 10-19 Colorado State (L) ESPN+Plus 10-26 New Mexico (L) ESPN+Plus 11-23 Brigham Young (W) ESPN+Plus 2003 9-11 California (W) ESPN 10-3 Oregon (W) ESPN2 10-18 UNLV (W) ESPN+Plus 10-25 New Mexico (L) ESPN+Plus 11-1 Air Force (W) ESPN2 11-22 Brigham Young (W) ESPN+Plus 12-31 Southern Mississippi (W) ESPN 2004 9-2 Texas A&M (W) ESPN 9-25 Air Force (W) ESPN+Plus 10-1 New Mexico (W) ESPN2 11-6 Colorado State (W) ESPN2 11-13 Wyoming (W) ABC 11-20 Brigham Young (W) ESPN2 1-1 Pittsburgh (W) ABC 2005 9-2 Arizona (W) ESPN 9-15 TCU (L) ESPN 9-22 Air Force (W) ESPN 10-15 San Diego State (W) ABC 10-22 UNLV (W) ABC 11-19 Brigham Young (W) ESPN+Plus 12-29 Georgia Tech (W) ESPN 2006 9-2 UCLA (L) FOX 9-9 Northern Arizona (W) The Mtn. 9-23 San Diego State (W) The Mtn. 9-30 Boise State (L) VERSUS 10-5 TCU (W) VERSUS 10-14 Wyoming (L) The Mtn. 10-19 New Mexico (L) The Mtn. 10-28 UNLV (W) The Mtn. 11-11 Colorado State (W) VERSUS 11-18 Air Force (W) The Mtn. 11-25 Brigham Young (L) CSTV/Mtn. 12-23 Tulsa (W) ESPN 2007 8-10 Oregon State (L) FOX 9-8 Air Force (L) The Mtn. 9-15 UCLA (W) VERSUS 9-22 UNLV (L) The Mtn. 9-29 Utah State (W) The Mtn. 10-5 Louisville (W) ESPN 10-18 TCU (W) VERSUS 10-27 Colorado State (W) The Mtn. 11-10 Wyoming (W) CSTV 11-17 New Mexico (W) The Mtn. 11-24 Brigham Young (L) CSTV/VS/Mtn. 12-20 Navy (W) ESPN 2008 8-30 Michigan (W) ABC/ESPN2 9-6 UNLV (W) The Mtn. 9-20 Air Force (W) VERSUS 10-2 Oregon State (W) VERSUS 10-11 Wyoming (W) The Mtn. 10-18 Colorado State (W) The Mtn. 11-1 at New Mexico (W) The Mtn. 11-6 TCU (W) CBS C 11-15 San Diego State (W) The Mtn. 11-22 Brigham Young (W) The Mtn. 1-2 Alabama (W) FOX James Bates (left) and Todd Christensen (right) of The Mtn. Ute quarterback Brian Johnson with ESPN s Lou Holtz at the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl luncheon. W W W. U T A H U T E S. C O M 15
Utah Fo CADE 2009 sugar bowl champions two bcs bowls IN five years eight consecutive bowl wins no. 2 ap ranking 2008 mw Pro Timing Day The Pros Know U. The U. hosts an annual Pro Timing Day Every NFL team has been represented Utah seniors audition live for the scouts Drills are held in the Spence Eccles Field House 16 2 0 0 9 m e d i a g u i d e