Nine days out from its much-hyped season opener against Michigan at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah has some extra motivation courtesy of Popular Mechanics.
Yes, the science and technology magazine.
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On the magazine's monthly calendar, this is listed under Sept. 3, according to Fox 13 in Salt Lake City : “College football season gets underway tonight with the University of Michigan in a cupcake game against Utah.”
This edition of Popular Mechanics has become bulletin-board material for Utah vs. Michigan: http://t.co/U1nuwoqO8q pic.twitter.com/gB8qTCWc2T
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) August 25, 2015 The Utes took that to heart and put it on their bulletin board.
“Our team is always juiced no matter what,” said Utah senior wide receiver Kenneth Scott. “So, with that little thing that they put in our locker room about us being a cupcake game it definitely puts more intensity into the game, just because of that little statement that was made. And plus we’re always trying to prove everybody wrong, because everyone sees us as the underdog, so we always have the chip on our shoulder.”
Added Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham: “There’s no problem getting up for Michigan. This game has had our attention since way back in late December of the last year. Our players are excited about it. It’s a great opportunity and it will draw a lot of national attention.”
In reality, Michigan is the cupcake in the game. The Wolverines lost their last two games to Utah — an ugly 26-10 defeat last season and a 25-23 heartbreaker in Rich Rodriguez's coaching debut in 2008 — and just hired their third head coach in eight years.
