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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Ready to Face Utah State
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Football
Aug. 31, 1998
The longest rivalry in Utah football history reaches 98 games this Saturday, when the Utes (0-0, 0-0 WAC) meet Utah State (0-0, 0-0 Big West) in Logan at 7 p.m. in Romney Stadium ... The game will be broadcast live on KSL TV (Ch. 5) ... Utah, which leads the series 65-28-4, has won eight of the last 10, but USU has won the last two. Utah last lost back-to-back games to USU in the mid '70s (1974-76) ...
Utah was picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division ... Utah is 87-47-7 all-time against Big West teams ... This is the third straight year that Utah and Utah State have opened their respective seasons against each other ... Utah's all-time record is 504-376-31 (.570) ... The KJZZ Coach's Show with Head Coach Ron McBride has been moved to Saturdays at 10 a.m., beginning Sept. 5.
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.
FAMILIAR FACES
Utah's offense and defense are stocked with returning starters. On offense, seven of 11 positions have a starter returning. Defensively, only first-year sophomore Ed Ta'amu at left end has no starting experience. The kicking game is unchanged from last year, with All-America candidate Chris Hunter starting at punter for a third year and Cletus Truhe scheduled to handle the place kicking. The return game is Utah's only unknown area. Daniel Jones is slated to return punts and kickoffs. He'll be joined on the kick return team by juco transfer Mike Anderson.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Overall Series: 65-28-4
First Game: 1892 (Utah State 12-0)
Series Streak: Utah State 2
In Logan: Utah leads 19-11
Last Ute Win: 1995 (40-20)
Last USU Win: 1997 (21-14)
Last Ute Win in Logan: 1994 (32-17)
Last USU Win in Logan: 1996 (20-17)
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, 55-39, 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 season. He has taken the Utes to four bowl games and is the only coach ever at Utah to reach 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 6-2 against Utah State as a head coach.
SERIES SHORTS
The longest rivalry in Utah football history ... first-ever football game was against USU in Logan on Nov. 25, 1892 (USU won 12-0) ... series has been continuous since 1900, with the exception of four seasons: 1908 (not scheduled), 1911 (could not agree on the division of gate receipts), 1918 (World War I), 1943 (World War II) ... Utah has won 8 of the last 10 ... USU has won the last 2 ... Utah is 19-11 all-time in Logan ... milestone wins against Utah State include wins No. 10, 50, 200 and 250.
GRIDBITS
The Utes will wear 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 Utah's longtime coordinator of financial aid and eligibility. Johnson worked as a receptionist at the football center. Both passed away this summer ...
This year's team captains are: (offense) Josh Cochran, Daniel Jones, Darren Walker; (defense) Phil Glover, Pene Talamaivao; (special teams) Colby Knight ... Utah will start what is believed to be the biggest defensive and offensive lines in school history. The offensive line checks in at 300, while the defensive line averages 292 pounds.
GLOVER COVER
All-America and Butkus Award candidate Phil Glover (6-0, 237, Sr.) will start at "rover" linebacker for a second year. Glover, first-team all-WAC a year ago, was WAC defensive player of the week vs. Utah State and Louisville. Utah's 1997 Defensive MVP, Glover had 90 tackles, two interceptions, 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and 4 pass breakups. He led Utah in tackles five times. He 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. Last year against Utah State - his first game as a Ute - he had 16 tackles and two pass breakups.
DARTING DARNELL Sophomore Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 187), who led Utah to wins over Rice and Brigham Young last year, is Utah's starting quarterback. He is 2-0 as a starter. Arceneaux played in six total games last year - five 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 Utah's third leading rusher, carrying the ball 46 times for 248 yards and 3 TDs. He threw for over 100 yards in four of the five games he took snaps in last year, including a career-best 208 yards against BYU. He was "perfect" in Utah's first preseason scrimmage of 1998, completing all five of his pass attempts for 83 yards. Arceneaux was held out of Utah's second scrimmage.
THE JONES' ZONE
Senior Daniel Jones will be Utah's starting "Z" receiver for a second year. Jones, honorable mention all-WAC last year, was the WAC's most prolific receiver before a bad ankle injury. He averaged 118 yards per game receiving in the first three games of 1997, including 151 yards in his NCAA debut against Utah State. Utah's 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 UTEP - the best of the season by a Ute. Jones, who did not play in either of Utah's spring scrimmages in order to rest a tight hamstring, runs a 4.40 40 and has a 36 inch vertical jump.
LOTS OF LOVE
Senior Robert Love, a two-time second-team all-WAC pick, will start at strong safety. Love was Utah's starting strong safety last year, after playing linebacker as a freshman and sophomore. He has led Utah in tackles for the past two years, with 92 last year and 108 in 1996. Love led all Utah tacklers in four games last year and has started all 23 games in the last two years. He has nine career double figure tackle games.
OFFENSIVE INFO Tight end is still up for grabs between 1996 starter C.J. Johnson (6-1, 230, Sr.) and sophomore Matt Nickel (6-6, 257, So.). Johnson missed half of 1996 and all of 1997 with a broken ankle ... Donny Utu who will back up at "X" wide receiver, is scheduled to start at slot back this week. Returning starter Boo Bendinger has been slowed by off-season pelvic surgery, but he is expected to play ...
Senior quarterback Jonathan Crosswhite (6-2, 210), who started the first nine games of 1997, will back up Arceneaux ... Junior running back Omar Bacon (6-1, 208) has edged out junior college transfer Mike Anderson (6-2, 220) for that starting position ... Utah has four 300-pound starters on the offensive line.
UTAH ON OFFENSE IN 1997
Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Offense 178.1 6 34 Passing Offense 200.5 6 66 Total Offense 378.6 5 50 Scoring Offense 23.0 8 66
DEFENSIVE DATA
Senior linebacker Jason Hooks (6-3, 262) is in his sixth year at Utah after receiving a medical extension from the NCAA. Hooks will start at stud linebacker, where he also played in 1994. He was a middle linebacker in 1995-96 and missed last year following preseason knee surgery ... Sophomore lineman Ed Ta'amu (6-2, 280), who signed with Utah in 1996 as a non-qualifier, has been moved from tackle to end, where he will start his first game as a Ute ...
All-WAC returnees on the defense include linebacker Phil Glover (first team), nose guard Pene Talamaivao (first team), strong safety Robert Love (second team) and tackle Mike Thomas (honorable mention) ... Senior Jamal Allen will back up both safety positions ... middle linebacker Cyrus Satoafaiga (6-2, 240, Jr.) has moved ahead of Taulia Lave (6-1, 255, Jr.) on the depth chart.
UTAH ON DEFENSE IN 1997
Category Avg. WAC NCAA Rushing Defense 135.3 3 44 Passing Defense 112.17 5 30 Total Defense 312.7 2 17 Scoring Defense 18.2 4 20
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior punter Chris Hunter, second team all-WAC in 1997, was Utah's special teams MVP. He will start for a third year. Hunter averaged 43.7 yards per punt last year, with a long of 80 ... Walk-on freshman Ryan Kaneshiro has moved into the backup place kicking spot behind Cletus Truhe ...
Scheduled punt returner Courtney Richins has been lost for the season with a knee injury (ACL). Utah has nobody with NCAA game experience returning kicks or punts ... Ed Ta'amu, a starting defensive end, will also handle the long snapping duties. He will replace projected starter Brian Bachhuber, who is out with a hamstring injury.
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 expected to see significant time. The following players are the most likely to see action among the other shared numbers: No. 2 Nick Morgan, No. 10 Kimball Christianson, No. 13 Colby Knight and No. 92 Brian Buchhuber.
INJURY REPORT
Key player out for the season: Courtney Richins (ACL). Key players out for Utah State: Defensive back Brandon Dart (mid foot sprain), offensive tackle Nathan Sybrowsky (knee). Questionable is long snapper Brian Bachhuber (hamstring) and offensive lineman Hema Katoa (achilles).
RED ZONE REPORT
Utah advanced into the "red zone" 46 times last year and produced 34 scores (74%). Twenty-two were touchdowns and 12 were field goals.
ON THE SCALES
Utah's offensive front five averages 300 pounds [USU's offensive line averages 300 pounds]. Utah's defensive down linemen average 292 pounds per man [USU's 269 pounds].
THIS GAME LAST YEAR
Favored Utah was upset for a second straight year, 21-14 in Salt Lake City. Utah State jumped to a 14-0 lead, before Utah came back to tie it at 14 apiece in the third quarter. The Aggies scored the only touchdown of the fourth quarter to win the game. In his first NCAA start, quarterback Jonathan Crosswhite was 19 of 30 for 222 yards and 1 touchdown. Daniel Jones, also playing his first game as a Ute, had 9 catches for 151 yards. Phil Glover opened his Ute career with a 16-tackle game that would earn him WAC player of the week honors.
USU QUICK LOOK (1997)
Category Avg. BWC NCAA Rushing Offense 168.9 2 42 Passing Offense 280.5 2 14 Total Offense 449.4 2 9 Scoring Offense 33.6 1 17 Rushing Defense 115.6 1 25 Passing Defense 251.2 1 49 Total Defense 366.8 1 62 Scoring Defense 23.7 1 52
USU REVIEW
Went 6-6 last year and tied for Big West Championship with 4-1 record ... Lost to Cincinnati (35-19) in the Humanitarian Bowl ... Return four offensive and six defensive starters ... Ranked in the top two in the Big West in every offensive and defensive category in 1997 ... Redshirt senior Riley Jensen (6-1, 208) will start at quarterback ... Junior running back Demario Brown (6-1, 205) rushed for 791 yards and 10 TDs last year ... First year head coach Dave Arslanian held the same title at Weber State from 1989-97, where he compiled at 53-47 record. He is 0-0 against Utah.
MAC-QUOTES
"We're pretty healthy and we came out of camp on a positive note. We're ready to play. We've watched a lot of film of Weber State and it is obvious that (Utah State coach) Dave Arslanian is a very smart guy who has had a lot of success, particularly on offense. We'll have a lot of guess work, but on paper, Utah State is a better team than last year. Our defensive line and linebackers have been very solid and we appear to have a lot of depth at those positions.
The offensive line, particularly the inside three - the guards and centers - have played very well. (Quarterbacks) Darnell Arceneaux and Jonathan Crosswhite have both had good camps. This is a very important game to us. We have to get the effort out of the players."
OFFENSE
C 55 DARREN WALKER (6-3,295, SR.)
66 Steve McKane (6-1, 244, So.)
LG 76 LUIS PARK (6-2, 300, JR.)
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, FR.)
74 Devin Grant (6-8, 300, Sr.)
RT 58 JOSH COCHRAN (6-5, 307, SR.)
61 Kevin Wilson (6-7, 306, Fr.)
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.)
18 Chris Christensen (5-11, 177, So.)
RB 24 OMAR BACON (6-1, 208, JR.)
22 Mike Anderson (6-2, 220, Jr.)
DEFENSE
RE 93 JOHN FRANK (6-5, 271, Jr.)
60 Chuck Pine (6-2, 220, Jr.)
LE 90 ED TA'AMU (6-2, 280, SO.)
47 Andy Bowers (6-5, 262, So.)
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.)
43 Kautai Olevao (6-2, 240, So.)
SLB 49 JASON HOOKS (6-3, 262, SR.)
39 Dicky Purcell (6-1, 238, Sr.)
RC 30 TENEIL ETHRIDGE (5-10, 188, JR.)
40 Jay Hill (6-1, 186, Jr.)
LC 34 DAVID RICHARDS (6-0, 187, SR.)
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.)
28 Jamal Allen (5-11, 207, Sr.)
SPECIALISTS
K 22 TOMMY TRUHE (5-11, 201, JR.)
9 Ryan Kaneshiro (5-6, 172, Fr.)
P 86 CHRIS HUNTER (6-5, 232, JR.)
11 Matt Comins (6-4, 198, Fr.)
LS 90 ED TA'AMU (6-2, 280, SO.)
75 Rod Talaeai (6-0, 258, Jr.)
H 18 CHRIS CHRISTENSEN (5-11, 177, SO.)
22 Tommy Truhe (5-11, 201, Jr.)
PR 80 DANIEL JONES (5-11, 182, SR.)
25 Donny Utu (6-1, 196, Jr.)
KR 22 MIKE ANDERSON (6-2, 220, JR.) AND
80 DANIEL JONES (5-11, 182, SR.)
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