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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes-Louisville Football Game to Inaugurate New Stadium
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Football
Sept. 7, 1998
QUICKLY
Utah football enters a new era this Saturday, when the Utes (1-0) host Louisville (0-1) at 7 p.m. in the first game ever held in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The new stadium seats 45,634. Rice-Eccles Stadium is the newest stadium in the nation by a week Louisville inaugurated its new stadium last Saturday (more on Rice-Eccles Stadium below) ... While a sell-out crowd is expected, reserved and general admission tickets are still available ... The game will be broadcast live on KJZZ TV (Ch. 14) and on K-news radio (570 AM) ... Utah and Louisville are meeting for the second time ever and the second time in as many years. Utah won the series opener last year in Louisville 27-21.
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM KICKS OFF A NEW ERA
Construction was essentially completed on the new 45,634-seat Rice-Eccles Stadium in time for a Labor Day open house. 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 stadiums capacity to 50,000 for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games.
TICKET TALK
Seats are going fast, but good ones are still available at the Huntsman Center ticket office and all SmithTix locations. A school record 25,000-plus season tickets have been sold for the 1998 home schedulethe largest season ticket sale by 4,000.
LAST WEEK
Utahs defense held Utah State to just 195 total yards and two third down conversions in a 20-12 season-opening victory over the Aggies in Logan. The defense shut out USU in the first and fourth quarters and allowed just one third-quarter TD. The Aggies other points came on a safety and a field goal. The Mike Anderson-led offense racked up 373 net yards and controlled the clock for 36:33. Anderson, a junior college transfer playing his first game at Utah, ran for 150 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Darnell Arceneaux completed 13 of 22 passes for 146 yards and also ran for a 20-yard touchdown.
HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE
Head Coach Ron McBride begins his ninth year at the helm of the Ute program as its second winningest coach. McBride, 56-39, 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). 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 1-0 against Louisville and 1-3 against first-year Louisville head coach John L. Smith.
SERIES SHORTS
Utah won the only game between these two schools 27-21 last Sept. 6 in Louisville.
GRIDBITS
The crowd at this weeks game should set a new attendance record for a home Utah football game. The record is 36,250, set against Brigham Young in 1982 ... Utahs win over USU last week was its first season-opening win in five years. The Utes last won their first game in 1994 (also against Utah State), then lost the season kick-off in 1995 (Oregon), 96 (USU) and 97 (USU) ... This Saturdays game against Louisville is the first of three straight home games for the Utes, who host Hawaii and Boise State on Sept. 19 and 26, respectively ... The Utes are wearing a decal on the back of their helmets with the initials LEWJ in honor of recently deceased U. athletics department employees Linda Edgar and Walter Johnson. Edgar was Utahs longtime coordinator of financial aid and eligibility. Johnson worked as a receptionist at the football center. Both passed away in the summer.
GLOVER COVER
All-America and Butkus Award candidate Phil Glover (6-0, 237, Sr.), Utahs 1997 Defensive MVP, opened his 1998 campaign with four tackles (1 for a loss of a yard) and one pass breakup against Utah State. Last year, Glover finished with 90 tackles, two interceptions, 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and 4 pass breakups. He is on the 1998 Butkus Award Watch List. Utahs fastest linebacker runs a 4.48 40 and has a team-best 38 inch vertical jump. He squats 522 pounds and benches 432 pounds. Last year against Louisville, he had 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 2 sacks (for 21 yards). He was named WAC Player of the Week for a second straight week after his showing against the Cardinals.
Opponent UT AT TT TFL SKS PBU Utah State 1 3 4 1-1 0 1
DARTING DARNELL
Sophomore Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 187) improved his record to 3-0 as a starter with last Saturdays 20-12 win over Utah State. Arceneaux completed 13 of 22 passes for 146 yards and no interceptions. He also ran for a 20-yard touchdown. He now has five career 100-yard passing games, with a career-best 208 yards in last years win over Brigham Young. As a redshirt freshman last year, Arceneaux played in six total gamesfive at quarterback and one at wide receiver. He completed 44 of 77 passes (.571) for 616 yards (102.7 ypg) and 4 TDs (2 interceptions). Despite relatively little playing time, he was Utahs third leading rusher, carrying the ball 46 times for 248 yards and 3 TDs.
Opponent ATT COMP INT YDS TD LONG Utah State 22 13 0 146 0 23
THE JONES ZONE
Senior Daniel Jones (5-11, 182), who had 151 receiving yards against Utah State in his NCAA debut last year, was held to two catches for five yards in his second game against the Aggies. Jones shined on the return teams, though, returning three punts for 56 yards (long of 37) and two kickoffs for 37 yards (long of 20). He is in his first year on the return team. Jones, Utahs starting Z receiver for a second year, was honorable mention all-WAC a year ago and its most prolific receiver before a bad ankle injury. He averaged 118 yards per game receiving in the first three games of 1997. Utahs Offensive Newcomer of the Year as a junior, Jones led Utah in receiving TDs (5) despite his injury-shortened season. He had 187 yards against UTEPthe best of the season by a Ute. He runs a 4.40 40 and has a 36 inch vertical jump.
Opponent Rec Yards Avg TD Long Utah State 2 5 2.5 0 7
LOTS OF LOVE
Senior strong safety Robert Love (5-9, 203), a two-time second-team all-WAC pick, kicked off the 1998 season with three tackles and a pass breakup at Utah State. Love was Utahs tackle leader in both 1996 (108) and 1997 (92). He led all Utah tacklers in four games last year and has nine career double figure tackle games.
Opponent UT AT TT TFL SKS PBU Utah State 1 2 3 0-0 0 1
OFFENSIVE INFO
In his NCAA debut, junior college transfer Mike Anderson (6-2, 220, Jr.) led all rushers with 150 yards on 32 carries (4.7 ypc). Anderson scored the first TD of the season for Utah on a 9-yard run at 4:40 in the first quarter. He had a long run of 20 yards ... Sophomore walk-on running back Nick Morgan (6-0, 210) had a career game against the Aggies, rushing 6 times for 71 yards (long of 49). Morgan played in all 11 games last year, mostly for special teams, and rushed 7 times for 57 yards ... Senior wide receiver Jerome Anderson (5-11, 178) led Utah against Utah State with 5 catches for 64 yards, just off his career-best of 8 catches for 75 yards last year at Oregon ... Donny Utu made the most of his first start at slot back, catching 3 passes for 52 yards (long of 23). Utu, also Andersons backup at X receiver, started playing slot back in the spring after an injury to starter Boo Bendinger ... Omar Bacon (6-1, 208, Jr.), who was scheduled to start at running back before suffering a badly sprained ankle in preseason drills, played for special teams against Utah State. He is expected to rejoin the running back lineup this week, giving Utah four RBs who will likely play (others are Anderson, Morgan and redshirt freshman Thomas Fortune).
UTAH ON OFFENSE
Category Avg. WAC NCAA
Rushing Offense 227.0 6 28
Passing Offense 146.0 9 76
Total Offense 373.0 4 46
Scoring Offense 20.0 8 65
DEFENSIVE DATA
Utah ranked first in the WAC and seventh in the nation in pass defense by holding USU to 99 yards ... Utah opened the USU game in its nickel package, which has junior college transfer Jay Hill starting at nickel back, sophomore Kautai Olevao at middle linebacker and Dicky Purcell at open end. Utah does not use a stud linebacker in its nickel package. In Utahs normal 43 defensive package, Cyrus Satoafaiga starts at middle linebacker, Jason Hooks at stud and Purcell at open end ... Olevao was Utahs nominee for WAC Defensive Player of the Week. The sophomore hasnt played since 1995, when he started as a freshman. He returned from an LDS church mission in time for preseason camp. He had 14 tackles against Utah Statetying his career highand also caused a fumble ... Senior cornerback David Richards had Utahs first interception of the year and the third of his career ... Richards will start at left corner this week.
UTAH ON DEFENSE
Category Avg. WAC NCAA
Rushing Defense 96.0 4 36
Passing Defense 99.0 1 7
Total Defense 195.0 2 11
Scoring Defense 12.0 3 24
SPECIAL TEAMS
Walk-on freshman kicker Ryan Kaneshiro won a spot in Utahs kicking lineup the week of the USU game and made the most of his opportunity. Kaneshiro is now Utahs extra point and short range field goal kicker. He made both point after attempts and also connected on his only field goal attempta 25-yarder ... Junior Cletus Truhe will continue to kick off and handle longer field goal attempts. Truhe made a 46-yard field goal against Utah State and missed a 49-yarder ... All-America candidate Chris Hunter was backed deep into Utah territory on several punt attempts against USU, yet averaged 42.3 yards per punt. He had a long of 55 ... Special teams captain Colby Knight led Utah with three special teams tackles (2 unassisted).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Utahs 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. 10 Kimball Christianson, No. 8 Brad Burnett, No. 13 Colby Knight and No. 92 Brian Buchhuber.
RED ZONE REPORTUtah Offense Times at or inside 20 3 (3) Touchdowns 2 Field Goals 1 TD percentage 100%
Utah Defense Times opponent at or inside 20 2 (2) Touchdowns 1 Field Goals 1 TD percentage 100%
ON THE SCALES
Utahs offensive front five averages 300 pounds [Louisvilles offensive line averages 298 pounds]. Utahs defensive down linemen average 292 pounds per man [Louisvilles 292 pounds].
THIS GAME LAST YEAR
Utah picked up its first win of the season in Louisville and evened its record at 1-1 with a 27-21 win over the Cardinals on Sept. 6. Utahs running backs, junior Chris Fuamatu-Maafala (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) and senior Juan Johnson (now with British Columbia of the CFL), led the offense. Fuamatu-Maafala rushed for 143 yards, while Johnson scored two touchdowns. Then-junior quarterback Jonathan Crosswhite threw for 205 yards and one touchdown and directed scoring drives in all but the first quarter. Utahs defense was stifling. Linebacker Phil Glover was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week for his two sacks (21) yards, 7 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Strong safety Robert Love had eight tackles for Utah, which held Louisville to 15 yards rushing.
LOUISVILLE QUICK LOOK
Category Avg. NCAA
Rushing Offense 133.0 58
Passing Offense 368.0 6
Total Offense 501.0 18
Scoring Offense 34.0 36
Rushing Defense 230.0 82
Passing Defense 571.0 102
Total Defense 801.0 104
Scoring Defense 68.0 104
LOUISVILLE REVIEW
0-1 ... Head Coach John L. Smith is in his first year at Louisville. He is 3-1 against Utah, with wins while at Idaho (1) and at Utah State (2). His loss was as a first-year USU coach ... Lost 68-34 at home to Kentucky last week ... allowed 801 yards of offense in a game that featured 1,302 yards of combined total offense ...Junior QB Chris Redman (6-3, 215) was 25 of 44 for 368 yards and 4 TDs (1 interception) ... Two junior receivers (Ibn Green and Arnold Jackson) each went over 100 yards, with 132 and 123, respectively.
MAC-QUOTES
The biggest positive about (last weeks game) was that we won. The defense really studded up and made great plays, especially in the fourth quarter when it counted. Our offense needs to come along. Consistency is again a factor. Well learn a lot off the film that will help our offense. Getting a win in a fairly hostile stadium against a very good teamespecially defensivelywas nice. I got the main thing I wantedhard play for four quarters. It gets us off on a positive start, so it was a very important game for us ... Louisville will come in here really mad and embarrassed after getting trounced by their No. 1 rival. Theyll be in the same frame of mind we were going into our game with them last year. (Head Louisville coach) John L. Smith brought most of his staff with him and this is the third team hes coached against me, so I expect a similar offensive and defensive plan from him. Thats his trademark.
OFFENESE
C 55 Darren Walker (6-3,295, SR.)
66 Steve McKane (6-1, 244, So.)
LG 76 Luis Park (6-2, 300, Jr.) OR
50 Sam White (6-3, 280, So.)
RG 69 Todd Jackson (6-3, 300, Jr.)
77 Fisi Moleni (6-3, 298, Jr.)
LT 59 Doug Kaufusi (6-7, 300, Jr.)
76 Luis Park (6-2, 300, Jr.)
RT 58 Josh Cochran (6-5, 307, SR.)
74 Devin Grant (6-8, 300, Sr.)
TE 89 Matt Nickel (6-6, 257, SO.) OR
84 C.J. Johnson (6-1, 230, SR.)
44 Andy Kassotis (6-3, 273, Jr.)
QB 14 Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 187, SO.)
16 Jonathan Crosswhite (6-2, 210, Sr.)
WR 5 Jerome Anderson (5-11, 178, sr.)
25 Donny Utu (6-1, 196, Jr.)
18 Chris Christensen (5-11, 177, So.)
WR 80 Daniel Jones (5-11, 182, sR.)
1 Clifford Russell (6-0, 180, Fr.)
SL 25 donny utu (6-1, 196, jr.)
9 Boo Bendinger (6-0, 222, Jr.)
RB 22 Mike Anderson (6-2, 220, Jr.) OR
24 omar bacon (6-1, 208, jr.)
2 Nick Morgan (6-0, 210, So.)
7 Thomas Fortune (6-3, 226, Fr.)
DEFENSE
RE 93 John Frank (6-5, 271, jr.)
90 Ed Ta'amu (6-2, 280, So.)
LE 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.)
98 Maake Kemoeatu (6-5, 276, So.)
ROV 7 Phil Glover (6-0, 237, SR.)
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.)
43 Kautai Olevao (6-2, 240, So.)
RC 30 Teneil Ethridge (5-10, 188, Jr.)
21 Andre Dyson (5-10, 184, So.)
LC 34 David Richards (6-0, 187, Sr.)
40 Jay Hill (6-1, 186, Jr.)
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 22 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 201, JR.) AND
19 Ryan Kaneshiro (5-6, 172, Fr.)
P 86 Chris Hunter (6-5, 232, JR.)
11 Matt Comins (6-4, 198, Fr.)
LS 92 Brian Bachhuber (6-1, 247, SO.)
90 Ed Ta'amu (6-2, 280, So.)
H 11 Matt Comins (6-4, 198, Fr.)
18 Chris Christensen (5-11, 177, SO.)
22 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 201, Jr.)
PR 80 Daniel Jones (5-11, 182, Sr.)
5 Jerome Anderson (5-11, 178, Sr.)
KR 80 Daniel Jones (5-11, 182, Sr.) and
30 Teneil Ethridge (5-10, 188, Jr.)
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