Ute Football Team Starts Week Two of Summer Camp

Aug. 13, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -

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Utah's summer football camp has entered its second week ... Contact drills begin on Tuesday afternoon ... The Utes have changed their practice format from past years. They now practice three times daily, Monday through Saturday, and take Sundays off. Previously, the summer camp consisted of two practices a day, seven days a week.

PRACTICE DETAILS

All Ute practices and scrimmages are closed to the general public, but open to the media. Practice times (Monday-Saturday): 8:15-9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m. Special teams work follows the first two practices and the team does conditioning after the evening session.

INTERVIEW POLICIES

Player and coach interviews are conducted at the conclusion of practice (any of the three). Liz Abel, the assistant athletics director for sports information, will staff the practices. To arrange for interviews, please call Liz at 801-581-3511.

TRADING PLACES

Freshmen Chris Kemoeatu and Sione Pouha (pronounced bo-oo-ha) traded places early in camp. The 6-4, 330-pound Kemoeatu moved from the defensive line to offensive guard. Pouha, 6-3, 275, switched from offensive guard to the defensive line. Junior Quincy Watkins has moved from defensive back to wide receiver.

DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT

The players are set, but their positions will be fluid, on the defensive line. Junior Garrett Smith is listed as the starter at 5-technique end, but he will spend as much, if not more time, at 3-technique tackle. When Smith is at tackle, the listed starter, senior Lauvale Sape, just may be filling in at nose guard for senior Ma'ake Kemoeatu. Vying for Garrett's job at end when he is at tackle are sophomore Josh Savage and freshman Sione Pouha. Savage is coming back from a shoulder injury and Pouha is a recent convert to the defensive line, but both are playing well. At rush end, Marcus Jones is the starter when Utah is in its 4-3 formation. All-leaguer Jason Kaufusi will play there when Utah lines up in its nickel package.

TRAINER'S TABLE

Utah's receiving corps is the area most affected by injuries in the early going. All-America candidate Cliff Russell suffered a knee sprain on August 10, the same day impressive JC transfer Paris Jackson bruised his knee. Russell's knee is not coming around as fast as Jackson's, who could return to the field sometime this week. Starting fullback Thomas Fortune pulled a hamstring and is likely out for 2-3 weeks. Defensive back/returner D'Shaun Crockett dislocated his right thumb last week. He could resume practicing on a limited basis any day. Juco transfer Antwoine Sanders broke a bone in his wrist, but has been practicing at safety.

CAMP NOTES

Nothing has changed since spring at quarterback, although the coaches are not ready to declare a starter yet. After one week of summer camp, Lance Rice is No. 1, Ryan Breska No. 2 and Brett Elliott No. 3 ... Second-team all-conference running back Adam Tate has tightened his grip on the starting halfback job. Dameon Hunter has moved ahead of J.R. Peroulis and Edwin Benton in the race to back up Tate ... At fullback, Brandon Bliss jumped past Rob Sirstins on the depth chart. The starter is Thomas Fortune, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury ... Bo Nagahi has separated himself as the Utes' top punt and kick returner. D'Shaun Crockett, currently unable to field kicks due to a dislocated thumb, will join Nagahi on the No. 1 kick return team when he is healed ... Utah's receiving corps gained speed with the arrival of juco transfer Devin Houston, who Ute Coach Ron McBride compares to former Ute and current NFL receiver Steve Smith.

FAN FEST

The Crimson Club and University of Utah athletics department will sponsor the second-annual Ute Fan Fest on Sat., Aug. 25 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the south plaza of Rice-Eccles Stadium. Student-athletes and coaches from all 19 varsity Ute athletic teams will participate in the Fan Fest, which is free and open to the public. The Fan Fest will also include demonstrations, coaching tips and competitions, autographs, prize drawings, food, drinks and entertainment by the U. pep band, cheerleaders and Crimson Line.

MCBRIDE SAYS

"I really like what I'm seeing so far. I think part of it has to do with our new practice format. The players seem to concentrate better for shorter periods of time. I like the way the coaches are teaching. They are setting the pace and the players are following it. There's not a lot of wasted time.

"I wish I could name a starting quarterback today, but I can't. One day I like one guy and the next day I like another. All three are improving and we'll know more after a scrimmage or two."

AT THE HELM

Ron McBride has a 75-53 record in his 11 years as head Ute coach. He has the second most wins of any coach in Utah football history. McBride has won a share of two conference titles (1995 and 1999) and his teams have finished at .500 or better nine times, with eight winning seaons. He has taken the Utes to five bowl games and has a 2-3 bowl record. Utah's most recent bowl appearance was in 1999, when the Utes beat Fresno State 17-16 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

KAUFUSI, SMITH CITED FOR MWC HONORS

Doug Kaufusi, a senior offensive tackle, and Garrett Smith, a junior defensive lineman, were named to the 2001 preseason all-Mountain West Conference team. Kaufusi, a 2000 first-team all-conference pick, was previously recognized by several preseason publications on their all-conference teams. Also an All-America candidate, the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder has started since his freshman year at Utah. Smith (6-3, 285) made the honorable mention all-conference team as a sophomore last year after recording 72 tackles, 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He is a ferocious pass rusher who stands to improve upon his third-place league finish in sacks last year.

COMING AT 'YA

Utah opens its 2001 campaign on September 1 in Rice-Eccles Stadium, hosting Utah State in a 6 p.m. contest. The Utes will not play on their home turf again until September 29, after they have completed a grueling three-week road swing that will pit them against Oregon, Air Force and Indiana. Utah's game against New Mexico on September 29 is Homecoming.

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