We’re fully aware that the football world is full of naysayers who see the word “Utah” and turn up their noses. Nobody is more aware of the product that the Utes put on the field than us…..the Ute fans. With that said, most of us are perfectly fine to leave the naysayers to the peril of their own ignorance, because in their eyes, no matter how much we win, no matter what “big name” teams we beat, we’re still just “Utah.” In our eyes, we’re college football’s best kept secret and we’re proud of that.
Losing Urban was tough. He helped to turn Salt Lake red and get this place breathing football. Many thought that after his departure, our program would return to mediocrity….putting up an impressive win here or there, and cracking the Top 25 every 5 years or so. The truth is that this program has continued to hold strong, we’ve taken our lumps with Kyle Whittingham, but we’ve been stuck in a continuous state of progress under his directorship. We’ve gone nearly 15 years now having the speed and athleticism on the field to compete well. Urban finally harnessed that potential and took us to the top a few years ago and the fact that we’ve literally risen to the top again in (very quick fashion) is no fluke. We’re good and we’re a legitimate and worthy opponent for your Crimson Tide. We have our strengths and weakness like any team, but what you can expect from Utah is that we’ll play to our strengths with an astonishing amount of tenacity and grit.
Many of us fans would have liked to have gone to play Texas in the Fiesta bowl because 1) it would have been easier on the pocketbook and 2) because we would have loved to get a shot at Texas. But let me tell you my Southern friends, we Ute fans are salivating for a taste of the Crimson Tide. As Ute fans, we always hold out hope that winning that one big game will finally get our program some national respect. However, win after win and more often than not, we hold out such hope in vain. In the end, that’s ok with us because we know that we’re not one-shot wonders….we’ll always find our way back into the mix of things and nobody is more delighted with the ability to do that than us - the Utah Ute Nation.
Within the short span of 5 years, we’re proud that our team has twice “busted” a system that is designed to keep them out the college football spotlight. We’re all excited to be in the Sugar Bowl with Alabama, but we’re not just “happy to be here.” We know our team will play to win, and you can be assured that whether we’re outnumbered 50K to 20K or 60K to 10K in the stands (though I believe we will at least sell our allotment of tix), we Ute fans are going to make our presence known in the Big Easy. We’re going to show up loud and proud and expecting a great showing from our Utes. With all due respect, we don’t want to just “play well”……no, we want to show you our take on the “rama’, jama’” and “beat the hell out of you.” We’re pumped to be playing you guys and you should be pumped to be playing us.
You’re Alabama and we’re Utah and as big of a dichotomy as that image may conjure up within the minds of college football’s followers, the point is that this year Utah is back and so is Alabama. We’re two of the top teams in America this year and on Jan. 2nd something has got to give. We’ll see you in New Orleans.
Losing Urban was tough. He helped to turn Salt Lake red and get this place breathing football. Many thought that after his departure, our program would return to mediocrity….putting up an impressive win here or there, and cracking the Top 25 every 5 years or so. The truth is that this program has continued to hold strong, we’ve taken our lumps with Kyle Whittingham, but we’ve been stuck in a continuous state of progress under his directorship. We’ve gone nearly 15 years now having the speed and athleticism on the field to compete well. Urban finally harnessed that potential and took us to the top a few years ago and the fact that we’ve literally risen to the top again in (very quick fashion) is no fluke. We’re good and we’re a legitimate and worthy opponent for your Crimson Tide. We have our strengths and weakness like any team, but what you can expect from Utah is that we’ll play to our strengths with an astonishing amount of tenacity and grit.
Many of us fans would have liked to have gone to play Texas in the Fiesta bowl because 1) it would have been easier on the pocketbook and 2) because we would have loved to get a shot at Texas. But let me tell you my Southern friends, we Ute fans are salivating for a taste of the Crimson Tide. As Ute fans, we always hold out hope that winning that one big game will finally get our program some national respect. However, win after win and more often than not, we hold out such hope in vain. In the end, that’s ok with us because we know that we’re not one-shot wonders….we’ll always find our way back into the mix of things and nobody is more delighted with the ability to do that than us - the Utah Ute Nation.
Within the short span of 5 years, we’re proud that our team has twice “busted” a system that is designed to keep them out the college football spotlight. We’re all excited to be in the Sugar Bowl with Alabama, but we’re not just “happy to be here.” We know our team will play to win, and you can be assured that whether we’re outnumbered 50K to 20K or 60K to 10K in the stands (though I believe we will at least sell our allotment of tix), we Ute fans are going to make our presence known in the Big Easy. We’re going to show up loud and proud and expecting a great showing from our Utes. With all due respect, we don’t want to just “play well”……no, we want to show you our take on the “rama’, jama’” and “beat the hell out of you.” We’re pumped to be playing you guys and you should be pumped to be playing us.
You’re Alabama and we’re Utah and as big of a dichotomy as that image may conjure up within the minds of college football’s followers, the point is that this year Utah is back and so is Alabama. We’re two of the top teams in America this year and on Jan. 2nd something has got to give. We’ll see you in New Orleans.
