ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A transfer/walk-on from Division III Linfield College, receiver Travis LaTendresse made a big impression during spring practices at Utah.
He went from trying out — but never playing — at Linfield to scoring a touchdown in Michigan Stadium, the Big House, before the largest crowd to ever see a University of Utah football game, 109,734.
It was Michigan's 169th straight 100,000-plus home crowd, a streak that has lasted since October 1975, longer even than Utah's regular-season home-meet gymnastics winning record.
"I've only seen it on TV," LaTendresse said of the stadium. "It was a big-college atmosphere, a big game."
He never dreamed he'd go from Linfield to the goal line at the Big House. "But I knew I believed in myself. My parents believed in me and told me to chase my dream here (Utah). Coach (Ron) McBride gave me a chance," LaTendresse said.
He led Ute receiving with seven catches worth 65 yards, one less than his season total coming into the game. He moved to second place in season yards for Utah with 131 to Josh Lyman's 200, who got 55 on Saturday.
LaTendresse said seven or eight players from his El Dorado Hills (Calif.) high school went on to play Division I football. "I got overlooked," he said. Linfield's coach was honest with him, which is why he went there. But he never played a game, so he has an opportunity to perhaps gain a fourth year of eligibility at Utah; he's listed now as a sophomore.
"I'm very happy (at Utah)," he said. "It's at a higher level, where I wanted to be. I just realized while I was there (Linfield) that I wanted to improve and play against D-I."
There's little better in D-I than scoring at the Big House, though, "We played them tough and should have come out with a win," LaTendresse said. "It's frustrating. We were real close."
APOLOGY: Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson attended Saturday's game and UNLV's game down the road in Toledo, Ohio. He said he suggested to McBride that he should apologize to official Jim Fogltance for accusing him of favoritism in Utah's 23-17 loss at Arizona on Sept. 14. McBride said the crew chief for that game was a graduate and booster of Arizona and intimated that he'd called the game with bias. Utah lost on a disputed touchdown call, and McBride made charges of favoritism afterward, though Fogltance did not make that call.
Thompson said he did not order McBride to apologize or threaten any sanctions against him, just said it would be better for his reputation.
McBride said he did apologize for the "homer" issue but not his complaints about the calls.
The Pac-10 and MWC both have crew chiefs who live in cities where league games are played because it's a must economically.
NEAR RECORD: Utah punter Brian Lewis was one short of tying the school record for punts in a game when he kicked 11 of them Saturday, a new season high. He punted 10 times last week. Lewis averaged 42.3 yards a punt at Michigan.
INJURIES: Three Ute players suffered injuries in the battle of "smash-mouth" teams. Offensive guard Tevita Vakalahi had a neck stinger, offensive guard Chris Kemoeatu sprained his left ankle but continued to play and middle linebacker Zach Tune separated a shoulder.
E-mail: lham@desnews.com