Whitt stopped caring about the fans years ago. To me it felt like the turning point was when those BYU fans accosted his wife — ever since then the walls have gone up. First, he shut down open practices, then he cut out media access. That used to be our window into the program. Now all we get are the post-practice interviews, which are pure coach-speak — no real insight, just enough to get by without giving anything away to opponents.
We always complain about how little content is written about Utah or how the media portrays us, but honestly, how can they cover a team they aren’t allowed to see? Reporters get 20 minutes with tired players who’ve been coached not to say anything meaningful. Compare that to the Urban Meyer era — he saw the value in keeping fans close. He built the MUSS into one of the top student sections in the country, and that reputation is still living off his legacy today.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for what Whitt has done. I get his reasoning, but the paranoia has gone too far. When he eventually passes the reins to Scalley, I hope Morgan looks back at his time under Meyer and decides to improve the fan experience instead of walling it off further. Shoot, even Fan Fest has turned into a joke. I used to go every year, but at this point? Even if I still lived in Utah, I don’t think I’d bother.