After finishing the season with four straight victories to claim a share of the Western Athletic Conference championship, the Utah football team figured it deserved a chance to extend its season another month with a bowl game.
It didn't happen, however, as the Copper Bowl decided Sunday to take Air Force as its WAC representative to face the No. 6 team from the new Big 12. Utah's Holiday Bowl chances had been quashed on Saturday when Colorado State defeated San Diego State.The 7-4 Utes felt they were deserving of a bowl bid because they had defeated Air Force 22-21 and finished as the hottest team in the league with key wins at Wyoming and BYU in their last two games.
"I don't think there's any other team they should take," said Ute coach Ron McBride after the BYU win.
Ironically, this year's Ute team was probably more deserving of a bowl berth than the 1992 and 1993 Ute teams that made it to bowls with 6-5 and 7-5 records, respectively. But the Utes' bowl chances were hurt by the demise of the Freedom Bowl.
One of the most disappointed Ute players has to be senior safety Jeff Kirkman, who never got to play in a bowl game because of injuries. In 1992, he tore a knee ligament in the final game and missed the Copper Bowl. He missed all of 1993 with an injury and last year, he broke an ankle in the final practice before the Freedom Bowl.
The Utes will set their bowl sights on next season when they return 16 starters. They open the season Aug. 31 at Utah State.