This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An Oregon newspaper headline touts Utah as a team that has gone from being BCS buster to BCS bust. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is fielding questions of whether the Pac-12 is too good for his team, and others are pointing to the Utes' struggles as evidence that mid-majors can't hang with a BCS schedule.
The Utes are accustomed to being a topic of conversation, but certainly not in this way.
All of the negative publicity is putting even more pressure on the Utes (3-4, 0-4) to beat Oregon State (2-5, 2-2) Saturday when the teams kick off at 5 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes want to win to keep their bowl hopes alive, but they also want to win to salvage a little of their dignity.
The Utes haven't started conference play with an 0-4 record since 2002, putting the current players who are accustomed to success in a bind.
"This is something we didn't expect," Utah offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom acknowledged. "We wanted to do well and be successful, and we still can. But yeah, it's a little embarrassing at this point."
The Utes, picked to finish third in the south division of the Pac-12, are now in danger of failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since that 2002 season, when they finished 5-6 in Ron McBride's last year.
Since then, the Utes have enjoyed the kind of success many football programs can only dream about, going undefeated twice, having five 10-plus win seasons in the past eight years and winning seven straight bowl games, including two BCS bowls.
This losing stuff is a new experience for them and one they're ready to be done with, they say.
"We're not used to losing," defensive lineman Dave Kruger said. "But we're telling everyone to keep their heads high and keep their focus."
While naysayers might be quick to point to the Utes' struggles as evidence that mid-major teams can't handle the challenges of a BCS schedule, the Utes insist that isn't the case.
In their minds, they believe the loss of quarterback Jordan Wynn and the rash of turnovers has led to their downfall more than the quality of the teams they face, although they admit now the Pac-12 is indeed a different world than the Mountain West Conference was.
"We went into this knowing it was going to be a challenge," Whittingham said. "It has proven to be exactly that on all levels. The only thing to do is keep working."
While Whittingham says his only concern is his team, the players — who watch ESPN and follow college football trends as much as any avid fan — say they do feel a certain responsibility to win for the mid-majors, just as they did when they were in the MWC.
"We need a win," said receiver DeVonte Christopher, who is expected back Saturday after sitting out with an injury. "For them and for us. We have to get it together and most definitely get a win. It's our only goal right now, to get that first Pac-12 win."
Unfortunately for the Utes, today's matchup isn't looking as easy as it once was, with the Beavers coming off a 44-21 win over Washington State in which redshirt freshman quarterback Sean Mannion threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns.
A surging Oregon State team could make life difficult for the Utes, but as they've come to learn, life is difficult in the Pac-12.
"We definitely need this win," safety Brian Blechen said. "But no one has been hanging their heads low. We still have games left, and we can get on a winning streak starting this week."
Oregon State at Utah
P Kickoff • 5 p.m.
TV • KJZZ and Root Sports NW
Radio • 700 AM
Records • Utah 3-4, 0-4; Oregon State 2-5, 2-2
Series history • Oregon State leads 4-3
Last meeting • Utah won 31-28, Oct. 2, 2008
About the Utes • The Utes are averaging just 309 yards of total offense, ranking last in the Pac-12 and No. 108 nationally. ... Receiver DeVonte Christopher is listed as questionable, but has been practicing this week. ... Dave and Joe Kruger's father, Paul, played for Oregon State and lettered in 1986 and 1987. ... The last time the teams met, quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson threw a touchdown pass and ran for the game-tying two-point conversion as the Utes rallied to beat the Beavers.
About the Beavers • After losing its first four games, has won two of its past three. ... Oregon State is 4-3 against Utah in Salt Lake City. ... The Beavers rank third in the conference in passing offense (297.29) and 10th in rushing offense (112.29). ... Coach Mike Riley is 71-59 in his 11th year with the Beavers. ... Middle linebacker Kevin Unga will miss the game with a leg injury, and center Grant Johnson has been slowed by an ankle injury but is expected to play.