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BURBANK, Calif. — Utah head coach Kyle Whttingham didn't have to answer questions about his job status this year at Pac-12 media days.
With a 9-win season and a new contract extension, the questions this year were about his potentially Heisman Trophy-caliber running back, stadium expansion and the suspension of defensive back Dominique Hatfield.
Charges of felony aggravated robbery were dropped against Hatfield, who would've been a junior cornerback with the Utes in 2015. He's been cleared of all wrongdoing with the law.
"He's still dismissed from the football team, and there's been no change to that status right now," Whittingham said. "As I've said, the issue that was resolved is part of the equation but not the entire equation."
Whittingham and Utah football have set parameters to reinstate Hatfield to the team, but they won't necessarily come this season.
"I'm hoping it would happen," he said. "He's a good kid … was in a bad predicament for a minute. But he's got some things that need to be cleared up.
"He's working toward that end, and we'll see."
One player Whittingham will definitely have available — and likely rely on — is senior running back Devontae Booker. The junior college transfer is a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate, and he could leave Utah as arguably the top running back in program history.
"The offense runs through Devontae. He's the focal point," Whittingham said. "Really, what's going to be as key to him and the running game is getting the throwing game going."
Whittingham also clarified earlier remarks he made about a potential expansion to Rice-Eccles Stadium, which you can see in the video above.
"I guess I opened a can of worms with that; I didn't know it was such a hot topic," Whittingham said.
