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The University of Utah Athletics
Ute Football Team Opens Spring Camp On Friday.
3/20/2000 12:00 AM | Football
March 20, 2000
SALT LAKE CITY -
UTES SET TO OPEN SPRING CAMP
Just over three months after winning the EA SPORTS Las Vegas Bowl, the Utah football team is headed back to the field, this time for spring drills. The Utes are scheduled to kick off their 2000 spring camp on Fri., Mar. 24, with a helmets only practice at the Thomas Kearns McCarthey Practice Fields. Friday's practice is tentatively scheduled for 3:30-5:30 p.m. Utah is allowed 15 days of spring training by the NCAA and has scheduled 14 practices in advance, with another to be held at a date to be determined. The spring season will conclude on Fri., April 21 with a scrimmage.SCRIMMAGE SITUATION
Utah will hold three situational scrimmages, the last signaling the close to spring camp on Fri., April 21. The other two scrimmages are planned for April 8 and April 15, starting at around 10 a.m. The final scrimmage will (tentatively) start at 3:30 p.m. on April 21. Scrimmages will be held at the Thomas Kearns McCarthey Practice Fields.TIMES, DATES, DETAILS
Utah's four weeks of spring drills kick off with two days of "helmets only" practices, Mach 24-25. The first day in pads will be Tue., Mar. 28. The Utes will practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Mar. 28-Apr. 20. There are two Friday practices scheduled (Mar. 24 and the Apr. 21 scrimmage) and four Saturday practices and/or scrimmages. Weekday practices will run from approximately 3:30-5:30 p.m., while Saturday workouts are scheduled for 10 a.m. -12 noon. The 15th allowable practice day has not yet been set, but will be held before April 21. A complete schedule can be found on page 3 of this release.CHECK THE TIME
Practice times often vary from the attached schedule. Call the sports information office (581-3511/3510) for daily practice time updates.WATCH THE WEATHER
The Utes will practice outside under most weather conditions. In the case of severe rain or snow, practice will move inside the Bubble. The Bubble is located just south of the Smith Center, adjacent to the McCarthey Practice Fields.BY THE NUMBERS
Utah returns 48 lettermen and 19 full-time or part-time starters from last year's 9-3, Las Vegas Bowl champion team. Utah lost 19 lettermen to graduation, including three first-team all-Mountain West Conference players (running back Mike Anderson, defensive lineman John Frank and offensive lineman Luis Park). Frank was the 1999 MWC Defensive Player of the Year. Top returners are all-MWC receiver and punt returner Steve Smith, first-team all-MWC linebacker Kautai Olevao, and second-team all-MWC defensive back Andre Dyson.NOT THIS SPRING
Three defenders who may be on the roster in the fall will not be participating in spring ball: Starters Howard and Kimball Christianson are taking the spring off from school to study for the MCAT exam and Brandon Dart is recovering from his latest knee injury. The Christianson brothers might opt to concentrate solely on their studies next year in preparation for medical school. Dart has been granted a rare seventh year of eligibility, but has not made a decision on whether or not to use it.HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE
Head Coach Ron McBride is gearing up for his 11th year at the helm of the Ute program. His 10-year record is 71-46, making him the second winningest coach in Utah football history. He has averaged seven wins per year, best in school history, and is Utah's second-longest tenured football coach ever. McBride, who has taken Utah to five bowl games-a record for a U. coach-has won two conference championships. Utah won the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship last year, tying with Colorado State and Brigham Young, and also tied for the 1995 Western Athletic Conference championship. Last year's 9-3 record marked the seventh-straight winning year for McBride and his ninth consecutive .500 or better season. Utah beat Fresno State in the 1999 EA SPORTS Las Vegas Bowl, McBride's second bowl win as a head coach. He has two of the best seasons ever at Utah. In 1994, he led Utah to the best record (10-2) and final national ranking (No. 9) in school history. Utah's nine wins last year is tied for second most in school history.PERSONNEL PICTURE
Offensive Starters Returning (9) Darnell Arceneaux*, QB (6-1, 188, Sr.), T.D. Croshaw*, QB (6-1, 182, Sr.), Jordan Gross*, OL (6-5, 302, So.), Doug Kaufusi, OL (6-6, 301, Jr.), Steve McKane*, C (6-0, 270, Sr.), Matt Nickel*, TE (6-6, 257, Sr.), Cliff Russell, WR (5-11, 177, Jr.), Steve Smith, WR (5-8, 180, Sr.), Sam White, OL (6-3, 288, Sr.).Defensive Starters Returning (9) Andy Bowers, DE (6-5, 279, Sr.), Howard Christianson, LB (6-3, 228, Sr.), Kimball Christianson, DB (6-3, 203, Sr.), Andre Dyson, DB (5-10, 177, Sr.), Ma'ake Kemoeatu, DL (6-5, 309, Sr.), Kautai Olevao, LB (6-2, 265, Sr.), Jason Potter, DB (5-11, 207, Sr.), Garrett Smith*, DL (6-3, 281, So.), Wes Tufaga (6-0, 240, Sr.).
Kicking Game Starters Returning (1) Golden Whetman*, K/P (6-1, 204, Sr.).
*started part-time
SPRING INJURIES
Out for the spring with injuries are: starting linebacker Howard Christianson (knee) and linebacker Brooks Bahr (knee). Key players who will be limited to non-contact drills are: starting all-MWC wide receiver/punt returner Steve Smith (neck), starting offensive guard Sam White (knee), receiver/punt returner Courtney Richins (knee), defensive tackle Ed Johnson (foot) and offensive lineman Joe McCullum (foot).REDSHIRTS RETURN
The following is a list of Utes who redshirted last season: Jason Anderson, WR, Anthony Arceneaux, WR, Edwin Benton, RB, Justyn Boudreau, DL, Marvin Cravens, WR, CR Dwinell, LB, Walter Evans, WR, Jared Flint, DB, Maurice Gaines, DB, Jeremy Lyman, DL, Josh Lyman, WR, Dustin McQuivey, OL, Zach Nugent, LB, Jay Ossai, LB, Arnold Parker, DB, Dave Revill, LB, Lance Rice, QB, Lance Roundy, LB, Josh Savage, DL, Dennis Smith, TE, Sean Souza, OL, Shawn Tidwell, OL, Anthony White, DB.OFF A MISSION
Making their first appearance at Utah's spring football camp after signing with the Utes back in 1997 are these returned LDS church missionaries: Makai Aalona, OL, Matt Hansen, TE, Jason Kaufusi, TE, Max Peterson, OL.MCBRIDE SAYS
Offensive Overview: "Our primary concerns on offense this spring are to improve our intermediate passing game and throw at a higher completion percentage. In our run game, we'll look at a draw package and improving our play action. We'll also look for new things in the goal line and short yardage package." Offensive Personnel: "We're in good shape at quarterback, where we have both experience and youth. Darnell Arceneaux, T.D. Croshaw and Tony Alvarez all have experience and we have three good young quarterbacks in the program (Joel Gines, Lance Rice and incoming freshman Brett Elliott). Darnell and T.D. will take an equal number of reps with the No. 1 and No. 2 offense. We'd like one of those guys to separate himself but won't worry if it doesn't happen this spring. At running back, D'Shaun Crockett, Thomas Fortune and Nick Morgan will all have their chance now and we need a couple of those guys to really step up to the forefront in the spring. It (running back) is anyone's job at this point. We have maybe the two best receivers in the conference in Stevonne Smith and Cliff Russell. Plus, Chris Christensen is back from an injury and Philippe Wells and Johnny Lundy are both returning. We have experience and some real speed. Since Stevonne can't take any contact, the new receivers will get a look. On the offensive line, we'll be two deep this spring and even deeper in the fall with the JC guys and missionaries." Defensive Overview "It is critical that we develop some young players in the spring. There will be some untested guys and we need to see them in as many positions as we can. We think there is plenty of ability but we need to see these guys in live situations. We'd like to hammer out our two deep. We'll work a lot on technique and on squeezing things off in the run game, which we didn't do as well last year as the year before." Defensive Personnel "We need to develop some backup linebackers and our corners other than Andre (Dyson). We should be solid at safety where Jason Potter has a lot of experience. Arnold Parker will be the key though. He needs a ton of reps in the spring. Patrick Dyson is our security blanket. He can play every position back there. We're looking at three guys to replace John Frank. Marcus Jones has a great chance because of his speed and ability."
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