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The University of Utah Athletics
Football Prepares for Fresno State
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Football
Oct. 12, 1998
Utah vs. Fresno State, Oct. 17,1:00 p.m. Salt Lake City [Rice-Eccles Stadium:45,634]
QUICKLY
The Utes (3-2, 1-1 WAC) return to action after a "bye" week ... Utah hosts Fresno State (1-4, 1-1 WAC), Saturday at 1 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium ...Saturday marks Utah's only home game in October ... The game will not be televised, but can be heard on K-news radio (570 AM) ... The Utes have been off since Oct. 3, when they lost 27-24 to Wyoming in Laramie.
UTE GAMES ON THE NET
All Utah home games can be "seen" via live game stats on Utah's internet site: www.UtahUtes.com. The stats are updated on a regular basis.
TICKET TALK
A crowd of between 35,000-40,000 is expected for the Utah-Fresno State games. Good tickets in all price ranges are still available at the Huntsman Center ticket office and all SmithTix locations.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Practice times are subject to change. Practice is scheduled for Monday through Thursday, 3:30-6:00 p.m. at McCarthey Practice Field.Call sports information director Liz Abel (581-3511) for daily updates and interview requests.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah led Wyoming until late in the fourth quarter only to come away with a 27-24 loss, Oct. 3 in Laramie. The Utes had more yards (393-317), more first downs (23-21), more total plays (80-67) and held the ball for almost eight more minutes. The Utes jumped to a 21-14 halftime lead when quarterback Jonathan Crosswhite completed 9 of 10 passes in the 21-point second quarter.
Running back Mike Anderson had 82 of his game-high 150 rushing yards, as well as two TDs, by the intermission. Receiver Donny Utu already had 59 of his career-high 86 receiving yards at the half. Utah opened the second half with a bang, when fill-in strong safety Jamal Allen had his second pick in as many games on Wyoming's first play. Ryan Kaneshiro booted a career-best 47-yard field goal as a result, but Utah didn't score again, mostly due to penalties and three turnovers.
HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE
Head Coach Ron McBride, in his ninth year at the helm of the Ute program, is its second winningest coach. McBride, 58-41, 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, his first year). 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 Fresno State and 0-1 vs. FSU head coach Pat Hill.
SERIES SHORTS
Fresno leads 4-3 ... The home team usually wins in these match-ups, with Fresno State's 31-7 win in Salt Lake City in 1990 the sole exception ... Utah is 3-1 in SLC ... Fresno handed Ute Head Coach Ron McBride his first coaching loss in 1990.
GRIDBITS
Utah also had a bye week before facing Fresno State last year. The Bulldogs won that game 27-13, snapping a three-game win streak by the Utes ... Utah Head Coach Ron McBride has ties to the FSU program. McBride's son-in-law is John Baxter, FSU's associate head coach (tight ends/special teams). McBride coached at Utah with Bulldog head coach Pat Hill in the late '70s. McBride was Utah's offensive coordinator from 1977-82. Hill was the offensive line coach from 1977-80.
"QUARTERBACKS" HURT
The "quarterbacks" of Utah's defense and offense have both undergone surgery this season. Sophomore quarterback Darnell Arceneaux (finger) and senior linebacker Phil Glover (ankle) left the Utes without their leader on both sides of the line. Arceneaux broke the index finger on his throwing hand in practice on Sept. 15 and underwent surgery the next day. He has missed the three games since then. His finger was re-evaluated by the hand specialist on Monday (Oct. 12), at which point he was cleared to practice on a limited basis. His throwing status will be determined as the week goes on.
Glover suffered a severe high ankle sprain in Utah's game with Boise State on Sept. 26 and had surgery on Sept. 29. The team captain and Butkus Award candidate is projected to miss 6-8 weeks, putting his potential return on hold until November. Glover, a first-team all-WAC linebacker a year ago, was named to the Butkus Award "Watch List" in the preseason.
COUNTING CROSSWHITE
Senior quarterback Jonathan Crosswhite (6-2, 210), who started the first nine games of last season, has started the last three games of 1998 in place of Darnell Arceneaux. He also got playing time against Louisville. Crosswhite is 1-2 as a starter this year, with a win over Hawai'i (30-21) and losses to Boise State (31-28) and Wyoming (27-24). He is completing 52-percent of his pass attempts (53-102) and has six touchdown passes (4 interceptions). Crosswhite has thrown for 694 yards, an average of 173.5 ypg. He passed for 255 yards vs. Hawai'i, 195 vs. BSU and 209 vs. Wyoming. He was 11-19 for 163 yards and 1 TD at halftime. He now has five career 200-yard games. His best game was against TCU in 1997, when he threw for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Opponent ATT COMP INT YDS TD LONG Utah State dnp Louisville 6 3 1 35 0 24 Hawai'i 28 17 1 255 2 57 Boise State 30 16 0 195 3 40 Wyoming 38 17 2 209 1 22
HOLY KAUTAI
Sophomore linebacker Kautai Olevao (6-2, 240) hasn't missed a step from 1995, when he started as a freshman at Utah. Olevao, who has replaced the injured Phil Glover at rover, returned from an LDS church mission in August. He is Utah's tackle leader with 30 and his 15 unassisted tackles is tied for the team lead. He also has two tackles for loss (2 yards), 1.5 sacks (7 yards) and three pass breakups. In his first game since '95, Olevao had a career-tying 14 tackles against Utah State in the season opener and was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Opponent UT AT TT TFL SKS PBU Utah State 6 8 14 0-0 0 0 Louisville 1 2 3 1-1 0 3 Hawai'i 1 3 4 0-0 0 0 Boise State 3 1 4 0-0 1.5-7 0 Wyoming 4 1 5 1-1 0-0 0
NO ONE LIKE MIKE
Junior running back Mike Anderson (6-2, 220), a 24-year-old junior college transfer, leads the WAC and ranks 16th in the nation in rushing, averaging 121.4 ypg. He has led all Ute rushers in four games, going over 100 yards each time, including a career-high 150 twice (Utah State and Wyoming). Anderson's four 100-yard games is just one shy of the third most ever in a season by a Ute (5, tied by four players; most recently Charlie Brown in 1994). The school record for 100 yards games in a season is nine, held by Carl Monroe (1982). Most recently against Wyoming, Anderson averaged 8.0 yards per rush and had 150 yards and two touchdownsall career highs. For the season, he has rushed a team-best 115 times for 607 yards. He leads the Utes with five rushing TDs and he is second in yards per carry (5.3). He has started every game except Boise State.
Opponent Rush Yards Avg. TD Long Utah State 32 150 4.7 1 20 Louisville 30 122 4.1 1 13 Hawai'i 15 75 5.0 0 10 Boise State 19 110 5.8 1 21 Wyoming 19 150 8.0 2 24
BACON SIZZLES
Junior running back Omar Bacon (6-1, 208), coming off a redshirt year, is averaging 69.0 yards per game and his 5.4 yards per rush is best on the team. He is second in TDs (4), carries (64) and net yards (345). Bacon was limited to special teams duty in the season-opener due to an ankle injury. He rushed for a career-high 125 yards (his first 100-yard game) against Hawai'i. His 27-yard TD run against Hawai'i with 1:14 left in the game sealed Utah's win. Bacon has carried the ball 56 times in the last three gamesalmost identical to starter Mike Anderson's 53 carries in that time. He started against Boise State.
Opponent Rush Yards Avg. TD Long Utah State dnp RB (ankle injury, played STs) Louisville 8 75 9.4 2 38 Hawai'i 24 125 5.2 2 27 Boise State 15 88 5.9 0 34 Wyoming 17 57 3.4 0 16
RECEIVING LINE
Senior wide receivers Jerome Anderson and Daniel Jones, and junior slot back Donny Utu give Utah one of its most balanced receiving acts ever. Anderson has 21 catches, to Jones' 17 and Utu's 16. Anderson is also the leader in yards (326), yards per catch (15.5) and yards per game (65.2). He ranks sixth in the WAC in receiving yards per game. Jones is second on all three fronts, with 259 yards, 15.2 yards per catch and 51.8 ypg. Utu ranks third in those categories (229 yards, 14.3 ypc, 45.8 ypg), but leads Utah's receivers with 3 TD receptions. Anderson led Utah against Utah State (64 yards) and Hawai'i (107 yards), Utu was the best against Boise State (65 yards) and Wyoming (86 yards) and Jones took the lead against Louisville (87 yards). Two of the three have had career games this year: Anderson's 107 yards vs. Hawai'i was his first 100-yard game ever, and Utu broke his personal best two weeks running against Boise State (65 yards) and Wyoming (86 yards). Jones' career best came last year against UTEP (187 yards).
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, was back on top again before missing the Wyoming game with a sprained knee. Love is projected to return to the starting lineup this week. Through four games, he was tied for the team tackle lead with 26. Despite missing a game, he still ranks third in tackles and his 15 unassisted tackles is tied for first. He has two pass breakups. He led all Ute tacklers against Louisville with a season-high nine. He had seven tackles against both Hawai'i and Boise State. His best season was in 1996, when he led Utah with 108 tackles. He was tops again last year with 92.
Opponent UT AT TT TFL SKS PBU Utah State 1 2 3 0-0 0 1 Louisville 7 2 9 0-0 0 0 Hawai'i 4 3 7 1-4 0 1 Boise State 3 4 7 1-1 0 0 Wyoming dnp (knee injury)
OFFENSIVE INFO
Juniors Mike Anderson (6-2, 220) and Omar Bacon (6-1, 208) have made Utah's ground game its best in years. The Utes are averaging 208.2 yards per gamethe most since 1984 (when they averaged 271.9 ypg)with 91-percent coming from Anderson and Bacon. The 1998 Utes are bidding to become the first Utah team since 1984 to average 200 yards rushing ... Utah's offense is split almost in half between rushing (1,041 yards) and passing (1,035 yards) ... Five different Utes have caught a touchdown pass ... Utah's best quarter by far is the second, where it has scored 62 points. Next are the first (35) and fourth (34) quarters ... Utah was shut out in the fourth quarter for the first time all year against Wyoming ... Utah is holding the ball 8 minutes longer than its foes (34:02-25:58) ... Utah is converting on 37% of its third downs (30-81) ... The Utes are 5-6 on fourth down.
UTAH ON OFFENSE
Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Offense 208.2 4 26 Passing Offense 207.0 6 58 Total Offense 415.2 3 31 Scoring Offense 29.4 2 37
DEFENSIVE DATA
Sophomore free safety Kimball Christianson (29 tackles) is just one tackle off leader Kautai Olevao (30) ... Jamal Allen has filled in well for injured starting strong safety Robert Love. Allen has had an interception in both games (Boise State and Wyoming) and is Utah's pick leader with 2 ... open end Dicky Purcell has a team-best 5 tackles for loss (14 yards) ... cornerbacks Teneil Ethridge and Andre Dyson are tied for the team lead in pass breakups with 6 .. juco transfer Jay Hill has moved ahead of Ethridge on the depth chart at right corner ... Utah had a player named WAC defensive player of the week for the first two games: Kautai Olevao (Utah State) and Andre Dyson (Louisville) ... Utah's best quarters are the second and fourth (22 points each). Its worst is the third (41 points) ... opponents are converting on 33% of their third down attempts (27-82).
UTAH ON DEFENSE
Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Defense 81.4 1 5 Passing Defense 264.4 4 33 Total Defense 345.8 5 51 Scoring Defense 22.6 6 44
SPECIAL TEAMS
Walk-on freshman kicker Ryan Kaneshiro is still perfect on extra point attempts (18-18), but missed his first field goal (37 yards) at Wyoming. He did boot a career-best 47-yarder against the Cowboys. He is now 4-5 on field goal attempts. Kaneshiro is tied for Utah's scoring lead with Mike Anderson (30) ... Junior All-America candidate Chris Hunter has 30 punts for 1,247 yards (41.6 average). He placed a punt on the 1-yard line against both Boise State and Wyoming ... In his first year on the return teams, Daniel Jones has all 11 Ute punt returns (146 yards, 13.3 yards per return). At his current pace, he will finish third in punt return average in the Utah single-season books. Jones also leads Utah with 12 kickoff returns for 233 yards (194 ypg) ... Patrick Dyson has played in the last two games on special teams and joined Jones on the kick return team against Wyoming. He returned one kick for 24 yards ... Special teams stalwart Roy Allen had his knee scoped on Oct. 1, at which time it was determined he would need to undergo yet another surgery. He is likely lost for the remainder of the season ... Utah's leader in special teams tackles is Colby Knight with 9. Andy Bowers is second with 7.
INJURY REPORT
Key players likely out for the season: Courtney Richins (ACL), tight end C.J. Johnson (broken left leg), defensive back Brandon Dart (mid foot sprain), offensive tackle Nathan Sybrowsky (knee), wide receiver Roy Allen (knee). Key players out for the Fresno State game: linebacker Phil Glover (ankle surgery) and offensive tackle Doug Kaufusi (foot). "Wait and See": quarterback Darnell Arceneaux (finger surgery), cleared to practice on a limited basis after x-rays taken on Mon., Oct. 12 looked good.
RED ZONE REPORT
Utah Offense
Times at or inside 20: 16
Touchdowns: 11
Field Goals: 1
TD percentage: 69%
Utah Defense
Times opponent at or inside 20: 21
Touchdowns: 10
Field Goals: 4
TD percentage: 48%
ON THE SCALES
Utah's offensive front five averages 300 pounds [FSU's offensive line averages 282 pounds]. Utah's defensive down linemen average 292 pounds per man [FSU's defensive line averages 257 pounds].
THESE TEAMS LAST TIME
Fresno State blitzed its way to a 27-13 win in a Thursday night ESPN televised game in Fresno. Utah quarterbacks Jonathan Crosswhite and Darnell Arceneaux were sacked a combined 12 times. Utah's lone touchdown came on its opening drive, when Crosswhite marched the team 61 yards in five plays and threw a 4-yard TD pass to tight end Dirk Christoffersen. Utah's only other points came on two third quarter field goals. The Ute defense held FSU to a field goal in the second half.
BULLDOG QUICK LOOK
Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Offense 104.6 13 94 Passing Offense 233.8 4 34 Total Offense 338.4 10 69 Scoring Offense 22.8 8 67 Rushing Defense 173.0 11 80 Passing Defense 195.2 11 75 Total Defense 368.2 11 68 Scoring Defense 26.4 9 67
FSU REVIEW
1-4 (1-1 WAC) ...Head Coach Pat Hill is 7-10 in his second year ... only win was over BYU (31-21 on Oct. 3) ... lost to TCU, 21-10, last weekend ... looking for first road win of season (0-3) ... quarterback Billy Volek (6-2, 200, Jr.) leads WAC in pass efficiency (142.95) ... Volek has completed 77 of 129 passes (.597) for 1,106 yards and 5 TDs (1 interception).
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM IN ITS DEBUT SEASON
The new 45,634-seat Rice-Eccles Stadium opened its gates on September 5 for a game between Utah and Louisville. A crowd of 44,112 broke the old record of 36,250 set against Brigham Young back in 1982 in old Rice Stadium. Although Rice-Eccles stands on the same ground as 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.
MAC-QUOTES
"The 'bye' helped a lot. We analyzed some things and worked on our problems. We did a lot of drills designed to develop toughness and improve our fourth quarter mentality. We did a circle drill and some goal line drills that put the kids in tough situations where they were made to be accountable in front of everyone. And, it was fun. The players had fun. Their attitude about practice was excellent. I met with every player individually on Saturday and, to a person, they all felt their attitude was right on. They looked forward to practice and to getting back at it again ... Last year Fresno beat us and we didn't play well. We've had to live with that for a long time. We need to get things right. I'm very optimistic that we can do just that."
OFFENSE C 55 Darren Walker (6-3,295, Sr.) 66 Steve McKane (6-1, 244, So.) LG 76 Luis Park (6-2, 300, Jr.) 77 Fisi Moleni (6-3, 298, Jr.) RG 50 Sam White (6-3, 280, So.) 69 Todd Jackson (6-3, 300, Jr.) LT 74 Devin Grant (6-8, 300, Sr.) 76 Luis Park (6-2, 300, Jr.) RT 58 Josh Cochran (6-5, 307, Sr.) 61 Kevin Wilson (6-7, 306, Fr.) TE 44 Andy Kassotis (6-3, 273, Jr.) 89 Matt Nickel (6-6, 257, So.) QB 16 Jonathan Crosswhite (6-2, 210, Sr.) 14 Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 187, So.) WR 5 Jerome Anderson (5-11, 178, Sr.) 25 Donny Utu (6-1, 196, Jr.) WR 80 Daniel Jones (5-11, 182, Sr.) 18 Chris Christensen (5-11, 177, So.) SL 25 Donny Utu (6-1, 196, Jr.) 9 Boo Bendinger (6-0, 222, Jr.) RB 22 Mike Anderson (6-2, 220, Jr.) 24 Omar Bacon (6-1, 208, Jr.) DEFENSE E 93 John Frank (6-5, 271, Jr.) 98 Maake Kemoeatu (6-5, 276, So.) OE 39 Dicky Purcell (6-1, 238, Sr.) 60 Chuck Pine (6-2, 220, Jr.) RT 99 Mike Thomas (6-1, 303, Sr.) 75 Rod Talaeai (6-0, 258, Jr.) NG 91 Pene Talamaivao (6-4, 313, Sr.) 87 Richard Seals (6-2, 308, Jr.) ROV 43 Kautai Olevao (6-2, 240, So.) 12 Wes Tufaga (6-0, 216, So.) MLB 31 Cyrus Satoafaiga (6-2, 240, Jr.) 85 Taulia Lave (6-1, 255, Jr.) SLB 49 Jason Hooks (6-3, 262, Sr.) 52 Everestt Matagi (6-3, 241, Jr.) RC 40 Jay Hill (6-1,186, Jr.) 30 Teneil Ethridge (5-10, 188, Jr.) LC 21 Andre Dyson (5-10, 184, So.) 34 David Richards (6-0, 187, Sr.) FS 10 Kimball Christianson (6-3, 209, So.) 45 Jason Potter (5-11, 205, So.) SS 35 Robert Love (5-9, 203, Sr.) 28 Jamal Allen (5-11, 207, Sr.)
SPECIALISTS K 19 Ryan Kaneshiro (5-6, 172, Fr.) and 22 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 201, Jr.) PAT 19 Ryan Kaneshiro (5-6, 172, Fr.) 22 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 201, Jr.) P 86 Chris Hunter (6-5, 232, Jr.) 15 Scott Styles (6-3, 207, Jr.) LS 92 Brian Bachhuber (6-1, 247, So.) 90 Ed Ta'amu (6-2, 280, So.) H 22 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 201, Jr.) and 19 Ryan Kaneshiro (5-6, 172, Fr.) PR 80 Daniel Jones (5-11, 182, Sr.) 5 Jerome Anderson (5-11, 178, Sr.) KR 80 Daniel Jones (5-11, 182, Sr.) and 22 Mike Anderson (6-2, 220, Jr.)
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