Utah’s Offense Is Sticking Together In Preparation For USC
Oct 11, 2022, 1:57 PM
Cameron Rising #7 of the Utah Utes throws a pass during warm ups before their game against the USC Trojans on November 21, 2020. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- Utah’s offense isn’t letting setbacks and disappointment deter them from sticking together while preparing to host #7 USC this weekend. In fact, the message was quite clear during Monday’s media availability- there is no finger pointing, only belief everyone can come together and still accomplish some of the Utes’ bigger goals for the year.
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Utah’s Offense Is Sticking Together
Team captain and quarterback Cam Rising said the focus this week for Utah is having unwavering belief in each other while continuing to get better as a team. While others are talking on the outside about what the Utes are or aren’t, the team is only focused on what is going on inside the building.
“First, we just have to have unwavering belief in everything that we are doing and make sure the only thing that really matters is what is going on inside the building,” Rising said. “Focus on that and take it one rep at a time and just focus on getting better. Be ready to go for this weekend.”
Running back Tavion Thomas says he can see the motivation and hunger in everyone’s eyes to make for last week’s loss to UCLA. In Thomas’ mind, the best remedy for the team is turning their attention to being at their best for the Trojans this weekend.
“It’s going to bring out the best in us for sure,” Thomas said. “After that loss- we are all feeling that loss, so I feel like we are all going to pay attention to the little details, we’re going to come out and get going. We are angry- like, I can see my boys- I can see it in their eyes. We want this. We are going to come out running.”
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For wide receiver Devaughn Vele, this week is about bringing everyone on the team closer together in an effort to show everyone Utah is the team they were thought to be. However, while it’s important to stick together, Vele did note it’s also going to take each individual doing their part to make the whole better.
“I feel like we just have to understand what is at stake,” Vele said. “We have to come together; we have to play together. We can’t be having to pick up each other. We all have to be bringing that same energy- always going 22% harder every play. You never want to point fingers because when you start pointing fingers that’s when you start having rifts within the team. That’s when people start talking bad about each other and that’s when the chemistry isn’t there. That’s one thing Utah prides themselves on is building that teammate chemistry.”
The #20 Utes will be taking on the #7 Trojans at home this weekend at Rice-Eccles Stadium for their “Dark Mode” game which will also serve as a tribute to fallen teammates Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. The team will be donning special hand-painted helmets to honor their teammates along with their all black uniforms. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT on FOX.
