Tempe, Ariz. • As a former defensive line coach, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was much more disappointed with his team’s inability to stop Arizona State’s running game than with a secondary that was shredded by ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins and his receivers.
Whittingham did say the pass coverage “wasn’t anything to write home about” in a 38-20 loss, and his strategy at the end of the first half said enough about his trust of the secondary. Whittingham could have had Matt Gay, the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, try a 60-yard field goal. Instead, he ordered a punt.