SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s season-opener with Michigan was a big hit at the turnstiles. Thursday’s contest between the Utes and Wolverines drew the largest crowd — 47,825 — and media contingent for a football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The attendance surpassed last season’s record of 47,619 for the USC game and marked the 11th time in stadium history that standing-room only sales boosted the crowd beyond its seating capacity of 45,807. The Utes now have a streak of 32 consecutive sellouts at home.
“It’s really exciting to have this kind of atmosphere at our games and to have the coverage that we have and the fans excited and town excited,” said Utah athletics director Chris Hill. “It’s pretty good. We all went to work today and tried to figure out what to do and all we did was think about the game. So it’s fun, a fun time.”
Hill walked through the tailgate lot prior to the game and noted that people were excited for the game. He noted it was a nice atmosphere and there were a significant amount of Michigan people in town.
Getting the Wolverines to come to town, Hill acknowledged, is a direct result of Utah’s conference affiliation.
“That wouldn’t happen unless we were in the Pac-12,” he said of the home-and-home agreement that included Utah’s visit to the Big House in Ann Arbor last season.
Despite the fun associated with it, Hill said that opening the 2015 campaign against a team of Michigan’s caliber on national television on a Thursday night was a “high risk, high reward” deal.
“I hate to say it but the end of the game makes a big difference if it’s all you wanted it to be,” Hill added. “That makes the big difference.”
A game like this, though, contributes mightily to Utah’s goal of being a national program.
“This helps,” Hill said. “There’s going to be recruits sitting someplace out in Texas watching this game at our place playing Michigan. That sends a message.”
Liz Abel, Utah senior associate athletics director, said that 90 members of the media were seated for the game. Outlets included the Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Examiner, USA Today and Yahoo.com.
“It’s the most media requests we’ve ever had to a game, for sure. I had to turn down dozens of people,” Abel said. “We’re packed. We’re completely filled. We’ve got all the press seats in here filled. We have an overflow area where I had to borrow seats from the video (crew) to be able to get 15 seats down there (in a lower level of the press box) — and then when that was done that was it.”
It was the first time an auxiliary press area has been needed at the stadium, other than the 2002 Winter Olympics.
HOMETOWN CONNECTIONS: The Michigan Wolverines got a warmer welcome than some visiting teams might thanks to a connection with Highland High School.
The Wolverines have two Highland graduates on their roster — senior fullback Sione Houma and sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Mone. Highland head coach Brody Benson said he made the offer when he was working at the Wolverines summer football camp.
"We offered it up, and they jumped on it," Benson said.
His current players didn't get to spend much time talking with Houma or Mone as both teams had tight schedules. Houma was an honorary captain for Thursday's game, joining the other captains — fullback Joe Kerridge, a senior, and linebacker Joe Bolden, a senior — at center field for the coin toss.
Benson attended the game, wearing neutral colors, as he also has a player on Utah's roster — kicker Hayes Hicken.
"White," he said when asked what color he was wearing to the game. "It's a Highland High shirt."
EXTRA POINTS: Utah punter Tom Hackett had a career-high 74-yard punt in the second quarter. … Scouts from the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers were in attendance. … Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott planned to attend the game and hold a press conference. However, he was unable to make the trip. … The $15,000 lettering of “Utah” on the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse atop the north end zone made its debut.
Contributing: Amy Donaldson, Brad Rock
Email: dirk@desnews.com
Twitter: @DirkFacer