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The University of Utah Athletics
Football Hosts Hawai'i
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Football
Sept. 14, 1998
Utah vs. Hawai'i, Sept. 19, 7:00 p.m.
Salt Lake City
[Rice-Eccles Stadium-45,634]
QUICKLY
The Utes (2-0) renew their series with Hawai'i (0-1) this Saturday at 7 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium ... It is the Western Athletic Conference season opener for both teams ... Utah is off to its first 2-0 start since 1994 ... The Utes have wins over Utah State (20-12) and Louisville (45-22) ... The win over Louisville drew 44,112 spectators,a new school record,into brand new Rice-Eccles Stadium ... Utah and Hawai'i play in the WAC Pacific Division ... The two met annually from 1982-94 until the move to a 16-team, two-division WAC format separated them for three years ... Utah was to have played in Hawai'i next year, but won't now with the pending breakup of the WAC ... The game will not be televised locally ... It can be heard on K-news radio (570 AM).
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM IN ITS DEBUT SEASON
The new 45,634-seat Rice-Eccles Stadium opened its gates last Saturday. A record crowd of 44,112 filed into the new stadium,easily breaking the old record of 36,250 set against Brigham Young back in 1982. Although it stands on the same ground as the former 32,500-seat Rice Stadium (built in 1927 as Ute Stadium), only the south end zone and the field surface (SportGrass) remain. The expansion and rebuilding of the stadium began in June 1997.
Work was done throughout the 1997 football season, stopping only on home game days. The actual demolition of Rice Stadium occurred on November 17, 1997. Stadium attractions include the three-level Stadium Box, which has the scholarship box as its first level, luxury suites on the second level and the press area on top. In 2002, temporary bleachers will be brought in to expand the stadium's capacity to 50,000 for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games.
TICKET TALK
A crowd of 40,000 plus is expected. Good tickets in all price ranges are still available at the Huntsman Center ticket office and all SmithTix locations. A school record 25,000-plus season tickets were sold for the 1998 home schedule,the largest season ticket sale by 4,000.
LAST WEEK
The Utes ran their record to 2-0 with a 45-22 romp over Louisville. They came out of the shoot fast, scoring two touchdowns less than two minutes into the game. Both early TDs were initiated by Ute interceptions,with sophomores Andre Dyson (who finished with two) and Kautai Olevao each picking off the first of their careers. Offensively, running back Mike Anderson recorded his second 100-yard game in as many tries,rolling up 122 yards and a touchdown.
In his first appearance at running back this year, Omar Bacon had 75 yards and 2 TDs. Utah tried two quarterbacks, who combined for 230 yards and 2 TDs. Darnell Arceneaux started and completed 8 of 16 passes for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior Jonathan Crosswhite (3-6-35 yards) replaced him in the third quarter and the two split time in the second half.
HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE
Head Coach Ron McBride is in his ninth year at the helm of the Ute program as its second winningest coach. McBride, 57-39, is one of just two coaches in school history to win 50 games. His last five teams have posted winning seasons and he has had just one losing season (1990). McBride's teams have averaged seven wins per year. He has taken the Utes to four bowl games and is the only head coach at Utah to go to more than one bowl. He is 1-3 in bowl games.
McBride led Utah to the 1995 WAC Championship (tie),Utah's first title in 31 years. Before accepting Utah's head coaching position in 1990, McBride served two previous stints on the Hill. He was Utah's offensive line coach from 1985-86 and its offensive coordinator from 1977-82. He is 2-3 against Hawai'i and 0-0 against Hawai'i coach Fred vonAppen.
SERIES SHORTS
Utah leads 14-12 ... Last game was a 14-3 Ute win in Salt Lake City in 1994 ... Series opened in 1926 and was continuous from 1982-94 ... Three games in the series were canceled: in 1936 (ship strike), 1941 (Japan attacked Pearl Harbor) and 1942 (World War II) ... Utah leads 7-3 in Salt Lake City ... Hawai'i has won 7 of the last 10, but the Utes have taken 2 of the last 3 ... Utes are 2-1 in Salt Lake City under McBride ... Utah's win in 1992 (38-17 in SLC) snapped a six-game losing streak.
Overall Series: 14-12 (Utah)
First Game: 1926 (Utah 17-7)
Series Streak: Utah 1
In Salt Lake City: 7-3 (Utah)
Last Ute Win: 1994 (14-3)
Last Hawai'i Win: 1993 (41-30)
Last Ute Win in SLC: 1994 (14-3)
Last Hawai'i Win in SLC: 1990 (19-7)
GRIDBITS
Utah has won its WAC opener in each of the last four years ... It will be a reunion of sorts when Utah and Hawai'i meet, as 12 Utes hail from Hawaii. Hawaii has the third most natives of any state on Utah's roster, behind Utah (37) and California (22). The Utah-Hawaii connection consists of Darnell Arceneaux (Honolulu), Stewart Carvalho (Lihue), Ryan Kaneshiro (Honolulu), Maake Kemoeatu (Kahuku), Taulia Lave (Honolulu), Kautai Olevao (Kahuku), Clifford Russell (Ewa Beach), Lauvale Sape (Wahiawa), Ed Ta'amu (Honolulu), Rod Talaeai (Honolulu), Wes Tufaga (Laie), and Donny Utu (Honolulu).
GLOVER COVER
All-America and Butkus Award candidate Phil Glover (6-0, 237, Sr.), Utah's 1997 Defensive MVP, had a big night against Louisville. Glover had seven tackles,five unassisted, a tackle for loss (1 yard), a pass breakup and two hurries. Through two games, he has 11 tackles (5.5 tpg), two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. His two hurries is most on the team. Glover has been named to the 1998 Butkus Award Watch List. Utah's fastest linebacker runs a 4.48 40 and has a team-best 38 inch vertical jump. He squats 522 pounds and benches 432 pounds.
DARTING DARNELL
Sophomore Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 187) improved his record to 4-0 as a starter, going back to the last two games of 1997, with last Saturday's 45-22 win over Louisville. Arceneaux, who recorded the sixth 100-yard passing game of his career with a 195-yard night against Louisville, split time with senior QB Jonathan Crosswhite after playing the entire game in Utah's opener.
He threw two touchdown passes (2 interceptions) and ran his streak of games with a rushing TD to four with a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Through two games, he has rushed for two and passed for two touchdowns, to lead the team with four. Arceneaux's season totals are: 21 of 38 passing (.553) for 341 yards (170.5 ypg) and 2 touchdowns (2 interceptions). He has rushed 19 times for 24 yards and 2 TDs.
UTES LIKE MIKE
Junior college transfer Mike Anderson (6-2, 220, Jr.) is Utah's leading rusher, averaging 136.0 yards per game. In his NCAA debut on Sept. 5, Anderson rushed for a game-high 150 yards against Utah State. Last week against Louisville, he netted 122 yards on 30 carries. He scored a TD in both games. Anderson, who didn't play high school football and went into the Marines before entering Mt. San Jacinto College, leads Utah with 62 rushes for 272 yards. He averages 4.4 yards per carry.
THE JONES' ZONE Senior Daniel Jones (5-11, 182) returned to form against Louisville, catching three balls for 87 yards (29.0 ypc) and his first TD of the season. Jones was held to two catches for five yards in the season opener against USU. Through two games, Jones (who averaged 70 ypg and made honorable mention all-WAC a year ago despite a severe ankle sprain) has five catches for 92 yards (46.0 ypg). His 18.4 yards per catch is best on the team. He is also Utah's top return man. He averages 14.0 yards on four punt returns and 21.0 yards on three kickoff returns. Jones runs a 4.40 40 and has a 36 inch vertical jump.
LOTS OF LOVE Senior strong safety Robert Love (5-9, 203), a two-time second-team all-WAC pick and Utah's tackle leader for the last two years, is currently second with 12 (6.0 tpg). He led Utah's tacklers against Louisville with nine,a season high. Seven were unassisted. He finished with 108 tackles in 1996 and 92 in 1997.
OFFENSIVE INFO Part-time starting tight end C.J. Johnson is feared lost for the season after breaking his left leg (fibula) against Louisville. It is the same bone as the ankle he broke on Oct. 5, 1996, but the break is further up his leg. Johnson missed the rest of that season and all of last year recovering ... Omar Bacon (6-1, 208, Jr.), scheduled to start at running back before suffering a badly sprained ankle in preseason drills, got his first action since 1996 at running back against Louisville. Bacon, who redshirted last year, carried the ball 8 times for 75 yards and a team-best 2 touchdowns. He averaged 9.4 yards per carry. His 75 yards was just off his career best of 82 yards. Bacon played for special teams against USU ...
Junior slot back Boo Bendinger made the most of his first start this year. He caught the game's first touchdown pass,a 29-yarder ... Senior X receiver Jerome Anderson leads Utah with 10 receptions for 132 yards. He averages 66.0 ypg and 13.2 ypc ... Utah is converting on just 33% of its third down attempts (10-30) ... The Utes have scored at least 20 points in every quarter but the third this year, when they have managed only a field goal (against Louisville).
UTAH ON OFFENSE Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Offense 245.5 4 17 Passing Offense 224.5 4 60 Total Offense 433.5 2 28 Scoring Offense 32.5 4 35
DEFENSIVE DATA
Utah's primary defensive set is a "43", though the Utes have opened in their nickel package in each of the first two games. In the nickel package, either Jay Hill or David Richards starts at nickel back and sophomore Kautai Olevao starts at middle linebacker. Utah does not use a "stud" linebacker in the nickel package. In Utah's normal "43" defensive package, Cyrus Satoafaiga starts at middle linebacker and Jason Hooks starts at "stud" ...
Sophomore Andre Dyson, making just his second career start at left corner, picked off the first two interceptions of his career last Saturday and was named WAC PacificDivision player of the week ... Olevao, the WAC player of the week for his game against Utah State on Sept. 5, leads all Ute tacklers with 17 (8.5 tpg). He is tied for the team lead in pass breakups with Dyson,both with 3 ... Utah has 5 interceptions already,just 3 fewer than it had all last year ... Opponents are converting on just 28% (9-32) of their third down attempts and are 0-3 in fourth down tries ... Utah has held foes to single digit scoring in every quarter but the second (12).
UTAH ON DEFENSE Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Defense 105.5 5 32 Passing Defense 224.5 2 21 Total Defense 330.0 8 52 Scoring Defense 17.0 4(t) 36
SPECIAL TEAMS
Walk-on freshman kicker Ryan Kaneshiro, who took over extra points and short range field goals from junior Cletus Truhe the week of Utah's first game, also got the nod on a 39-yard attempt against Louisville,which he made. Kaneshiro is perfect to date, making all 8 PATs and both field goal attempts ... Truhe has handled every kickoff ... Sophomore All-America candidate Chris Hunter has 13 punts for 526 yards, an average of 40.5 ypp. Hunter has a long of 55 (vs. USU) ... Junior Colby Knight leads Utah with 5 special teams tackles (2 unassisted, 3 assisted).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Utah's roster lists eight pairs of double numbers. The main problem is No. 22, where running back Mike Anderson and kicker Cletus Truhe are both regulars. The following players are the most likely to see action among the other shared numbers: No. 8 Brad Burnett, No. 10 Kimball Christianson, No. 13 Colby Knight and No. 92 Brian Buchhuber.
INJURY REPORT
Key players likely out for the season: Courtney Richins (ACL), tight end C.J. Johnson (broken left left), defensive back Brandon Dart (mid foot sprain). Key players out for the Hawai'i game: offensive tackle Nathan Sybrowsky (knee), running back Nick Morgan (knee). Questionable is offensive lineman Hema Katoa (achilles).
RED ZONE REPORT
Utah Offense
Times at or inside 20: 6
Touchdowns: 5
Field Goals: 1
TD percentage: 83%
Utah Defense
Times opponent at or inside 20: 7
Touchdowns: 4
Field Goals: 1
TD percentage: 57%
ON THE SCALES
Utah's offensive front five averages 300 pounds [Hawai'i's offensive line averages 284 pounds]. Utah's defensive down linemen average 292 pounds per man [Hawai'i's defensive line averages 275 pounds].
THIS GAME LAST TIME
The 1994 Utes improved their record to 6-0 with a 14-3 win over Hawai'i on Oct. 15. The Utes, who would go on to win a school-record 10 games (10-2), win a bowl game (vs. Arizona) and finish with a No. 9 national ranking (AP; No. 8 Coaches), started out slowly on a rainy day in Salt Lake City. The Utes scored all 14 of their points in the fourth quarter. Utah, which would tie the school record with eight straight wins two weeks later, tied a 41-year-old record with its sixth straight win without a loss over Hawai'i.
HAWAI'I QUICK LOOK Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Offense 93.0 15 87 Passing Offense 83.0 13 103 Total Offense 176.0 16 109 Scoring Offense 6.0 16 108 Rushing Defense 133.0 9 49 Passing Defense 237.0 14 90 Total Defense 370.0 10 65 Scoring Defense 27.0 11(t) 69
RAINBOW REVIEW
0-1 ... had "bye" last week ... lost to Arizona 27-6 in season opener on Sept. 3 ... Head Coach Fred vonAppen is 6-19 in his third year at Hawai'i,his first head coaching job. He is 0-0 against Utah ... juniors Josh Skinner (6-1, 193, Jr.) and Dan Robinson (6-4, 213, Jr.) shared time at quarterback in Arizona game ... Skinner started and was 0-3 passing. Robinson was 8 of 17 for 83 yards and 1 TD ... sophomore tailback Charles Tharp (5-9, 200, So.) rushed 12 times for 47 yards.
MAC-QUOTES
"We need to work on our third down conversions. We get ourselves into critical situations because of dumb penalties. Because of our inability to hold onto the ball (against Louisville), we had our defense on the field for a long time. The positive of that game was that every time they (the Cardinals) would get something, we'd come back with two of our own ... I would say we'll probably continue to use both quarterbacks (Arceneaux and Crosswhite). When Jonathan went into the game, Darnell was totally into it. He was a team guy. If one guy is cold, we'll put the other in. I'm very comfortable and confident with both ... Hawai'i will have had over two weeks to prepare for us. They'll come here on an emotional high because they want to prove their Hawaii guys are better than our Hawaii guys. The fact they were left out of the new league has them fired up to play Utah too."
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