Utah was created by Kyle Whittingham
Penn State head coach James Franklin has gone head-to-head with some of college football’s best coaches of a generation during his head coaching career. He has faced Urban Meyer and Nick Saban as well as Jim Harbaugh in recent matches. In the Rose Bowl, on January 2, 2023 Franklin will face Kyle Whittingham, one of the best and most consistent coaches in the game. The accomplishments made by Whittingham since taking over the Utah program from Meyer many years back are truly admirable.
Whittingham should be ranked among the top 10 college coaches today, there is no doubt about that. Whittingham is one of the first names to be listed in any ranking of top college football coaches today. He joins a select few coaches with national championship rings, and has made multiple appearances in College Football Playoff. Whittingham was almost a consensus top-10 coach going into the 2022 season. Very few media outlets left him outside of their top 10. He should be considered a top-10 coach by any media outlet prior to the 2023 season, regardless of what happens in the Rose Bowl. Penn State.
Whittingham is a perfect BYU graduate. Whittingham is a Utah native who has worn the red color of Utah since 1994, when his role as defensive line coach was taken over by Ron McBride. Penn State was arguing for a national championship with an undefeated season in 1994Whittingham was leading the defensive line of a Utah team that won its first 10-win season. Utah’s defense allowed just 17.5 points per game in 1994, and defense would prove to be a key for Utah’s success as the years went on.
Dec 2, 2022 Las Vegas, NV USA. Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham celebrates his victory against Southern California Trojans during the PAC-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
Whittingham was appointed defensive coordinator in 1995. He then became the coach of the Utes’ safety team. In 1995, Utah won 15 against the odds and was awarded 12 more in the next season. Whittingham continued in his role as defensive coordinator up through the 2002 season and ended up continuing in the role under new head coach Urban Meyer in 2003. Meyer turned his Bowling Green success into an opportunity for Utah to coach. Meyer chose to keep Whittingham, the assistant coach and the defensive coordinator, in place of bringing in his own staff. Utah, a new conference home in the Mountain West, was fortunate to have Meyer as a catalyst for the offense and Alex Smith’s college career.
Smith would be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. 1 NFL draft pick, stole the show as Utah made a claim for a national championship in 2004 with a 12-0 record, but Whittingham’s defense had allowed fewer than 20 points per game in each of Meyer’s two seasons in Salt Lake City. Meyer was offered the chance to coach at FloridaWhittingham was the perfect man to run the program. Whittingham was appointed the Utes’ new head coach as Meyer left for the SEC. Whittingham would lead the team to greater heights.
Whittingham carried the team forward after three years of transition. Whittingham was the coach of Utah to a perfect 13-0 year in 2008. This season was highlighted by a Sugar Bowl triumph over Nick Saban. AlabamaA 31-17 statement for Utah. The program was suddenly caught up in the age realignment changes when it followed up that dream season with back-toback 10-win seasons. And Utah’s realignment fallout was about to elevate the program even more.
Dec 2, 2022, Las Vegas, NV USA; Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) and Kyle Whittingham, Utah Utes head coach, are introduced to the team before they face the Southern California Trojans at the PAC-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
In a time when Big Ten was adding Nebraska And Texas A&M Utah headed to the SEC. It was in a great spot to enter a traditional power conference together with the Pac-10. With the addition of Colorado and Utah, the Pac-10 would be the Pac-12. Neither were considered powerhouse game changers like Nebraska to the Big Ten or Texas A&M to the SEC were, but they just made sense for the conference. Because Utah had a track record of success and steady progress on the field, it was not intimidating to move to the Pac-12.
Utah was slow to catch up at the Pac-12 level in recruiting. This was expected given that Utah came from the Mountain West Conference, where MWC funds and resources were only a fraction of what Utah would ultimately earn in the Pac-12. But Whittingham had a plan. The program’s solid leadership from the top paid off, much like TCU’s transition from the MWC the Big 12 – steady and strong leadership was key.
TCU was forced to leave the Mountain West Conference to join the Big 12, one year after Utah moved to the Pac-12. However, Gary Patterson put TCU in a good position to succeed. With relatively poor years, Oklahoma And TexasTCU soared to the top in the Big 12 and fought Baylor for the Big 12 title in 2014. This was the first year of College Football Playoff. Utah’s transition to sustained success in the Pac-12 took a little bit longer to develop than it did for TCU in the Big 12, but the Utes made some noise in 2014 as well with a nine-win season and a 10-win season in 2015.
Sep 3, 2022, Gainesville, Florida USA. Kyle Whittingham, Utah Utes head coach, and his players ran onto the field before a game against Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement – USA TODAY Sports
By now it was clear that Utah was ready to play in the Pac-12, and Whittingham’s style and leadership were shining through with one of the hardest-playing and toughest teams in all of the Pac-12. While some Pac-12 schools seemed to be flying through the air with their offenses and Utah was ready for a more physical style of play that would win with physical play at the line of scrimmage. Whittingham has found this formula to be effective, so why not change it?
Utah won 11 games in 2019. The pass can be used for the erratic 2020 season to receive a 3-2 season. Utah took home the Pac-12 title in 2021. It is the latest development in the program’s development. USC and UCLA prepare to leave for the Big Ten. Whittingham now wants to add another New Years Six bowl win to his collection of achievements at Utah. Whittingham and the program would love to win the Rose Bowl, but they might not have the same chance as decades ago.
Whittingham’s toughness and leadership have made Utah a strong program. Whittingham’s team is unstoppable and anyone who wants to take on Utah must be ready for a tough battle. Nothing against Whittingham-coached teams comes easy. Whittingham’s coaching has made it difficult for Penn State to compete against an ever-increasingly confident and improved Utah team.
Check out the List
Let’s take a look at Utah’s 2022 game by game results
Similar
James Franklin tells fans what to wear to Rose Bowl
Could Penn State welcome back Marcus Stokes to the Class of 2023?
Former Penn State commit still on the recruiting market for Nittany Lions?
King Mack mentioned as player who could play early by 247Sports
Juice Scruggs declares for 2023 NFL draft
Follow Kevin McGuire Twitter, Instagram, TikTokAnd Facebook.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter And like us on Facebook For ongoing Penn State coverage and discussion. We would love to hear your comments below. Join the conversation today.