This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 5:27 PM- Utah's football players have had all their focus on the 2007 season opener against Oregon State, but for a few minutes after Monday's practice, they let themselves think ahead to another game, way ahead. Just as practice ended Monday, the Utes learned they'll be playing at Michigan on Aug. 30, 2008.
"To go there and compete with those guys, that would be a huge honor," junior receiver Brent Casteel said. "Playing at Louisville is big, but to play there on that field with all that tradition would have to be the biggest game of my career."
The Utes tentatively were scheduled to play Washington State, but that game will be to a later date, Utah athletic director Chris Hill said. The Utes were scheduled to play the Cougars in Pullman, Wash., next year and the Cougars at home in 2010.
"We always prefer playing home and home series, but every four or five years an opportunity like this comes up that we feel has great benefits in terms of national exposure and recruiting," Hill said.
Utah played at Michigan in 2002 and lost 10-7 to the then-ranked No. 14 Wolverines. While the Utes' defense played well, the offense sputtered and didn't cross midfield only once, with 8:02 remaining.
The Utes finished that year 5-6.
"A chance to play in the Big House, what more can you ask for," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "That is college football, that is the essence of college football."
Utah will receive a guarantee of $800,000, up from the $500,000 it received in 2002 to play at Michigan.
Michigan's stadium seats 107,501 fans, making it the largest college-owned stadium in the country. The game will be part of an ABC-ESPN national doubleheader.
"That is an incredible experience playing in front of that stadium," Whittingham said. "It's something every Division I football player should experience."
Michigan and Utah are also working out plans to play basketball games in 2009-10 and 2010-11, although Hill said the football game was not related to that deal.
Michigan is ranked fifth in the 2007 preseason USA Today Coaches Poll and finished the 2006 season ranked ninth.
If you are a Ute fan and want to go to the game, better start planning now. Zack Lassiter, Utah's ticket manager, said Utah will receive 3,500 tickets to the game, with Crimson Club members and season ticket holders getting first priority.
"With that being Labor Day, and the fact that you can't get a ticket to a Michigan game unless you are a season ticket holder or have some affiliation, I imagine that is going to be a hot ticket," he said. "I'm sure a lot of Ute fans are going to want to go to that one."