Make no mistake about it. Utah's six consecutive practices this week are focused around one thing — Liberty Bowl opponent Southern Mississippi.
Completely, absolutely and 100 percent, says Ute coach Urban Meyer, who hopes to have his game plan for the New Year Eve's game in place by Thursday.
"There will be a couple of wrinkles, but it's going to be an execution game. I think our wrinkles, people have seen them. There's not many more things I think we can do," Meyer said. "We'll have a couple of new things, but it's just execution against that style of defense."
The Conference USA champion Golden Eagles use a 3-3-5 scheme that is similar to that of New Mexico and BYU. The challenges of that are the primary reason Meyer said Utah's defense is a little ahead of the offense at this point.
The 25th-ranked Utes expect to be tested on both sides of the ball. Meyer said Southern Miss is very fast on defense and has good receivers on offense.
"They're playing their best. They really beat TCU soundly when TCU was one of the top 10 teams in the country," Meyer said. "My biggest concern, I think, is that they're a little faster than we are. I think you're going to see two excellent defenses play, and we've got to really show up on offense."
So far so good as preparations intensify.
"It was a good practice — great attitudes," Meyer said. "It's the first day, though; we've got six straight, so we have to keep a good attitude all the way through."
RECRUITING UPDATE: Expect the Utes to add a running back this week during the junior college signing period. Tailback Brandon Warfield, a senior, says he's hosted several recruits who are being looked at to replace him in the backfield next season.
"There's one tailback in the program. It's Mike Liti , and he's hurt," Meyer said. "When I walked into our running back meeting today, I saw (offensive coordinator) Mike Sanford sitting there with Brandon Warfield, and that's it. That's not real encouraging, so we'll probably (sign a JC) running back.
"We'll for sure sign a couple of high school running backs, and they've got to be able to play next year," said Meyer, who said Utah's recruiting efforts center around getting some cover corners defensively and filling a multitude of needs on offense.
Offensive lineman Paul Soliai (6-foot-4, 325) and wide receiver Fano Tangovailoa (6-2, 200) of Coffeyville Community College in Kansas have reportedly committed to Utah already. So, too, has Timpanogos High School quarterback Paul Kruger.
COMING SOON: All-conference tight end Ben Moa, who has overcome being shot and other adversities earlier in his life, will be featured on ESPN's "SportsCenter" on Sunday, Dec. 28.
"It's been cool," said Moa, who wore a microphone during a recent practice. "They've just followed me around and all that stuff."
BE THERE: After practicing six times this week, the Utes will head home until the day after Christmas. That's when a charter flight will take those staying in the Salt Lake area to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. Other players — some as far away as Hawaii — will fly commercially.
"That's a huge travel day," senior quarterback Lance Rice noted. "Hopefully some guys won't miss their flights or anything. If they do, Coach Meyer has said it's not going to be pretty."
ON THE MEND: Starting offensive tackle Thomas Herrion, who sprained his ankle in practice Saturday, said the injury isn't serious. Though he was on crutches Monday, the senior expects to be back on the field soon. Teammate Sione Pouha is back in action after stepping on a nail and breaking a small bone in his foot.
BONUS GAME: On Wednesday after a serious 22-period practice, Meyer is planning a little competition between the players and coaches.
"Tonight I'm going to work on that and come up with a little plan about how we're going to do it," Meyer said. "I look at our staff, we have some old, not-very-athletic coaches, so this might not be very good. Don't bet on the coaches."
E-MAIL: dirk@desnews.com