That would be Timpview High School, facing Cottonwood for the Class 4A state championship today.

As for Nancy Whittingham's feelings about Saturday's BYU-Utah game, the signs are obvious: The "U Parking Only" advisory in the driveway and the red "U" banner above the carport make the point that the home where all those Cougars grew up belongs wholly to Utah, now that the first-born child is the Utes' head coach.

It helped that Kyle Whittingham's mother, brothers and sister were accustomed to cheering for the Utes before he took over the program four years ago. That's because the late Fred Whittingham, having left BYU after nine years to coach in the NFL in 1982, joined the Utah staff in 1992 and later worked with his son in coaching the Utes' defense.

So even for the ex-Cougar players in the family, the pro-BYU/anti-Utah feelings have "faded to the degree that it's not as difficult as it used to be," said Cary Whittingham, who teaches and coaches at Timpview, where his twin sons play football.

Originally, living in Provo as the sons of a BYU coach, lifting weights and playing catch with the Cougar players, traveling to bowl games and being immersed in the program was enough to indoctrinate them, long before they became BYU alumni.

"I was like everybody else, brainwashed about everything [Utah] stood for: It was the dirty, hippie school," Freddie Whittingham said.

Once his father started working for Utah, however, "I became a Ute fan overnight," Kyle Whittingham said. Then coaching at Idaho State, he stood on the Utah sideline in 1993 when the Utes beat BYU in Provo for the first time in 22 years. Whittingham joined the Utah staff a few months later, beginning an 11-year stint as an assistant.

Yet in December 2004, when coach Urban Meyer left Utah for Florida, Gary Crowton resigned as BYU's coach and Whittingham faced the unheard-of choice of the two jobs, his brothers favored the Cougars.

His wife, Jamie - she lived four doors down the street when the Whittinghams, including 13-year-old Kyle, moved in - and children lobbied for Utah. "My kids had never known anything else," Whittingham said. "They were completely shocked that there was even a question."

It was a dilemma for Whittingham, his mother and brothers. One afternoon this week, sitting at the same kitchen table, Nancy Whittingham re-enacted the discussion. By her account, Cary cited BYU's built-in recruiting base, Freddie talked about how they all played for the Cougars and Brady suggested, "You'll own this town."

Their mother's summary: "Freddie was emotional, Cary was practical and Brady thought he could make money on the deal."

The brothers' versions suggest they were united on this front: It would be easier to follow Crowton than Meyer, because expectations would be so much higher at Utah, coming off a Bowl Championship Series appearance. "A better business decision," was Freddie's description.

At one point, his mother said, Kyle asked, "Where do you think Dad would tell me to go?"

She remembered Fred, who had died the previous year, saying the Utah job "could be a gold mine."

Not quite four years after that night, when he ultimately chose Utah while leaning over the kitchen sink, the payoff is arriving for Kyle Whittingham. If he can defeat his old school Saturday, the unbeaten Utes will qualify for another BCS game, rewarding him for a steady climb since that first season when - as his brothers predicted - a 7-5 record was viewed critically.

He was willing to look beyond the initial challenge, believing he could make Utah consistently successful. "At this point, I think he's proven us wrong," Brady Whittingham said.

Citing longtime friendships and good memories of BYU, the brothers say they still appreciate the school. They also understand that choosing between the rival football programs is mandatory, and the ex-Cougars' feelings are no longer even slightly mixed.

Remembering that '93 game, Freddie Whittingham said, "I was happy, but I felt a little bit guilty for being happy" about Utah's victory. That will not be an issue Saturday.

"There's no confusion right now," he said.

kkragthorpe@sltrib.com

"I was like everybody else, brainwashed about everything [Utah] stood for: It was the dirty, hippie school."

FREDDIE WHITTINGHAM, former BYU running back and brother of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham

BYU career Residence

Kyle Linebacker, 1978-81 SLC

Cary Linebacker, 1981-85 Provo

Freddie Running back, 1986-89 Folsom, CA

Brady Receiver, 1988, '91 Lindon

Julie - La Jolla, CA

Saturday, 4 p.m., the mtn.