The University of Utah opened its fall football practice in the hot August sun Saturday, wearing smiles and spotless, newly designed uniforms to pose in for the official 1990 team picture.
After spending the morning mugging for cameras as part of the traditional team picture day, the Utes got down to business later in the afternoon with their first official practice of the summer. Beginning today, they'll hold two-a-day practices for the next two weeks, half of which will be spent isolated in Price.First-year coach Ron McBride already has put the Utes through one test, and he liked the results. "We were 95 percent effective in our conditioning test," reported the coach, who put the team through a battery of tests the previous day and earlier Saturday morning.
If nothing else, McBride has brought new optimism and enthusiasm to the Utes, who have had a losing record in three of the last four seasons. But McBride knows well that the Utes still have much to do to become contenders. The offensive and defensive lines, the team's traditional weaknesses, must be rebuilt. The defense, the nation's worst a year ago, must be overhauled. A quarterback must be found to replace the prolific Scott Mitchell, who left school early last winter to join the pros. On the other hand, Utah is deeply talented at wide receiver, running back and defensive back.
The Utes were somewhat unsettled as they began practice Saturday. Cliff Smith, the team's leading rusher last year, was absent. So were a number of new recruits.
Smith, who is attending summer school, is academically ineligible, at least temporarily. "He'll be out here Monday," said McBride. "He can't practice until he's finished with school." Smith was unable to pose for the team picture on Saturday. He'll also miss today's practices.
By some estimations, the Utes produced the best recruiting class in the Western Athletic Conference last spring, but some of their recruits have since had to alter their plans.
Four freshmen have been declared Prop. 42 cases, which means they won't be eligible to play for Utah until next season. Freshman Barry Bacon, a first-team all-state running back from Arizona, will attend Glendale (Calif.) JC this year. The other Prop 42 cases: all-state (Calif.) running back Keith Williams and linebackers Devo Fineanganofo and Sione Mahe.
Of more immediate importance to the Utes, five junior college transfers were absent Saturday. Anthony Davis, a JC All-America defensive end from Spokane Falls CC, was among the missing, but he is expected to join the team next week. "He's finishing up his AA (associate arts) degree," says McBride.
Davis might still be able to help the Utes this season. That probably won't be the case for the other four players. They still must complete their AA degrees, and probably won't report to Utah until midterm, which means they won't play for Utah until next season. They are Willie Burton, a JC All-America defensive end from San Jacinto (Calif.) JC; Pierre Jones, a JC All-America running back from Arizona Western; Royal Wilbon, a wide receiver from Rancho Santiago (Calif.) JC; and Pete Tuiasosopo, an All-American noseguard from Riverside (Calif.) CC.
McBride says the losses won't hurt the Utes. "We had two plans, so if one guy didn't show up we'd have another guy," says the coach. "We signed over the number of players we needed with the idea that some guys wouldn't make it. We tried to predict who wouldn't make it."
The Utes picked up Joe Welch, a wide receiver from Mesa (Calif.) JC, to replace Wilbon. "We had him on hold," says McBride. The Utes also have signed Charlie Brown - who, if early indications are accurate, could see action at running back - and John Pyburn, an offensive lineman from Citrus JC.
Sixteen new players officially joined the Utes this week, including seven JC transfers who were unable to report for spring practice. All of the JC recruits are threats to crack the Ute lineup: linebacker Jimmy Bellamy, defensive linemen Keith Embray, Anthony Hall, Vince Lobendahn and Rick Verbalaitis, and wideouts Sean Hutson and Khevin Pratt. The Utes' top freshman prospect probably is Vernon Shaver, a speedy freshman wide receiver from San Diego who was rated one of the nation's top prep recruits.