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The University of Utah Athletics
2-0 Ute Football Opens Conference Play At UNLV
9/20/1999 12:00 AM | Football
Sept. 20, 1999
SALT LAKE CITY -
QUICKLY
Utah (2-0) and UNLV (2-1) play in the first Mountain West Conference game ever for both teams ... Game time is 7 p.m. (PT) in Las Vegas, Nev. (Sam Boyd Stadium) ... Utah competed in the Western Athletic Conference from 1962-98, while UNLV joined the WAC in 1996 when the league expanded to 16 teams. However, they never met in football during their three years as joint WAC members ... Utah and UNLV have played just four games in their series history?the last game a 24-14 Ute win back in 1982 ... Utah is one of three undefeated MWC teams: Air Force and Brigham Young are also 2-0 ... Utah is 1-0 on the road this year, with a 27-7 win over Washington State on Sept. 4 ... The Utah-UNLV game will be televised live on KJZZ TV and can be heard on K-news radio (KNRS 570 AM).
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, starting at 3:30 p.m. All practices will be held at the McCarthey Practice Fields. Practice times can vary. Call sports information director Liz Abel (581-3511) for daily updates and interview requests.
LAST WEEK
Utah got down early, 10-0, but scored three straight touchdowns to go up 21-10 at the half en route to a 38-18 win over Utah State. Tight end Matt Nickel caught two touchdown passes from Darnell Arceneaux and Mike Anderson rushed for 97 yards and a score to lead the Ute offense. Nickel back Jay Hill made two critical interceptions?one which he ran back for a 22 yard touchdown. Hill's first pick saved an Aggie touchdown, when he caught the ball in the end zone on a first-and-goal play from the 5-yard line. Anderson scored on the ensuing offensive drive. The opening day home crowd 45,224 in Rice-Eccles Stadium was the second largest in the stadium's two-year history. It watched USU pull to within three, 21-18, before touchdowns by Nickel and Hill and a field goal by Golden Whetman put the game out of reach.
HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE
Head Coach Ron McBride is 64-43 in nine years at the helm of the Ute program. McBride, the school's second winningest coach, is one of just two coaches in school history to win 60 games. He has coached Utah to six straight winning seasons and has suffered just one losing season (1990, his first year). McBride's teams have averaged seven wins per year. With four bowl appearances, McBride is the only head coach to take Utah to more than one bowl game. He is 1-3 in bowl games. McBride led Utah to the 1995 WAC Championship (tie)?Utah's first conference 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. McBride is 0-1 against UNLV Head Coach John Robinson, losing 28-21 to his USC Trojans in the 1993 Freedom Bowl.
SERIES SHORTS
Utah leads 3-1 ... Series opener was in 1979, a 43-41 Rebel win in Las Vegas ... Utah then won three straight from 1980-82 ... Last time these teams met in Las Vegas, Utah crushed UNLV 69-21 in 1981. Ute Head Coach Ron McBride was Utah's offensive coordinator in that win, as well as the most recent game in 1982 (a 24-14 Ute win) ... Utah is 1-1 in Las Vegas.
GRIDBITS
Utah has opened its conference season with a win in each of the last five years ... A win over UNLV would give Head Ute Coach Ron McBride the third 3-0 start of his 10-year Ute career: The other 3-0 starts were in 1994 (when Utah won a school record eight straight) and last year ... The Utes' record against Mountain West schools is 177-108-10, but they are just 66-65-4 in road games against them ... Utah's all-time record is 513-380-31 ... Utah leads the MWC and is seventh in the nation in turnover margin (plus 4).
MIKE CHECK
Running back Mike Anderson (6-0, 232, Sr.), the preseason Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year and a Doak Walker candidate, is currently the MWC's leading rusher, averaging 102.5 yards per game. He has rushed 34 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Anderson, who averaged 8.3 yards per carry in a 108-yard game against Washington State on Sept. 4, churned out 97 yards against Utah State on Sept. 18. Utah's leading scorer (18 points) is averaging 6.0 yards per carry?second in the MWC. Anderson's 108-yard day against Washington State was his eighth 100-yard game in his two years at Utah. He now has 15 career rushing TDs, tying him for eighth in school history with Charlie Brown (1994-96) and Keith Williams (1991-93). His next TD run will tie him for seventh with Hilria Johnson (1980-83). Anderson was first-team all-WAC last year and its leading rusher (20th in the nation), averaging 106.6 ypg. He rushed for 1,173 yards, which ranks second in Ute history, and he is one of just four Utes ever to average 100 yards per game rushing. In his first year of NCAA ball, Anderson carried the ball 244 times and had seven 100-yard games. His 12 rushing touchdowns was the second best single season tally ever at Utah. His career-best rushing game is 163 yards vs. San Jose State in 1998.
HOLY KAUTAI
Junior linebacker Kautai Olevao (6-2, 245), first-team all-WAC in 1998, has 14 tackles after two games, which ranks him second on the team. He opened the year with eight tackles against Washington State and chipped in six against Utah State. He also has a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery. He was Utah's leading tackler a year ago (77) and its defensive MVP.
FRANKLY SPEAKING
Senior defensive end John Frank (6-5, 277), a preseason all-Mountain West Conference pick, has 10 tackles?best of the linemen. He leads Utah in tackles for loss (2-12 yards) and sacks (2-9 yards). His eight yard sack against Utah State brought his career total to 16. Frank, first-team all-WAC last year, ranked second in the league in sacks with 10.
ARCENEAUX'S ARSENAL
Junior quarterback Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 194) improved to 8-0 as a starter with Utah's win over Utah State. Arceneaux, who threw for a career-best 249 yards against Washington State in the season opener, added 179 passing yards and two touchdowns against Utah State. After two games, Arceneaux is completing 57 percent of his passes, making 34 of 60 attempts for 428 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging 214.0 yards per game with three touchdowns and three interceptions for a passing efficiency rating of 123.09. Also a running threat, Arceneaux has looked to throw first this year, rushing just 12 times for 11 yards. He rushed for 406 yards and seven scores his first two years, with a career-best rushing game of 115 yards against UTEP in 1998.
OFFENSIVE INFO
Junior college transfer Steve Smith caught four passes for 75 yards, including one for 55 yards, against USU ... Utah's leading receiver is Chris Christensen, who is averaging 84 yards per game, followed by Smith (65.5 ypg) ... Senior tight end Andy Kassotis, the preseason pick as all-Mountain West Conference at his position, could see his first action this week. Kassotis sprained his knee (medial lateral ligament) in the preseason ... Junior tight end Matt Nickel's two touchdown receptions against USU doubled his career total ... Senior running back Omar Bacon is Utah's second leading rusher, averaging 34.5 ypg ... Utah's best quarter is the third (28 points), followed by the second (17 points) ... The Utes are 14 of 33 (42%) on third down conversions and have yet to go for it on fourth down.
UTAH ON OFFENSE
Category Avg. MWC NCAA Rushing Offense 156.0 4 57 Passing Offense 213.5 4 49 Total Offense 370.0 4 60 Scoring Offense 32.5 3 35
DEFENSIVE DATA
Utah leads the Mountain West Conference in scoring defense, allowing 12.5 points per game ... Senior strong safety Colby Knight is Utah's leading tackler with 17 ... Knight replaced injured starter Kimball Christianson (sprained knee in Utah's season opener) at strong safety against Utah State, but Christianson made a late-game appearance and will likely start this week ... Senior defensive back Jay Hill is off to a great start. Hill, who caused two fumbles and recovered another in Utah's win over Washington State, came up big again against Utah State. Utah's MWC defensive player of the week nominee, Hill made two critical interceptions (one in the Utah end zone). He also returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown against the Aggies. He also had six tackles and a pass breakup ... In his return to the lineup after more than two years on the injury list, defensive back Brandon Dart led all Ute tacklers with 8 against Utah State. The bad news? He left the game after re-injuring his hamstring, an injury that will cost him another 2-3 weeks on the sidelines ... Utah has not allowed any points in the second quarter.
UTAH ON DEFENSE
Category Avg. MWC NCAA Rushing Defense 132.5 6 52 Passing Defense 213.5 5 31 Total Defense 346.0 6 60 Scoring Defense 12.5 1 15
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior kicker Golden Whetman is perfect through two games. Whetman, in his first year of NCAA ball, has made all three field goal attempts and all eight PATs. Whetman's field goals were from 48, 45 and 26 yards out. The first two were at Washington State in his NCAA debut ... Utah has just two kickoff returns, one by Steve Smith (for 23 yards) and one by Patrick Dyson (16 yards) ... Senior punter Chris Hunter has 12 punts for 494 yards, an average of 41.2 ypp. He has booted three inside the opponent's 20 yard line.
INJURY REPORT
Player, Pos. Injury Status GM Brooks Bahr, LB knee (dislocation) Out for Season+ Brandon Dart, DB hamstring Out (2-3 weeks)* 1 Fisi Moleni, OC knee scope, Sept. 7) Doubtful 2 Cliff Russell, WR sprained knee (MCL) Questionable 1 Steve McKane, OC sprained knee (MCL) Questionable 2 Andy Kassotis, TE sprained knee (MCL) Questionable 2+Scheduled for surgery *Missed WSU game, re-injured vs. Utah State
ON THE SCALES
Utah's offensive front five averages 288 pounds [UNLV's offensive line averages 290 pounds]. Utah's defensive down linemen average 290 pounds [UNLV's average 263 pounds].
RED ZONE REPORT
Utah Offense Times at or inside 20: 7 Touchdowns: 5 Field Goals: 1 Scoring percentage: 86% TD percentage: 71% Utah Defense Times opponent at or inside 20: 7 Touchdowns: 3 Field Goals: 1 Scoring Percentage: 57% TD percentage: 43%
UNLV BY THE NUMBERS
Category Avg. MWC NCAA Rushing Offense 104.0 7 92 Passing Offense 139.0 7 94 Total Offense 243.0 8 102 Scoring Offense 17.7 8 91 Rushing Defense 238.0 8 104 Passing Defense 76.7 1 10 Total Defense 314.7 3 36 Scoring Defense 17.0 2 31
REBEL REPORT
2-1 (0-0 MWC) ... finished 0-11 in 1998 ... under new head coach John Robinson, UNLV won its first two games of 1999, its best start since 1992 (also 2-0) ... 0-1 at home, losing to Iowa State last week (24-0) in Sam Boyd Stadium ... recent stadium renovation includes a new field, which is now grass instead of artificial turf ... leading rusher is Jeremi Rudolph (38 carries for 188 yards and 3 TDs) ... Rudolph averages 94 yards per game rushing ... QB Jason Vaughan is completing 61% of his passes (42-69) and has thrown for 417 yards and 3 scores ... UNLV has not scored in the first quarter this year ... Robinson is 2-1 in his first year as UNLV coach and 106-36-4 in his career, which includes 12 years at USC. He is 1-0 against Utah and Head Coach Ron McBride (as USC coach).
MCBRIDE SAYS
"Obviously, UNLV is a much improved team from last year. They beat North Texas, who just beat Texas Tech, so that's a good win for them, and they beat Baylor, which is always credible. Iowa State rolled up some yards, but that is a good team. We haven't played UNLV in a long time and they have a new coach and a new system in place. However, we have three game films on them, so we should be prepared ... I think the timing of the bye week hurt us and Utah State is a tough team ... We have to improve our execution on offense and we need to get more physical on both sides of the ball ... Our red zone execution was very good against Utah State and our defense did a nice job of shutting them down in the red zone ... Our turnover margin has made a real difference. We're doing some smart things and it's the other guys doing dumb things."
NEW YEAR, NEW LEAGUE
Utah is in its first year as a Mountain West Conference member. After 36 years in the Western Athletic Conference, the Utes, along with Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV and Wyoming, announced on May 26, 1998 that they were leaving the WAC to form a new conference, which was later named the Mountain West Conference. The MWC, which officially commenced operation on July 1, 1999, has secured a lucrative television contract with ESPN and two guaranteed bowl games: The Liberty Bowl will take the Mountain West champion, while the Las Vegas Bowl gets second choice.
UTES PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN MWC
At the Mountain West Conference Football Preview, held in Colorado Springs on July 25-26, Utah was picked to finish fourth in the league by both the coaches and media. In both polls, Utah finished behind Brigham Young, Air Force and San Diego State.
ANDERSON WINS PRESEASON ACCLAIM
Senior running back Mike Anderson, who led the Western Athletic Conference in rushing last year averaging 106.6 yards per game, was voted the Mountain West Conference preseason Offensive Player of the Year by the media. Anderson was joined on the all-MWC preseason first team by three other Utes: Junior offensive lineman Sam White, senior tight end Andy Kassotis and senior defensive end John Frank. Anderson and Frank were both first-team all-WAC last year, while White made the second team and Kassotis was honorable mention.
KILLING TIME
Due to the seven-year, $48 million television contract signed by the Mountain West Conference with ESPN, most of Utah's game times have not been determined. ESPN or ESPN Regional Televison (ERT) have first choice to televise MWC games and they can choose a game anywhere from 6-12 days in advance of it. The ERT games will be televised at 1 p.m. on KJZZ, which also serves as Utah's flagship TV station. Utah will make at least one nationally televised appearance this fall?at Colorado State on Oct. 28. That game will be shown live on ESPN beginning at 6 p.m. The only other remaining Ute game times that are set right now are: Sept. 25 at UNLV (8 p.m. MT) and Oct. 9 vs. Louisiana-Monroe in Salt Lake City (6 p.m.). The 6 p.m. kickoff times for home night games is a switch from the 7:00 p.m. start times of previous years.
ROAD RAGE
The 1999 Utes will encounter a stiff road schedule?one that opened at Washington State and sends them to three perennial league strongholds (Air Force, Colorado State and BYU). Utah also makes a trip to Boise State, a team that stole a last minute win from the Utes in Rice-Eccles Stadium last year.
UTAH FOOTBALL DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE
C 75 Rod Talaeai (6-0, 250, Sr.) 53 Dustin McQuivey (6-3, 265, Fr.) LG 76 Luis Park (6-2, 310, Sr.) 56 Michael Richardson (6-3, 270, So.) RG 50 Sam White (6-3, 285, Jr.) 78 Joe McCullum (6-6, 300, Jr.) 79 Siuaki Livai (6-2, 311, Fr.) LT 59 Doug Kaufusi (6-7, 298, So.) 69 Jordan Gross (6-5, 297, Fr.) RT 58 Josh Cochran (6-6, 297, Sr.) 61 Kevin Wilson (6-7, 298, So.) TE 89 Matt Nickel (6-7, 262, Jr.) 81 Scott Price (6-5, 275, So.) QB 14 Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 194, Jr.) 3 T.D. Croshaw (6-2, 184, Jr.) 12 Tony Alvarez (6-2, 186, Jr.) WR-X 7 Steve Smith (5-10, 177, Jr.) 25 Donny Utu (6-1, 210, Sr.) WR-Z 18 Chris Christensen (5-11, 179, Jr.) 80 Johnny Lundy (6-1, 190, Jr.) SL 9 Boo Bendinger (5-11, 214, Sr.) or 25 Donny Utu (6-1, 210, Sr.) RB 22 Mike Anderson (6-0, 232, Sr.) 24 Omar Bacon (6-2, 205, Sr.)DEFENSE OE 93 John Frank (6-5, 277, Sr.) 60 Chuck Pine (6-3, 242, Sr.) E 47 Andy Bowers (6-6, 277, Jr.) 55 Ed Johnson (6-5, 285, Jr.) T 87 Richard Seals (6-3, 310, Sr.) or 90 Ed Ta'amu (6-3, 311, Jr.) NG 98 Maake Kemoeatu (6-5, 297, Jr.) 63 Garrett Smith (6-3, 245, Fr.) ROV 19 Howard Christianson (6-3, 228, Jr.) 54 Sheldon Deckart (6-2, 249, Fr.) MLB 12 Wes Tufaga (6-0, 242, Jr.) 85 Taulia Lave (6-1, 273, Sr.) SLB 43 Kautai Olevao (6-2, 245, Jr.) 34 Matt Ward (6-4, 227, Jr.) RC 30 Teneil Ethridge (5-10, 188, Sr.) or 5 Jay Hill (6-1, 188, Sr.) LC 21 Andre Dyson (5-11, 179, Jr.) 5 Jay Hill (6-1, 188, Sr.) FS 45 Jason Potter (5-11, 207, Jr.) 4 Patrick Dyson (6-0, 194, Jr.) SS 13 Colby Knight (5-10, 196, Sr.) 42 Brandon Dart (6-2, 206, Jr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS K 11 Golden Whetman (6-1, 215, Jr.) 16 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 207, Sr.) P 86 Chris Hunter (6-4, 224, Sr.) 11 Golden Whetman (6-1, 215, Jr.) LS 92 Brian Bachhuber (6-3, 247, Jr.) 75 Rod Talaeai (6-0, 250, Sr.) SS 92 Brian Bachhuber (6-3, 247, Jr.) 90 Ed Ta'amu (6-3, 311, Jr.) H 16 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 207, Sr.) or 3 T.D. Croshaw (6-2, 184, Jr.) or 20 Brad Burtenshaw (6-0, 177, Fr.) PR 83 Courtney Richins (5-9, 163, So.) 7 Steve Smith (5-10, 177, Jr.) KR 4 Patrick Dyson (6-0, 194, Jr.) and 7 Steve Smith (5-10, 177, Jr.) 31 Desmond Davis (5-8, 177, Fr.) and 1 Cliff Russell (6-0, 180, So.) 32 D'Shaun Crockett (5-8, 189, Fr.)
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