Morgan Scalley has great love and respect for his father. So much so that he has worked hard to follow in his footsteps. Bud Scalley played football for the Utes from 1960 to 1962.
"It's a dream I've had ever since I was a kid," said Morgan. "I didn't dream I'd be doing it on defense. It was always a dream to follow up my father and play on the offensive side of the ball."
Though the younger Scalley became Utah's "Mr. Football" while racking up 5,500 all-purpose yards at Highland High, his days on the offensive side of the ball came to an end in college. Returning kicks and defense became his forte.
And it's paid off. The senior was recently named Mountain West Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year.
"It's an honor, but at the same time, I recognize I'm surrounded by guys who are just as deserving," said Scalley, who intercepted six passes in seven league games. He also returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and scored on a school-record 88-yard fumble return.
Scalley's efforts helped the fifth-ranked Utes complete their first 11-0 regular season. On Sunday, they're expected to garner an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl — becoming the first team from an outside conference to make it to the financially lucrative Bowl Championship Series.
"It's been a dream season," said Scalley, who is the Deseret Morning News' November Athlete of the Month. "I wouldn't have asked for anything better."
The run of success also settled some good-natured banter between father and son.
It began in the Liberty Bowl, where Scalley scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 74-yard fumble return. Bud, who crossed the goal line twice in his career, teased Morgan that he still held had one more.
That changed Oct. 23 at Rice-Eccles Stadium when Bo Nagahi fielded the opening kickoff against UNLV. He ran it out to the 10-yard line before handing off to Scalley, who ran down field for a touchdown.
"It was so wide open that I think anybody could have run that distance. It was a fun deal. I saw how open it was, and I couldn't believe it," said Scalley, who noted that UNLV was so surprised that one of its defenders, thinking the play was over, ran onto the field from the sideline during the return. "I was like what's going on? It was like the 'Twilight Zone.'
"I couldn't get a touchdown the right way," he joked. "So we had to fake everyone."
Bud wasn't fooled. He gently reminded Morgan that they were tied as far as touchdowns are concerned — neither had an edge over the other.
Two weeks later, the deadlock was broken.
Midway through the first quarter of a lopsided win over Colorado State, Scalley returned a fumble for a touchdown. Aware that someone was in close pursuit, he looked to the video screen on the scoreboard for help. As soon as the defender attempted a diving tackle, Scalley kicked out of it.
"That was a weird deal," said Scalley. "Tommy Hackenbruck was the one that made that play happen. I just picked up the ball and ran with it."
The touchdown was the longest off a fumble return in Utah history. It also gave Morgan sole possession of the Scalley family scoring record. Roles were reversed. This time, dad was getting teased.
"I was able to shut him down," said Morgan. "Finally!"
Scalley's outgoing personality has made him a popular speaker with youth groups. His leadership is something Utah coach Urban Meyer and others talk of in glowing terms.
"I've had coaches that have really preached hard work and a father who has been good to me and made sure I never get into the individual awards, that I always respect the game and respect the team that I play for," said Scalley. "It's nice to be able to tell kids that whatever your dream is and whatever your goals are, if you work hard enough you can achieve them."
At 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds, Scalley acknowledges he's not the prototypical-size for a safety. The graduate student compensates for it in the weight room and in other ways.
"I've watched more film this year than I ever have on opponents and on quarterbacks and their tendencies. Having coach (Bill) Busch and coach (Kyle) Whittingham as coaches the past two years has definitely been a huge benefit for me," said Scalley. "So I'd say it's just a combination of coaching and film study."
Scalley also credits teammates, past and present, like Dave Revill, Nagahi and Eric Weddle for adding to his knowledge of the game. Others, like Sione Pouha and Hackenbruck, have provided contributions on and off the field with their leadership.
"It's a team sport," said Scalley.
And the Utes, he added, still have some unfinished business.
"One more win," said Scalley. "Whatever happens after that I'm going to have to work for. I do plan on pursuing an NFL career if I'm fortunate."
Perhaps an opportunity will arise in Kansas City, home of his favorite NFL team. While in junior high, Scalley and his father attended a Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium. Bud has a friend in the front office, former Utah teammate Lynn Stiles, who allowed the father and son to tour the team's facilities and locker room. They rode an elevator with Marcus Allen and Morgan was able to put Joe Montana's helmet on.
"It was one of the most fun times in my life," said Scalley.
Only surpassed, perhaps, by the present.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com