Maybe it’s a good thing Utah (likely) didn’t reach bowl eligibility this season after all.
During the course of the Utes’ 42-35 win over Colorado Friday, John White topped the 1,000-yard plateau for the second consecutive season. The running back, who set the school record last season (1,519 yards) is the first player in the Utes’ history to go over that mark in back-to-back seasons; Eddie Johnson also did it twice, although in non-consecutive season (1984, 1986).
The win and the record, though, came at a cost.
In the fourth quarter of the win, White suffered a broken arm at the end of a 14-yard run that gave him 168 for the game and 1,041 for the season. It was also likely the final play of the senior’s collegiate career as, even if the Utes were to stumble into a bowl bid -- 5-7 teams would be considered if there aren’t 70 bowl-eligible teams -- he would be out for a period of four-to-six weeks.
As for his school record, White shoved the credit across the table to his teammates.
“It means a lot to me but it means more to my team. They got me there,” White said. “Without the O-line, tight ends, wide receivers and quarterbacks and all the guys that help out blocking I couldn’t get there.”