‘They held it together’: Utah delivers Morgan Scalley’s first win as head coach amidst whirlwind week

LAS VEGAS — As he surveyed the crowd of Utah fans and players from atop the podium on the field of Allegiant Stadium after a 44-22 win over Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl Wednesday, the emotions rose to the forefront for new Ute head football coach Morgan Scalley.

The last week has been a period like no other for the program.

Kyle Whittingham took the Michigan head coaching position last Friday, making Scalley Utah’s head coach immediately instead of after the bowl game, as was the plan when Whittingham stepped down at Utah on Dec. 12.

Since that moment, there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes. Whittingham has reportedly targeted Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck and offensive line coach Jim Harding, among others, for positions on his Michigan staff, and Scalley has tried to retain coaches while building his own staff.

The Utes’ new head coach has also been preparing for the transfer portal to open in less than two days from now — and oh, yeah, he’s also been running practices as his team prepared to close its season in Sin City.

“The biggest thing I want to emphasize is there have been so many distractions for these players and the game is all about them, and so they’re the ones that don’t deserve all the distractions. They worked their tails off,” Scalley said.

“... Credit goes to the seniors, the leadership of this football team. So grateful that they held it together.”

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As Scalley tried to begin speaking following the Las Vegas Bowl trophy presentation, the weight of everything finally hit him.

“I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I grew up a Utah Man. My dad played at the University of Utah. I had family play at the University of Utah. I go to the University of Utah and I grew up running around in those tunnels at Rice Stadium when it wasn’t Rice-Eccles Stadium,” Scalley said.

“I’ve seen it transition. I’ve been there through all of it. My dream has always been to take it to the highest level, and the one thing that I’m so grateful for is that my logo has never changed, nor will it.”

The head coach position at Utah has always been Scalley’s dream job, and he’s rebuffed defensive coordinator offers from schools such as Texas, Oregon, Florida and USC, per a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel in 2024, to stay in Salt Lake City.

As Scalley took in the scene at Allegiant Stadium, it all started to feel a little more real for the 24th head coach of the Utah football program, though it’s going to take a bit longer for Scalley to process everything from an absolute whirlwind of a week.

“It’s been so crazy. I don’t know that I’ve been really able to process it or think about it, and it will come, but I’m confident of the future,” Scalley said.

The former Utah safety was able to celebrate with his team, which doused him in Gatorade following win No. 1 in his head coaching career, but once he steps out of Allegiant Stadium, it’s back to work.

“This is a big-time profession, and if people don’t think that we’ve already been planning, already been looking for the next step, then they don’t know us,” Scalley said.

“So we will be prepared for whatever is to come and we are excited for those that want to be Utes, and bottom line is we hope all these guys in that locker room continue to be here.”

The most important piece for Scalley to retain is quarterback Devon Dampier, who won Las Vegas Bowl MVP honors. Dampier, who clearly benefited from the time off in between the end of the regular season and Wednesday to get healthier, threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 148 yards and three scores one of his best games of the season.

Dampier was wearing a chain with a big Utah logo on it following the game but didn’t provide much when asked about what the next 48 hours looks like for him with the transfer portal opening on Jan. 2.

“It’s all about this game. That’s what it’s been about. These are final hours with my seniors. I’ve been elected to be in the leadership since the beginning. I was able to earn captain this game,” Dampier said.

“They demonstrated leadership to the max. I’m so grateful that’s just the way I was raised, I took my relationship very valuable and very serious. So man, yeah, the last couple hours I get to hang out with those guys, so that’s where my mind’s going to be at for sure.”

Though it ended with a blowout win, the Scalley era at Utah got off to a less-than-ideal start as Utah’s late-season issues on defense showed up again on Nebraska’s first two drives.

The Cornhuskers were missing star running back Emmitt Johnson, who rushed for 1,451 yards this season, and starting quarterback Dylan Raiola, but their offense still took control early.

Despite the month break to correct some of the issues with the run defense, it was like watching a replay of Utah’s games against Kansas State and Kansas as Nebraska marched down the field with ease on its opening drive.

The Utes offered no resistance as the Cornhuskers rushed for 75 yards to open the game, including a 38-yard touchdown by second-string freshman running back Mekhi Nelson.

“Just gap scheme issues, not fitting counter properly, missed a tackle here and there, but for the most part it was run fit defense,” Scalley said.

On the next Nebraska drive, which followed a Utah touchdown on its opening series, the Utes’ defense again struggled to contain the Huskers’ offense.

Freshman quarterback TJ Lateef completed passes of 16, 24 and eight yards, the latter of which was a touchdown to put Nebraska up 14-7, and it seemed like the Las Vegas Bowl would turn into a shootout.

However, that first-quarter Nebraska touchdown would be the final time the Cornhuskers would score until 1:55 in the fourth quarter as Scalley, who continued to call the defense in addition to his head coaching responsibilities, made the necessary adjustments and his players responded well.

“We were kind of just settling in and just had to play fundamental and technique football. I mean, that’s all it is, but a lot of big plays happen when things start to break down,” senior linebacker Lander Barton said.

“So you just got to get back to doing your job and every single person needs to do that on the field, and once you started doing that, you saw the results of it. I mean, we just had to settle in just a little bit.”

Safety Jackson Bennee set the tone for the rest of the game to start the second quarter with Utah’s first tackle for loss, which woke the Utes’ defense up and got it rolling.

Aside from the kneelout to end the first half, Utah’s defense forced an astounding five consecutive three-and-outs while the Utes’ offense scored five straight times, including four touchdowns.

Utah scored 38 consecutive points in a dominant stretch from the second quarter on.

Dampier looked the best he has all season, completing passing plays of 45 and 29 yards and throwing for two touchdowns. His dual-threat ability was on display as well as he rushed for 148 yards, including a run of 43 yards, and three scores.

“I know you did amazing, Spider-Man,” Scalley said, referencing Dampier’s nickname.

Tight end Dallen Bentley had the first 100-yard game of his career and found the end zone once. Receiver JJ Buchanan had 76 yards, including a sensational one-handed grab, and a touchdown.

Ryan Davis played his first game since Nov. 15, capping off his college career with 66 yards, and running back Wayshawn Parker had 53 receiving yards.

Utah’s offensive line, missing star tackles Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano, both of whom opted out after declaring for April’s NFL draft, did fairly well with tackles Zereoue Williams and Keith Olson starting on Wednesday.

Utah rushed for 225 yards and Dampier had time in the pocket for the most part, though he was sacked three times.

After the struggles on the opening two series, Utah’s defense settled down and started imposing its will.

Cornerback Rock Caldwell forced the game’s only turnover with an interception, linebacker Trey Reynolds had two tackles for loss and Elijah Elliss, Aliki Vimahi and Lance Holtzclaw each had a sack.

Despite falling short of preseason goals of a Big 12 championship or College Football Playoff appearance, Utah righted the ship from last year’s 5-7 season and finished with 11 wins for the first time since 2019.

The Utes also snapped a lengthy bowl losing streak that dated back to the 2018 season.

Over the next few weeks, the future of what Utah football looks like under Scalley will begin to take shape, but the he says the program is — and will always be — bigger than any one person.

“This program will always be bigger than one person, and it will continue to be Utah football and not Morgan Scalley. This is the culture. It’s all about the players. It’s all about the team. I’m grateful to be in a position where I can help lead,” Scalley said.

“At the same time, you’re only as good as your players and you’ll never outperform the leadership that’s provided by them, but again, blessed to be in this position, to have people trust and believe in me, but it’s all about the players.”