2004 Utah Utes football team
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah
in the college football
season of 2004–2005
. This team was the original 'BCS Buster', meaning, this was the first time that a team from a non-BCS conference
was invited to play in one of the BCS bowl games. The team, coached by 2nd year head football coach Urban Meyer
, played its home games in Rice–Eccles Stadium. Utah was one of three teams in the top-level Division I FBS to finish the season undefeated (the others being the USC Trojans
and the Auburn Tigers
, the former of which are now conference rivals of Utah in the Pacific-12 Conference).
Utah was the highest-ranked non-BCS team in each poll every week of the season (with their ranking changing several times).
{| style="w>dth:100%"
|+
| align="left" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! WR
|-
| Steve Savoy
|-
| Derrek Richards
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! LT !! LG
!! C
!! RG
!! RT
|-
| Tavo Tupola David Dirkmaat
Jesse Boone
Chris Kemoeatu
| Jason Voss Eric Pettit
Andrew Johnson
Kyle Gunther
| Steve Dahl
class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;">
Team Opp
Punts-Yards
45-1878
70-2727
Avg per Punt
41.7
39.0
Time of Possession/Game
31:14
28:46
3rd Down Conversions
80-153
62-177
4th Down Conversions
9-17
15-25
Touchdowns Scored
75
32
Field Goals-Attempts
7-7
4-11
PAT-Attempts
71-75
30-30
Attendance
264670
167479
Games/Avg per Game
6-44112
5-33496
Neutral Site
1-73519
:
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
season of 2004–2005
2004 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with several undefeated teams vying for a spot in the national title game, triggering controversy. In the 2003 season, no team finished the regular season unbeaten, and five teams finished the season with one loss...
. This team was the original 'BCS Buster', meaning, this was the first time that a team from a non-BCS conference
BCS conference
An Automatic Qualifying conference is an athletic conference in NCAA Division I FBS whose champion receives an automatic berth in one of the five Bowl Championship Series bowl games...
was invited to play in one of the BCS bowl games. The team, coached by 2nd year head football coach Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
, played its home games in Rice–Eccles Stadium. Utah was one of three teams in the top-level Division I FBS to finish the season undefeated (the others being the USC Trojans
2004 USC Trojans football team
The 2004 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2004-2005 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Although now vacated for breaking NCAA rules, the team won the 2004 BCS National Championship by winning the 2005 Orange Bowl, that year's BCS National...
and the Auburn Tigers
2004 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2004 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. Auburn compiled a record of 13–0, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and finishing the season ranked #2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll...
, the former of which are now conference rivals of Utah in the Pacific-12 Conference).
Utah was the highest-ranked non-BCS team in each poll every week of the season (with their ranking changing several times).
Schedule
Rankings
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 20 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Coaches | 21 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| BCS | Not released | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||
Texas A&M
Arizona
Utah State
Air Force
New Mexico
North Carolina
UNLV
San Diego State
Colorado State
Wyoming
BYU
Fiesta Bowl: Utah vs. Pittsburgh
Depth chart
| Tommy Hackenbruck | >- | Taylor Miller | >- | Sione Pouha Sione Pouha Sione Sonasi "Bo" Pouha is an American football nose tackle for the National Football League New York Jets. Pouha played college football at the University of Utah. He also is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.... |
Steve Fifita Steve Fifita Steve Fifita is a free agent American football defensive tackle. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2006... |
Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene is an American football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... >- | Martail Burnett Martail Burnett Martail Marta Burnett is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008... |
Tevita Kemoeatu | Tevita Kemoeatu | >- | Kite Afeaki |
{| style="w>dth:100%"
|+
| align="left" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! WR
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
|-
| Steve Savoy
|-
| Derrek Richards
Derrek Richards
Derrek Adams Richards is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent.-Life:...
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! LT !! LG
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
!! C
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
!! RG
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
!! RT
|-
| Tavo Tupola
Jesse Boone
Jesse Rostenbach Boone is an American football center for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
Chris Kemoeatu
Uikelotu Christopher "Chris" Kemoeatu is a Tongan professional American football player who is currently a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Utah Utes, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005...
| Jason Voss
|
Season Statistics
2004 Official StatsTeam
| class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"> | Utah | Opp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring | 544 | 234 | |
| Points per Game | 45.3 | 19.5 | |
| First Downs | 305 | 220 | |
| Rushing | 145 | 90 | |
| Passing | 136 | 103 | |
| Penalty | 24 | 27 | |
| Rushing yards | 2833 | 1682 | |
| Avg per play | 5.4 | 3.8 | |
| Avg per game | 236.1 | 140.2 | |
| Rushing touchdowns | 36 | 19 | |
| Passing yards | 3164 | 2439 | |
| Att-Comp-Int | 344-232-5 | 372-196-16 | |
| Avg per pass | 9.2 | 6.6 | |
| Avg per catch | 13.6 | 12.4 | |
| Avg per game | 263.7 | 203.2 | |
| Passing touchdowns | 33 | 11 | |
| Total Offense | 5997 | 4121 | |
| Avg per Play | 6.9 | 5.1 | |
| Avg per Game | 499.8 | 343.2 | |
| Fumbles-Lost | 22-9 | 19-13 | |
| Penalties-Yards | 88-765 | 80-693 | |
| Avg per Game | 63.8 | 57.8 |
Individual Leaders
| Passing | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | COMP | ATT | Pct. | YDS | TD | INT | QB Rating |
| Alex Smith | 214 | 317 | .675 | 2952 | 32 | 4 | 176.52 |
| Brian Johnson Brian Johnson (quarterback) Brian Delance Johnson is an American football quarterbacks coach for the University of Utah. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the New York Sentinels in the UFL Premiere Season Draft in 2009.... |
14 | 21 | .667 | 142 | 1 | 1 | 129.66 |
| Fan Tagovailoa | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | 24 | - | - | 305.80 |
| Paris Warren Paris Warren Paris Jazz Warren is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
1 | 2 | .500 | 21 | - | - | 138.20 |
| Rushing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD |
| Marty Johnson | 165 | 802 | 4.9 | 14 |
| Quinton Ganther Quinton Ganther Quinton Ganther is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
109 | 654 | 6.0 | 2 |
| Alex Smith | 135 | 631 | 4.7 | 10 |
| Steve Savoy | 22 | 307 | 14.0 | 6 |
| Paris Warren Paris Warren Paris Jazz Warren is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
28 | 157 | 5.6 | 2 |
| Brian Johnson Brian Johnson (quarterback) Brian Delance Johnson is an American football quarterbacks coach for the University of Utah. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the New York Sentinels in the UFL Premiere Season Draft in 2009.... |
21 | 92 | 4.4 | 1 |
| Receiving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | REC | YDS | YPR | TD |
| Paris Warren Paris Warren Paris Jazz Warren is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
80 | 1076 | 13.4 | 12 |
| Steve Savoy | 67 | 961 | 14.3 | 11 |
| Travis Latendresse | 27 | 411 | 15.2 | 2 |
| John Madsen | 27 | 377 | 14.0 | 5 |
| Quinton Ganther Quinton Ganther Quinton Ganther is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
7 | 49 | 7.0 | 1 |
| Marty Johnson | 7 | 46 | 6.6 | 1 |
| Jerome Wright | 5 | 64 | 12.8 | 1 |
| Tackles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Solo | Asst | Total | TFL | Sacks | |
| Spencer Toone Spencer Toone Spencer Toone is an American football linebacker who was selected by the National Football League Tennessee Titans in the last round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
40 | 75 | 115 | 4 | 1 | |
| Tommy Hackenbruck | 46 | 45 | 91 | 9.5 | 4.5 | |
| Eric Weddle Eric Weddle Eric Steven Weddle is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.-Early years:... |
47 | 28 | 75 | 4.5 | 1 | |
| Morgan Scalley | 27 | 24 | 51 | 2.5 | 2.5 | |
| Marquess Ledbetter | 15 | 31 | 46 | 9 | 4.5 | |
| Steve Fifita Steve Fifita Steve Fifita is a free agent American football defensive tackle. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2006... |
23 | 22 | 45 | 9 | 4.5 | |
| Ryan Smith | 26 | 18 | 44 | 3 | 2 | |
| Bo Nagahi | 31 | 11 | 42 | 2.5 | 0 | |
| Corey Dodds | 10 | 27 | 37 | 4 | 2 | |
| Sione Pouha Sione Pouha Sione Sonasi "Bo" Pouha is an American football nose tackle for the National Football League New York Jets. Pouha played college football at the University of Utah. He also is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.... |
16 | 20 | 36 | 3 | 2 | |
| Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene is an American football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
12 | 10 | 22 | 5.5 | 3 | |
| Pass defense | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | INT | YDS | Broken up | |||
| Morgan Scalley | 6 | 79 | 2 | |||
| Eric Weddle Eric Weddle Eric Steven Weddle is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.-Early years:... |
4 | 34 | 5 | |||
| Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene is an American football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
1 | 76 | 1 | |||
| Corey Dodds | 1 | 26 | 1 | |||
| Ryan Smith | 1 | 0 | 7 | |||
| Sione Pouha Sione Pouha Sione Sonasi "Bo" Pouha is an American football nose tackle for the National Football League New York Jets. Pouha played college football at the University of Utah. He also is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.... |
1 | 0 | 4 | |||
| Steve Fifita Steve Fifita Steve Fifita is a free agent American football defensive tackle. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2006... |
1 | 6 | 2 | |||
NFL Draft
Utah had five players taken in the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Alex Smith | Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
1 | 1 | San Francisco 49ers 2005 San Francisco 49ers season The 2005 season was the 60th for the Niners overall, and 56th in the NFL. They were trying to improve on their 2-14 record from 2004. Head Coach Dennis Erickson had been fired just after the end of the 2004 season, and Mike Nolan, son of former head coach Dick Nolan, was at the reins.-Week 1: vs. St... |
| Sione Pouha Sione Pouha Sione Sonasi "Bo" Pouha is an American football nose tackle for the National Football League New York Jets. Pouha played college football at the University of Utah. He also is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.... |
Defensive tackle | 3 | 88 | New York Jets 2005 New York Jets season The 2005 New York Jets season was the 46th season for the team, and the 36th in the National Football League. The team tried to improve upon its 10–6 record from 2004. The Jets finished the season 4–12.-2005 NFL Draft:-Regular season:-External links:*... |
| Chris Kemoeatu Chris Kemoeatu Uikelotu Christopher "Chris" Kemoeatu is a Tongan professional American football player who is currently a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Utah Utes, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005... |
Offensive guard | 6 | 204 | Pittsburgh Steelers 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 15–1 record from 2004 in which they lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. The Steelers, with the sixth and final seed to the playoffs, became just the second team ever to win... |
| Paris Warren Paris Warren Paris Jazz Warren is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
7 | 225 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on their 5-11 record in 2004. Carnell Williams won rookie of the year.... |
| Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene Jonathan Fanene is an American football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
Defensive end Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
7 | 233 | Cincinnati Bengals 2005 Cincinnati Bengals season The 2005 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 38th year in professional football and its 36th with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Postseason:... |
National
- Urban MeyerUrban MeyerUrban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
: The Home Depot Coach of the Year AwardThe Home Depot Coach of the Year AwardThe Home Depot Coach of the Year Award is given annually to college football's top head coach. The award for the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision is selected by ESPN and ABC college football analysts. No coach has ever won the award twice.-Winners:...
, Eddie Robinson Coach of the YearEddie Robinson Coach of the YearThe Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award is given annually to a college football coach by the Football Writers Association of America. The award honors Eddie Robinson, former coach at Grambling State who holds the second best record for most Division I wins with 408 behind only Joe...
, Woody Hayes' National Coach of the Year, Maxwell George Munger Award - Alex Smith: Heisman finalistHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
(fourth place), The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
National Player of the Year, Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
National Player of the Year, Cingular Sports/ABC Sports All-American, SI.com All-American (first team), CoSIDA Football Academic All-American of the Year, Davey O'Brien AwardDavey O'Brien AwardThe Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...
finalist, Walter Camp AwardWalter Camp AwardThe Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
finalist - Chris KemoeatuChris KemoeatuUikelotu Christopher "Chris" Kemoeatu is a Tongan professional American football player who is currently a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Utah Utes, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005...
: Cingular Sports/ABC Sports All-American, SI.com All-American (first team) - Morgan Scalley: SI.com All-American (second team), CoSIDA Academic All-American (first team), Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Bronko Nagurski National Player of the Week, Pat Tillman Award (East-West Shrine GameEast-West Shrine GameThe East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
honor) - Steve Savoy: SI.com All-American (second team), The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
All-American (honorable mention) - Ryan Smith: The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
Freshman All-American (second team) - Spencer TooneSpencer TooneSpencer Toone is an American football linebacker who was selected by the National Football League Tennessee Titans in the last round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
: CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII first team
Conference
- Coach of the Year: Urban MeyerUrban MeyerUrban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
- Offensive Player of the Year: Alex Smith
- Co-defensive Player of the Year: Morgan Scalley
- All-MWC First team: Alex Smith, Steve Savoy, Chris KemoeatuChris KemoeatuUikelotu Christopher "Chris" Kemoeatu is a Tongan professional American football player who is currently a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Utah Utes, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005...
, Steve FifitaSteve FifitaSteve Fifita is a free agent American football defensive tackle. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, Sione PouhaSione PouhaSione Sonasi "Bo" Pouha is an American football nose tackle for the National Football League New York Jets. Pouha played college football at the University of Utah. He also is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
, Morgan Scalley - All-MWC Second team: Paris WarrenParis WarrenParis Jazz Warren is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, Marty Johnson, Jesse BooneJesse BooneJesse Rostenbach Boone is an American football center for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, Eric WeddleEric WeddleEric Steven Weddle is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.-Early years:... - All-MWC Honorable mention: Makai Aalona, Quinton GantherQuinton GantherQuinton Ganther is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, Tommy Hackenbruck, Matt Kovacevich, Spencer TooneSpencer TooneSpencer Toone is an American football linebacker who was selected by the National Football League Tennessee Titans in the last round of the 2006 NFL Draft...