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Berkeley, Calif. • The losing postgame news conference is a natural arena for second-guessing.
Yet it was clear on Saturday evening, in the wake of a 28-23 loss to Cal that spoiled his team's perfect start, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham wasn't going to play that game.
He defended the final three play calls within Cal's 2-yard line, none of which made it in the end zone. He defended the decision to run the game's final play with freshman Zack Moss over sophomore Armand Shyne, who was one yard shy of being Utah's first 100-yard back this year.
He also defended the decision to go for it on fourth-and-inches in the fourth quarter from Cal's 10 yard-line, a reliable range for kicker Andy Phillips which would've given Utah the opportunity to win with a field goal at the end. To justify the call, he pointed to the four previous times Utes successfully converted on fourth down.
"No regrets whatsoever," Whittingham said. "We wouldn't be in the position we were in in the game had we not gone for it on numerous fourth downs. And so the one we didn't get at the end, you know, you gotta be aggressive."
Many Utah fans have long waited to hear those words from their head coach. But defeat provided a lesson that Whittingham's more assertive posture this season will come with plenty of risks.
Utah has made its reputation in the trenches on fourth-and-short calls, converting its first nine tries this season. Against the Golden Bears, the Utes at times looked unstoppable cutting through the defense with the run, despite lacking a deep threat because several receivers were injured or absent.
While the last play that came up short on Moss' run was the one that sealed Utah's fate, the earlier missed fourth down was the first domino. Instead of a 1-point game, the Utes trailed by four, and in a few minutes, were down by 11. With a field goal then, Utah could've won the game with a field goal later on the leg of the most prolific kicker in school history.
Making the kick would've been the expected Whittingham move a year ago. This season, not only did he not take the kick, he also offered little to suggest he would do differently given another chance.
This, he said, is the cost of the mentality that Utah is creating.
"To be aggressive, you're going to have some setbacks," he said. "It's not gonna work out every single time, but four out of five — or whatever we were — gave us a chance to hang in the game."
The willingness to gamble suggests Whittingham and his coaches have a strong belief in the players, one that was upheld in performances by reserves in the wake of a rash of injuries.
Utah played most of the game with junior center Lo Falemaka, who is technically the third option there if one counts the career-ending injury to Hiva Lutui prior to the season. Raelon Singleton, Saiosi Wilson and Demari Simpkins all caught key passes in the absence of a hobbled Tim Patrick. With Reggie Porter down for three quarters, the Utes went to freshmen Terrell Burgess and Julian Blackmon for depth at cornerback.
But Whittingham said the game proved the Utes deal well with adversity. Running against a current of health crises, the Utes made a game of it on the road, and had a chance to win in the final minute.
The Utes didn't get that final yard, but they believe that yard will be there in future games — and their decisions so far indicate that they have confidence they'll get it.
kgoon@sltrib.com Twitter: @kylegoon —
Arizona at No. 24 Utah
P Saturday, 8 p.m.
TV • FS1