Opening Statement: We’ve had a phenomenal experience. I want to thank the Rose Bowl. We really have had a great experience. They’ve treated us first class from the time we stepped off of the airplane, practice, facilities, hotel. It’s just been first class. We’ve had a great experience.
It’s been great spending a little bit of time with Coach Whittingham, who I have a ton of respect for, and the University of Utah, what he’s been able to do there.
To echo a lot of the things that he already stated, I think there’s a lot of similarities between our programs and how they’re built, fundamentalist program, tough, sound. We’re playing really well on defense and have been all year long. I think they’ve been built with his background on the defensive side of the ball, as well.
But I think their quarterback [Cam Rising] really makes them go. I’ve got a ton of respect for him. I think sometimes when you think about quarterbacks, you don’t think about toughness, but really that position, that guy better be the toughest guy in your program. You’ve got to stand there and deliver a ball with an unblocked blitzer, and you know you’re going to get hit and you’re in a defenseless position and deliver the ball, and he’s done it time and time again.
Obviously, the play against USC, the big hit where his helmet comes off and how he pops up, I think really just kind of illustrates who they are as a program. I’ve got a ton of respect for him.
Offense, defense and special teams, there’s really no weakness, not only on film but also when you look at the analytics and the data, it backs it up. Like Coach talked about, being able to win the Pac-12 Championship two years in a row is a really, really impressive accomplishment.
We expect to have a great football game. I think it’s going to be a four-quarter game. There’s been great games already during this bowl season, especially the last couple days, and I expect this to be another one. We appreciate being here. Got a ton of respect for University of Utah and Coach Whittingham.
Q. Coach Franklin, with the games yesterday, you could see how close some of these games are. How prepared is your team if this game comes down to the wire? What intangibles do they have that shows you they can pull off another close one again?
A: Yeah, and I think the end of your…
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