SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah football fan found a gem of an interview while watching an old VHS videotape he pulled out of his archives.
“I had to share,” Andrew T. Larson posted on his Twitter account. “The moment when Ron McBride introduced Kyle Whittingham as his new DL coach. A hire that changed Utah Football.”
Legendary Utah broadcaster Bill Marcroft led the interview on McBride’s regular coaches show. This particular episode took place before the 1994 season after Whittingham joined McBride’s staff as the defensive line coach following coaching stints at Idaho State, Eastern Utah and BYU, his alma mater.
Marcroft joked that Whittingham, sporting a full head of thick, brown hair and a manly mustache, must have been a good candidate in light of his BYU background.
“Kyle was by far the best person for the job. In fact, he fit everything I was looking for,” McBride said. “It was a really easy decision. There wasn’t a close decision to be made. He knew the package, great with kids, has a natural feel for the game of football.”
Though Whittingham has proven himself worthy as a football coach, his first gig with the Utes was made easier due to the fact he had consensus All-American and future Pro Bowl athlete Luther Elliss on his D-line. Whittingham moved Elliss into the interior of the line, which proved to be a very wise decision.
“We’ve got a good group coming in this fall. We have in my opinion the premier defensive lineman in the WAC and possibly in the nation in Luther,” Whittingham said. “We put him inside. He’s really improved his strength and size — the physical aspects alone is the main reason. We needed to solidify things inside. ... It puts him right in the middle of things.”
McBride was quick to let people know that this Whittingham wasn’t hired because of the other Whittingham — Fred Whittingham, Utah’s defensive coordinator at the time.
“This Whittingham group is an interesting group,” McBride said, smiling. “Kyle, it has nothing to do with his name Whittingham. Kyle is here on his own merit as a coach and I hired him because he’s like Coach (Whittingham).”
OTHER LINKS
• Utes outlast USC in a classic, five-set volleyball match
AND FINALLY ...
The Utah women’s soccer team finished its regular season in style, beating Colorado 1-0 thanks to this sweet goal by Ireland Dunn, her third goal in three matches. Ute goalie Carly Nelson also set a new single-season record with her 10th shutout in this Senior Night victory.