Utah Utes football: U. expects a chilly reception in Laramie

LARAMIE, Wyo. — When Utah quarterback Brian Johnson got his first glance at this year's schedule, he took note of the trip to Wyoming. The early October date, he assumed, would mean pretty decent weather.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans.

Rain and snow, along with temperatures in the high 30s, are forecast for today's game between the 14th-ranked Utes (6-0, 2-0 Mountain West) and Wyoming (2-4, 0-3) at War Memorial Stadium.

"It's very ironic. It's crazy," Johnson said of the weather. "But you can't let it be a factor. You've just got to go out and play."

Utah's earliest trip to Wyoming since 1998 is expected to be played in conditions more like mid-November trips in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

"We've played in bad-weather games before," Johnson said. "So it won't be a factor."

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham agreed.

"It is what it is," he said. "We can't do anything about it.

"It'll be what it'll be."

And what the Utes hope it'll be is another victory. They enter the game with seven straight wins dating back to last season. The run of success has them pursuing the Mountain West Conference title and a possible berth in the Bowl Championship Series.

Among those leading the charge is defensive end Paul Kruger. The sophomore tops the conference and ranks third nationally in tackles for loss. In six games this season, he's already made 12.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Kruger credits his success to "just really doing the fundamentals" and hustle plays. He works hard to incorporate his speed and athleticism.

Another factor is his teammates. Kruger said having talented defenders like Koa Misi, Greg Newman, Derrick Shelby and Mike Wright around have provided him with a lot of opportunities to make plays.

"It's an awesome feeling." Kruger said of being among the national leaders in tackles for loss. "It's really exciting."

Kruger's success isn't unexpected. He was a Freshman All-American in 2007.

"We see him every day in practice and we know he's a special guy," Whittingham said. "And the numbers that he's putting up does not surprise us."

Whittingham considers Kruger "as talented a defensive end as we've ever had here."

The former quarterback enters today's game with four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He's 15th in the nation in sacks (0.92 per game) and tied a school record with four against Utah State earlier this season.

"(Kruger) is a guy that really is the catalyst or one of the catalysts for what we are doing on defense," Whittingham said. "He's got a great motor, he's a leader and his play rubs off on other people. His intensity and the way he plays the game really is a positive for us and the rest of the defense."

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