This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There they stood: the snapper, the holder and the kicker.
As Chase Dominguez, Tom Hackett and Andy Phillips embraced between the hash marks on the downy Rose Bowl grass, they knew that, in all likelihood, they had just capped off the biggest road win in program history.
Afterward, the plaudits went to Phillips, but the sophomore downplayed his role in the 29-yard game-winner.
"I know it's going to be a perfect snap and hold, so I don't really have to do much," he said.
He could have gone further: Utah has come to expect a perfect snap, hold, kick, kickoff, kickoff coverage, punt return, punt, punt coverage, and so on.
Led by Dominguez, Hackett, Phillips and returner Kaelin Clay, Utah's special teams have been making everyone's life a little easier.
"I'd say we're as good as we've ever been when you talk about special teams as a whole," said head coach Kyle Whittingham, who assumed special teams coordinator duties after Jay Hill left to become head coach at Weber State.
That's high praise. Historically, Utah has been a hotbed of special teams excellence, dating back to punter Marv Bateman and return specialist Steve Odom. Of the school's 19 first-team All-American honors, eight have gone to specialists — most recently kicker/punter Louie Sakoda, punt returner Shaky Smithson and kick returner Reggie Dunn.
What's remarkable, though, is that the 2014 Utes are among the nation's leaders in virtually every facet.
For starters, in four wins, Utah's average starting field position has been 9 or more yards better than opponents'. Phillips has boomed kickoffs deep into — or through — the opponent's end zone, and Hackett ranks third nationally in punt average (48 yards), including 11 punts downed inside the 10.
Whittingham said Utah's kick coverage has become better, too, as his team's depth has improved. The Utes are ranked No. 18 on punt return defense and No. 12 in kick return defense.
"The special teams, for the most part, are comprised of your twos," he said. "If you've got a lot of good twos, your special teams are going to be good."
The field position stats would be more lopsided had Clay not skewed them by returning so many kicks for touchdowns, because logic dictates that drives can't begin in an opponent's end zone. The junior college transfer tied Steve Smith's school record for the most single-season punt return scores (three) in just four games, and also has a kickoff return TD. Such was his start that it was noteworthy that he did not have a return for a touchdown against the Bruins.
And Phillips has picked up where he left off as a freshman phenom, drilling 10 of 12 field goals and only missing in the wind and rain against Michigan and Washington State. It's getting to where the sophomore is known simply as a field goal kicker, and not a field goal kicker who was once a downhiller for the U.S. Ski Team.
"He reminds me of Louie Sakoda," Whittingham said. "That's the mentality he has."
Dominguez — well, you may not have heard much about Dominguez, but that's because he's among the most sound snappers they've had at the U., Whittingham said. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound sophomore has handled every snap since last fall — 106 punts, 32 field goals and 65 PATs.
"He fits really well — not only the ability of these guys, but the chemistry between those guys is awesome, and that's important."
If you follow them on Twitter, you know that Phillips and Hackett, a former Australian rules football player, are leading a campaign to show that they are as much athletes as anybody else on the team. Hackett has a 28-yard rush to his credit, and Phillips sprinted downfield to deliver a huge hit against Washington State.
The latter was named Utah's first-ever special teams captain, and has commanded the entire team's respect with toughness and his work ethic in the weight room, Whittingham said.
Add in Eric Rowe's block on one of opponents' three field goal attempts and a Phillips onside kick, and the boss only has one thing left to complain about.
"I've got less discretionary time, because I'm so heavily involved in the special teams," Whittingham said. "But I've enjoyed every minute of it."
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Utah's special teams rankings
Blocked kicks • T-28 (1)
Kickoff return defense • 12 (16.9 avg.)
Kickoff returns • 11 (26.4 avg.)
Net punting • 1 (45.2 avg.)
Punt return defense • 18 (3.3 avg.)
Punt returns • 10 (19.1 avg.)