Whittingham: Utah won’t rest vs. BYU
The Pac-12 South title is assured for No. 17 Utah, while Washington and Washington State will battle each other in the Apple Cup in Pullman, Wash., on Friday for the right to face the Utes.
The Pac-12 title game will be held Nov. 30 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Will Utah coach Kyle Whittingham decide to rest some of his regulars this Saturday against rival BYU at Salt Lake City to avoid injury before the conference championship?
According to Whittingham, that is a resounding, “No.”
“I’ve heard several people say you should do whatever you can to maximize your chances for the championship game and that is not our approach,” he said during his Monday press conference. “Our approach is one game at a time and we aren’t looking past (BYU), just like we wouldn’t look past any game that’s on our schedule.”
Whittingham continued comparing Utah’s situation to a race horse running every race no matter the circumstances.
“As far as that strategy, thoroughbred horses love to run,” he said.
“They are born to run and that is what they enjoy. Our players are warriors. They were born to compete and they want to play. I don’t know how you sell that to your players. Saying we are going to sit everyone and not let you have a chance to finish out the season, particularly the seniors. … That is a tough sell.
“There are definite pros and cons on both sides of the argument, but I just don’t know how with the mentality of our players that you can do that.”
Whittingham also said that Utah (8-3) can’t look past BYU (6-5) because of postseason aspirations if the Utes do not win the conference title.
“(The game) has implications are far as bowl hierarchy. Your overall record is a factor of where you get the opportunity to go,” he said. “We know how it lays at (in the Pac-12), but bowls look at your record.”