University of Utah head football coach Morgan Scalley held his weekly press conference on Monday inside the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center. During the session, Scalley discussed the team's recent victory over Cincinnati and the high-stakes matchup against BYU.
Scalley expressed satisfaction with the team's performance in Cincinnati, noting that the squad played well against a team that recently defeated a top 10 opponent. He highlighted the performance of quarterback Devon Dampier, stating that Dampier makes good decisions and is a tough, competitive leader. Other individual mentions included Daniel Bray, Hunter Andrews, and Orion Phillips, who provided significant punts. Elijah Davis was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following a game that included a pick-six and strong tackling.
The coach addressed several team developments, including the announcement that Kelvin Obot is out for the season due to a lower leg injury. Regarding special teams, Scalley noted that the team needs to improve its kickoff return execution. Looking ahead to the rivalry game against BYU, Scalley described the matchup as a significant event for the state, noting that it may be the first time both teams have entered the game ranked in the top 10.
Scalley also touched upon other University of Utah athletics. He congratulated cross country athlete Erin Vringer for being named All-Big 12 following the Big 12 Championships, where the Utes finished fifth in team standings. He noted that women's basketball begins its season tonight against Long Beach State, while the women's team is scheduled to play Eastern Washington tomorrow night at the Huntsman Center.
Reflecting on his career, Scalley shared memories of the rivalry, including a game against BYU that allowed the team to play in the Fiesta Bowl. He also recalled a 3-0 victory in Provo that secured the team's first outright conference championship in 50 years.
The upcoming matchup against BYU is described as a major rivalry game that Scalley expects will draw a large crowd and a significant viewing audience.
