Fassel on Utes to the Pac-12

In the days when Jim Fassel was on the sidelines at Utah, depth was a problem. An ongoing problem. An injury or two and not only were the players gone for the season, so were the Utes.
While they are far deeper nowadays, the former Ute and NFL coach says depth will still be an issue when Utah joins the Pac-12 next year.
“I think that on a given day, anybody can beat anybody,” Fassel said, last week. He is a former assistant coach at Stanford. “But to have the depth to withstand injuries, playing every week against strong opponents, can they do it? Yeah, sure, I think they could do it if they get into Pac-10 (12) recruiting. I do.”
He went on to say that recruiting can surprise others, and used Oregon — now playing for the national championship — as an example.

“I was always amazed in the Pac-10, when I coached there, at Oregon, and how they could get such players there, when I figured S.C., UCLA, Stanford, maybe ASU and Washington were such attractive spots. But (Oregon) always put together good teams, year in and year out. They did one of the best jobs of evaluating players and talent.”
Fassel added, “Oregon has always been tough and the last several years has been at the top of the pile. Once you get rolling, you keep getting better athletes.”
Now head coach/GM of the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, I asked Fassel whether the conference switch would affect the Utah-BYU rivalry.
“I think it will take a little edge off it, when they have been playing their game at the end of most years. Many years those two were playing for instate pride, the rivalry and the championship. Not having a championship any more — and also they may move some of the games to the beginning of the year — will take a little bit off.”
Still, said Fassel, the rivalry won’t die.
“You’re never going to take it away. You’ve still got to cross over to get to the other person’s back yard. They live with each other, work with each other, and when that game comes up, it will still be a fierce rivalry in Utah.”
Fassel’s son Mike is on the football operations staff, as is former Utah State coach Chuck Shelton, who is the director of football operations.