Preparations Begin for Season Opener

8/23/2010 12:00 AM | Football

Aug. 23, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY

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QUICKLY

The Ute football team turns its attention to season-opening foe Pittsburgh this week with the start of regular season practices. Practices are closed to the public. The Utah-Pitt game is Thu., Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. in Rice-Eccles Stadium.

TICKET TALK

Standing room-only tickets are still available for the season-opener against Pittsburgh. In other ticketing news, the Utah-TCU game on Nov. 6 is down to standing-room only tickets, as well. The Utah-BYU game on Nov. 27 is completely sold out. Utah has sold a school-record 31,737 season tickets.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

Mammoth defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (6-4, 330, So.) has finished all of his academic requirements at Snow College and is cleared to start practicing with the Utes today. He is already listed in the three-deep at tackle ...Starting ends Junior Tuione and Christian Cox have switched sides. Tuione is listed ahead of Derrick Shelby on the left side, while Cox and Joe Kruger are 1-2 at right end ... James Aiono, a backup at DE last week, enters this week as the co-backup (with Latu Heimuli) at nose tackle behind starter Dave Kruger ... Boo Andersen is the backup at both rover linebacker (behind J.J. Williams) and stud linebacker (behind Chad Manis) ... Moving into a co-starting role at corner with Lamar Chapman is Conroy Black ... Cracking the offensive three-deep are running back Tauni Vakapuna and receivers Dexter Ransom and Mo Lee ... Dallin Rogers is now No. 3 at tight end. Four tight ends will play: co-starters Kendrick Moeai and Brad Clifford, Rogers and Westlee Tonga ... Reggie Dunn has earned a place on the starting kickoff return team with Shaky Smithson ... This week's injury update: J.J. Williams (foot) out 2-3 weeks; Sausan Shakerin, Victor Spikes and Jamel King (concussions) out until further notice; Sean Fitzgerald (hamstring) out this week.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

The annual Fan Fest is back after a one-year absence. The Fan Fest is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28 in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The football team will swing by the Fan Fest after its morning practice. Admittance and parking to the Fan Fest are free ... The 2010 team captains, as voted by their teammates, are: Matt Asiata, Christian Cox, Sealver Siliga and Zane Taylor. The team also selected its 2010 Leadership Committee. Those members are Asiata, Cox, Siliga, Taylor, Eddie Wide, Jereme Brooks, Matt Martinez, Tony Bergstrom, J.J. Williams, Brandon Burton, Jordan Wynn, Luke Matthews and Brian Blechen.