Ute Football Team Finishing Up Preseason Camp

Aug. 19, 2002

SALT LAKE CITY -

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Utah's 2002 preseason football camp winds down this week, as classes start on Wednesday ... The final scrimmage of the preseason will be Tuesday. All practices and scrimmages are closed to the public.

FAN FEST

The third-annual Ute Fan Fest will be held this Saturday in Rice-Eccles Stadium from noon-3:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Crimson Club and the Deseret News, the Fan Fest is free and open to the public. Student-athletes and coaches from all 19 Ute varsity athletic teams will participate in the Fan Fest. Fans who bring their own cameras can have their pictures taken with the players and coaches (pictures with the Ute football team will begin at noon). 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.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

The Utes will switch to their regular season practice schedule on Wednesday. Practices will be held from 3:30-5:40 p.m. at the McCarthey Practice Fields. Some practices may be held at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Since times and locations can change, please contact assistant athletics director for sports information Liz Abel at 801-581-3511 each day for updates.

INTERVIEW POLICIES

Interviews with Utah football players and coaches are conducted at the conclusion of practice. Abel (801-581-3511) will facilitate interviews.

WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Utah head football coach Ron McBride and select players from his team will be available at a weekly press conference throughout 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.

KICKING AROUND

Utah's placekicking situation has improved with the return of redshirt freshman Bryan Borreson. Borreson, Utah's No. 1 field goal/PAT kicker in the spring, originally planned to play at a junior college this fall. After scholarship juco transfer Ford Hall strained a quad muscle in his right leg in the first scrimmage of the preseason, Borreson decided to return, joining the team last Friday night. Borreson made field goals of 47 and 42 yards in Saturday's scrimmage and has regained his starting position. Hall, whose injury makes him questionable to play in the first game, is now No. 2 on the depth chart. The starting punter remains Brian Lewis. His backup is Borreson.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

Sophomore Brett Elliott has wrested away the backup job at quarterback. In the spring and through the first week of preseason camp, Elliott shared the No. 2 post with junior Ryan Breska, who is now No. 3 on the depth chart ... Starting halfback Marty Johnson has not played in either scrimmage to date as a precautionary measure. Getting most of the carries in his absence have been J.R. Peroulis, Brandon Warfield and Joe Lomu ... Hamstring injuries have kept receiver Justin Walterscheid and running backs Rob Sirstins and Tommy Hackenbruck off the field.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

Preseason all-conference defensive back Arnold Parker remains sidelined with a low abdominal strain. Parker has missed virtually all of the preseason and is questionable for Utah State. He was scheduled to move from strong safety to left corner this fall. In his absence, there has been quite a battle between senior Cody Weight and new junior college transfer Shayne Scruggs. Weight has the edge to start if Parker can't play ... Senior Jeremy Lyman is the first substitute in at both rover and middle linebacker.

INJURY REPORT

Player, Position/Injury/Status for USUArnold Parker, DB/low abdomen strain/questionableFord Hall, K/strained quad muscle/questionableJustin Walterscheid, WR/hamstring/questionableTommy Hackenbruck, FB/hamstring/questionableRob Sirstins, RB/hamstring/questionable

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.

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 Utes tied for third).

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.

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

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FAN FEST

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

INTERVIEW POLICIES

WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE

KICKING AROUND

OFFENSIVE NOTES

DEFENSIVE NOTES

INJURY REPORT

WATCH OUT!

UTES FARE WELL IN PRESEASON POLL

SIX UTES NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MWC

Upcoming Event: Football versus Idaho on September 3, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Arkansas on September 12, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Utah State on September 19, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at Iowa State on September 26, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Kansas on October 10, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at Colorado on October 17, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Houston on October 24, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at Cincinnati on October 31, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus BYU on November 7, 2026

Completed Event: Football versus Nebraska on December 31, 2025 , Win , 44, to, 22

Completed Event: Football at Kansas on November 28, 2025 , Win , 31, to, 21

Completed Event: Football versus Kansas State on November 22, 2025 , Win , 51, to, 47

Completed Event: Football at Baylor on November 15, 2025 , Win , 55, to, 28

Completed Event: Football versus No. 17 Cincinnati on November 1, 2025 , Win , 45, to, 14

Completed Event: Football versus Colorado on October 25, 2025 , Win , 53, to, 7

Completed Event: Football at No. 15 BYU on October 18, 2025 , Loss , 21, to, 24

Completed Event: Football versus No. 21 Arizona State on October 11, 2025 , Win , 42, to, 10

Completed Event: Football at West Virginia on September 27, 2025 , Win , 48, to, 14

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