Utah’s Senior Class Deserves Your Presence Before Kick-Off Against Colorado

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Every year, the University of Utah football team celebrates the senior class during the final regular-season home game at Rice Eccles Stadium some 15 minutes prior to kick off.

Generally speaking, this celebration is not well attended, Utah fans decide to spend a few extra minutes in the tailgate lot devouring perfectly smoked meats and sipping on warming beverages, I don’t blame you.

However, this season is different, for multiple reasons.

The senior class of 2019 has taken the University of Utah to heights they have never been before. A number of seniors had an opportunity to declare for the NFL some 10 months ago but decided against that as they claimed to have ”unfinished business” they needed to take care of, and by that they mean winning a Pac-12 Championship and potentially debuting in the College Football Playoff with a consolation prize of a Rose Bowl birth.

We are going to shut down the tailgate 45 minutes early so we can all make Senior Day. This is one of @Utah_Football greatest senior classes that's made history and broken records, they deserve a packed house.

Go Utes!!

— Utah Pig Bus Tailgate (@UtahPigBus) November 25, 2019

These seniors have given Utah fans more than what any Utah fan could have ever asked for. Now it is time for you (the fan) to give back to them. Show up, just 15 minutes before you would normally, and scream and shout for your favorite Utah players. After all, Zack Moss may well be the greatest Ute to ever don the jersey.

During Kyle Whittingham’s weekly press conference earlier this week, he spoke on the importance of fans showing up to the game earlier. In fact, Coach Whittingham stopped answering a question to emphasize the importance of arriving early and to “make sure those stands are full for the seniors prior to kick-off.”

To the best fans in the nation: this senior class is special. Please arrive EARLY to Saturday’s game and help us send them off the right way!! #GoUtes

— Kyle Whittingham (@UtahCoachWhitt) November 25, 2019

Coach Whittingham also mentioned that junior cornerback Jaylon Johnson will also likely be honored with the seniors. Johnson is expected to declare for the NFL following his third year with the program and has been openly vocal expressing his desire to move onto the NFL with Whittingham.

Our Experience On Senior Day

As somebody that has experienced the festivities before, I can confidently tell you that the experience of having your name announced in front of 47,000 screaming fans followed by a roar is something that I will never forget. It sends shivers down your spine, knowing that your presence means something to a large number of people. Remarkable. Having your family in attendance, witnessing and sharing all of the joy with you is also a very emotional experience.

Former Ute/NFL offensive guard Isaac Asiata shares similar thoughts. On our podcast, Special Forces Gang, Asiata spoke on his experience on Senior day.

“On my senior night we played Oregon at home, and the stadium was not full until midway of the second quarter. You would think that you would not notice those things when you played, but when you’re playing Oregon and its the last home game, you notice everything.” Asiata said.

“As a senior, you take in everything, I remember the smells of the sideline and locker room, I remember what I wore, how I got dressed, the face paint that I wore, everything. I remember everything. The last thing you want these seniors to remember is that when they came out of the tunnel, the stadium was empty.”

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.@Utah_Football vs Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 30, will kick at 5:30 MT on ABC. #goutes pic.twitter.com/zlQQsNCjNH

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 24, 2019