dirk facer

It was a mixed bag for the Utes last week, falling to UCLA and knocking off USC. A bright spot for the Utes was the solid play of junior Alfonso Plummer, who has become more of a fixture in the rotation. Ute Insiders Dirk Facer and Jody Genessy talk about Plummer’s expanded role and look forward to this week’s games at Stanford on Wednesday and Cal Saturday. The duo also talks NFL Scouting Combine, where nine Utes will be showcasing their football wares this week in Indianapolis, and NFL mock drafts. That and more on this week’s episode.

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The road difficulties continued for the Runnin’ Utes last week in the Beaver State, where they dropped games to Oregon State and Oregon, keeping them winless away from home during Pac-12 play. So what’s the problem? The ball? (A different brand ball is used on the road than when they are at home). Youth? (Fifteen of their 17 players are underclassmen). Transfers? (Where is Donnie Tillman when you need him?). Ute Insiders Dirk Facer, Mike Sorensen, Jody Genessy and special guest Parker Van Dyke take aim at the issue and look ahead to this week’s games at home against UCLA (Thursday) and USC (Sunday). They also talk Utah football position battles as spring camp nears and news that a home-and-home with LSU has been added to the Utes’ schedule, albeit down the road 11 years. That and more on this week’s episode.

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Ute Insider Dirk Facer welcomes longtime Deseret News columnist Lee Benson and former Ute sharpshooter Parker Van Dyke into the podcast booth to talk all things Utes. Together, they look at Utah’s win-a-few, lose-a-few season, discuss why winning on the road is such a task in the parity-laden Pac-12, and learn about the next stop on Van Dyke’s hoops journey (Tijuana). They also address Utah’s stellar 2020 football recruiting class and the fact a record nine Utes will be strutting their stuff at this spring’s NFL Combine. That and more on this week’s episode.

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Ute Insiders Dirk Facer, Mike Sorensen and Jody Genessy look back at the Utes’ 0-2 trip to SoCal, where they faded down the stretch against USC and struggled throughout against UCLA. They issue midterm grades heading into the second half of league play — who has surprised and who has disappointed? — and talk about the Utes’ 2020 football recruiting class, and the departure of Utah running back Devonta’e Henry-Cole, who announced last week that he’ll be lacing ’em up for BYU next fall. That and more on this week’s episode. 

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It was a big weekend for BYU basketball guard TJ Haws — first taking the game-deciding shot against Saint Mary’s then welcoming his first child into the world. Needless to say, both deliveries were a success. Cougar Insiders Dick Harmon and Jay Drew break down last week’s two BYU victories and discuss how the Cougars are trending in the right direction just past the midpoint of the WCC season. They also talk about former Utah running back Devonta’e Henry-Cole’s decision to trade in his red uniform for a blue one and how a pair of former Cougars — Andy Reid and Daniel Sorensen — earned Super Bowl rings on Sunday. That and more on this week’s episode.

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The final AP Top-25 rankings were released Tuesday, with the Utes checking in at No. 16. After enjoying a high-flying season, which included winning eight straight conference games and earning a second trip to the Pac-12 title game, the season ended with a thud. But how good will the 2020 edition of this team be? Is this now a program that should routinely contend in the Pac-12 South? Utah Insiders Dirk Facer and Mike Sorensen examine the Utes’ prospects. They also revisit the Utah basketball team’s shellacking at Colorado, eerily reminiscent of the first meeting between the two teams as league foes. That and more on this week’s episode. 

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The Utah basketball team opened Pac-12 play with a solid win over a good Oregon State team and a hard-fought loss to an Oregon squad that was ranked No. 4 in the country. But how good is this Utah team and its league? Ute Insiders Dirk Facer, Mike Sorensen and Jody Genessy discuss the subject. They also look back at the Utes’ lopsided defeat to Texas in the Alamo Bowl and discuss how Utah’s 0-2 finish will impact the team’s legacy. That and more on this week’s episode. 

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The national early signing period began Wednesday for college football programs around the nation, but the highest-rated player on the Utah Utes’ wish list — Clark Phillips III, a defensive back out of California — didn’t put pen to paper until Thursday morning. Phillips had originally committed to Ohio State but had a late change of heart. According to the University of Utah, Phillips is the highest-rated recruit ever to commit to the program. Ute Insiders Dirk Facer, Jody Genessy, Mike Sorensen and Joe Coles break down the first two days of the signing period and talk bowl preparation as the Utes gear up for their Dec. 31 showdown with the Texas Longhorns. They also revisit the Utah basketball team’s stunning victory over No. 6 Kentucky on Wednesday night in Vegas. That and more on this week’s episode. 

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The Utes, who entered the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon dreaming of the College Football Playoff or, at worst, the Rose Bowl, now find themselves on the outside looking in. Hello, San Antonio. So what went wrong against the Ducks? And how will the Utes respond when they face an unranked 7-5 Texas Longhorns team in the Alamo Bowl? One thing Ute Insiders Dirk Facer, Mike Sorensen and Jody Genessy agree on is the ‘Horns shouldn’t be taken lightly’ (remember the fight they put up against both LSU and Oklahoma?). They also talk Pac-12 all-conference honors (there were many for the Utes) and revisit Utah’s comeback victory over BYU on the hardwoods. That and more on this week’s episode.

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All eyes will be on the Utah Utes and Oregon Ducks Friday night in Santa Clara, California. Can Utah stretch its winning streak to nine games and earn one of two things: a berth in the College Football Playoff or its first Rose Bowl invitation? Dirk Facer and rest of the Ute Insiders weigh in on the game and discuss the importance of style points, among other things. They also talk Utah men’s basketball (the Utes and Cougars meet Wednesday in the Huntsman Center) and women’s college volleyball (Utah faces Illinois in the NCAA first round in Provo Friday). That and more on this week’s episode.

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While interest continues to mount about a possible College Football Playoff berth for the Utah football team, Kyle Whittingham and the Utes are maintaining their focus on the task at hand — beating the Colorado Buffaloes and punching their ticket to the Pac-12 championship game. Ute Insiders Dirk Facer and Mike Sorensen take aim at the postseason scenarios heading into the final game of the regular season. They also talk Utah hoops and the Myrtle Beach Invitational, where the youthful Utes showed their age. That and more on this week’s episode.

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Ute Insiders Dirk Facer and Jody Genessy are joined by former Ute great Stevenson Sylvester to talk all things Utes, including how this year’s Utah team compares to Sylvester’s 2009 Sugar Bowl squad. The three also look back at the Utes’ big — and easy — win over the UCLA Bruins and talk unsung heroes on this year’s team. Lastly, they discuss the Utah men’s basketball team (winners of three straight), who are off to South Carolina this week for the Myrtle Beach Invitational. That and more on this week’s episode. 

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Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley continued to shine during the Utes’ victory over Washington in Seattle. Remaining on the Utes’ schedule are UCLA, winner of three straight and on deck for the Utes, Arizona and Colorado. Ute Insiders Dirk Facer and Mike Sorensen break down the Pac-12 South race and discuss College Football Playoff possibilities. They also talk Ute men’s hoops, which began in earnest Tuesday at Nevada. That and more on this week’s schedule.

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The Utes’ defense stuck a fork in the ASU Sun Devils Saturday afternoon in a game that featured Zack Moss breaking the Utes’ all-time rushing record and three different Utah QBs taking snaps. This week, the Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium to take on a Cal team that has dropped three straight contests after opening the season 4-0. Ute Insiders Dirk Facer, Mike Sorensen and Jody Genessy look back at the ASU win and ahead to this week’s contest. 

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The No. 15-ranked Utes return to action Saturday against Oregon State in Corvallis, looking to build on the momentum gained after their convincing victory over Washington State. Utah hopes to have Zack Moss, who has been nursing an injured shoulder, back in the lineup. OSU, meanwhile, is coming off a big win over UCLA in Pasadena. Ute Insiders Dirk Facer, Jody Genessy and Ryan McDonald break it all down, and weigh in on the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which participated in Pac-12 Basketball Media Days in San Francisco this week.

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The banged-up Utah Utes look to get back on track Saturday night when the high-octane Washington State Cougars pay a visit to Rice-Eccles Stadium. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses — the Utes to USC and the Cougars to UCLA. The latter was a late-night thriller in which WSU quarterback Anthony Gordon slung nine TD passes, but it wasn’t enough as the Bruins prevailed, 67-63. Will there be more fireworks Saturday night? The Ute Insiders look ahead to the Utes-Cougars tilt as well as other Ute topics of note, such as the injury to star running back Zack Moss and the start of Ute basketball practices. That and more on this week’s episode. 

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In this edition of the Deseret News Ute Insiders podcast, the crew reviews Utah’s 30-12 season-opening win at BYU. The Utes recorded their ninth consecutive victory in the rivalry game. Other topics discussed include running back Zack Moss and his quest to become Utah’s all-time leading rusher, as well as the defensive touchdowns scored by Pac-12 Player of the Week Francis Bernard and teammate Julian Blackmon. Saturday, the 13th-ranked Utes play their earliest home game (11 a.m.) in more than 22 years when Northern Illinois comes to town. That and more on this week's episode.

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It’s Rivalry Week and the Ute Insiders podcast has things covered. Deseret News sports writers Dirk Facer, Mike Sorensen, Brad Rock and Jody Genessy analyze the matchups and put the state’s biggest sporting event in perspective as to its meaning and popularity on a national scale. Who has more to lose this year, the Utes or Cougars? Check out what the guys have to say before Thursday’s game in Provo.

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How many games will the 14th-ranked Utes win in 2019? The consensus of the crew on the Deseret News Ute Insiders podcast predicted double-digit victories as the show kicked off its second season. Deseret News sports writers Dirk Facer, Mike Sorensen, Brad Rock and Jody Genessy discussed a variety of topics related to training camp and the upcoming campaign. That and more. Tune in.

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Sports writers Dirk Facer and Trent Wood discuss the state of Utah basketball, spring football and other topics on the latest edition of the Deseret News Ute Insiders podcast. Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham is this episode's special guest, discussing this weekend's Red-White Game and a tie-in with the HayesTough Foundation and former Ute safety Steve Tate.

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