What Is 1917 Utah Utes football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1917 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 1917 college football season, finishing with a 4–2–1 record under head coach Nelson Norgren, who was in his second year leading the program.

Key Facts

The 1917 Utah Utes finished the season with a 4–2–1 overall record
Nelson Norgren was head coach during his second season with the team
The team played as an independent with no conference affiliation
Home games were held at Cummings Field in Salt Lake City
Utah defeated rivals BYU 21–0 in one of the season's highlights

Overview

The 1917 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 1917 college football season. Competing as an independent program, the team was led by head coach Nelson Norgren in his second year at the helm. The Utes played their home games at Cummings Field, a small on-campus venue in Salt Lake City that hosted early iterations of Utah football.

That season, the Utes compiled a 4–2–1 overall record, showing improvement from their previous year’s performance. They faced a mix of regional colleges and local rivals, including a decisive victory over Brigham Young University. Though no formal rankings or bowl games existed for teams of their stature at the time, the 1917 campaign was seen as a step forward for the developing program.

Record: The team finished with a 4–2–1 win-loss-tie record, marking modest progress under second-year coach Nelson Norgren.
Coach: Nelson Norgren led the Utes for the second consecutive season, continuing efforts to stabilize and improve the football program.
Home Field: Games were played at Cummings Field, an early outdoor stadium located on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City.
Notable Win: Utah defeated rival BYU 21–0, a dominant performance that highlighted the team’s offensive capability that season.
Independence: The Utes competed as an independent, meaning they were not part of any formal athletic conference during the 1917 season.

Season Structure and Performance

The 1917 season unfolded during a time of national upheaval due to World War I, which affected college athletics across the country. Despite disruptions, the University of Utah maintained a full schedule of seven games, balancing local opponents and regional travel.

Schedule Length: The Utes played seven games, a standard number for the era, with four wins, two losses, and one tie.
Offensive Output: Utah scored a total of 117 points across the season, averaging approximately 16.7 points per game.
Defensive Record: The defense allowed 57 points, showcasing room for improvement but also moments of strong play.
Season Opener: The Utes began the season with a 20–0 win over Utah Agricultural, now known as Utah State University.
Final Game: Their last contest was a 7–7 tie with Wyoming, ending the season on a neutral note.
Rivalry Game: The 21–0 shutout of BYU remained a highlight and helped solidify early dominance in the in-state rivalry.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1917 Utah Utes with similar teams from the same era and their performance trends.

Team	Year	Record	Coach	Points For	Points Against
Utah Utes	1917	4–2–1	Nelson Norgren	117	57
Utah Utes	1916	4–3–0	Nelson Norgren	102	53
BYU	1917	2–2–1	Alfred Hamiter	47	45
Utah Agricultural	1917	3–3–0	Jack Watson	88	69
Wyoming	1917	3–3–1	John Corbett	64	52

The table illustrates that Utah outperformed most of its regional peers in 1917, particularly in scoring margin and head-to-head results. While not a national powerhouse, the Utes demonstrated consistent competitiveness, especially compared to BYU and Utah Agricultural. Their point differential of +60 was among the best in the region, reflecting a well-rounded team effort on both offense and defense.

Why It Matters

The 1917 season holds historical significance as part of the foundation of Utah’s long football tradition. It reflects the resilience of college sports during wartime and showcases the early development of one of the West’s enduring athletic programs.

Historical Context: The season occurred during World War I, making athlete availability and travel more difficult for many college teams.
Program Growth: The improving record under Norgren signaled progress for a program still in its formative years.
Rivalry Origins: The win over BYU contributed to the early history of one of college football’s enduring in-state rivalries.
Legacy Building: These early seasons helped establish a culture of football at the University of Utah.
Statistical Record: The 1917 season is preserved in official NCAA records, contributing to Utah’s all-time win-loss ledger.
Historical Research: Data from this season aids historians and fans in understanding the evolution of college football in the Mountain West.

Though overshadowed by later championship teams, the 1917 Utah Utes represent an important chapter in the university’s athletic history. Their performance laid groundwork for future success and remains a point of pride for long-time supporters of the program.