The best measure of how far Utah's football program has come in recent years is there is talk of repeating what the Utes did in 2008, not in 2005.
Just as they did in 2005, the Utes enter the season following a perfect campaign with key personnel changes as well as several new faces on the coaching staff.
In 2005, all the transitions took their toll as Utah finished 7-5 and just 4-4 in conference play.
This year, hope is the Utes can still contend for a league title rather than suffering through one of those dreaded rebuilding years that plague upstart teams. For the Utes, going .500 would be a huge disappointment to not only fans and the team, after all they've got their bowl streak of eight straight wins to defend and MWC title to defend.
Those goals might be considered far-fetched expectations, if Utah coach Kyle Whittingham wasn't the main one supporting them.
"We're at a point where we shouldn't have a dip down," he said, shortly after pointing out the Utes' top objective was to win the league title.
The way Whittingham sees it, the Utes are in a transitional period because they have new coordinators and new starting quarterback, but the impact is minimal because both offensive coordinator Dave Schramm and defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake have been with the program.
"Things should just keep going," he said.
The perception that the Utah as a program has fully arrived on the college scene instead of being a one-year wonder is evident in the rankings too.
The Utes, who were passed over by most preseason rankings going into 2008, are No. 18 in the 2009 USA Today Coaches' Poll, their best preseason ranking in school history.
While saying he doesn't put much stock into preseason polls, preferring to wait and pass judgement on teams a couple of games into the season, Whittingham did acknowledge the ranking was a sign of respect.
"In a lot of ways people have taken note of what we've accomplished in the past," he said.
Rather than proving they belong, as they did in 2008, the Utes are aiming to simply stay among the upper echelon of football programs.
"We're focused on making this team the best it can be," offensive lineman Zane Beadles said. "We know we have a great team, great talent and great leadership and we feel the sky is the limit for us. It's just a matter of meeting our expectations."
The Utes' expectations haven't changed from last year, when they emphasized winning each game at a time. Sure, the year had its moments of sheer survival, such as TCU's botched field goals that preserved a Utah victory and the game-winning field goal against Oregon State, but the Utes see those wins as a product of their resolve and focus, not luck.
They believe they can do the same in 2009, even with a schedule that has road games at No. 14 Oregon, No. 17 TCU and No. 24 BYU. Those will be difficult tests for sure, but the Utes have confidence in themselves after winning at Michigan and beating Alabama in its backyard in the Sugar Bowl.
"We have that experience of being in the BCS and knowing how it feels and everybody is building off that," safety Robert Johnson said. "We've got some new players coming in, but they're stepping it up. Some people say we have a target on our backs after last year, but we're just going to keep playing Utah football."
Hard to argue with that winning philosophy.
For much of the 2008 season it was as if the Utah Utes had just one defensive end as Paul Kruger came up with big, often spectacular plays in his final year before heading to the NFL. Often overlooked in the process was the steady play of 6-foot-3, 255-pound Koa Misi.
Less demonstrative and outspoken than Kruger, Misi was happy to stay out of the limelight and go about his business quietly.
Well, he can hide no longer.
The senior is now the veteran of the line and is expected to be one of the top ends in the Mountain West Conference this season when he returns from the back injury expected to keep him out of the season opener.
Already he has been selected to MWC pre-season all-conference team and has drawn the praise of his coaches in practice.
"He is everything you could want in a player," defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake said. "He already gives his best and is a dangerous player, but this year he is a lot better in running the defense as a leader too. He's a special player."
Misi played on the left side in 2008, giving up the right to Kruger because he felt more comfortable there. This season, Misi has moved back to the right while Derrick Shelby and Nai Fotu are competing for the starting role at left end.
Misi, who played on the right side for Santa Rosa junior college is eager to get back to a position that feels more natural to him. He's also eager to show he deserves all the preseason accolades that put him in a same group with other top MWC linemen, including BYU's Jan Jorgensen and TCU's Jerry Hughes.
"I try not to pay attention to all that stuff, but it's nice," he said. "This year I hope to be a better leader than last year and lead by my examples and work hard."
He already has shown how far he has taken that commitment by cutting out one of his favorite loves -- fast food. He has most almost 15 pounds,making one of Utah's most athletic defenders even better.
He is Utah's fastest defensive lineman and boasts a 36-inch vertical jump.
"I feel like I have more stamina and can run a lot better," he said. "I wasn't as healthy last year. I ate more fats. They taste good, but not good for you."
What is good for Misi should be good for the Utes too. The guy who was once overlooked will have to be noticed this year, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
"I know he was preseason all-conference, but I thought he should have been all-conference last year," he said. "The speed and athletic ability he gives us off the edge, there aren't many in the country who can do that."
