Second Week Of Camp Underway For Utah Football Team

Aug. 14, 2002

SALT LAKE CITY -

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The second week of Utah's summer football camp is underway ... Full contact drills started on Tuesday afternoon in Rice-Eccles Stadium ... Utah's practice schedule this week has changed from the initial plans. Please see Practice Schedule section for details.

OPEN AND CLOSED

While practices remain open to the media and public, some scrimmages will now be closed to the public, Head Coach Ron McBride decided on Monday. The media is permitted to come to all practices and scrimmages. Scrimmages that are open to the public will be posted on Utah's web site (www.UtahUtes.com) when that information becomes available.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Thursday's schedule has been altered from the original three-practice format. Instead, there will be one practice starting at 4:00 p.m. The players will meet and watch film beforehand. At the time this was released, Friday's practices remain as previously scheduled: 8:15-9:15 a.m., 10:40-11:30 a.m., 4:15-5:30 p.m. Practice times do change, so please contact assistant athletics director for sports information Liz Abel at 801-581-3511 each day for updates. Morning practices are held at the McCarthey Practice Fields, while the afternoon and evening practices/scrimmages are held at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the most part.

INTERVIEW POLICIES

Interviews with Utah football players and coaches are conducted at the conclusion of practices/scrimmages. During the preseason, this can be after either the morning or afternoon session. Abel (801-581-3511) will staff all practices/scrimmages.

WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Utah head football coach Ron McBride and select players from his team will be available at a weekly press conference during the season, beginning on Mon., Aug. 26. Please note: On Aug. 26, only, the press conference will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. It will be held in conjunction with Bleed Red For the Community, a campus-wide blood drive challenge between Utah and Utah State students sponsored by ARUP Blood Services and the U. Student Health Service. The remaining Monday press conferences will be held from 1-2 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Center.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Since the start of spring camp, some adjustments have been made in the depth chart. Most notable are those at linebacker, where backups Jeremy Lyman and Ray Holdcraft switched places. Lyman will return to his former role as the No. 2 middle linebacker, this year behind Zach Tune, while Holdcraft is now backing up all-MWC rover Sheldon Deckart. Walk-on Kawika Casco has moved ahead of Oregon transfer Vic Smith as the No. 2 free safety. Both will play behind preseason all-MWC pick Antwoine Sanders. Wide receiver Travis LaTendresse, who shined in spring ball, has moved from split end to flanker, where he is listed, along with Justin Walterscheid as the backup to Devin Houston. Making waves at receiver and on the return teams is juco transfer Larry Miles.

SPECIAL GUYS

Starting halfback Marty Johnson and starting quarterback Lance Rice have cracked the three-deep at a couple of special teams positions. Johnson is rated the No. 3 punter this week and Rice is the No. 3 holder.

INJURY REPORT

Player,Position/Injury/StatusArnold Parker, DB/high groin strain/2-3 days outTommy Hackenbruck, FB/hamstring/4-5 days outRob Sirstins, RB/hamstring/7 days outKylee Brown, WR/hamstring/tba

WATCH OUT!

Four Utah football players have been named to the watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy. The Rotary Lombardi Award goes to an offensive or defensive lineman, tight end or linebacker, while the Outland Trophy honors the nation's top interior lineman. Ute senior defensive tackle Garrett Smith, a returning first-team all-Mountain West Conference selection and a preseason pick to repeat on the all-MWC first team, is on the watch list for both the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy. Joining Smith on the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List is senior linebacker Sheldon Deckart, senior offensive lineman Jordan Gross and junior defensive end Jason Kaufusi. Deckart and Kaufusi were both first-team all-MWC picks a year ago and they, along with Gross, were named to the 2002 preseason all-MWC team.

FAN FEST/MEDIA DAY

As has been the case in past years, there will not be a formal media day for the Utah football team. However, the media is invited to attend Ute Fan Fest on Sat., Aug. 24 from noon-3 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah athletes and coaches, including football, will be available for interviews at the Fan Fest, which is free and open to the public. The Fan Fest will also include interactive games, pictures with the athletes, autographs, prize drawings, food, drinks and entertainment by the U. pep band, cheerleaders and Crimson Line.

UTES FARE WELL IN PRESEASON POLL

At the annual Mountain West Conference Football Preview, held July 28-30 in San Diego, Utah received the most first-place votes and finished a close second in total points to Colorado State in the media poll. A year ago, the media picked Utah to finish sixth. The 2001 Utes ended up tying for third in the league.

SIX UTES NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MWC

Six Utes were named to the media's preseason all-conference team at the MWC Preview in San Diego. Utah dominated the preseason all-MWC defensive team, grabbing five of the 11 spots. The media liked three Ute defenders to repeat their first-team all-conference feats of a year ago. They were senior linebacker Sheldon Deckart, senior lineman Garrett Smith and junior lineman Jason Kaufusi. They were joined on the 2002 preseason team by junior defensive backs Antwoine Sanders and Arnold Parker. Kaufusi and Sanders were two of just three unanimous all-conference selections. The Ute offense was represented by senior offensive lineman Jordan Gross.

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