Gordon Monson: Devon Dampier was Saturday’s hero. But will he be the Utes’ leader next season?

Other than the down-and-up-and-all-around craziness of Utah’s 51-47 comeback win over Kansas State on Saturday, there were two major things that stood out in this corner about what took place. The first was and is emotional, the second controversial.

In the postgame, Kyle Whittingham’s voice quivered as he talked about the way his team showed resolve and determination despite so much going against it in this contest, the last game of the season at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

He claimed it was because he gets emotional when he talks about his seniors. But on this occasion, it seemed more than just that. Whittingham’s voice hardly ever quivers, not in such a setting. It gave a hint, maybe just a cryptic one, that his feelings stemmed from more than just his seniors, but from him, too. It seemed as though this game just might have been the last game he will ever coach at the home of the Utes.

I dunno.

That’s pure speculation, and I have no other rocksteady indication as to whether the longtime coach is absolutely nearing the end of his stellar career at Utah. But the unusual tenderness with which he spoke made a person wonder. He also talked about the fans, the MUSS, the band, the whole environment at Rice-Eccles. He said it was “incredible.” That was touching — even if it was nothing more than a coach expressing heartfelt appreciation for his veteran players, the athletes who most certainly will never play another game in that building, on that field.

The second thing may seem odd to bring up, considering that Devon Dampier was the competitive hero of this game, the way he brought his team back to catch up with an opponent that had dominated the Utes for much of the game.

Everybody saw what Dampier did in the second half against the Wildcats. He kept the Utes’ hopes alive, scant or otherwise, for a win, for a shot at qualifying for the Big 12 championship or, even better, perhaps for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

A loss would have eliminated them from both.

Byrd Ficklin said this about Dampier afterward: “Not once did I hear Dev say he was going to give up. He kept his head up the whole time. He said, ‘Believe it, we’re going to do it.’”

It’s hard not to like a dude like that, with that sort of positivity.

But there’s a leftover “but” in the way that game went down, a “but” that some folks might automatically reject, even and as Utah powered through to victory.

It has to do with Dampier, the junior, and it has to do with freshman quarterback Ficklin.

What it doesn’t have to do with is how bad Utah’s defense played against the Wildcats. That group was horrible, allowing a historic ground-game performance by K-State, as it rushed for 472 yards, which is more rushing yards than any Utah defense had ever surrendered — ever and maybe forevermore. All told, the visitors gained 574 yards, 293 of them rolled for by running back Joe Jackson. He had 236 in the first half alone, averaging 23.6 yards per carry.

It seemed as though Whittingham may have wanted to roundhouse something or someone at the break, when he stared into a camera and said: “We’re losing gaps. We’re blowing assignments. Worst half of defense we’ve played in a long, long time. … We’ve got to get going on defense.”

They never did.

He also said, afterward: “Got battered in the run game. If you’d said we would give up nearly 500 yards and win the game, I would have said, ‘You’re crazy.’ I mean, that doesn’t happen.”

It did on here.

With the resistance faltering, it was left to the offense to save the day, which it managed to pull off. Dampier ran for 94 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard scamper on fourth-and-1 late in the game, a dash that set up the short winning TD run, booked by Dampier himself in the final minute. Dampier also threw for 259 yards and two scores.

You might think that would void a lingering argument, or at least temper a discussion over another critical point for Utah football, beyond Whittingham’s future … namely, who should be playing quarterback for the Utes?

But backup Ficklin has been so impressive in his showings, the conversation lingers, still.

On Saturday, Ficklin, in very limited action, ran for three touchdowns, 54 yards in just seven rushes. He threw the ball once, an incompletion. Dampier averaged 6.7 yards per carry. Good, right? Ficklin averaged 7.7 yards. Even better.

As impressive as Dampier was on Saturday and has been overall, Ficklin just might be superior. The way he runs is at another level. Can he throw? He can, even if he needs some polish there. He certainly has a strong arm.

Dampier gets the nod with his experience. He’s smart, he’s a leader, he’s no slouch. Ficklin? This dude might be special. What he’s shown in past opportunities has revealed the truth about that. His runs against Baylor last week were an example — nothing short of extraordinary.

Ficklin and Dampier are said to be good friends, the freshman typically acquiescing to the junior. That’s noble of him, and reflects his level of awareness. Each was complimentary of the other in the postgame.

Said Ficklin: “I told Dev, pressure makes diamonds, but it also crumbles people. Prove you’re a diamond. Show it out to people, show who you are.”

He did that, too. Speaking to Dampier’s big plays at game’s end, Whittingham said: “That last score was surreal. It was a moment you can’t even dream about. It just happens. You just enjoy it.”

As for his usage of Ficklin, Whittingham said: “He supplements. You saw what a terrific runner he is. He’s a big-time player with a huge upside and a high ceiling.”

The questions are unmistakable, though: Is the upside here now? Is the high ceiling to be utilized more often now? And: Will the present have any effect on the future? Whittingham has uttered an obvious fact — he wants the Utes to hang onto both quarterbacks for next season.

But no matter what is said, no matter how effective the one-two punch offered by the duo is, you have to wonder what will happen with NIL money and the transfer portal, and chances to play — everybody wants to get on the field and there can be only one starter — as things move forward.

Everything worked out nicely for Dampier on Saturday. In many ways, he rescued his team. He did have a fumble deep in Utah territory that led to a late Kansas State touchdown at a significant moment, but, hey, perfection is a difficult standard to meet. His long run and TD at the end were stellar.

But you have to wonder how high Utah’s ceiling might be with Ficklin under center.

“I just come out here and just give everything I’ve got,” Ficklin said. “Go out here and have fun. Make the best of every opportunity I’m given.”

One thing is certain: Anyone who sticks with the cliche — if you have two quarterbacks, you have none — isn’t paying much attention to what’s happening at Utah. Both of these guys can win, individually and together. But the tag-teaming might have its adverse effect in the weeks and months ahead.

Dampier is a winner and every Ute seems to love the dude. After the game against K-State, he smiled and said: “We battled the whole game. … We knew what was at stake.”

Cool leader, man.

But the thought is inescapable: When will pure talent and time take over?

When will the Byrd fly, when will he be licensed to fly, when will he be given the chance to do what he can do, not just here and there, but everywhere?

We can only wait to see if Whittingham will stick around long enough to play a definitive role in that decision.

Note to readers • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.