Ute Football Team Is In Third Week Of Spring Drills

April 11, 2001

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SPRING IN THE STADIUM

Due to wet, soggy conditions at the McCarthey Practice Fields, the Utah football team has moved its workouts to Rice-Eccles Stadium, starting with last Saturday's scrimmage. The Utes practiced in the stadium again on Tuesday and will hold Thursday's practice and Saturday's scrimmage there as well. The practice site for next week (April 17-19-20) has yet to be determined, but the final spring game on April 21 has definitely been moved to Rice-Eccles Stadium.

PUBLIC WELCOME, SORT OF

For the first time of Ron McBride's head coaching tenure at the U., practices and scrimmages have been closed to the public this spring. The public will get its first chance to see the Utes in action at the spring game on April 21. The spring game is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Admission and parking will be free.

COACHES' CLINIC AHEAD

Utah Head Coach Ron McBride and his staff will hold a football coaching clinic on April 21, prior to the spring game. All coaches, including those from high schools, youth leagues and other colleges, are invited to attend the clinic, which will run from 8 a.m. until noon at the Dee Glen Smith Center on the University of Utah campus. The cost, which is $10 per person or $50 for a group of five or more people, covers pastries and beverages in the morning and lunch following the clinic. After lunch, all participants are invited to attend the annual spring game, from 1-3 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. For more information, please call Bill Hall at 801-581-8563.

PRACTICE TIMES

This week's practice schedule has the Utes practicing on Tuesday and Thursday from about 3:30-5:30 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. They will scrimmage in the stadium on Saturday, starting at around 10:00 a.m. Practice times frequently change so please Liz Abel at the sports information office (581-3511) for daily practice updates.

INTERVIEW POLICIES

All practices are open to the media, but interviews will be conducted only after the completion of practice. Practices usually run about two hours.

LAST WEEK

The Utes finished their second full week of spring drills with a scrimmage on Saturday, April 7 in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Quarterbacks Lance Rice (7-9-114 yards, 1 TD, no interceptions) and Ryan Breska (6-9-86 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception) moved the offense well and established themselves more solidly as the top two candidates to play in the fall. On his second offensive series, Breska marched his unit 70 yards, culminating the drive with a 10-yard scoring pass to fullback Brandon Bliss. Rice also directed a TD "drive" from the 30-yard line. His came on a short screen pass to incoming freshman Morgan Scalley, who tore the remaining 60-some yards to the end zone. On the ground, sophomore halfback Edwin Benton continued his surprising spring, leading all rushers with 69 yards on 13 carries. Damien Hunter and Adam Tate rushed for 42 and 47 yards, respectively, before leaving with minor injuries. Leading the defensive effort were cornerbacks Yohance Scott (1 interception, 1 pass breakup) and Desmond Davis (1 interception return for 30 yards and a touchdown).

SPRING INJURIES

The injuries are starting to pile up, although most or all of the players should be healthy when the season rolls around. Key players out for the remainder of spring drills are: starting offensive guard Sam White (surgery on left knee, April 12), backup fullback Tommy Hackenbruck (knee surgery, right patella tendon, April 5) and backup tight end Matt Hansen (broken ribs). Doubtful for Saturday's scrimmage are: starting halfback Adam Tate (sprained ankle in April 7 scrimmage), backup fullback Rob Sirstens (sprained neck), starting linebacker Sheldon Deckart (sprained ankle), backup cornerback D'Shaun Crockett (hamstring) and starting receiver Josh Lyman (hamstring). Expected back soon are: backup nose tackle Kasey Jackson (bruised ribs) and starting wide receiver Cliff Russell (hamstring). Kicker/punter Golden Whetman can punt this spring, but cannot place-kick, due to a sprained right knee.

SPRING NOTES

Saturday's scrimmage is scheduled to start at about 10 a.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium and should run about 90 plays ... The quarterback situation has become better defined going into the third week of spring ball. Sophomore Lance Rice is still No. 1, but sophomore Ryan Breska, a transfer from Purdue, is now alone at No. 2. Breska was listed as either/or with redshirt freshman Brett Elliott going into camp ... While most of Utah's scholarship receivers are either injured or not scheduled to report until August, one has impressed in spring drills. Morgan Scalley, who just registered for classes spring semester, is having a great spring and, in all likelihood, will play as a true freshman this fall ... The defense has concentrated on developing young players to back up at linebacker and on the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham is trying different combinations to determine the best group of four corners and the two deep at safety.

MCBRIDE SAYS

"I thought the offense made a big step forward at last Saturday's scrimmage. It appears we're right on track in implementing our new offense. The players have done a nice job of keeping up with the pace we've set. I like the way the quarterbacks are picking up the system. Lance (Rice) is doing a nice job of seeing the coverage and picking up blitzes. Ryan (Breska) has shown he can see the whole field and throw the long ball. Defensively, we're spending a lot of time looking at different combinations and trying to hammer out a two deep. On Saturday, we'd like to run another 90 play scrimmage, but plan to concentrate more on red zone situations than we did last week."

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