‘It’s hard not to be excited’: Ute fan enthusiasm builds for the Morgan Scalley era

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There are still 138 days until Utah kicks off the 2026 football season, but the excitement level for Morgan Scalley’s first campaign as Ute head coach was high at Utah’s “22 For U” fan event on Saturday.

Thousands of fans waited in a line that stretched well out the door at the Spence Eccles Field House and onto Guardsman Way for their chance to interact with Utah’s players and get autographs from the team — an impressive turnout for an event announced just three weeks ago.

Saturday’s fan event replaced the football team’s traditional spring game. Instead of the annual scrimmage at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah had its final practice of spring camp on Friday, with Scalley preferring to utilize the 15th practice as an actual practice instead of the game.

With no fans able to take in football this spring, Scalley wanted to still get them involved as practices concluded, so Utah organized the event for fans to meet the players.

Though nothing is as good as watching live football at Rice-Eccles Stadium, judging by the turnout and the smiles on fans’ faces, the event was a hit.

“It was a cool event. Getting to meet all the players was fun, so hope they do this again and again in the future,” said Ute fan Grady Bell.

In addition to players, Utah’s assistant coaches — from running backs coach Mark Atuaia to safeties assistant Jordan Fogal — were on hand for two hours, guiding kids through a number of football drills, including tackling a dummy and passing practice.

Observing it all was the new head man, who made time to talk with each fan who approached him at the event.

“We wanted to do this fan fest simply because not often do you get to see the faces of our players. You see helmet, you see shoulder pads,” Scalley said.

“These are unbelievable young men that we love that make this community, this university proud and so grateful that you’re able to meet them, shake hands, get autographs. Love having you here.”

A few minutes of Morgan Scalley talking at today’s fan event. pic.twitter.com/AO2aidsEa5

— Joe Coles (@JoeAColes) April 19, 2026

Scalley, who played at Utah from 2001-2004, has been on staff in Salt Lake City since 2006, when he was hired by Kyle Whittingham as an administrative assistant shortly after Whittingham became head coach in 2005.

The former star safety quickly rose up the coaching ladder, becoming Utah’s safeties coach in 2008 and later the Utes’ defensive coordinator in 2016.

In almost a decade calling Utah’s defense, Scalley’s unit finished the season ranked in the top 25 nationally in fewest points allowed five times.

Long considered Whittingham’s eventual successor, he took over as Utah’s head coach in December after Whittingham stepped down and later became Michigan’s head coach.

Early reviews from players on Scalley’s tenure have touched on the high level of energy he brings to the team and his loyalty to the university.

“He shows by example. You can tell that he will die for the program. Seriously, I don’t know anybody else that is more dedicated to anything than coach Scalley, and I totally mean that,” said Utah safety Jackson Bennee.

Since taking over, Scalley has injected new life into the program and has literally put his money where his mouth is, donating $2 million to the football program in March in a unique move.

“I’m one of you. All of you that are sitting in here that went through the same thing, I’m a fan. I’m a Ute. Have been, forever will be,” Scalley said in his introductory press conference.

While the years and games ahead will prove just what kind of coach Scalley is, the excitement from fans about the new era is palpable.

Michael Rognon, who drove down from Davis County with his family to attend Saturday’s event, is ready for the Scalley era to start.

“We’ve been Utah fans for a long time and we’ve been fans of Morgan Scalley for a long time and it’s hard not to be excited with the excitement that he brings,” Rognon said.

“He’s always animated. He’s always excited. He’s always cheering everyone on, so it’s hard not to be excited as our family is to see him.”

Rognon has liked how Scalley built his staff — especially the addition of former All-Pro lineman Jordan Gross, who helped keep five-star offensive lineman Kelvin Obot in Salt Lake City — and that Utah’s new coach retained a good chunk of key players.

“He did as good a job retaining people as he could with Kyle Whittingham leaving, so hopefully he maintains that culture,” Rognon said.

The transition from Whittingham to Scalley certainly wasn’t the smooth one originally envisioned by Utah when it devised the coach-in-waiting plan. Public records released in March showed that Whittingham wanted to return for the 2026 season and provided a glimpse into negotiations for a raise in the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Utah countered with a proposed one-year contract for the 2026 season, which would have increased Whittingham’s total salary to $8 million; however, it noted that Scalley, the coach-in-waiting, would have “full and final oversight in decision-making for the areas of football recruiting/player personnel staffing and the general manager position effective Feb. 1,” which was after the 2026 transfer portal closed.

Whittingham and the university could not come to an agreement on those terms, and on Dec. 12, the school announced that Whittingham was stepping down after 21 years as head coach.

Weeks later, Whittingham became the head coach at Michigan when the job opened up after Sherrone Moore was fired.

Six Utah assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Jason Beck, followed him to Ann Arbor. So did five players, including cornerback Smith Snowden, defensive end John Henry Daley and athlete Salesi Moa.

As for Whittingham’s legacy with Utah fans, both Bell and Rognon said the longtime coach’s move to Michigan didn’t change their opinion of him.

“No, not at all,” Rognon said. “Whittingham did so much for the program. I can’t blame him. I think it was an odd situation. I don’t think he was ready to leave, and so I don’t blame him for coaching. A place like Michigan comes calling, and you can’t say no.”

Added Bell regarding Whittingham: “He did a lot of great things here, so it’s sad to see him move on, but hope he does great things at Michigan.”

Incidentally, 1,600 miles away and hours before Scalley and the Utes met with fans on the practice field, Whittingham was coaching his first-ever spring game at the Big House at Michigan — a 7-6 win for the Maize team over the Blue team.

On Saturday in Salt Lake City, though, it was clear that Utah fans have turned the page and are all-in on the Scalley era.

“I’m very excited. He brings a winning culture,” Bell said. “He’s been here a long time, so he’s ready to win some games.”

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