1972 Utah Utes football team

1972 Utah Utes football
Conference	Western Athletic Conference
Record	6–5 (5–2 WAC)
Head coach	Bill Meek (5th season)
Defensive coordinator	Jim LaRue (5th season)
Home stadium	Robert Rice Stadium

1972 Western Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 13 Arizona State $	5	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
BYU	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Utah	5	–	2	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Arizona	4	–	3	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Wyoming	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
New Mexico	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Colorado State	1	–	4	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
UTEP	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 Utah Utes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Utah as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth season under head coach Bill Meek, the Utes compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 5–2 against conference opponents, tying for second place in the WAC. Home games were played on campus at Robert Rice Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	at Texas Tech*	Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX	L 2–45	38,180	[1]
September 23	at Iowa State*	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	L 22–44	28,885	[2]
September 30	at Washington State*	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	W 44–25	20,200	[3]
October 7	UTEP	Robert Rice Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	W 39–20	20,860	[4]
October 14	at Arizona State	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ	L 48–59	49,168	[5]
October 21	at Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	W 27–6	13,185	[6]
October 28	New Mexico	Robert Rice Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	W 59–14	21,869	[7]
November 4	Arizona	Robert Rice Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	W 28–27	19,236	[8]
November 11	at Utah State*	Romney Stadium Logan, UT (rivalry)	L 16–44	19,434	[9]
November 18	BYU	Robert Rice Stadium Salt Lake City, UT (rivalry)	L 7–16	24,917	[10]
November 25	Colorado State	Robert Rice Stadium Salt Lake City, UT	W 62–36	10,839	[11]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

[12][13]

Game summaries

BYU

BYU Cougars (5–4) at Utah Utes (5–4)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
BYU	7	2	0	7	16
Utah	0	0	7	0	7

at Robert Rice Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Date: November 18, 1972
• Game weather: Overcast, 47 °F (8 °C)
• Game attendance: 24,917
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter BYU – Steve Stratton 4-yard run (John Monahan kick). BYU 7–0. Second quarter BYU – Safety. BYU 9–0. Third quarter UTAH – Ike Spencer 70-yard run (Fleming Jensen kick). BYU 9–7. Fourth quarter BYU – George Gourley 24-yard interception return (John Monahan kick). BYU 16–7. Top passers BYU – Dave Terry – 7/13, 71 yards UTAH – Daniel Payne – 3/17, 38 yards, 4 INT Top rushers BYU – Pete Van Valkenburg – 37 rushes, 158 yards UTAH – Ike Spencer – 11 rushes, 101 yards, TD Top receivers BYU – John Betham – 3 receptions, 32 yards UTAH – Stephen Odom – 2 receptions, 20 yards

Personnel

1972 Utah Utes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB Don Van Galder Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Bill Meek (5th year) Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

References

1. "Tech shows new weapon, rules, 45–2". The Austin American-Statesman. September 17, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Cyclones claim win over Utah 44–22". The Daily Nonpareil. September 24, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Utah beats Cougars 44–25". The Spokesman-Review. October 1, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Utah snares 39–20 victory on AstroTurf". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 8, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Furious Utah rally fails as Devils nab 59–48 win". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 15, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Utes handle mud, snow, Cowboys in WAC tussle". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. October 22, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Redskins rip Lobo squad". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 29, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Utah nips Arizona, 28–27". The Arizona Republic. November 5, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Adams' 561 yards set NCAA record". Nevada State Journal. November 12, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Cougars snuff Ute's bowl hopes, 16–7". The Daily Herald. November 19, 1972. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Rams end season with 62–36 loss to Utah". Fort Collins Coloradoan. November 26, 1972. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Ute Record Book" (PDF). University of Utah. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
13. "1972 NCAA Football Statistics (Utah)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 8, 2024.

External links

• Game program: Utah at Washington State – September 30, 1972 – Martin Stadium debut