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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Football Preps for San Jose State
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Football
October 26, 1998
Utah vs. San Jose State
Oct. 31, 1:00 p.m. (PT)
San Jose, Calif.
[Spartan Stadium 30,478]
QUICKLY
The Utes (4-3, 2-2 WAC) and San Jose State (3-5, 2-2 WAC) meet for the first time in 24 years this Saturday in San Jose ... Game time is 1 p.m. Pacific time (2 p.m. Mountain) in Spartan Stadium ... The teams played four times from 1969-74 (Utah leads 3-1) before discontinuing the series. For more on the series, see Series Shorts below ... Utah and SJSU are in a four-way tie for third in the WAC Pacific division ... A win over San Jose State, his alma mater, would give Ute Head Coach Ron McBride career victory No. 60. He is 59-42 in nine years at Utah ... The Ute-Spartan game will be televised live on KJZZ TV and can be heard on K-news radio (570 AM).
TELEVISION: Live on KJZZ (Ch. 14). Talent: Steve Brown, play by play; Mike Norseth, color commentary; Rob Howell, sidelines. Satellite Coordinates: GE 1 Transponder 20 KU Band.
RADIO: All Ute football games are broadcast live on the Utah Sports Network: K-news AM (570), KOAL (Price), KSGI/KZEZ FM (St. George/Cedar City), KVEL (Vernal), and KUTA AM (Blanding). Pre-game begins at 11:30 a.m. Talent: Play-by-play Bill Marcroft; commentary Frank Dolce; sidelines Bryan Rowley. Brad Stone is host of the pre-game and post-game shows on K-news.
TV SHOW: The Coach's Show with Head Coach Ron McBride is each Saturday at 10 a.m. on KJZZ.
RADIO SHOWS: "U" Talk can be heard on KALL AM, Fridays from 4-6 p.m. The KALL radio Coach's Show is Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m.
LAST WEEK
A school record-tying fourth straight 100-yard rushing game by Mike Anderson (110 yards), a defensive unit that didnt give up a point in regulation and a 348-310 edge in total offense wasnt enough for Utah, which lost the first overtime game in school history, 21-20, to San Diego State. Mistakes cost Utah the gamekey among those a fumble and an interception deep in SDSU territory, two missed field goals and a missed extra point attempt in overtime, a blocked punt that went for an Aztec TD and an Aztec punt return for a touchdown. Utah led 14-7 at the half after Daniel Jones returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to break a 7-7 tie. The Utes had a chance to win in regulation, but a 35-yard field goal attempt with 19 seconds remaining sailed wide right. Other fine individual efforts included a two touchdown night by Omar Bacon and a career receiving night (95 yards) by Donny Utu.
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, 59-42, 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). McBrides 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)Utahs first title in 31 years. Before accepting Utahs head coaching position in 1990, McBride served two previous stints on the Hill. He was Utahs offensive line coach from 1985-86 and its offensive coordinator from 1977-82. He is 0-0 against San Jose State and Spartan Head Coach Dave Baldwin.
SERIES SHORTS
Utah leads 3-1 ... None of the games were WAC games, with the last contest between the two falling in 1974 ... Utah won both previous meetings in San Jose (1970 and 73) ... San Jose won the most recent game, 24-6 in 1974 (in Salt Lake City) ... These teams played on Halloween another time in their history, with Utah winning13-9 on Oct. 31, 1970. Overall Series: 3-1 (Utah)
First Game: 1969 (Utah 42-7)
Series Streak: SJS 1
In San Jose: Utah 2-0
Last Ute Win: 1973 (28-21)
Last SJS Win: 1974 (24-6)
Last Ute Win in San Jose: 1973 (28-21)
Last SJS Win in San Jose: 1970 (13-9)
GRIDBITS
Utah Head Coach Ron McBride played linebacker at San Jose State from 1959-62 and graduated from there in 1964. His first coaching job was as freshman coach at SJSU in 1965. He later played professional football for the San Jose Apaches of the USA League, where he doubled as defensive coordinator ... Ute defensive backs coach Jugi Hogue is also a San Jose State graduate (1973). He played his junior and senior years at SJSU.
NO ONE LIKE MIKE
Running back Mike Anderson (6-2, 220), a 24-year-old junior college transfer, leads the WAC and ranks 11th in the nation in rushing, averaging 119.7 ypg. He tied the school record for consecutive 100-yard games with his 110-yard effort against SDSU. Anderson is on a four-game roll of 100-yard games, which ties him with Chris Fuamatu-Maafala (4 straight in 1996). Anderson also became one of just three players in school historyand the first in 12 yearsto rush for 100 yards six times in a season. He is now tied with Eddie Johnson (6 in 1986) for second in the Ute single season books. With four games left, the school record of nine 100-yard games in a single seasonset by Carl Monroe in 1982is within Andersons reach. Utahs rushing leader in six of seven games, Anderson has already netted 838 yards. He needs just 162 yards to become just the fourth Ute player ever to rush for 1,000 yards. At his current pace, he would crack 1,000 in Utahs next home gameNov. 7 vs. UTEP. His season totals (all Ute bests) are: 161 carries for 838 yards (119.7 ypg, 5.2 yards per carry). His six TDs ranks second. He has started in 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 Hawaii 15 75 5.0 0 10 Boise State 19 110 5.8 1 21 Wyoming 19 150 8.0 2 24 Fresno State 26 121 4.7 1 21 San Diego State 20 110 5.5 0 25
HOLY KAUTAI
Sophomore linebacker Kautai Olevao (6-2, 240) is having an all-WAC caliber season in his first year back from an LDS church mission. Olevao, who started as a freshman in 1995 and only returned to the team in August, is Utahs tackle leader with 51 (7.3 tpg). He started the first two games at middle linebacker and has started the last three games at rover, replacing the injured Phil Glover. He has a team-best three double-figure tackle games (14 vs. Utah State, 11 vs. San Diego State and 10 vs. Fresno State). He also has four tackles for loss (6 yards), 2.5 sacks (10 yards), five pass breakups and a caused fumble. 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 0 Louisville 1 2 3 1-1 0-0 3 Hawaii 1 3 4 0-0 0-0 0 Boise State 3 1 4 0-0 1.5-7 0 Wyoming 4 1 5 1-1 0-0 0 Fresno State 7 3 10 1-1 0-0 2 San Diego State 4 7 11 1-3 1-3 0
DARTING DARNELL
Sophomore quarterback Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 187), who broke the index finger on his throwing hand in practice on Sept. 15 and underwent surgery the next day, was cleared to return to practice on Oct. 12. He subbed in for starter Jonathan Crosswhite in the third quarter of Utahs win over Fresno State on October 17, scoring on a 5-yard run on his first drive. He completed 5 of 8 pass attempts for 78 yards (no interceptions) in his first game in a month, before leaving with a concussion with just under 6:00 remaining in the game. He played sparingly against SDSU last Saturday, completing all three pass attempts for seven yards. Arceneaux is listed along with Crosswhite as the possible starter on the depth chart for Utahs upcoming game with San Jose State. Arceneaux started the first two games for the Utes, leading them to a 2-0 record. He is 4-0 as a starter, dating back to last year. His season stats are 29 completions in 49 attempts (.592) for 426 yards (106.5 ypg). He has two touchdowns and two interceptions. Arceneaux has also rushed for three touchdowns. His career best passing game came in a win over Brigham Young last year, when he passed for 208 yards.
Opponent ATT COMP INT YDS TD LONG Utah State 22 13 0 146 0 23 Louisville 16 8 2 195 2 35 Hawaii dnp (finger surgery) Boise State dnp (finger surgery) Wyoming dnp (finger surgery) Fresno State 8 5 0 78 0 30 San Diego State 3 3 0 7 0 12
COUNTING CROSSWHITE
Senior quarterback Jonathan Crosswhite (6-2, 210), who started the first nine games of last season, has started the last five games of 1998. He also got playing time against Louisville. Crosswhite is 2-3 as a starter this year. Either he or Darnell Arceneaux will start this week at SJSU. Crosswhite had his most impressive numbers of the year in Utahs win over Fresno State on October 17, completing 14 of 17 passes for 187 yards. His .824 passing percentage was the fourth best in school history. Crosswhite owns two of the top four single-game passing percentages in school history. He was 90% (9-10) against UTEP last year. Crosswhite has a passing efficiency rating of 137.5 (7th in the WAC and 48th in the nation). He has completed 84 of 149 passes (.564) for 1,066 yards (177.7 ypg) and six touchdowns (6 interceptions). He has two 200-yard games this year ( 255 vs. Hawaii and 209 vs. Wyoming) and 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 Hawaii 28 17 1 255 2 57 Boise State 30 16 0 195 3 40 Wyoming 38 17 2 209 1 22 Fresno State 17 14 0 187 0 49 San Diego State 30 17 2 185 0 29
BACON SIZZLES
Junior running back Omar Bacon (6-1, 208) is having the best year of his career. Bacon, who redshirted last year after playing sparingly as a freshman and sophomore, is averaging 69.1 yards per gamesecond on the team and ninth in the WAC. His two touchdown game against San Diego State upped his season total to a team-best seven. Bacon has moved into Utahs scoring lead (42 points). He is second to Mike Anderson in all rushing categories except scoring: carries (100), yards (484), yards per carry (4.8) and yards per game (69.1). His rushing average is particularly impressive in view of the fact that he was limited to special teams duty in the season-opener due to an ankle injury. In six games as a running back, he is averaging 80.7 ypg. He rushed for a career-high 125 yards (his first 100-yard game) against Hawaii. His 27-yard TD run against Hawaii with 1:14 left in the game sealed Utahs win. 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 Hawaii 24 125 5.2 2 27 Boise State 15 88 5.9 0 34 Wyoming 17 57 3.4 0 16 Fresno State 19 83 4.4 1 19 San Diego State 17 56 3.3 2 11
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. Jones has 35 catches, Anderson 28 and Utu 25. Jones has 485 receiving yards (69.3 ypg) and two touchdowns. He ranks fifth in the WAC in yards per game. He averages 13.9 yards per catch and has two TDs. Anderson, who led Utah through five games, is also in the 400-yard club (412) and his 14.7 yards per catch is best on the team. He averages 58.9 ypg11th in the WAC. Utu topped 300 yards (324) with his career-best 95-yard night at San Diego State. He leads Utahs receivers in TD catches, with three, and averages 46.3 ypg. All have taken turns as the team leader this season. Utu has led the Utes three times (Boise State, Wyoming and SDSU). Leading Utah in two games each was Anderson (Utah State and Hawaii) and Jones (Louisville and Fresno State). All three have had career games this year: Jones 197-yard game against Fresno was the most yards by a Ute receiver since 1991 (when Bryan Rowley had 200 against Hawaii); Andersons 107 yards vs. Hawaii was his first 100-yard game ever, and Utu racked up a personal best 95 yards against SDSU.
LOTS OF LOVE
Senior strong safety Robert Love (5-9, 203), a two-time second-team all-WAC pick and Utahs tackle leader for the last two years, was leading again through the first four games of 1998. He is now third (one tackle out of second), despite missing the Wyoming game with a knee injury. In six games, he has 41 tackles. His 6.8 tackle average is second on the team and he is tied for first in solo tackles with 26. Love tied his season-best of nine tackles last week at San Diego 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 Hawaii 4 3 7 1-4 0 1 Boise State 3 4 7 1-1 0 0 Wyoming dnp (knee injury) Fresno State 5 1 6 0-0 0 0 San Diego State 6 3 9 1-2 0 1
OFFENSIVE INFO
Juniors Mike Anderson (6-2, 220) and Omar Bacon (6-1, 208) have made Utahs ground game its best in years. The Utes are averaging 199.4 yards per gamethe most since 1984 (when they averaged 271.9 ypg)with 95-percent coming from Anderson and Bacon. The 1998 Utes have dipped below 200 ypg for the first time of the year, but just barely (199.4). They are bidding to become the first Utah team since 1984 to average 200 yards rushing ... Utahs offense is about as balanced as it can get, with 1,492 passing yards and 1,396 rushing yards ... Daniel Jones leads Utah (4th in the WAC, 20th in the nation) in all-purpose yardage (147.6 ypg) ... Tony Dickamore became the fifth tight end to catch a pass for Utah this year with his first career reception against SDSU ... Utah has scored 67% of its points in the first half, led by the first quarter (76 points). The third quarter is its worst (23 points) ... Utah is converting on 39% of its third downs (44-112) ... The Utes are 5-7 (71%) on fourth down.
UTAH ON OFFENSE
Category Avg. WAC NCAA
Rushing Offense 199.4 5 25
Passing Offense 213.1 6 48
Total Offense 412.6 2 28
Scoring Offense 27.3 5 46
DEFENSIVE DATA
Sophomore free safety Kimball Christianson is Utahs second leading tackler with 42 ... junior end John Frank leads Utah in sacks (4-27 yards) and is tied for second in tackles for loss (4-11) ... Frank also has a caused fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups ... open end Dicky Purcell has a team-best 5 tackles for loss (14 yards) ... nose guard Pene Talamaivao and corner Teneil Ethridge are tied for the team lead in pass breakups (7) ... Utah had a player named WAC defensive player of the week for the first two games: Kautai Olevao (Utah State) and Andre Dyson (Louisville) ... defense did not give up a point in regulation time of Utahs loss to SDSU ... best quarters are the first (28 points) and fourth (29 points) ... opponents are converting on 35% of their third down attempts (40-116).
UTAH ON DEFENSE
Category Avg. WAC NCAA
Rushing Defense 93.0 2 10
Passing Defense 248.4 3 28
Total Defense 341.4 4 43
Scoring Defense 21.4 7 38
SPECIAL TEAMS
Walk-on freshman kicker Ryan Kaneshiro is 23-24 on extra point attempts, with his only miss in overtime at San Diego State. He went into the SDSU game 5-6 in field goals, but missed two that night, to drop his totals to 5-8 (63%). He had a career-best 47-yarder against Wyoming ... Junior all-WAC candidate Chris Hunter has 39 punts for 1,655 yards (42.4 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 is making a bid to become the WAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Jones returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown last week against SDSU and leads Utah with 16 kick returns for 375 yardsan average of 23.4 yards per return. He also has 16 of 17 punt returns this season by a Ute for 164 yards (10.3 ypr) ... Utahs leader in special teams tackles is Colby Knight with 10. Andy Bowers and Wes Tufaga are second with 7.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Utahs roster lists seven 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 and No. 13 Colby Knight.
INJURY REPORT
Out for the season: Courtney Richins (ACL), tight end C.J. Johnson (broken left leg), defensive back Brandon Dart (foot), offensive tackle Nathan Sybrowsky (knee), wide receiver Roy Allen (knee). Key players are expected to miss the San Jose State game: rover Phil Glover (foot).
RED ZONE REPORT
Utah Offense
Times at or inside 20: 26
Touchdowns: 16
Field Goals: 2
TD percentage: 62%
Utah Defense
Times opponent at or inside 20: 26
Touchdowns: 12
Field Goals: 4
TD percentage: 46%
ON THE SCALES
Utahs offensive front five averages 300 pounds [SJSs offensive line averages 295 pounds]. Utahs defensive down linemen average 292 pounds per man [SJSs defensive line averages 279 pounds].
SPARTAN QUICK LOOK
Category Avg. WAC NCAA
Rushing Offense 122.6 13 84
Passing Offense 207.3 8 53
Total Offense 329.9 11 74
Scoring Offense 23.1 7 65
Rushing Defense 265.4 16 110
Passing Defense 175.3 7 40
Total Defense 440.6 14 99
Scoring Defense 32.6 15 102
SJSU REVIEW
3-5 (2-2 WAC) ...best non-conference win was against Stanford (35-23) ... Head Coach Dave Baldwin is 7-12 in his second year at SJS. His four-year career mark is 16-25 ... two quarterbacks have playedfreshman Marcus Arroyo (36-66 for 364 yards and 1 TD) and sophomore Chris Kasteler (68-119 for 929 yards and 8 TDs)but Kasteler played the whole game against BYU. He was 22 of 32 for 319 yards and 4 TDs in that game ... receiver Oliver Newell has 28 catches for 457 yards and 5 scores ... running back Carlos Meeks has rushed for 412 yards.
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM IN ITS DEBUT SEASON
Utahs 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 stadiums capacity to 50,000 for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games.
MAC-QUOTES
At this point in the season, we shouldnt be turning the ball over in the red zone. After the first two games, you just dont see stuff like that. The same stuff shows up every weekthrowing into coverages, illegal motion on the line and a lack of fundamentally sound execution in critical situations. We need to get more productivity out of our quarterbacks in clutch time. Our wide receivers are playing great, but the quarterbacks need to get them the ball. Darnell (Arceneaux) wasnt the same guy against San Diego State. I dont know if he was still feeling some lingering effects from that concussion or what, but he didnt have his natural instincts. Well decide later in the week which quarterback well use ... We need to control the tempo against San Jose State. I think we should be able to move the ball, but they are coming into their own offensively as well and they dont turn the ball over. Id have to think theyll be playing with a lot of confidence after nearly beating BYU. Stopping their passing attack is the key.
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.)
59 Doug Kaufusi (6-7, 300, Fr.)
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.) or
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.)
90 Ed Ta'amu (6-2, 280, So.)
OE 39 Dicky Purcell (6-1, 238, Sr.)
60 Chuck Pine (6-2, 220, Jr.)
RT 99 Mike Thomas (6-1, 303, Sr.)
98 Maake Kemoeatu (6-5, 276, So.)
NT 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 30 Teneil Ethridge (5-10, 188, Jr.)
34 David Richards (6-0, 187, Sr.)
LC 40 Jay Hill (6-1,186, Jr.)
21 Andre Dyson (5-10, 184, So.)
FS 10 Kimball Christianson (6-3, 209, So.)
28 Jamal Allen (5-11, 207, Sr.)
SS 35 Robert Love (5-9, 203, Sr.)
3 Sitivi Laulu (6-0, 210, Jr.)
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
4 Patrick Dyson (6-0, 186, Fr.)
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