Utah Football Looking For First Win At Utah State

Sept. 25, 2000

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QUICKLY

The longest series in Utah football history turns 100 this Saturday when Utah (0-4, 0-1 MWC) and Utah State (1-2) play in Logan ... Kickoff is at 3:05 p.m. in Romney Stadium ... Utah's first-ever football game was also against USU in Logan, back in 1892. The Aggies won that one 12-0 but Utah has dominated since (more on the series under Series at a Glance and Series Shorts) ... The Utah-USU game will be televised by SportsWest and shown locally on KUWB, Channel 30/12 cable, due to conflicts on KSL-5 with its Olympic coverage ... The Utah-USU game can be heard on KALL 910 (AM) radio and over the Internet (www.UtahUtes.com).

A BAD STREAK

Utah's 0-4 start is its worst ever under Head Coach Ron McBride and ties McBride's longest "oh-fer" streak. McBride's 1990 team also lost four straight. This season's start is the worst by a Ute team since then-head coach Jim Fassel's 1986 team lost its first seven.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, starting at around 3:30 p.m. All practices will be held at the McCarthey Practice Fields. Times could change. Call sports information director Liz Abel (581-3511) for daily schedule updates and interview requests.

LAST WEEK

Utah opened Mountain West Conference play with a 23-14 loss to Air Force in Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the Utes are now 0-3 this year. Air Force scored on its first drive, but Utah countered five minutes later when junior running back Adam Tate scored his first Division I touchdown. Tate, who punched it in from 14 yards out, rang up a game-high 112 yards in seeing his first significant playing time as a Ute. Senior receiver Steve Smith also had his best game of the year, catching eight passes for 95 yards. Patrick Dyson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, closing the gap to 17-14. After a scoreless third quarter, AFA added an insurance score with 12:30 left in the game.

HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE

Head Coach Ron McBride is 71-50 in his 11 years at the helm of the Ute program. He is one of just two coaches to win 60 football games at Utah. Utah has had seven straight winning seasons under McBride and just one losing season (1990, his first year). McBride's teams have averaged seven wins per year and have gone to five bowl games (2-3). His bowl wins were against Arizona, in the 1994 Freedom Bowl, and Fresno State, in the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl. He has won a share of two conference championships (1995 Western Athletic Conference, 1999 Mountain West Conference). 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 8-2 against Utah State.

SERIES SHORTS

The Utah-USU rivalry turns 100 this Saturday in terms of games played ... Utah leads 67-28-4 in a series that began back in 1892 and has been continuous for the most part since 1900 ... There have been four series breaks since 1900: 1908 (not scheduled), 1911 (could not agree on division of gate receipts), 1918 (World War I), 1943 (World War II) ... Utah has won 10 of the last 12, including the last two ... Utah leads 20-11 in Logan.

GRIDBITS

Utah will take next week off ... Patrick Dyson's 98-yard kickoff return against Air Force is tied for the third longest kick return in school history. It is also the first kickoff return for a touchdown since Dyson turned the trick against San Jose State in 1998 ... In the first game of his college career, John Rowbotham fell on an Air Force fumble ... Utah's all-time record is 518-387-28 (.570) ... Utah is averaging 39,106 fans per game in three home games.

UTE INDIVIDUALS IN THE RANKINGS

Player              Category            MWC   NCAAPatrick Dyson, KR   Kickoff Returns     1     3Steve Smith, WR/R   All-Purpose Yards 1     12Cliff Russell, WR   Rec. Per Game       1     14Cliff Russell, WR   Rec. Yards Per Game 3     19

SMITH NOTES

* Wide receiver Steve Smith (5-8, 182, Sr.) was voted preseason Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

* 4.35 40 speed and a 38" vertical jump.

* Averaging team-best 15.7 yards per reception.

* Second on team in receiving (18 catches for 282 yards).

* Averaging 70.5 yards per game receiving, second best on team.

* Leads league and is 12th in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (164.5).

* Utah's career leader in punt returns for a touchdown (4) tied the record first set by Erroll Tucker (4, 1984-85) on a 46-yard punt return vs. Cal on September 9.

* Has had 2 punt returns for touchdowns called back due to penalties this year (vs. California and WSU).

* Third all-time at Utah in career punt return yards (644). He needs 2 yards to tie Erroll Tucker(646, 1984-85) for second. School record is held by LaVon Edwards (892, 1988-91).

* 45 career punt returns ranks sixth all-time at Utah. He needs 1 to tie Scott Robbins (45, 1969-71) for fifth. School record is 112 (LaVon Edwards, 1988-91).

* Led Utah with 8 catches for 95 yards vs. Air Force.

* Led Utah with 6 receptions for 80 yards vs. California.

* 200 all-purpose yards vs. California.

* 3 punt returns for 57 yards and 1 TD vs. Cal.

* Leads 2000 Utes in punt returns (16-149-1 TD) and kickoff returns (12-233, 19.4 ypr).

* As a junior last year, made all-conference team as both receiver (second team) and specialist (first team).

* Averaged 78.2 yards per game receiving in 1999-second in MWC and eighth all-time at Utah.

* Career-best 131 yards vs. San Diego State.

* Led conference in all-purpose yards per game (140.5 ypg) in 1999.

* Led conference and fifth in nation in punt return average (17.1 ypr).

* Set school mark for most punt return yards in a season (495 in 1999).

CLIFF'S EDGE

* Wide receiver Cliff Russell (5-11, 180, Jr.) is the fastest Ute in 20 years (4.25 electronically timed 40).

* Leads Utah with 25 receptions for 364 yards (14.6 ypr) and 2 TDs.

* Third in conference and 19th nationally in receiving yards per game (91.0).

* Leads MWC and 14th nationally in receptions per game (6.25).

* 10 receptions for 141 yards vs. Arizona.

* 8 receptions for 131 yards and 2 TDs against Washington State.

* Career-best game was against Wyoming in 1999 (6 catches for 155 yards and 1 TD).

RUNNING THE SHOW

After employing two quarterbacks in its first two games, Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 198, Sr.) has been the man for the last two games. He is 0-2 as the starter this year, but is 11-4 as the starter in his career. Arceneaux is Utah's top rated quarterback (110.81) and has completed 57-104 passes for 710 yards and 2 TDs (4 interceptions). He is passing for 177.5 yards per game. Arceneaux is also Utah's second-best rusher. He has 41 carries (a team-high) for 99 yards. In the first two games, Arceneaux came off the bench and played at least a half, finishing both games. The starter in those games was T.D. Croshaw, who is 16-46 passing for 235 yards, an average of 58.8 ypg. Croshaw's passing stats reflect the AFA game, when he saw action only as the holder. Croshaw is 4-3 for his career as the starter (includes the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl, where he was injured in the first quarter). He is 0-2 as the starter this year, getting the loss against Arizona and Cal. Utah has used both quarterbacks for the last two years, in part due to the Arceneaux's tendencies toward injuries. These ailments have caused him to miss games in the 1998-99 seasons: sore lower back, lacerated hand, mid-foot sprain, flu, strep throat and concussion (all in 1999), broken finger and dislocated shoulder (1998).

HOLY KAUTAI

* Linebacker Kautai Olevao (6-2, 267, Sr.) is a preseason first-team all-conference selection and is on the Butkus Award Watch List.

* 22 total tackles (5.5 tpg).

* 3 tackles for loss (22 yards).

* 7 tackles (1 for loss) against Washington State.

* 2 tackles for loss (19 yards) and 1 sack (12 yards) against Arizona.

* First-team all-conference in 1998 and `99.

* Has started since his freshman year.

* Utah's 1998 Defensive MVP.

DYSON'S CORNER

* Preseason all-conference cornerback Andre Dyson (5-10, 175, Sr.) is on the Jim Thorpe Watch List.

* 4.31 electronically timed 40 yard dash and 34" vertical jump.

* Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9) returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown vs. California and had 11 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

* Has 2 career TDs off interceptions, which is second most in school history. The school record is 3, held by several people.

* 34 career pass breakups is second most all-time at Utah (record is 42 by Sean Knox, 1987-90 and LaVon Edwards, 1988-91).

* Has 2 touchdowns this year (1 an interception return and 1 a fumble return).

* Tied for Utah's scoring lead (12 points).

* Utah's second-leading tackler has 29 (20 solo).

* Leads Utes with 5 passes defended (4 pass breakups, 1 interception)

* 2 tackles for loss (4 yards).

* Second-team all-conference in 1999.

CHASIN' JASON

* Freshman Jason Kaufusi (6-3, 250), Utah's starter at open end, is an early candidate for MWC Freshman of the Year honors.

* Utah's tackle leader has 31 with 25 (7.8 tpg).

* Leads Utes in tackles for loss with 7 (21 yards).

* 4 hurries is best on team.

* Also has 1 sack for 7 yards and 2 pass breakups.

* Career game against Cal (9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 hurries).

* 8 tackles, 2 for loss (8 yards), 1 pass breakup and 1 hurry vs. WSU.

OFFENSIVE INFO

* Junior college transfer Adam Tate (6-1, 230, Jr.) got his first NCAA start last week against Air Force and rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown. Tate played most of the first half, rushing 14 times for 91 yards (6.5 ypr). He had just 7 rushes in the second half for his remaining 21 yards.

* Prior to last Saturday, Tate had played in just one game, Washington State. In limited action, Tate rushed 6 times for 37 yards (6.2 ypc) against Wazzu, earning him the start vs. AFA.

* Tate is Utah's leading rusher (149 net yards) despite playing just two games. He is averaging 74.5 ypg and 5.5 yards per carry.

* Utah scored its first first-quarter points of the year against AFA on Tate's 14 yard run.

* Freshman tight end Matt Hansen, from Logan, Utah (Mountain Crest HS) got his first playing time as a Ute against Air Force.

UTAH ON OFFENSE

Category     Avg.   MWC  NCAARushing Offense   117.8  6    76Passing Offense   236.2  3    38Total Offense     354.0  5    69Scoring Offense   14.8   7    97

DEFENSIVE DATA

* Starting free safety Jason Potter sat out last week's game with an ankle injury. It was the first game Potter has missed since coming to Utah in 1998.

* For the second year in a row, safety Kimball Christianson had a career game against Air Force. Both last year and last week, Christianson led Utah with 17 total tackles.

* Freshman safety Arnold Parker was Utah's nominee for MWC Defensive Player of the Week against AFA. Parker had a season-best 12 tackles, including 2 for a loss of 5 yards, and 2 pass breakups.

UTAH ON DEFENSE

Category           Avg.   MWC   NCAARushing Defense         177.5  7     89Passing Defense         145.0  1     11Pass Efficiency Defense 148.37 6     101Total Defense           322.5  2     44Scoring Defense         25.5   5     75

SPECIAL TEAMS

* Junior kicker Golden Whetman is 1 of 9 in field goal attempts. Whetman's only made field goal was a 46-yarder against Arizona.

* Whetman has 4 touchbacks on 13 kickoffs.

* Whetman is also Utah's punter and has 21 punts for 786 yards yards (37.4 yards per punt) with a long of 54. He has laid 5 punts inside the 20.

* Junior Ryan Kaneshiro, Utah's starting kicker in 1998, missed his first field goal attempt in two years against Washington State. It was from 39 yards out.

* Steve Smith is Utah's leading return man. He has 16 punt returns for 149 yards (9.3 ypr) and 1 TD and 12 kickoff returns for 233 yards (19.4 ypr).

* Patrick Dyson leads the MWC and is No. 3 nationally in average kickoff return (32.8 ypr). He has 6 kickoff returns for 197 yards and 1 98-yard TD.

* Brooks Bahr is Utah's top tackler on special teams (5).

INJURY REPORT

Player, Pos. Injury/Status/GM Stan Moleni, LB Achille's (surgery)/out for season/4 Ben Allison, TE chest wound (gun shot)/out/4 Sam White, OL knee/out/3 Steve McKane, OL knee/out/2 Thomas Fortune, RB shoulder/out/1 Jason Potter, DB ankle/questionable/1 Brandon Dart, DB ankle/questionable/0

RED ZONE REPORT

Utah Offense Times at or inside 20: 10 Touchdowns: 2 Field Goals: 0 Scoring percentage: 20% TD percentage: 20% Utah Defense Times opponent at or inside 20: 10 Touchdowns: 6 Field Goals: 3 Scoring percentage: 90% TD percentage: 60%

USU PREVIEW

1-2 ... Win was against Southern Utah on Sept. 9 ... 1-0 at home ... Lost last Saturday at Arizona State 44-20 ... First-year head Aggie coach Mick Dennehy is 1-2 ... In his ninth year as a head coach, Dennehy is 50-27 ... Saturday's game is the first time Dennehy has coached against Utah.

USU BY THE NUMBERS

Category            Avg.   NCAARushing Offense          93.0   95Passing Offense          206.6  63Total Offense            299.0  87Scoring Offense          22.0   72Rushing Defense          168.3  82Pass Efficiency Defense  316.67 113Passing Defense          152.41 107Total Defense            485.0  112Scoring Defense          32.0   93

THIS GAME LAST YEAR

Utah trailed 10-0 early, but scored three straight touchdowns and never looked back in a 38-18 win on September 18 in Salt Lake City. Tight end Matt Nickel caught two touchdown passes from Darnell Arceneaux. A home-opening crowd of 45,224 watched Utah State pull within three (21-18) before the Utes went ahead for good on Nickel's second TD. Golden Whetman finished Utah's scoring with a 26 yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

MCBRIDE SAYS

"Our effort against Air Force was awesome. That was our best game by far. Air Force is a very good football team and they played well, especially on offense ... We need to make the players see the positives and keep them hungry for a win. I kind of like playing a non-conference team this week, because, combined with the bye a week later, we'll have some time to get some guys healed and prepare for the bulk of our conference season ... I expect Utah State to be pretty good offensively. (Coach Dennehy) likes a wide open offense with a lot of screens. They'll spread us out. This is always a huge game for us and for Utah State ... I have never experienced an 0-4 start as either a player or a coach, going back to when I was probably five years old."

WATCH OUT!

Two Utes have been named to preseason "Watch Lists" for annual national awards. Kautai Olevao is one of just 11 candidates making a second appearance (there are 70 total prospects) on the prestigious Butkus Award Watch List. The Butkus Award, which honors the nation's top linebacker, will trim its watch list to 10 on October 19. Andre Dyson is one of 40 players named as preseason candidates for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the nation's top defensive back.

OH BROTHER

Utah has two sets of brothers starting on this year's team. Junior Doug Kaufusi and freshman Jason Kaufusi are starting on the offensive and defensive lines, respectively. Seniors Andre and Patrick Dyson both start in Utah's defensive backfield. Andre and Patrick are the younger brothers of former Ute and current Tennessee Titan starting wide receiver Kevin Dyson. Another brother pair also plays, although doesn't start for Utah: twins Josh and Jeremy Lyman.

SEVENTH TIME AROUND

Senior safety Brandon Dart is in his seventh year at Utah. He was granted a rare two-year extension to his NCAA career prior to last season, which was ended prematurely due to knee surgery. The repeat senior has had three season-ending knee surgeries, one season-ending foot injury and one season-ending back injury since coming to Utah. His injury time line: 1994, back injury, September 1995, knee surgery (lateral collateral ligament), 1996, recurring left hamstring strain, August 1997, first degree concussion and surgery for torn ACL (left knee), August 1998, foot sublexation, September 1999, right hamstring strain, October 1999 surgery for torn ACL (right knee).

UTES PICKED TO WIN MWC

At the Mountain West Conference Football Preview, held August 1 in Las Vegas, Utah was picked to defend its conference title by both the coaches and the media. The Utes received four first-place votes from the coaches and 17 from the media. Colorado State was picked second in both polls, gathering three and 10 first-place votes, respectively. Ute senior receiver/returner Steve Smith was named the preseason MWC Player of the Year. He was also a preseason first-team wide receiver and kick returner. Joining Smith on the preseason all-MWC first team were: junior offensive lineman Doug Kaufusi, senior offensive lineman Sam White, senior linebacker Kautai Olevao and senior defensive back Andre Dyson. Utah had more first-team picks (six) than any other team.

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