In his first team meeting after a season-opening win, Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham told his players to stop talking about BYU.
His first words in Monday’s news conference, looking ahead to Saturday’s contest with Northern Illinois? “The rivalry game’s over.”
As someone began to frame a question Tuesday about the emotional challenge that follows an early season meeting with BYU, Whittingham interrupted, “We’re on to NIU. That game’s over with.”
Just so we’re clear, then: If No. 13 Utah struggles at all with this Mid-American Conference opponent at Rice-Eccles Stadium, a post-BYU letdown won’t be the reason.