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The University of Utah Athletics
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Photo by: Anna Fuder/Utah Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Utah vs. Baylor
11/15/2025 9:27 PM | Football
Utah Quotes
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
Opening Statement...
"Proud of our guys. There was a lot of back-and-forth for a while, but we just kept at it and answered the bell every time. Credit Baylor, they're a scrappy team, quarterback is real weapon. That's the best receiving corps we've seen all year, there's no question about that. Tight ends, outstanding and they have a lot going for them, particularly on offense, but our guys were dialed in tonight. We didn't have our best outing defensively as far as yardage given up, but passing yards are different than rushing yards. If you throw for over 400, you have less than a 50 percent chance to win. That's statistically proven. Proud of the way the whole team hung in there. Byrd Ficklin was probably the biggest catalyst for us when we needed it. He provided two huge runs for us. The guy is a really good football player. He's got a bright future as I've said several times before. He really provides a spark for us. Wayshawn Parker did a nice job and went over 100 yards again. He's really motivated to do that because when he does, he gets to wear those pink cleats again the next week. I've made a deal with him, so he gets to wear pink cleats again next week. I thought our defense, even though we gave up some stuff, played well on third down, held them to right about 30 percent. We ran the ball for almost 400 yards, which has kind of been our calling card this year. We're second or third in the country rushing the football and that offensive line is a huge reason why. We've been able to do that week-in and week-out. Credit the way they played. We got decent pressure on the quarterback. Not great, but enough to make it a little bit uncomfortable for them. [Had] a couple interceptions, a pick-six, that was a big play at that time. A lot of good things. A lot that both sides did well, but we did enough to get the win."Â
On if this was his team's most unique win in some time...
"I'd have to go back and really look at it, but it's the most unique win in at least the short-term past. It was definitely back-and-forth. Defensively, we usually control things a bit better, but they have a good offense and they have some weapons over there."
On Spencer Fano's quote about the offense stepping up to help the defense and what it means to have an offense that keeps answering the bell...
"It's a credit to Spencer first of all and the kind of person he is. He's a competitor and he's a team-guy all the way. Our offense has done pretty good this year. We're first or second in the league in a lot of categories. Considering how much we struggled last year, the turnaround has been remarkable. Very proud of those guys.
Quarterback Devon Dampier
On what allowed the offense to start scoring after a difficult start...
"A lot of that fell on me. Just have to convert third downs, be smarter, but my team had my back and that's what I love about my boys. We knew coming out of halftime, it was a whole new half. Let's step it up and when people are balling, keep giving them the ball."
On what its like when him and Byrd are both on the field...
"We have a very loving relationship. There's no hate involved in anything. Any time we get to see each other shine, we're all for it. Byrd has stepped up as a freshman and he's earned the right to get in the game. He proved it tonight."
Quarterback Byrd Ficklin
On his second touchdown run...
"Just going out there to play ball, going out there to have fun. That's my motto, just go out there and have fun. A hole opened up from my great offensive line. Wayshawn made a good block. It was just perfect. From then on, it was just get in the open field, make one man miss and score."
On what its like when him and Devon are both on the field...
"It can be nothing but fun. We talk about it all the time, what are we going to do when we're both in and we score. It's just something we both love, we're both have fun with and its a really loving relationship between me and my best friend."
On what he was thinking before his second touchdown run...
"There wasn't too much going through my mind. It was more of take care of the ball, don't give them more momentum. Come out and be vibe killer. When we broke that long run, that's what it did. It killed their whole vibe for the rest of the game."
Offensive Lineman Spencer Fano
On how rewarding it is to see the run game succeed...
"It's so much fun. You do your job and see these guys running down the field. I feel like usually we have a lot of those short yards and those chip yards and we take a lot of time off the clock, but today, these guys were getting out there, making plays, untouchable in the open field. It was a lot of fun."
On having the back of the defense...
"It's about time. Those dudes have saved us so many times. It's about time we had their back. Feels good."
Â
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
Opening Statement...
"Proud of our guys. There was a lot of back-and-forth for a while, but we just kept at it and answered the bell every time. Credit Baylor, they're a scrappy team, quarterback is real weapon. That's the best receiving corps we've seen all year, there's no question about that. Tight ends, outstanding and they have a lot going for them, particularly on offense, but our guys were dialed in tonight. We didn't have our best outing defensively as far as yardage given up, but passing yards are different than rushing yards. If you throw for over 400, you have less than a 50 percent chance to win. That's statistically proven. Proud of the way the whole team hung in there. Byrd Ficklin was probably the biggest catalyst for us when we needed it. He provided two huge runs for us. The guy is a really good football player. He's got a bright future as I've said several times before. He really provides a spark for us. Wayshawn Parker did a nice job and went over 100 yards again. He's really motivated to do that because when he does, he gets to wear those pink cleats again the next week. I've made a deal with him, so he gets to wear pink cleats again next week. I thought our defense, even though we gave up some stuff, played well on third down, held them to right about 30 percent. We ran the ball for almost 400 yards, which has kind of been our calling card this year. We're second or third in the country rushing the football and that offensive line is a huge reason why. We've been able to do that week-in and week-out. Credit the way they played. We got decent pressure on the quarterback. Not great, but enough to make it a little bit uncomfortable for them. [Had] a couple interceptions, a pick-six, that was a big play at that time. A lot of good things. A lot that both sides did well, but we did enough to get the win."Â
On if this was his team's most unique win in some time...
"I'd have to go back and really look at it, but it's the most unique win in at least the short-term past. It was definitely back-and-forth. Defensively, we usually control things a bit better, but they have a good offense and they have some weapons over there."
On Spencer Fano's quote about the offense stepping up to help the defense and what it means to have an offense that keeps answering the bell...
"It's a credit to Spencer first of all and the kind of person he is. He's a competitor and he's a team-guy all the way. Our offense has done pretty good this year. We're first or second in the league in a lot of categories. Considering how much we struggled last year, the turnaround has been remarkable. Very proud of those guys.
Quarterback Devon Dampier
On what allowed the offense to start scoring after a difficult start...
"A lot of that fell on me. Just have to convert third downs, be smarter, but my team had my back and that's what I love about my boys. We knew coming out of halftime, it was a whole new half. Let's step it up and when people are balling, keep giving them the ball."
On what its like when him and Byrd are both on the field...
"We have a very loving relationship. There's no hate involved in anything. Any time we get to see each other shine, we're all for it. Byrd has stepped up as a freshman and he's earned the right to get in the game. He proved it tonight."
Quarterback Byrd Ficklin
On his second touchdown run...
"Just going out there to play ball, going out there to have fun. That's my motto, just go out there and have fun. A hole opened up from my great offensive line. Wayshawn made a good block. It was just perfect. From then on, it was just get in the open field, make one man miss and score."
On what its like when him and Devon are both on the field...
"It can be nothing but fun. We talk about it all the time, what are we going to do when we're both in and we score. It's just something we both love, we're both have fun with and its a really loving relationship between me and my best friend."
On what he was thinking before his second touchdown run...
"There wasn't too much going through my mind. It was more of take care of the ball, don't give them more momentum. Come out and be vibe killer. When we broke that long run, that's what it did. It killed their whole vibe for the rest of the game."
Offensive Lineman Spencer Fano
On how rewarding it is to see the run game succeed...
"It's so much fun. You do your job and see these guys running down the field. I feel like usually we have a lot of those short yards and those chip yards and we take a lot of time off the clock, but today, these guys were getting out there, making plays, untouchable in the open field. It was a lot of fun."
On having the back of the defense...
"It's about time. Those dudes have saved us so many times. It's about time we had their back. Feels good."
Â
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