Las Vegas Bowl Notebook: Traffic to Sam Boyd Stadium will be a problem

For those heading to Sam Boyd Stadium for today's Las Vegas Bowl, executive director John Saccenti wants you to leave early.

The fan festival begins at 9 a.m., and he also wants fans to prepare for the expected heavy traffic for the 12:30 p.m. game.

"If everybody tries to time it to get there at 11 (a.m.), it'll be a nightmare," Saccenti said. "We have two teams that traditionally drive, so we'll have the most amount of cars we've ever had out there, I think."

This is the most anticipated game in the 24-year history of the bowl, pitting in-state rivals Brigham Young against No. 22 Utah.

No bowl shuttles have been arranged by the bowl, but the game has partnered with the ride-sharing company Lyft, which will have its own drop-off spot at the stadium. Lyft rides will be available from the airport and host hotels Hard Rock and Mandalay Bay.

FANTASTIC FINISHES — Utah is 11-1 in its past 12 bowl games, and Kyle Whittingham has been a central figure in all of them. He was the Utes defensive coordinator for the first three games of the run and is 8-1 as head coach, tied for the best bowl win percentage (88.9) in NCAA history with former UNLV and Southern California coach John Robinson.

"I just know our guys prepare hard and prepare the right way for a bowl game," Whittingham said. "The bowl is two things. It's a reward for a good season, but it's also a chance to win another football game, and our players understand that and they're bound and determined to go out and get their 10th win of the season."

Kicker Andy Phillips gives much of the credit to Whittingham.

"He just places an emphasis on finishing," Phillips said. "A lot of teams take a sigh of relief after the regular season and their bowl prep maybe isn't as rigorous or taken as seriously as their regular season prep would be. Coach Whittingham does a great job ingraining in us to finish. Even when we're here in Vegas where there are so many distractions, the bottom line is we're here to play a game and win a game."

PAUL SNUBBED BY PAC-12 — Utah linebacker Gionni Paul earned first team All-Pac-12 honors this season, but the senior was disappointed he wasn't named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year as well.

Despite Paul ranking second in the conference in tackles (109) and leading the Utes with seven takeaways (four interceptions, three fumble recoveries) and 12½ tackles for a loss, the Pac-12's top defensive award went to Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner, projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

"I kind of figured I wasn't going to get it, not because of my play, but I feel like people look at Utah as an underdog. We're not really one of the big-name schools like UCLA, Oregon and USC," Paul said. "I felt like I deserved it. I worked my behind off. I've been through injuries, transfers, letdowns, being away from my family and my daughter and the sacrifices I made. I wanted it so bad and just to fall a little short of your goals, it kind of hurts. But the cream always rises to the top."

Paul spent his first two college seasons at Miami before transferring to Utah. This will be his first Holy War, a rivalry game he said is more intense than the ones he played in for the Hurricanes against Florida State.

"I think this one has got it beat," he said. "It's a bowl game, postseason, and an instate rivalry that we're taking it out of state for a showdown in Las Vegas.

"I just know that Utah can't lose this game, and I'm going to do what I can to help Utah win this game. Some of the guys that have been here longer than me have told me it's one of the most amped-up games you'll play. I'm just waiting for that feeling."

KICKING IT — At 6-feet-8 and 280 pounds, BYU senior defensive end Bronson Kaufusi uses is entire range to the max. He has blocked four kicks this season, which is best in the nation.

"I've been blessed with height," Kaufusi said. "I'm able to reach up there and block those kicks. Great players next to me do a lot so I can get over the opportunity to block the kicks."

Kaufusi has put up all kinds of crazy numbers. Of his 55 tackles, 17 have been for loss, including 11 sacks. His 26½ career sacks are the second highest at BYU since 2000.

"He's so disciplined, he tries so hard, he always chooses to do the right thing, and then he has enough athletic ability as well," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "He is really such a good football player, his production has helped change our year."

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.comH or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65. Contact Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33