TEMPE — When Kyle Whittingham took over as Utah’s football coach in 2005, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham was still a sophomore quarterback at Chaparral High School.

While Dillingham worked his way up the ranks of college football, he took inspiration from Whittingham, who had built a rock-solid program in Salt Lake City.

Whittingham’s teams have recorded winning records in 17 of his 20 seasons as head coach, including three conference titles and an undefeated 2008 season that ended with a 2009 Sugar Bowl victory over coach Nick Saban and Alabama. He also holds the record for most coaching victories in Utah history.

Built on brawn and tenacity, the Utes identity is one Dillingham hopes to establish in the Sun Devils, who visit Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday.

“The culture tha

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