Sophomore Lance Rice has retained his starting quarterback status through fall training camp and was named Friday as Utah's No. 1 guy as the Utes prepare to open their season against Utah State eight days from now in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Rice, the only one of three quarterbacks with experience after starting three games and playing half of a fourth in 2000, also came out of spring practices as No. 1, but both of his suitors, sophomore Ryan Breska and redshirt freshman Brett Elliott, were injured during spring ball.
"He's performed the most consistent all the way through from the start of three-a-days, and he deserves the job," said coach Ron McBride of Rice.
"He's improved a great deal in his decision-making, his throws, understanding the offense, and he appears to be more comfortable all the time," McBride said.
Elliott slightly reinjured the thumb that took him out of spring ball and missed a dozen fall practices, leaving him a bit behind in the race. "It was kind of a three-man race until then," McBride said. "That really hurt his chances." Elliott began throwing again on Thursday.
Breska, the transfer from Purdue who sat out last season, was a bit inconsistent in fall camp, though showing no effects of the shoulder injury that took him out in the spring. He showed flashes of brilliance and would practice well for several days in a row and then have an off-day.
Rice was 2-1 as a starter in last year's 4-7 campaign and threw for 181 yards, a career-high, in his first game experience when he took over for Arceneaux part-way through the New Mexico game. He beat UNLV 38-16, completing 13 of 21 for 157 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in his first start. He won 34-0 at Wyoming. For his career, his is 42-for-86-625 yards with a 156.2 average per game. He threw four TDs and had a 118.26 efficiency rating.
SUSPENSION LESSENED: The suspension against senior starting left guard Ed Ta'amu has been reduced from three games to two, and he will undergo anger management counseling and perform community service instead, McBride announced Friday.
"I said when I handed down Ed's suspension that I would revisit it later," McBride said. "It has become clear to me that three games is too harsh a punishment for this particular situation. Ed's response has been just what I hoped for. He has learned his lesson, and I am confident he will not respond in the same way if he is ever placed in a situation like that again."
Ta'amu was charged with misdemeanor assault July 4 for punching a man who kicked a can that had contained fireworks at him, striking him in the chest. The other man was charged for using illegal fireworks.
SCHOOL DAZE: Utah's Thursday practice was among the sloppiest around, with dropped passes and players forgetting assignments. But it was somewhat expected.
Although McBride gave the team a post-practice tongue-lashing, he later chalked it up to the second day of classes. With the end of fall camp on Saturday, legs and brains are a little tired, he said, and rushing all day Wednesday to get classes set followed by a full day of school Thursday left a lot of guys out of gas. It happens every year.
MCKANE TURNED DOWN: The NCAA on Thursday denied Steve McKane's request for an extra year of eligibility via medical waiver. McKane, a former starting center who suffered a season-ending injury in the third game of 2000, was already sitting out practices this week with an Achilles injury. He also missed four games in 1999 with a knee injury. He has exhausted all appeals.
However, McBride said the Utes are "looking into it some more" to see if they've overlooked anything. "He played about two years out of six. If anybody deserves the extra year, he does," he said.
TURNING HEADS: Hillcrest product Corey Dodds, a freshman linebacker, has caught the coach's eye. "He's had a real good fall camp," McBride said. Additionally, the coach said, "I like all the safeties, all five of them." Tailbacks Adam Tate, Dameon Hunter and MartyJohnson have looked good, as has receiver DevinHouston.
E-MAIL: lham@desnews.com