Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham holds the trophy with Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) after beating Alabama winning the 2009 Allstate Sugar Bowl, at the Superdome, in New Orleans, LA. Friday Jan. 2, 2009. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY – You may have heard the news that came out over the weekend announcing the 2018 NCAA football record book which shows Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham’s 2008 team as a national poll champions.
That is the year the Utes won the Sugar Bowl over Alabama 31-17 after finishing the year 13-0 on the season.
Whittingham gave his reaction to the news on Monday.
“That was interesting. I haven’t been educated on the particulars of it, but we thought we were a pretty good team that year,” Whittingham said. “I voted us No. 1 (in the country).”
However, the coach did not say fans should not expect a special banner ceremony any time soon.
“I don’t think we are going to be self-proclaimed (champions),” he said. “We aren’t going to put up a banner or anything like that.”
Whittingham says he has not spoken with administrators and is unsure if the university will do anything to officially announce the revelation.