It appeared as if ’88 would follow the usual Fassel script but after
starting the season at 2-5, the Utes reeled off four consecutive victories
heading into the November 19th finale against BYU. The Cougars
had won nine in a row and fifteen of sixteen over Utah, held an 8-2 season
record and were shocked by the 57-28 beating they absorbed from their most
heated rival. Thus, the 6-5 Utah summary was truly uplifting. Scott Mitchell
led the team, throwing for a huge 4322 yards, by far the most in the nation.
Receivers Carl Harry who ranked second nationally with twenty touchdown
receptions and Aaron Grim benefitted most with sixty-five and fifty-five
receptions respectively. Harry later played two years with the Redskins and
a year in the CFL. DB and captain Eric Jacobsen again was the defensive
leader, completing his career with eleven interceptions. His daughter later
was a varsity soccer player for Utah and he has been a successful
businessman. For the ’88 season, a slight but significant change was made in
the helmet presentation. The red shell and existing striping remained but
the italicized and iconic “U” was altered and presented in a very popular
“straight block” type of font.
Fassel would
complete one additional season in Utah, finishing at 4-8 before embarking on
the remainder of his coaching odyssey that had him serve as offensive
coordinator and/or quarterbacks coach at numerous NFL stops and as Giants
head coach from 1997 through 2003. Most importantly for Utah fans his place
would be taken by Ron McBride, a former Utah assistant who first came on
staff with Wayne Howard. McBride is widely credited with building the Utes
into a stable force that included bowl appearances and winning records
against Utah’s rivals. For many he paved the way for the great success of
Urban Meyer and the program’s eventual entry to the PAC 12 Conference.
