Kyle Whittingham does not get enough credit for being amongst college coaching's elite...
Kyle Whittingham and the No. 17 Utes host No. 4 Washington in Salt Lake City this weekend.
By Rich Winter
Well, well, well, look who finds themselves in the biggest game in the country, west of the SEC....Kyle Whittingham and the Utah Utes, 7-1 tangle with an undefeated Washington team, 7-0 that is No. 4 in the country and has the selection committee, pitter-pattering over just how good the Huskies are.
While the Utes 2015 finish wasn't exactly a thing of perfection, let's remember that after the butt-whipping the Utah dished out vs. Oregon and after picking No. 1 overall pick, Jared Goff five times, the Utes were undefeated, 5-0 and in the conversation as a possible playoff contender.
Were it not for a dropped ball vs. Cal, the 2016 team would be right there in that same national title conversation.
Seems like through all of the college-football banter nationwide, the name Kyle Whittingham never comes up as one of college football's elite. Guess he's no Nick Saban or Urban Meyer, but how many guys have transitioned their team from mid-major to 'in-the-national-title' conversation each of the last few years.
Let's face it, Saturday is a monstrous game for Whittingham and the Utes. Take down the No. 4 team in the country and Utah will make a jump to near top-10. Handle a so-so Arizona State team (2-3 in Pac-12 South), take care of a down Oregon team (0-4 in Pac-12 North) and get by a tricky and surprising Colorado team and the Utes will find themselves at 11-1 and in the Pac-12 Championship game.
Whether those things happen or not, well, Whittingham has the Utes in that conversation....Again!
It's been interesting following this ascension into the elite of the Pac-12 after transitioning up from a great football conference (Mtn. West) but alas, one folks thought of as a mid-major. First few years, as expected, a few bumps in the road.
2011 - 8-5
2012 - 5-7 (missed bowl)
2013 - 5-7 (missed bowl)
2014: 9-4
2015: 10-3
2016: 7-1?
It took a minute to gain the depth for the Utes to compete with the bigger schools in a conference that is amongst the nations best. Now, with a few years under his belt, Whittingham and the Utah program are able to withstand losses like the starting QB (Travis Wilson) a should-have been first round pick (DeVotae Booker) and the loss of defensive coordinator, Salani Sitake to BYU as head coach.
All those things, and the Utes are still in the conversation....Solid!
