Instead of resuming practice Tuesday as he was hoping to, Utah coach Ron McBride met with his players one last time in 1995 to help prepare them for the offseason.
McBride was still disappointed that his team has to stay home for the holidays after finishing the season with a flourish - four straight victories over Air Force, Utah State, Wyoming and BYU to grab a piece of the Western Athletic Conference champiosnhip."We win our first conference title in 31 years, and we're sitting home for the holidays," said McBride. "At the end of the season, we were the best team in the conference in my opinion."
After losing 17 starters from their 10-2 team of 1994, the Utes had been expected to struggle and finish in the middle of the WAC pack. Instead they ended up tied for first and 7-4 overall with close losses to three bowl teams, Oregon, Stanford and Colorado State.
With their four losses coming by a total of 23 points and all four defeats not being decided until the final minute, the Utes could say they were oh so close to a perfect 11-0 season. On the other hand, take away the two amazing comebacks against Fresno State and Air Force, and the Utes were that close to a losing season of 5-6.
Nevertheless, the Utes were thrilled with their better-than-expected season.
They'll remember their outstanding defense, which never gave up more than 27 points in a game. Free safety Harold Lusk led the WAC with six interceptions, while Jeff Kirkman was by far the team's top tackler with 98. Henry Kaufusi was a steady performer inside all year, while Nate Kia and Chad Kauhaahaa came on strong at the end of the season at the defensive end positions.
On offense, Mike Fouts proved himself once the Ute coaches handed him the starting job in the third game of the season. He passed for more than 200 yards in every game but one and went over 300 yards three times. He threw 18 touchdown passes and although he threw 12 interceptions, he only had two in the last four games.
Freshman Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala was brought along slowly, but he ended the season with three straight 100-yard games and finished with 834 yards on the season. Sophomore Juan Johnson wasn't far behind with 743 yards.
Two of the Utes' top performers were receivers Rocky Henry and Kevin Dyson, who both caught 55 passes on the season.
The good news is that the Utes return all of their top offensive performers - Fouts, Fuamatu-Ma'afala, Johnson, Henry and Dyson, along with starting offensive linemen Darren Walker, Todd Jackson and Barry Sims.
Also back is punter/placekicker Daniel Pulsipher, who finished third in the nation with 17 field goals.
On defense, the Utes return defensive backs Harold Lusk, Calbert Beck, Clarence Lawson and Artis Jackson, linemen Kauhaahaa and Kia and will regain the services of Jeff Kaufusi, who sat out with an injury this year.
With few seniors lost, the Utes don't have too many spots to fill, and McBride expects to sign about 16 players by the February signing date. He figures about 70 percent will be high school players.
McBride says the Utes have no glaring weaknesses and that their specific needs are few. "Most of the structure of the team is in place," he said.
The Utes' major needs will be to sign a junior college offensive tackle as well as a defensive tackle. The Utes also want to sign a high school quarterback, something they didn't do the last two years. The Utes are one of several schools in the running for highly touted Timpview quarterback Brett Engemann, whose brother Ryan was on the Ute team this year.
McBride said the next few months will be devoted weight-training, schoolwork and setting goals for next season. Spring football begins in early April, and the season begins Aug. 31 at Utah State.