A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Jan. 2, 2009, the University of Utah Utes, led by coach Kyle Whittingham, prepared to take on coach Nick Saban’s Alabama squad. Here’s what happened, courtesy of Deseret News colleague Dirk Facer:
“NEW ORLEANS — It doesn’t get any sweeter than this for the Utah Utes.
“Besides winning the 75th anniversary Sugar Bowl, Friday night’s 31-17 win over Alabama in the Louisiana Superdome capped a 13-0 season for the Utes. They finished the season as the only undefeated team in the nation.
“‘This is the best,’ said quarterback Brian Johnson. ‘We’re the best team in the country.’”
Now, 16 years later, the memories of that game are still just as sweet. The national media favored the SEC’s Crimson Tide, and as often happens, teams from the West don’t get much love in these big regional matchups.
But as the Utes showed in 2009 — and ever since, for that matter — don’t count the football squad out. Utah ended up No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll, and No. 4 in the coaches poll. Florida was the national champion.
Here are some great stories from colleagues from Deseret News archives about Utah’s win and the 13-0 season, including a delightful tale of the 38-hour bus trip a group of diehard MUSS fans took just to get to the game:
“Utah Utes football: Sugar high — 13-0 Utes roll over one of the BCS’ best”
“Utah football recognized as 2008 ‘national poll champion’ in NCAA records book”
“Utah Utes football: No. 7 Utes risk only perfect mark in Sugar Bowl”
“No surprise; Utah Utes invited to face Alabama in Sugar Bowl”
“Sugar Bowl: Bus trip to Big Easy not without ups, downs”
“Utah Utes football reigns on parade”
“Utah Utes football: It was a banner year for the Utes”
“From the wires: Utah looks to make Sugar Bowl history vs. Tide”
“Utah Utes football: Utes can take advantage of disgruntled ‘Bama team”
“Utah Utes football: Win bound to raise cry for more changes”
