When it comes to the future of Utah's football program, a passing of the torch is unlikely. Given the relationship between Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham, a simple handoff will mark the transition.
Meyer, who'll leave the Utes for Florida after the Fiesta Bowl, is thrilled his defensive coordinator is taking over.
"I think any time you've got continuity, that's important," said Meyer. "But even more important than that is you get a chance to keep a great coach. And Kyle is a great coach."
So good, in fact, that Meyer hates to part company with the man hired to replace him at the helm of the fifth-ranked Utes.
"I wish he was coming with me," said Meyer.
Whittingham accepted a six-year deal worth $675,000 annually to become Utah's next coach after turning down an offer to coach at BYU, his alma mater. The Utes' longest-tenured assistant (11 years) is grateful Meyer opted to let him remain with the program after coach Ron McBride was fired and most of his staff cut loose.
"He took a chance retaining me because any time you retain somebody in a situation like that, there's risk involved on his part," said Whittingham. "So I'm just appreciative that he gave me the chance to work for him for two years. I've learned a ton of football. It's been a great experience, and I've got no regrets at all.
"There was never any uncomfortableness or uneasiness on my part," he added.
Though Whittingham was considered a candidate for the head coaching job awarded to Meyer, no animosity ever existed.
"He's very professional. A lot of times with assistant coaches — and he's going to find this out as a head coach — you have all kinds of this issue, that issue," said Meyer. "With Kyle Whittingham, our discussions were very professional, and he did his job. He did his job very well."
Their time together, Whittingham insists, will "absolutely" make him a better head coach than he would have been two years ago. Meyer's system and the way he handles issues with the team have been beneficial.
"The consistency in which he administers the discipline was a good thing to see," said Whittingham.
From Meyer's perspective, a transition with Whittingham is what he appreciates most. Utah has won 15 straight games and 21 of its past 23 outings.
On Jan. 1, the Utes will make Bowl Championship Series history by becoming the first team from a conference without an automatic bid to qualify for one of the financially lucrative bowl games. They'll face Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl — earning a payday in excess of $14 million, to be split in part with the rest of the Mountain West Conference.
"It's a dream. I'm sure Kyle would say the same thing. The one thing you want to do is you want to make a place better than it was and pour everything into it," said Meyer, who recommended Whittingham for the post. "This has been a work in progress, and to know that you're going to hand if off to a guy that's got the same investment or more, that's what it's all about."
Senior defensive tackle Sione Pouha can verify it. Not too long ago, he and Meyer discussed the situation.
"(Meyer) said he's probably more excited than coach Whittingham," said Pouha. "Everything he's built here is entrusted in coach Whit's hands."
This baton will most likely never hit the ground.
"We expected it to be that way. Both are very professional. Both realize what needs to be done here for the bowl game," said senior safety Morgan Scalley. "They've been great to each other all year long and since they've been here. The whole deal about the transition, people made it a bigger deal than it really was.
"We're practicing well. We're doing really well right now," he added. "We're preparing the right way and nothing is going to distract us."
Utah, Meyer and Whittingham included, are determined to finish the season undefeated with 12 wins. The celebration that would follow, however, would be somewhat bittersweet. That's when the official coaching transition will take place.
"It'll be an emotional thing at the end," said Meyer. "But it's (Kyle's) program, and it couldn't happen to a better guy."
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com