This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn remembers watching the Utes battle TCU in 2008 and thinking that maybe he should play football for Utah, not Colorado.

"I'd already committed to Colorado and was having doubts about it, and that game solidified that this school is a great football program," he said of Utah.

Wynn switched his commitment to the Utes and now gets to play in his own "blackout" game and with as much at stake as the Utes had in 2008.

Last year, Wynn was 16-for-32 for 219 yards with one interception and one touchdown pass against the Frogs.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham called the 55-28 loss one of the poorest games the Utes have been involved in since he has been in the program. However, he remembers being impressed with the way Wynn played in just his second start.

"He kept fighting," he said. "I was proud of the way he handled himself."

TCU coach Gary Patterson was also struck by Wynn's composure, but said he is even better now than he was then.

Patterson also said there was "no comparison" between Jordan Wynn of last year and this year.

"When we played them he had started one ballgame and it is hard to go on the road," Patterson said. "He is a completely different player. With the way he handled himself and with the media and all the conversations I've read, what he does and how he does things, he's going to be a great player for Utah."

Wynn, who said he never considered whether the Utes could make another BCS run while making his recruiting decision, said he won't be intimidated by the atmosphere or the TCU defense Saturday.

He is just glad he gets to play in the game instead of watching it from afar.

"As a competitor and an athlete you want to play the best and see how you stack up against the best," he said. "They are one of the best. I'm looking forward to it."

Give it up to the MUSS

How much does Utah's home crowd affect teams? So much so that Patterson said he is changing TCU's practice strategies to help handle the noise.

The Frogs will practice inside so they can make it louder, he said.

"It will help us use more visuals and hand signals to get what we need to get done," he said.

The Utes have won 21 straight games at home, a streak that includes the 2008 win over the Horned Frogs, which left an impression on Patterson.

"It was awful loud; the MUSS, the student section, is unbelievable," he said. "They keep count of how many times you jump offsides and do things like illegal procedures. We have to come in and be focused as football team knowing we are not playing just 11 guys on the field, but a full house. It's why they've been so good there."

TCU award tracker

TCU safety Tejay Johnson is one of 10 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, it was announced Tuesday.

Johnson is a three-year starter who ranks third on the team with 46 tackles and is tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Quarterback Andy Dalton and center Jake Kirkpatrick are semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien and Rotary Lombardi Awards, respectively.

lwodraska@sltrib.com Twitter: @lyawodraska