Utah hopes Smith, Bogut make history during drafts

SALT LAKE CITY – Alex Smith was still waiting Friday to learn where he will begin his NFL career.

He also wasn’t sure if he would go No. 1 in the draft and possibly setting up draft history. Smith and Andrew Bogut could become the first players from the same school to go No. 1 in the NFL and NBA drafts in the same year.

But on the eve of the draft, Smith sounded more concerned about learning what city he’d be playing in than his draft position.

“Being No. 1 would be icing on the cake, but where I’d have the best quality of life where I wind up playing is definitely the most important,” Smith said in New York. “Where that might be I couldn’t tell you right now.”

Smith worked out twice for the San Francisco 49ers. If they decide to use the top pick on the Utah quarterback, it could mean the start of college sports history.

“No school has ever done it,” said Utah athletic director Chris Hill. “Obviously, it just gives such recognition to our university. Also, it says you can come to Utah and get recognition.”

Hill was in Auburn, Ala., to see Utah’s gymnastics team try to win an 11th national championship. It’s already been a great year in football and basketball.

Smith led the football Utes to a 12-0 record, capping the season with a rout of Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl after becoming the first school from a non-Bowl Championship Series conference to make a BCS game.

The success got Smith a trip to New York as Utah’s first Heisman Trophy finalist. Then Smith, who already has his degree, decided he’d give the NFL a shot while in demand.

“If I had gone 7-4 or something, I would definitely have come back. But the note I ended on and what I accomplished, I achieved much more than I expected to,” Smith said.

Bogut, a 7-foot sophomore center from Australia, led the Utes to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. Bogut was voted the AP Player of the Year, and decided to enter the draft early.

“I might not be as athletic as other guys, but I’m smart, and I think that’s Alex Smith’s case,” Bogut said.