Utah’s Morgan Scalley started with a win over Nebraska in Las Vegas

Morgan Scalley gets his first win as Utes head coach. Now comes the fight to keep your team together.

Bruce Springsteen was the one who made her famous: “With every wish comes a curse.”

Good. The Utah Utes got their wish Wednesday in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, not only dominating Nebraska, but making the Cornhuskers look silly. The curse, whatever form it takes, is bound to come in the coming days. More on that in a minute.

With a swirling cloud of dust leading up to his exit and little time for Morgan Scalley to fully take over, no one was really sure it would be entirely fair to say afterward that the man truly began his Utah head coaching career here.

As it turns out, the longtime Ute assistant would be more than happy to take all the judgments—and run, pass, and build a wall of violent defense with them.

The end result of the beginning? 44-22 win over Nebraska.

Quarterback Devon Dampier had this to say after the game: “Big shout out to Coach Scalley. We were ready to go all out for him to get his first win.”

Their hearts were out.

Scalley’s quickly edited version of the Utes looked a lot like — even better than — that of the other guy, who was in Orlando watching his new Michigan team play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Texas. That result was certainly less satisfying for Kyle Whittingham, who moved around the box and witnessed the Wolverines’ 41-27 loss.

If there was a hangover from Whittingham’s recent departure, what with the rumors and anxious chatter in the seats and around the country about offensive coordinator Jason Beck and other Utah coaches and players also moving to Michigan, it wasn’t easy to uncover all that spilled on the Allegiant Stadium field.

Utah just did what it does. He ran the football and punted for 225 yards. It passed for 310 yards and solidified the sloppy defense it had strangely turned into over the last few games of the regular season and in the first quarter here, allowing the ‘Huskers just 200 fewer yards than the Utes eventually got. Utah’s second-half resistance was almost as impressive as its offense.

That’s all good news for the Utes. Bad news?

Oh, the curse.

We can argue who performed better in this game — Dampier or his patron Beck. Both were exceptional, Beck calling the plays and Dampier executing them. Dampier actually outplayed Bryce Underwood, who was doing his thing about 2,300 miles away. If you don’t know who Underwood is and don’t understand the rationale and significance of this comparison, that’s okay. You might find out soon enough.

Either way, Scalley said there is a plan to fill the holes created by those Utes who are ready or thinking about jumping ship to Ann Arbor, but most of them were still around on this occasion, which is very beneficial for Utah. Star defensive end John Henry Daley has already announced his entry into the transfer window, which is probably a vague way of saying he’ll be wearing the Maize Blue. Who else would follow him remains to be seen, no one around here wants to find out.

That the Utes were able to hold together in such a convincing manner under these circumstances to make it roll in Vegas is a compliment to Scalley, who immediately embraced the program and everyone involved, even though he was so familiar with all things Utah that he was highly suspicious of who he would stick with and who he would pursue.

Winning is perhaps the best way to say goodbye and leave – and even for leftovers, say hello and get reacquainted. And that’s exactly what this game was – a strange mix of greetings and goodbyes.

Perhaps it gave a bowl game that might otherwise have — even for Ute and Cornhusker fans — more burp, scratch, and yawn significance.

As mentioned, Dampier was spectacular. The junior ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns and passed for those 310 yards and two more scores, playing the same way that initially more than enticed Whittingham to want to stay in Utah at least as long as the quarterback was available to him. A remarkably enthusiastic leader, Dampier has had that effect on all of the Utes going into the 2025 season. But at times, he’s a bit hesitant about his future plans.

Scalley, with the playcalling of Beck, certainly benefited from such guidance. Targets like tight ends JJ Buchanan and Dallen Bentley, who combined for 10 catches and 182 receiving yards and 2 TDs, were outstanding along with the big’uns up front.

Utah football’s happier thoughts revolve around the idea — evidence bubbling in this game — that a coaching transition may not have as many harsh consequences as such transitions at other programs. Everyone knows Scalley is a smart coach and an effective recruiter. With more financial backing going forward, Utah could be in good hands. Even Scalley’s opening interviews as head coach came across as eloquent and conscientious.

The months and years ahead will tell.

As for the impending curse, Michigan’s greedy eyes and hands full of profit behind it all… easy, the opening chapter in Vegas had a wish and a hook that would keep the pages turning, even if some of them were turned away, and the spirits of the Ute flying high no matter what.