This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Back when they were slipping to an 0-4 conference start, several of Utah's seniors admitted it felt strange to lose so much because they weren't accustomed to losing.
They weren't kidding.
Utah's 18 seniors, who will be honored Saturday before their last game in Rice-Eccles Stadium, have a chance to go out as Utah's winningest class.
The seniors are tied with the 2009 class with a 40-10 mark. Last year's class was the winningest with a 41-9 record.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham credited the seniors for leading Utah's turnaround.
"They did a remarkable job keeping the team together when things were looking bleak and helping us fight our way back into the mix," he said.
The 2011 seniors will play in their fourth bowl game this season, and their 2-1 bowl record includes a win over Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.
Utah offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom said he hasn't thought much about Friday's game being his last at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"There have been a lot of good memories," he said. "A lot of them seem to be against BYU, but TCU, Oregon State, there have been a lot of big games."
Pac-12 honors
Utah kicker Coleman Petersen has been named a Pac-12 Player of the Week after he kicked the game-winning field goal Saturday in Utah's 30-27 overtime win at Washington State.
In addition to the 38-yarder, he also made field goals from 33 and 45 yards out.
Petersen leads the league in field goals made with 17, which also is the fifth-most in school history for a season. The walk-on is 13-of-14 inside the 40 and 4-of-7 from beyond the 40-yard line.
USC receiver Marqise Lee and linebacker Hayes Pullard also were honored. Lee had 325 all-purpose yards in USC's 38-35 win at Oregon, and Pullard had 14 tackles.
Still hospitalized
Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday, who was never sacked but was hit several times by Utah's defenders, remains hospitalized with a lacerated liver.
Halliday was taken to Pullman Regional Hospital following the game where he was admitted into the intensive care unit.
Interestingly, Saturday's game was the only one this year in which the Utes didn't record a sack, which disappointed Whittingham.
Whittingham wondered if the bad weather hurt the defense's chances.
"I'm not making excuses," he said. "But we didn't get enough pressure."
Of note
Backup linebacker Jacoby Hale is doubtful (concussion). … True freshman defensive end Nate Fakahafua is listed as a backup at linebacker for the rest of the season. He has been getting more playing time there due to injuries to other players. … Tickets still remain for Friday's game.