The University of Florida doesn't travel outside of its state much for nonconference games.
As an SEC power, teams most often come to the Gators instead of the Gators going to a visiting stadium outside of their state, especially in a game that isn't considered a neutral game site. But for the first time since 1991 — that's 32 years — Florida embarks on a trip out west to open up the season Thursday night against Utah.
"I think it speaks to our national brand and that we're certainly in a different place now than we were even 10 years ago, and certainly 20 or 30 years ago," Whittingham said. "I mean, it's night and day when you go back that far. ... That just tells you that we're at a place, program wise, not where we want to be, but we've made great strides and inroads into our national brand, and it's still a work in progress.
In the university's view, Utah can now be linked as relative equals with blueblood programs that have a rich history in college football. "To play here, coach here, live here for 30-plus years and to watch Florida come here to play us is special," Shah said. "It says a lot about the program. It says a lot about what coach Whitt has done and those before — whether it's coach McBride, coach Meyer, now coach Whitt, who has taken the baton and just kind of continue to elevate the program.
But those one-off games were different. As a then lower-tier program, Utah was there for the pay day and to fill a spot as an "easy" opponent for a powerhouse team in pursuit of a national title. Maybe Utah stole a game here or there, but those were more the exception than the rule in the hierarchy of the program.
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