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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Take Week Off After Win Over Washington State
9/6/1999 12:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 1999
QUICKLY
Utah (1-0) takes a break from competition this week ... It is the earliest "bye" week of Head Coach Ron McBride's 10-year tenure at Utah ... The early bye resulted from a request by Utah State to change its originally scheduled September 4 meeting with the Utes to another day. Washington State agreed to move its game with Utah from September 11 to September 4 to replace the Aggie game, leaving the Utes without an opponent on September 11 ... Utah returns to action on September 18 against USU ... The Utah State game is not only Utah's season home opener, it's the annual Homecoming game ... It will mark the 99th meeting between the two rivals, whose series is the oldest in Ute history ... Utah is 4-2 in Rice-Eccles Stadium and 235-122-10 in games played on that site (includes Ute/Rice Stadium and Rice-Eccles Stadium) ... Utah's all-time record is 512-380-31 ... The Utah-USU game will be televised live by KJZZ TV and can be heard on K-news radio (570 AM).
HOME OPENER AHEAD
The Utes begin year two in 45,634-seat Rice-Eccles Stadium on Sept. 18 against Utah State. Game time is 6:00 p.m., which is a switch from previous years when night games kicked off at 7 p.m. Utah's home opener a year ago was against Louisville on Sept. 12. The Utes christened their new stadium with a 45-22 thrashing of bowl-bound Louisville.
THE FUN ZONE
The Utah-Utah State game will not only kick off the home season for the Utes, it is also the kickoff for the Family Fun Zone. Held in the south end zone plaza before and during every home game, the Family Fun Zone will feature a carnival atmosphere with interactive games for university students and kids, as well as contests, climbing walls, sumo wrestling suits, music and entertainment, jugglers, clowns, face painters, a food court and much more. It is free with paid admission to the football game. Gates open one and a half hours prior to kickoff and the Family Fun Zone will remain open until the end of the game.
LAST WEEK
Utah dominated Washington State on both sides of the ball in Pullman, Wash., on Sept. 4, winning 27-7. Utah rolled up 424 yards of total offense to WSU's 323. Golden Whetman scored all six of Utah's points in the first half on a pair of field goals. His first kick as a Ute was a 48-yarder that split the uprights, while the other was from 35 yards. Utah erupted offensively in the second half, with Mike Anderson rushing for 73 of his game-high 108 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Chris Christensen grabbed the first TD catch of his career to cap his career-best 144-yard day. Defensively, Utah held WSU scoreless through three quarters and allowed the Cougars just 98 yards rushing.
HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE
Head Coach Ron McBride is 63-43 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 1-0 against Aggie Head Coach Dave Arslanian.
SERIES SHORTS
The oldest series in Utah football history began in 1892 ... It has been continuous since 1900, with the exception of four years: 1908 (not scheduled), 1911 (could not agree on the division of gate receipts), 1918 (World War I) and 1943 (World War II) ... Utah leads the series 66-28-4 ... Its 66 wins is the most by Utah against any team ... USU was Utah's first-ever gridiron foe. The Aggies won that first game back in 1892, 12-0 ... Utah won last year in Logan (20-12) to snap a rare two-game losing steak to the Aggies ... Utah State's last win in Salt Lake City was in 1997 (21-14) ... Utah's last home win against USU was in 1995 (40-20) ... Utes have won 9 of the last 11 ... Milestone wins No. 10, 50, 200 and 250 were at the expense of Utah State.
GRIDBITS
McBride's Ute teams are 6-2 in games immediately following bye weeks. Utah did not have a bye in 1993 ... Utah played Fresno State the last two years after a bye, with each team winning a game (Fresno won 27-13 in 1997 and the Utes won 24-16 last year) ... Utah is 4-0 against Utah State in Homecoming games and is 47-26-4 all-time on Homecoming ... Previous Ute Homecoming games with Utah State fell in 1932, 1969, 1982 and 1995 ... The Utes had one sell-out last year in Rice-Eccles Stadium, drawing 45,634 against Brigham Young on Nov. 21 ... Utah broke its season attendance record last year with a six-game average of 39,060.
MIKE CHECK
Running back Mike Anderson (6-0, 232, Sr.), the preseason Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year, took up where he left off last year in the ?99 season opener. Anderson racked up his eighth career 100-yard game, rushing for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He did it on just 13 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per carry with a long run of 40 yards. The two rushing touchdowns tied his career high, achieved four times last year. He now has 14 career TDs. One more will tie him for the eighth most in school history (15 by Charlie Brown, 1994-96 and Keith Williams, 1991-93). Anderson, first-team all-WAC last year and its leading rusher (20th in the nation), averaged 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.
Opponent Rush Yards Avg. TD Long Washington State 13 108 8.3 2 40
HOLY KAUTAI
Junior linebacker Kautai Olevao (6-2, 245), first-team all-WAC in 1998, opened the year with an 8-tackle game at Washington State. Olevao had six unassisted and two assisted tackles and also recovered a fumble. He was Utah's leading tackler a year ago (77) and its defensive MVP.
Opponent UT AT TT TFL SKS PBU
Washington State 2 6 8 0-0 0-0 0
FRANKLY SPEAKING
Senior defensive end John Frank (6-5, 277), a preseason all-Mountain West Conference pick and returning first-team all-WAC player, had four tackles, 1 tackle for loss (4 yard) and 1 sack (1 yard) in Utah's win over Washington State. He now has 15 career sacks. Frank had 10 sacks last year, which ranked second in the WAC.
Opponent UT AT TT TFL SKS PBU Washington State 2 2 4 1-4 1-1 0
ARCENEAUX'S ARSENAL
Junior quarterback Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 194), fully recovered from shoulder and finger surgeries that caused him to miss half of his sophomore season, ran his record as a starter to 7-0 with the 27-7 win over Washington State on September 4. Arceneaux threw for a career-best 249 yards against Wazzu, completing 22 of 36 pass attempts-one a 35-yard touchdown pass to Chris Christensen. He won the starting QB job last year and led Utah to a 2-0 record before injuries struck. He eventually played in six games, starting four (all Ute wins). He missed three games with a broken finger to his throwing hand (suffered on Sept. 15) and the final two games to a shoulder dislocation that required surgery. Before injuring his shoulder in a Ute win over UTEP on Nov. 7, Arceneaux rushed for a career-high 115 yards and threw for 121 yards and two TDs.
Opponent ATT COMP INT YDS TD LONG Washington State 36 22 2 249 1 35
OFFENSIVE INFO
Junior receiver Chris Christensen, who walked on back in 1994 but has since earned a scholarship, had a career day at Washington State. Christensen caught 10 passes for 144 yards and his first career touchdown (a 35-yard reception) ... In his first game as a Ute, juco transfer Steve Smith caught five balls for 56 yards ... With starting "Z" receiver Cliff Russell out for the Utah State game with a knee sprain (MCL) suffered at WSU, look for Christensen to start in his place and Smith to start at the "X" receiver ... Senior Donny Utu missed the WSU game, but his hamstring should be healed by Utah's Sept. 18 game with USU. Utu or Boo Bendinger will start at slot back and Utu will likely back up Smith on the outside. Juco transfer Johnny Lundy, who has been hobbled by an ankle sprain, will likely back up Christensen.
UTAH ON OFFENSE Category Avg. MWC NCAA Rushing Offense 249 4 n/a Passing Offense 175 1 n/a Total Offense 424 2 n/a Scoring Offense 27.0 4 n/a
DEFENSIVE DATA
Senior Colby Knight replaced junior Kimball Christianson at strong safety after Christianson suffered a knee injury ... Knight will likely start at strong safety against USU, backed up by junior Brandon Dart ... Junior corner back Andre Dyson was Utah's nominee for Mountain West defensive player of the week for the WSU game. Dyson had 5 tackles (all unassisted), a pass breakup, fumble caused, fumble recovered and an interception ... Nickel back Jay Hill caused two of Utah's four fumbles caused and recovered one. He also broke up a pass ... Utah got 8 tackles from its nose guards. Junior Maake Kemoeatu had 5 tackles, 1 for loss, and freshman Garrett Smith chipped in 3 tackles.
UTAH ON DEFENSE Category Avg. MWC NCAA Rushing Defense 103 4 n/a Passing Defense 225 3 n/a Total Defense 323 4 n/a Scoring Defense 7.0 2 n/a
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior kicker Golden Whetman was perfect in his debut. The strong-legged kicker made two field goals and all three PATs in his first NCAA Division I game. Whitman's first try was from 48 yards and he cleared it with 10 yards to spare. He also booted a 35-yard field goal ... Punter Chris Hunter's five punts sailed 214 yards (42.8 ypp), with a long of 55 yards. He also boomed a 51-yarder. His average was hurt by an 18-yard pooch punt.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Utah has 10 shared numbers on its roster. The most confusion from the double numbers will center around No. 7 (shared by receiver Steve Smith and kicker Cletus Truhe), No. 12 (shared by linebacker Wes Tufaga and quarterback Tony Alvarez) and No. 11 (shared by kicker Golden Whetman and tight end Ben Allison).
INJURY REPORT
Key players likely to miss the Utah State game: Tight end Andy Kassotis (sprained MCL), center Fisi Moleni (knee scope on Sept. 7), wide receiver Cliff Russell (sprained MCL) and strong safety Kimball Christensen (sprained MCL). Questionable for the Sept. 7 game: center Steve McKane (sprained MCL) and defensive lineman Lauvale Sape (sprained MCL).
ON THE SCALES
Utah's offensive front five averages 288 pounds [USU's offensive line averages 296 pounds]. Utah's defensive down linemen average 291 pounds [USU's average 262 pounds].
RED ZONE REPORT
Utah Offense
Times at or inside 20: 2
Touchdowns: 1
Field Goals: 0
Scoring percentage: 50%
TD percentage: 50%
Utah Defense
Times opponent at or inside 20: 1
Touchdowns: 1
Field Goals: 0
Scoring Percentage: 100%
TD percentage: 100%
LAST TIME THEY MET
Utah opened its 1998 campaign with a 20-12 win over Utah State before a sell-out crowd in Logan on Sept. 5. The defense led the way, holding USU to just 10 first downs and 195 total yards. The Aggies scored just one touchdown and went scoreless in the first and fourth quarters. Kautai Olevao would win WAC player of the week for his 14-tackle game. Offensively, Mike Anderson dazzled in his Ute debut. The juco transfer rushed for 150 yards and the game's first touchdown. Darnell Arceneaux completed 12 of 22 passes for 146 yards and no interceptions. He also ran for a 20-yard touchdown.
MCBRIDE SAYS
"We wanted to have a game on September 4 because of our two-a-day schedule and school starting so it helped playing Washington State then in that sense. Otherwise, we would rather have a bye later in the season when we have guys who need to get healthy. But it's all right. It helps us with academics because it gives the players time to get adjusted to school and see what kinds of things are expected of them in the class room ... I kind of like having a game under our belt before we play Utah State. It always makes for added pressure when we open the season with them ... I was really pleased with the discipline of our team at Washington State. We didn't make mistakes and they did. We've been working on our discipline since last January and it showed."
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 last May 26 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. 18 vs. Utah State in Salt Lake (6 p.m. MT), Sept. 25 at UNLV (8 p.m. MT) and Oct. 9 vs. Northeast Louisiana in Salt Lake City (6 p.m. MT). 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.)
77 Fisi Moleni (6-3, 303, Sr.)
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.)
82 Tony Dickamore (6-5, 243, 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 90 Ed Ta'amu (6-3, 311, Jr.) or
87 Richard Seals (6-3, 310, Sr.)
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.)
26 Jeff Ray (5-10, 163, Jr.)
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.)
7 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.)
90 Ed Ta'amu (6-3, 311, Jr.)
H 40 Cletus Truhe (5-11, 207, Sr.) or
3 T.D. Croshaw (6-2, 184, Jr.)
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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