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Show .THE 11 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Monday, December 15, 2008 SUGAR battle of the trenches. Alabama going up against a team with as features massive offensive and much winning history as they've continued from Page 1 defensive lines. Nose tackle Ter- ever faced. They are also going rence Cody is a big reason why up against one of the best football "Going up against a team like Saban's squad has given up only coaches in the college game today Alabama is great for the program," four touchdowns. 'Bama's No. 62 in Saban, who won Home Depot said defensive back Sean Smith. has grown accustomed to shut- National Coach of the Year for "If we beat this team, basically we ting down opposing offenses turning around an Alabama probeat the former number one team, with his immense size, strength gram that was in shambles before so that could look really good for and surprising athleticism. The his arrival in Tuscaloosa, Ala. As Utah has taken a successful us. We want to show why we be- 6-foot-5, 365 lb. junior out of Fort Myers, Fla., crowds the line of week-to-week approach all year, long in the elite ranks." This time around in the BCS, scrimmage unlike anyone Utah the six-week break seems a bit out of sorts for a team that thrived on Utah will have no 8-4 Pittsburgh has seen all season. "Cody is a block eater," said preparing and performing for 13 squad to dismantle among a huge straight weeks. Despite the long contingency of Ute fans. Utah's head coach Kyle Whittingham. The defensive line will have its recess, Brown reiterated that the date with fate is much, much bigger and this time, its opponent hands full with an Alabama of- team is still using that approach. "We've used that philosophy fensive line that will have both feels snubbed. The Crimson Tide are com- weight and height advantages since week one and it's been ing off a disappointing 31-20 loss against the smaller, faster Utah working very well for us," Brown to Urban Meyer and Florida two defensive front four. The Crim- said. "But four weeks is plenty of weeks ago in the SEC Champion- son Tide left tackle Andre Smith time to prepare and understand ship game, where Saban and Co. was named the Outland Trophy our opponent and their schemes. saw their BCS National Champi- winner, given to the nation's top We just gotta utilize that to our onship hopes vanish on the arm offensive linejnan. Behind Smith advantage." and the rest of the huge line are In addition to the monumental and legs of Tim Tebow. "It's going to be a tough op- running backs Glen Coffee and task that lies ahead of Brown and 'ponent, so we're going to have Mark Ingram, two players who the Utes, they know New Orleans to study hard and come out with have a combined 2,049 yards and is foreign territory and they expect an electric crowd. our A game," Stevenson Sylvester 22 touchdowns on the ground. "The majority of the people "We're very excited to exploit said. In terms of bringing the A our talent and defense against there will be Alabama fans," game, Utah will need to play a full these guys," said defensive end Brown said. "It's going to be like 60 minutes against an Alabama Paul Kruger. "It'll be an exciting a home game for them. We're just going to have to prepare the way squad that is No. 3 in the nation in game." The Utes are going up against a we've been preparing and not total defense, allowing a measly 256 yards per contest. The Tide is team that has been to more bowl change anything up that we've also No. 4 in the nation in terms games—56—than any team in been doing. We should be all of rushing defense, allowing only college football history. They are right." c.kamrani@ four rushing touchdowns all seachronicle. son. utah.edu One of the biggest causes for concern for Utah is winning the 37.4 Points per game 31.2 Season Stats Utah 260 Alabama First downs 248 168. yards Rushing per game 196.5 yards 236.8 yards Passing per game 170.7 yards 26/9 Utah 13, TCU 10 • Nov. 6 (SaltLake City, Utah) Against their highest-ranked opponent of the season, the Utes were down 10-0, but the defense held firm and Brian Johnson threw a touchdown to Freddie Brown with 48 seconds remaining, keeping Utah's Bowl Championship Series' hopes alive. Utah 63, San Diego State 14 • Nov. 15 (San Diego, Calif.) In their highest-scoring game since 2004, the Utes had 520 yards and 30 first downs to rout the Aztecs. Brian Johnson had his best game of the season with 283 passing yards and five touchdowns. Utah @ Oregon TYLER COBB/BWDaily Utah Chnnklt RECAP continued from Page 2 game winner. Utah 40, Wyoming 7 • Oct 11 (Laramie, Wyo.) The Utes' defense forced five turnovers, scored half of the team's total points and shut out Wyoming until the final quarter en route to a 33-point victory over the Cowboys. Utah 48, BYU 24 • Nov. 22 (Salt Lake City, Utah) In the final game of the regular season, the Utes' defense forced six turnovers and outscored the Cougars 21-0 in the fourth quarter to finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2004. Compiled by James Boehly Utah 49, Colorado State 16 • Oct. 18 (Salt Lake City, Utah) The Utes' offense gained 549 yards and 25 first downs behind Brian Johnson and Corbin Louks. Johnson got it done through the air with 185 passing yards and two touchdowns while Louks rushed for 109 yards for two touchdowns. BYU @ Utah ERIK DkEN\TZ/The Dally Utah (bmkle 10/6 Touchdowns/interceptions 405.2 yards Utah 13, New Mexico 10 • Nov. 1 (Albuquerque, NM.) Despite struggling against a tough New Mexico defense, the Utah defense was able to shut out the Lobos in the final quarter to preserve the win. Total offense per game 367.2 yards 20/8 Fumbles/iost 32:39 18/9 Average time of possession 32:11' Where does the $17 million BCS payout go? 4 million goes to the University of Utah ($1.2 $7.5 million million of is divided up to each of the other four non-BCS conferences (WAC, MAC, Sun Belt & Con. USA) based on performance as a conference. which will be .used for bowl game trip & costs). TCU @ Utah 23.5% $4 million $1.5 million goes to Notre Dame (independent of conference, reworked deal with BCS to get a cut even if it is not in a bowl). SOURCE: The Tuscaloosa News, The Salt Lake Tribune, www.bcsfootball.org. All numbers ore approximate. \ \ \\ \ \ \ \ •\ ' 1 > * .1 is divided among eight MWC teams ($500Ktoeach of the eight teams in the MWC). H '1 r www. FIT IN PRINTS larly with &S&S&B PIZZA continued from Page 4 dollar on his lucrative contract and that still wouldn't change the bulletin board material he's already furnished for the Utes. Nick Sabban told The Associated Press his Alabama team is the only one "that plays in a real BCS conference that went 12-0." When Louie Sakoda went to the ESPN College Football Award show Dec. II, he was surrounded by some of the best players and coaches in college football. At one point, Alabama's prized left tackle Andre Smith—who was named to the Outland Trophy winner, handed out to the best offensive lineman in the nation—was interviewed by ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit and was asked how disappointed he was to be playing Utah, considering the Tide were just 15 minutes short of the BCS Championship game. Sakoda, who was sitting next to special teams head coach Jay Hill, said he just turned to his assistant coach and the two of them smiled. I spent Friday afternoon interviewing players from the U football team for a story intended for this Sugar Bowl guide. Somehow my recorder vanished from the face of this earth, meaning I can't quote Kyle Whittingham and his football team verbatim. But I asked several people, including Whittingham and defensive tackle Paul Kruger—who will have the privilege of showcasing his abilities against Andre Smith—how much Urban Meyer has been able to help Utah scout Alabama. Everyone was full of praise for the Crimson Tide's defense, which is ranked fourth in the nation and holds opponents to fewer than 79 yards on the ground, and its offense, which averaged 196 yards on the ground against the SEC. I don't need my recorder to tell you that Meyer has basically functioned as a sound board for Whittingham. Everything Utah needs to know LENNIE MAHLER/Ibe Daily Utah Oimkle about Alabama is all there on tape. Alabama's game plan is to run the football hard behind a massive offensive line and play nasty defense. Thirteen games worth of tape has reiterated that message. Alabama is Goliath. Utah isn't David, but rather the ultimate Swiss Army Knife. If you're looking for the quintessential knife—the Crocodile Dundee knife—Utah isn't it. If you're looking for the single best screwdriver, saw, tooth pick, scissors, bottle opener or leather punch, Utah isn't any of those either. The Utes don't have the best running back, quarterback or defensive line. But if you're looking for a group of tools that play under one logo, Utah might just be the most superb, if not the most eclectic. Utah is only one of two teams to win every single game it has played this season and every win has been different. Defense has won a few games, and Utah's running game, Brian Johnson's arm and even special teams have kept the undefeated season alive. National experts point to how Utah needed the Horned Frogs* missed field goals to beat them, but I say Brian Johnson and Utah's defense showed excellent survival skills, which is what you want a quality Swiss Army Knife for in the first place. Utah has even proven to be a capable blade with its sharp offensive performance a time or two. Utah is going up against a formidable foe from the best conference in the land. Utah's run defense will be tested more than it has this entire season, but Utah has tools, Most national "experts" have stats to go off of, and maybe a nationally televised game or two in which Utah needed last-minute drives to survive. Whether Alabama comes prepared or not, Utah has already begun to use the wave of doubt as a wet rock, and Utah's four-inch steel blade won't be the only thing that's sharp come Jan. 2. Lpizza@ chronicle.utah.edu |
