Utah's Morgan Scalley explains RSNB culture — And it says a lot about leadership
“It’s surreal to be here,“ Utah Utes football coach Morgan Scalley said during last week’s Big 12 Media Days.
If there was ever someone who felt like he was learning on the fly, the former longtime assistant under Kyle Whittingham would definitely be a prime candidate. Seven months ago, Scalley took over in Salt Lake City with everything coming together at once. Life came to the Utes fast. But there’s nobody who is better suited for success than Scalley.
Most things have stayed the same since Whittingham left the program. However, Scalley is starting to put his touch on the evolution of Utah football in a new era.
“Utah football has had a brand that’s very recognizable,” he said. “It’s a physical brand, and it’s very family oriented. I don’t know that I want to necessarily change that recipe for success.”
Scalley is a homegrown Utah product who came back to climb the ladder. He understands the culture and isn’t afraid to stray away from tradition in the name of building a better program. What came before Scalley was expedited into his role was established for generations. All of those practices worked and helped build the Utes into a contender.
With the NIL era, the rules are different. This isn’t about selling recruits on the idea of being in Salt Lake City. It’s about which program can put them in the best position. Either toward the NFL or in the corporate world. Scalley wants hungry players ready to compete in all facets of life.
“If you ask anyone in our building — “What’s your culture?” — they will tell you RSNB: relentless, smart, nasty ball hawks,” he said. “That’s just a way of playing and a way of living that I hope defines what we do on the football field. … That is our culture.
“Culture is what you believe. It’s how you behave based on that belief. And it’s the experience that’s delivered by that behavior. It’s what we practice every day. It’s not just words on walls. It’s not just some great creative acronym. It’s a way of life. You have to practice it every day.”
Scalley might be new at this. He’s also experienced football in every stage of his life. This feels like a Friday Night Lights type of storyline. Might be a bit cliche with a “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” attitude.
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