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

Utah Head Coach Morgan Scalley poses for a photo with fans Charlie Gaskill, Grady Gaskill and Isaac Deleon as fans gather at the Spence Eccles Field House indoor practice facility at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, for 22 for U Fan Day on Saturday, April 18, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News 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.

Safety Josh Sovereign shakes hands with David Sarle as he is pushed in a wheelchair by friend Marilyn Beagley as Utah fans gather at the Spence Eccles Field House indoor practice facility at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, for 22 for U Fan Day on Saturday, April 18, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Utah kicker Carter Meza talks with Denali, a black Lab Chesapeake Bay retriever mix, as fans gather at the Spence Eccles Field House indoor practice facility at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City for 22 for U Fan Day on Saturday, April 18, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Utah running back Steve Chavez-Soto and linebacker Brock Fonoimoana talk with fans gathered at the Spence Eccles Field House indoor practice facility at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, for 22 for U Fan Day on Saturday, April 18, 2026.