Since taking over as head coach at the University of Utah last winter, Ron McBride has been a busy man.
He moved at least 12 veteran players to different positions - positions he says are more suited to their abilities. He retooled the offense (it will run now, too) and the defense (from a 4-3 to a 5-2). He hired seven new assistant coaches and signed 25 new players, half of them junior college transfers. And, most recently, he revealed plans to move his team (temporarily) to Price (population: 9,000) for a week of two-a-day practices - where players will stay in dorm rooms that come without phones, TVs, air conditioning and other such distractions.Despite all of the above, McBride undoubtedly still has much to do to turn the Utes around, and, furthermore, there have been a few hitches in his plans. Mike Richmond, who filled in for Scott Mitchell at quarterback last year, is still recovering from shoulder surgery, required as a result of an injury he sustained against BYU.
"He threw this week without a lot of pain," McBride said. "He's got another month to go. At this point, he's a question mark."
Also, two of McBride's top recruits - prep running backs Keith Williams and Barry Bacon - will be ineligible this season because of poor test scores. And finally, according to McBride, many of the Utes' top recruits missed spring practice because they were finishing school requirements.
"We still have seven to 10 (recruits) we haven't seen yet who will help this team," says McBride.
Most of them will help on defense, but they missed valuable time last spring. "It will take a while to fit them in," says McBride. "We'll build a nucleus with what we have, and then gradually add the other guys."
McBride continued, "When I came to Utah and looked at film of the team, they reminded me of a tank. They weren't moving as fast as they should. I want to make them into a Corvette. Right now we've got an '81 Chevy and we're looking for parts. We're trying to piece all the parts together."
One of the parts probably will be quarterback Jason Woods, a transfer from Lamar and a former minor league catcher. "Jason comes in as No. 1," says the coach. "He had the edge at the end of spring practice. But it's not a closed issue."
Whoever he is, the quarterback will be surrounded by a talented group of skill players - running backs Clifton Smith (middle names: enigma and talented) and Steve Abrams, and wideouts Bryan Roley and Darrell Hicks. "If we have a spot that's suspect, it's the offensive line," says McBride, who moved two defensive regulars (Randy Aldridge and James McKenna) to the offensive line.
All that notwithstanding, McBride says, "Everything I've done - spring practice and recruiting - has been oriented toward building a defense." The defense has ranked 101st or worse nationally four times in the last four years, twice ranking last.
The secondary, anchored by Sean Knox, is perhaps the best position on the team, but the front seven needs help, and it's on the way, fresh from the JC ranks.
Wyoming
Coach Paul Roach, 62, is often asked how much longer he plans to coach. "Four years ago I said I'd take it a year at a time. After last season, now I say I'll take it six months at a time."
Last year's 5-6 finish was a big letdown after winning back-to-back WAC titles in his first two years as a head coach. But this year Roach thinks the Cowboys will be improved.
"Because of inexperience at cornerback, offensive line and quarterback, we just knew it wasn't going to continue last year," says Roach. "With a year of experience we are much more comfortable."
Experience is about all Roach has to rely on since there are few new faces around. Seven starters return both on offense and defense. The best is defensive end Mitch Donahue, the 1989 WAC Defensive Player of the Year and a preseason All-America pick. The defense, which had seven freshmen in its two-deep last year, should be improved, but the secondary is still unsettled and that's a big problem in the WAC.
Quarterback Tom Corontzos also returns. Nicknamed "Bones" by teammates because of his skinny build, he added 20 pounds in the off-season. "People think he can't scramble very well," says Roach. "He looks kind of like Icabod out there. He looks kind of funny." But
Corontzos was hardly ready to step in and continue the fine play of predecessors Randy Welniak and Craig Burnett. A sophomore, he was erratic last season, and no thanks to his line (48 sacks). The Cowboys fell from sixth nationally to 54h in total offense. "Tom is much more relaxed and more confident this year," says Roach.
The Cowboys have superb receivers in tight end Gordy Wood (60 catches) and wideout Shawn Wiggins , but the running game must be rebuilt.
San Diego State
Things appear to be improving on and off the field for the Aztecs. Only a few months ago they were talking about leaving the league because of a hefty budget deficit in the athletic department. They still might leave the league, but their financial report has improved.
"As of July 1, San Diego State is in the black," said Coach Al Luginbill. "We just raised $1 million in cash. That took us out of our deficit." According to the coach, the money came from 40 boosters who donated $25,000 apiece.
The bottom line looks better; now for the offensive. Luginbill cringes when he hears what has now become a cliche about San Diego State: great skill players, but . . . .
The Aztecs always seem strong at the skill positions and weak in the trenches. "We want to get away from that," says Luginbill.
As usual, the Aztecs are strong at quarterback. Dan McGwire, billed as the tallest (6-foot-8) quarerback in history and brother of baseball star Mark, is back for his senior year. A year ago, McGwire threw for 3,651 yards, but had more interceptions than touchdowns and too often gave into temptation to use his big arm to throw downtown.
"He's really had only one year of major college football," says Luginbill. "He has the ability. A lot of it was just inexperience. I think he's going to have a great year."
The Aztecs, who return 14 starters from last year's 6-5-1 team, lost last year's brilliant freshman running back, Darrin Wagner, who, after being disciplined and suspended by Luginbill for missing practice last season, went to the Canadian Football League. Tommy Booker, a former Parade All-American, is one of four running backs expected to see action. At wideout the Aztecs have two promising players in Jimmy Raye (45 catches last year) and Patrick Rowe, another former Parade All-America who redshirted last year. But the line is still unproven.
Luginbill shuffling players to improve the Aztec defense, which gave up 31.5 points a game last year. Morey Paul was moved from linebacker to free safety. Tracy Mao was moved from linebacker to tackle. Tackle Pio Sagapolutele and cornerback Clark Moses are among the WAC's best.
"Our goal is to be in a bowl game somewhere," said Luginbill. "We are a lot better team."
Hawaii
They're still showing full-length televised replays of last year's 56-14 victory over BYU on the Islands. That win capped the school's best season ever (9-3-1 and a bowl berth).
Aside from safety Walter Briggs and wideout Chris Roscoe, the 'Bows return almost all of the key figures from the '89 team, including quarterback Garrett Gabriel, linebacker Mark Odom, running back Jamal Farmer, kicker Jason Elam, wingback Dane McArthur and kick returners Jeff Sydner and Larry Kahn-Smith.
In all they return 12 starters - six on each side of the ball. This from a team that led the league in defense and ranked fifth nationally in scoring. The biggest worry is the defensive line, which lost all three starters. The offense is set.
Farmer rushed for 986 yards and 18 touchdowns as a freshman. Gabriel ranked 11th nationally in pass efficiency. Odom was the league's best linebacker. Elam, who nearly transferred to Georgia during the off-season, was arguably the best kicker in the nation last year, hitting 20 of 22 field goal attempts.
"If we stay healthy we have a chance to be better than last year," says Coach Bob Wagner.
But to do it, the Rainbows, who often play nine home games in a season, will have to leave the Islands. They have four conference games on the road. If they survive those, their game against BYU in December could be for the championship.
UTEP
The Miners return to the bad old days. They had to wait 16 years for a winning seasn. Coach Bob Stull gave them two of them, and then had the good sense to leave following the '88 season. The Miners were 2-10 last year and show no signs of improving.
Quarterback Howard Gasser threw for 2,586 yards under fire last year (he was sacked 61 times and lived to tell about it). Asked if Gasser was gun shy as a result of the sacks, Coach David Lee replied, "No, he doesn't get nervous feet. Of course, he's 4.9 in the 40 and when you're 4.9 in the 40 there's nowhere to go anyway."
Aside from Gasser, the Miners have All-WAC wideout Reggie Barrett (58 catches, 18 yards per) and a number of other good wideouts. But that's about all.
UTEP returns four starters from a defense that gave up 34 points and 480 yards per game. Lee has hired a new defensive coordinator, Charlie Bailey, the former Memphis State coach. Lamar transfer Keith Powe could help out on the line.
More bad news: UTEP must open against defending champion BYU.