From snowfall, eggnog and wrapping paper to casinos, strip clubs and Elvis impersonators, it’s an odd confluence of circumstances that will define the Utah football team’s Christmas day this year, but it’s one the Utes are plenty happy to accept.
After all, before the 7-3 Utes have even concluded their 2001 schedule, they now know it will be extended by at least one game, having accepted the Las Vegas Bowl’s invitation to play the USC Trojans on Dec. 25.
After the disappointment of last year’s 4-7 debacle, these Utes are all too willing to trade in the Christmas lights adorning their trees at home for the billions of neon lights glowing in Sin City if it means a chance to participate in the postseason.
“It’s a great place for the fans, we’ll play against a really good team with a lot of tradition, we play on Christmas day and get national TV coverage?it’s a great situation,” said U coach Ron McBride. “All the families will be there, and we’ve played on Christmas before. I think it’s all a positive.”
And though Utah surrendered the MWC title and a trip to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., when it lost to BYU on Nov. 17, the team is nevertheless satisfied about going to Vegas.
“This will probably be one of the biggest games I’ve played in since I’ve been at Utah,” senior wideout Cliff Russell said. “I’m looking forward to it. We’ll go out to the warm weather, play against SC, show everyone what the Mountain West can do.”
And while they are allowed some modicum of anticipation about returning to a bowl after a year’s hiatus, the Utes still want to keep most of the attention on this Saturday’s regular season finale at Air Force?a game that could sew up second place in the conference for them.
“We want to take care of business, so everyone is focused on Air Force,” said sophomore quarterback Lance Rice. “We need to finish strong, get the win and get some momentum going in. We don’t want to go in [to the bowl] with a two-game losing streak.”
Incidentally, the last time Utah earned a postseason berth, it was also in the Las Vegas Bowl, as the Utes rallied to beat WAC representative Fresno State 17-16 on Dec. 18, 1999.
This is the sixth bowl appearance the Utes have made with McBride, and the team’s eighth in program history. One of those?the 1993 Freedom Bowl?just happened to be against the Trojans.
And while Utah lost that game 28-21, the Utes are nevertheless excited to be playing this year’s USC team, one that finished fifth place in the Pac-10 with an overall record of 6-5 and a league mark of 5-3, but which came on strong at the end of the year.
After starting the year 1-4, Southern Cal went on to win five of its last six, including four straight versus Pac-10 opponents. The Trojans finished their regular season Nov. 17 with a 27-0 shutout of then-20th-ranked UCLA.
Much like their postseason opponent, the Utes also feel they’ve made steady progress throughout the course of the year to earn their postseason spot.
“We’ve overcome a lot. We’ve had a big turnaround this season,” said sophomore safety Arnold Parker. “We had a few upsets, games we could have won and didn’t, but overall, it’s been a great season.”