Kyle Whittingham chaffed at a question about FS1’s complaint that not only did Utah quarterback Cameron Rising not play in last Thursday’s game against Washington State, but that the broadcast team wasn’t made aware of the change at quarterback ahead of time. The broadcast focused on Rising’s heroics in the USC win during the pregame, then used a graphics package for the quarterback who didn’t take the field on Utah’s opening drive.

“Ah, the old graphics package,” Whittingham quipped to reporters at his Monday press conference. “I didn’t realize they were gonna play that card.”

According to John Canzano, who spoke with one member of the on-air broadcast team for a column over the weekend, FS1 felt misled by Utah.

“Even if you didn’t get a heads up in the meeting, you should get a call from the sports information director — basically, the PR department — before the game,” Petros Papadakis told Canzano. “Just so we can run out the right kid, with the right graphics and the right celebration. And get that moment right for that young man and this moment in Utah football history, with a new starter coming out.

“None of that happened.”

Whittingham’s response to FS1? You’re not the only ones who were frustrated with how things played out.

“Well, we weren’t keeping any secret. It’s not like when we met with them we were thinking any differently than they were,” Whittingham shot back. “I guess I could have ran out there 45 minutes before the game and started spreading the word to them, but they weren’t even on site. They did it remotely so I’m not sure what they expected.

“There was no trying to pull the wool over their eyes or make them look unprepared. There was nothing of that nature. It was a complete surprise to all of us and so I don’t know how we could have possibly proceeded any differently than we did.”

Whittingham shared Monday that a setback occurred the day of the game that caused Rising to feel uncomfortable. He tried to give it a go in warmups and decided it wasn’t smart to play. Whittingham said the relationship he’s developed with Rising in the quarterback’s three years with the program warrants a level of trust that if Rising says he can’t go, then he can’t go.

The Utes are hopeful Rising will be able to play Saturday against Arizona.