John Coon, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - Banners hang outside Rice Eccles Stadium during an NCAA college football game Sept. 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred, File)

Utah Mammoth to host the 2027 NHL Winter Classic against the Colorado Avalanche

January 7, 2026

The Utah Mammoth will host the 2027 Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium against the Colorado Avalanche. It’s set to be the first outdoor game for the franchise formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes and before that the Winnipeg Jets. It’s the last in the NHL that has not yet taken part. The exact date has not yet been announced for the game at the home of the University of Utah footbal team. Owners Ryan and Ashley Smith have been praised by Commissioner Gary Bettman for just about everything they’ve done since buying the team and relocating it to Salt Lake City.

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) prepares to dunk against Eastern Washington guard Isaiah Moses (2) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Dybantsa gets first BYU triple-double since 2016 to lead No. 10 Cougars past Eastern Washington

December 22, 2025

AJ Dybantsa had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead No. 10 BYU to a 109-81 victory over Eastern Washington. Dybantsa is the first Coygars player with a triple-double since Kyle Collinsworth against UAB on March 16, 2016. Richie Saunders had 22 points to help BYU go unbeaten through a four-game homestand. Kennard Davis Jr. and Robert Wright III added 17 points apiece. Wright also had seven assists. The Cougars shot 61% from the field in the second half and made 16 3-pointers. Davis led the way with a career-high five. Kiree Huie led Eastern Washington with 17 points.

FILE - Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley fields questions during a news conference ahead of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Penn State Dec. 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Morgan Scalley promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach at Utah, succeeding Whittingham

December 13, 2025

Morgan Scalley has been promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach at Utah. He succeeds Kyle Whittingham, who announced Friday he would step down after 21 seasons. Scalley will take over after No. 15 Utah plays Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 31. He’s been the defensive coordinator under Whittingham for 10 seasons and has been a part of the Utah coaching staff since 2007. Scalley played safety for Utah from 2001 to 2004, helping the Utes to an undefeated season as a senior.

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, top, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) fight for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)

Thunder improve to 23-1 with 15th straight victory, routing Jazz 131-101

December 7, 2025

Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams each scored 25 points and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder improved to 23-1 with their 15th straight victory, routing the Utah Jazz 131-101 on Sunday night. Holmgren added nine rebounds, and Williams had eight assists. Aaron Wiggins scored 19 points. Oklahoma City shot 58% from the field and made 21 3-pointers. The Thunder scored 27 points off 17 Utah turnovers. Kyle Filipkowski led the Jazz with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks added 20 points apiece. Clayton had nine assists. Both teams played without their leading scorers. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sidelined because of left elbow bursitis. Utah’s Lauri Markkanen sat out with an undisclosed illness.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, center, looks to a replay with officials during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Kalani Sitake agrees to long-term contract extension with BYU after drawing interest from Penn State

December 2, 2025

Kalani Sitake will remain BYU’s head football coach after agreeing to a new long-term contract extension on Monday. Sitake is 83-44 since taking over at BYU in 2016. The Cougars have won 11 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006 and 2007. Penn State made Sitake a top candidate in its search to replace James Franklin, who was fired earlier this season after a 0-3 start in Big Ten play. Sitake had conversations with Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft and received an offer reportedly worth eight figures annually to become the next coach at Penn State. BYU made retaining Sitake a top priority and put together a contract extension that swayed him to stay at the school where he played.

BYU running back LJ Martin (4) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the first half an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Bear Bachmeier and LJ Martin lead No. 11 BYU past UCF for a 41-21 victory

November 29, 2025

Bear Bachmeier threw for 289 yards and a touchdown to help No. 11 BYU beat UCF 41-21. LJ Martin added 95 yards and three touchdowns on the ground for the Cougars (11-1, 8-1 Big 12, No. 11 CFP), who clinched a spot in the Big 12 championship game next Saturday. Parker Kingston added 181 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Tayven Jackson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns to lead UCF. The Knights (5-7, 2-7 Big 12) did not qualify for a bowl game for a second straight season after giving up 31 unanswered points to the Cougars.

Tampa Bay Lightning players celebrate after a goal against the Utah Mammoth during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Guentzel scores in the 3rd period as the Lightning beat the Mammoth 4-2 for their 5th straight win

November 2, 2025

Jake Guentzel snapped a tie in the third period, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Utah Mammoth 4-2 for their fifth consecutive win. Yanni Gourde, Anthony Cirelli, and Brandon Hagel also scored for Tampa Bay, and Jonas Johansson stopped 25 shots. It was Cirelli’s team-high seventh goal this season. Lawson Crouse and Kailer Yamamoto scored for Utah, which dropped a home game for the first time this season after opening with four straight wins in Salt Lake City. Ian Cole had two assists, and Karel Vejmelka made 22 saves. Utah had scored at least three goals in eight straight games.

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) runs the football in open space during the first half an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

No. 24 Utah hands No. 17 Cincinnati its first Big 12 loss

November 2, 2025

Devon Dampier threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 24 Utah to a 45-14 victory over No. 17 Cincinnati, snapping the Bearcats’ seven-game winning streak. Ryan Davis led Utah with a season-high 132 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. Wayshawn Parker added 104 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Utes (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) racked up 480 total yards – including 267 rushing yards. Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby threw for 221 yards and a touchdown and ran for another. Cyrus Allen had 133 yards receiving, highlighted by an 88-yard touchdown, on two catches for the Bearcats (7-2, 5-1).

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) rolls out to pass as Utah linebacker Lander Barton (8) and Utah safety Tao Johnson (5) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/George Frey)

No. 15 BYU edges No. 23 Utah 24-21 for third straight Holy War victory

October 18, 2025

Bear Bachmeier had 229 yards of offense while throwing for a touchdown and running for another score to rally No. 15 BYU to a 24-21 victory over No. 23 Utah on Saturday night. LJ Martin added 122 yards on the ground to help the Cougars (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) remain unbeaten and beat their Holy War rivals for a third straight time. Devon Dampier threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns for Utah (5-2, 2-2). Daniel Bray added a career-high 121 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. The Utes surrendered 14 straight points after taking their first lead less than a minute into the fourth quarter.

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, center, looks to pass the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against West Virginia, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Bear Bachmeier throws for career-high 351 yards to lead No. 23 BYU past West Virginia, 38-24

October 4, 2025

Bear Bachmeier threw for a career-high 351 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 23 BYU to a 38-24 victory over West Virginia on Friday night. Chase Roberts led the Cougars with a career-high 161 yards on four catches. Parker Kingston added a career-high 111 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) rolled up 517 total yards and had two takeaways. Khalil Wilkins totaled 170 yards on offense and had two interceptions in his first career start. West Virginia (2-4, 0-3) forced three turnovers but also got burned repeatedly by big plays from BYU.

Texas Tech defensive back Brice Pollock intercepts a pass intended for Utah tight end JJ Buchanan during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)

Backup QB Will Hammond sparks No. 17 Texas Tech’s offense to a 34-10 win over No. 16 Utah

September 20, 2025

Backup quarterback Will Hammond stepped into a stagnant Texas Tech offense in the third quarter and put together four scoring drives to lead the 17th-ranked Red Raiders to a 34-10 win over No. 16 Utah. Hammond threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 61 yards. He entered the game in relief of Behren Morton, whose helmet slammed on the turf after he slid head first into contact with Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall during the Red Raiders’ opening drive of the third quarter. Morton was ruled out after the hit with his teaming leading 10-3. He threw for 142 yards and two interceptions before exiting.

John Coon.