This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2009, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Even though he grew up in Moab, what would seem to be a rather neutral town when it comes to the Utah-BYU rivalry, Utah center Zane Taylor has been aligned with the Utes since birth, literally.
His parents graduated from Utah State, but apparently the family had Utah in mind for him from his first days.
"Even in my birth announcement in the paper my grandfather said I was going to be a Ute," the junior said. "I was destined to be here."
The last time Taylor made the trip to Provo, he was only a sub and most often played on special teams.
He'll have a much more integral role in the Utes' offense as the starting center. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound junior is eager to do his family proud on Saturday.
"It looks like we're in a good situation right now," he said after the Utes' convincing 38-7 win over San Diego State. "We can't take anything for granted, which we don't. We know it's rivalry week and we have to be ready."
In the polls
The Utes remained No. 21 the BCS standings released Sunday while the Cougars are No. 19. The Utes are No. 22 in the AP poll and the Cougars are No. 18. Last year the Utes were ranked No. 8 and BYU was No. 16 in the AP poll going into the game, which the Utes won 48-24.
The only other year the teams have played when both were ranked in the AP poll was in 1994, when the No. 21 Utes beat the No. 20 Cougars 34-31.
Briefly
A pep rally is scheduled for noon today at the J. Willard Marriott Library plaza. Members of the team as well as coach Kyle Whittingham will be present. Whittingham will throw out the game ball to University of Utah Army ROTC cadets who will run the ball to Draper, where they'll turn it over to members of BYU's ROTC cadets. ... The Utah-BYU rivalry will be featured on The Mtn. tonight at 7 p.m.
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