Loud, proud Ute fans turn Allegiant Stadium into Rice-Eccles South
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Utah Utes fans cheer during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
LAS VEGAS — Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Raiders, became Rice-Eccles Stadium South Friday night during the Pac-12 Championship game between No. 17 Utah and No. 10 Oregon.
Waves of fans clad in red washed into the 61,000-seat venue early — and stayed late — to cheer loud for their Utes, who battered the Ducks 38-10.
“I was expecting it. I knew that the Utes were going to travel and they were going to do a great job of getting down here and making sure that they were there at the start,” said quarterback Cam Rising.
“We were out there about two hours before and we’re already seeing a bunch of red out there in the crowd and little speckles of red. We definitely had a sea of red out there.”
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Utah Utes players celebrate after they beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Micah Bernard (2) celebrates after Utah beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs the ball in for a touchdown in front of Oregon Ducks safety Jordan Happle (32) during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham celebrates with players after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes fans cheer during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) celebrates with wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) after Thomas ran for a touchdown during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) and Utah Utes tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) celebrate after Kincaid scored on the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks safety Marko Vidackovic (27) intercepts a Utah pass during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) runs back an intercepted pass to score, putting the Utes up 14-0 over the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes warm up before facing the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) and teammates stretch before facing the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes warm up before facing the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes linebackers Jeremy Mercier (20) and Devin Lloyd (0) warm up before facing the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Ryder Dahl, 9, of Herriman, sits on dad Adam’s shoulders as Utah fans congregate outside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas before the Utes face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah fans congregate outside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas before the Utes face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Tiffany and Ron McCarty, of Kearns, take a photo together as Utah fans congregate outside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas before the Utes face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Chris Done takes a photo of Cori Davis as Utah fans congregate outside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas before the Utes face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Scott Olsen, of Salt Lake City, left, and Jeff Westcoast, of Phoenix, second from left, join other Utah fans outside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas before the Utes face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes defensive end Van Fillinger (7) and teammates warm up before facing the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) warms up before the Utes face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham and players prepare to face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah celebrates after beating the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) and teammates celebrate after beating the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) and teammates celebrate after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham hoists the Pac-12 trophy after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) comes off the field after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Britain Covey (18) kisses the trophy after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah celebrates after beating the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes players celebrate after they beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) runs the ball during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks fans watch as their team trails the Utah Utes during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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A Utah Utes fan cheers during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising (7) evades the tackle from Oregon Ducks linebacker Noah Sewell (1) during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes cornerback Kenzel Lawler (2) tackles Oregon Ducks running back Seven McGee (0) during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) runs back an intercepted pass to score, putting the Utes up 14-0 over the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) dives through the Utah Utes defense to get out of the Ducks’ own end zone during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes cornerback Caine Savage (5) dons a championship hat after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) and wide receiver Britain Covey (18) celebrate after the Utes beat the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) and Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) talk after the Utes beat the Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) sips tea with teammates after beating the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs the ball in for a touchdown, putting the Utes up 38-3 over the Oregon Ducks after the PAT, during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) dances in the end zone after running the ball in for a touchdown, putting the Utes up 38-3 over the Oregon Ducks after the PAT, during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) runs the ball during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Donna Lowe-Sterns, mother of the late Utah player Aaron Lowe, serves as honorary captain during the coin toss before the Utah Utes play the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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The Oregon Duck lays down on the field as the Ducks trail the Utah Utes during the Pac-12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back TJ Pledger (5) dives into the end zone to score during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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Utah Utes players and fans honor Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Added Devin Lloyd: “We have the best fans in the nation. I just love the way they travel and everything they do. Even at home, they’ve been showing up all year … It was no surprise to me that they all showed up, and they were loud the whole game.”
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Coach Kyle Whittingham also appreciated the home-away-from-home atmosphere the fans helped create.
“During warmups, it was incredible. It was 5-1 (Ute fans to Duck fans ratio) is what it looked like. When the game actually started, it was close to that, or 4-1 or 3-1,” he said. “It was definitely a crowd in our favor.
“I appreciate our crowd. They’ve been awesome all year long. The crowd at Rice-Eccles for that Oregon game 13 days ago was the best environment I’ve ever been in. This was just a great show of support from our fans. I promise you one thing — they’re going to travel to the Rose Bowl. I guarantee you that.”
EXTRA POINTS: Aaron Lowe’s mother, Donna Lowe-Sterns, was Utah’s honorary captain Friday night. Oregon’s honorary captain was Heisman Trophy winner and current Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota … Utah wide receiver and return specialist Britain Covey has been named the Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced on Friday. Covey is the first Ute to win the honor in football since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011 … Running back Tavion Thomas eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau for the season in the first half.
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