The thing is I knew exactly what I was walking into. I knew I was going to be behind these guys to start and I’d have to work my (butt) off to pass those guys up. – Cooper Bateman
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah quarterback Cooper Bateman is glad to be back. The former Cottonwood High star, who spent the past four seasons at Alabama, has no regrets about joining the Utes as a graduate transfer.
“I’m here. I’m happy to be here. I absolutely love this place,” he said. “It’s been a breath of fresh air coming and playing here.”
As Utah’s Aug. 31 season opener against North Dakota approaches, Bateman is still competing with Troy Williams and Tyler Huntley for the starting job.
“I’m still getting reps out here and I’m going to take advantage of them,” he said.
Although Bateman isn’t getting as many snaps as the other two quarterbacks, he remains in the mix.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham recently said that the Utes could win with each one of the quarterbacks. While acknowledging that Bateman is behind the other two, Whittingham praised him for doing something good every time he gets an opportunity.
Coming in, Bateman knew he would have to prove himself — something he feels he’s done since participating in spring ball — because Williams and Huntley were in the program last season and were established.
“The thing is I knew exactly what I was walking into,” Bateman said. “I knew I was going to be behind these guys to start and I’d have to work my (butt) off to pass those guys up.”
Bateman added that he’s maintained hope throughout the process and knows things could very well go in another direction.
“I’ve been through this the last three years, just the same exact situation in terms of battling with another quarterback for the job,” he explained. “Two years ago I wasn’t the guy that got it and I got my chance further on in the season. And yeah, that might have to be the mentality.”
Bateman insists he won’t put his head down if he doesn’t get it.
“Cooper’s a team guy,” Whittingham said. “It’s great to have him on the squad and he is all about the team. He’s very unselfish.”
Whittingham also noted that Bateman is a really good athlete.
“He’s a mid-4.5 40 guy, so he can run and so we’ll see what happens here,” Whittingham said. “There may be a possibility of him showing up somewhere else to help as well but we’ll see what happens.”
Bateman is up for it.
“Whatever coach Whitt wants,” he said. “I’m open for anything.”
MOVING ON: As Bateman was preparing to go to sleep at the team hotel recently, he saw ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on the TV talking about a controversy involving remarks that Bateman and another former Alabama player, Blake Barnett, gave ESPN.com about how Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban handles quarterbacks.
Bateman couldn’t believe it turned into such a discussion.
“I could care less about it. That chapter in my life is over. It got blown out of proportion. I think a lot of things were taken out of context,” Bateman said. “I was not saying a single bad thing about coach Saban. No one can do that. It just got blown out of proportion. It really wasn’t a big deal.”