(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Kyle Whittingham, head coach of the Utah Utes, is no stranger to New Orleans.
It is no coincidence New Orleans is where Whittingham collected his fourth straight Bowl victory at Utah.
It seems he went back to Utah with more than a trophy for a souvenir. He also brought John Pease back as a coach.
About a month before the Sugar Bowl, Coach Whittingham found out his long time friend and assistant Gary Andersen was offered the head coaching job of the Utah State Aggies.
These men started coaching together at Idaho State in 1992, and had been at Utah since 1997.
Who could Coach Kyle count on from the beginning to step right in?
He needed a coach who knew his defense and could expand what is already in place.
Who can fill that void?
John Pease can.
John Pease is one of the men responsible for the "Dome Patrol" which included Ricky Jackson, Pat Swilling, Vaughan Johnson, and the late Sam Mills.
The Dome Patrol is still considered the best linebacker corps in Saints history as well as the NFL.
In 1986 Coach Pease started his first tenure with the Saints. At the same time Kyle was playing linebacker in the USFL.
For what team?
Of all places, for the New Orleans Breakers.
This was not Coach Whittingham’s first stint in New Orleans, but his second. As a young boy just starting to play football, he had a front row seat for the inaugural season of the New Orleans Saints.
Fred Whittingham, Kyle's dad, was a linebacker already in the league for two years before being traded to the Saints. He played for the Saints for two seasons before heading to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Utes have a tradition of hard-nosed football. Both offense and defense are known for their disciplined but aggressive play.
Having John Pease as an addition to the coaching staff will only add to such a tradition.
Coach Pease's pedigree is quite long. He has 19 years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has coached in many playoff games including the 1996 and 1999 AFC Championship game in Jacksonville.
Before he retired, Pease held the active NFL coaching record of career sack production (811).
He has coached in the Pro bowl as well as being the defensive coordinator for the West team in the East-West Shrine game in 2008.
His return to Utes will be his third appearance as a coach but his fourth time as a member. He was a linebacker for the Utes in 1963 and 1964 lettering both seasons.
How exciting to be headed back to his alma mater.
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