PROVO -- Whether the smiles remain after today's 1 o'clock kickoff in Cougar Stadium is up to the game, but Ute football players have been acting the part of Mountain West Conference title contenders this week.
On Wednesday, they got to practicing so hard the coaches had to pull the reins. "They were after it," said coach Ron McBride. "We had to slow it down. It was too fanatical."There was exuberant talk and joking going on around the Ute football building as they wrapped up preparation for today's game. "I've always hated blue," said Ute right guard Sam White of Roosevelt, Utah, as he headed for what could be his final post-practice shower of 1999. If BYU blue prevails today, Utah might not practice again until spring.
McBride's 7-3, 4-2 team could grab a share of the league title and a possible bowl bid if it upsets 8-2, 5-1 BYU. A BYU win could drop Utah as low as fourth and perhaps spoil Utah's postseason promise for a third straight year.
Senior tailback Mike Anderson (career-best 204 yards last week) expects the Cougars to be their meanest after losing at Wyoming. "They're going to come back with something in mind, and that is to win this championship outright," he said. "They're probably feeling they should have won it (last) Saturday, so I know they're going to be really geared up for us."
Anderson plans to be extra sharp to help defray pressure from that big, fast BYU front seven on Utah quarterback T.D. Croshaw, making just his fourth start. "I don't want the game to be put on his back. I don't want him to feel like he has to carry the team," Anderson says. "I want to help him out with the running game."
Croshaw has had perhaps the biggest smile on his face of any Ute this week. "I'm really excited, actually," said Croshaw, enjoying his spotlight. In fact, this is likely the biggest month of his life.
His parents are in town from St. George. Croshaw's father Greg, coach of No. 1-ranked Dixie College, rarely saw his son play in high school, and since T.D. went to Utah, Greg has seen only tapes. "It's big to have him up here," says T.D. "I don't know if I'll hear him (from the stands). I don't know where he'll be sitting. Probably in the BYU section wearing a Utah hat and a red coat."
Also, T.D. is to be married on Dec. 16. The wedding date could be distracting if Utah gets a berth in the Dec. 19 Las Vegas Bowl.
But first things first. "You can feel it in practice," says Croshaw. "The guys are ready to play. It's a big rivalry, a chance for a Mountain West title -- a huge game for us."
Croshaw's assets are accuracy with touch and an ability to read defenses. He has not been rattled, but it would make sense for BYU to test him with its strong rush.
McBride says he'd like that. "If they go after him, it would probably be a mistake," he says, "because the guy is really smart. Wyoming in the fourth quarter brought four weak (-side rushers) on him eight straight times, and he completed seven straight passes. He's able to handle the pressure. Last week, he had three unblocked guys come, and he hit a guy for a 17-yard curl. So I hope they do come after him," McBride said.
Croshaw leads the league in pass efficiency rating (156.8) and is third in TD passes (12, with two four-TD games) even though he has thrown only 113 passes.
Says Croshaw, "We've always got our hot routes. It's nothing to worry about. If it happens it happens, and we'll just adjust and go from there."
One way to disrupt BYU's pressure is if Steve Smith has a big game receiving or returning kicks and punts. He is tied with Anderson as the Utes' top scorers, each with 66 points. Smith tied an NCAA record last week returning two punts (70, 52 yards) for score. Smith said he expects BYU to kick to him because it has good kickers. Smith missed a practice day after a bout with food poisoning. He was better by Thursday.
Slot receiver Boo Bendinger (broken hand) is the only man not expected to play. He has been Croshaw's favorite receiver but says Croshaw will find another.
To contain BYU, the Utes have a tough task. "This is one of their better teams," says McBride. "They've proved themselves over a long stretch. Offensively, the key is the quarterback. He's come into his own. It really helped when they went to the shotgun."
Utah must disguise its defenses. "Pressure is obviously one way to attack them," says McBride, "but they've done a good job of making people pay with big plays. You've got to mix it up and not let them lock into what you're doing because they'll figure out schematically what you're doing and get a mismatch."
The U. secondary has played well but will be tested by the MWC's top-passing team. "The strength of our defense all year has been our coverage. These guys have played good pass defense," McBride says. "We feel good about our ability to cover somebody."
PASSING Comp/Att.Yards TDs Ints Avg/G
*Darnell Arceneaux 83-165 1342 10 7 149.1
T.D. Croshaw 68-113 948 12 5 105.3
RUSHING Carries Yards TDs Long
Mike Anderson 167 938 10 40
Omar Bacon 123 429 3 20
RECEIVING Catches Yards TDs Long
Steve Smith 40 806 8 59
Cliff Russell 30 506 5 80
TACKLES U A Total
Howard Christianson 31 34 65
Jason Potter 33 27 60
John Frank 27 29 56
SACKS No. Neg. Yards
John Frank 12 80
Chuck Pine 6 38
Richard Seals 5 37
INTERCEPTIONS No.
Jay Hill 6
Andre Dyson 4