Josh Savage isn't a troublemaker. In fact, he's far from it. So much so that he was selected to Utah football's leadership committee. An appointment that accompanied praise for dependability, discipline, strong academics and team play.
"He's a legit leader on this team," said Utah coach Urban Meyer, who recalled a long talk the two had while sitting on the practice field earlier this season. The rest of the players and coaches were long gone by the time they finished.
"We kind of had a heart-to-heart, and it wasn't a very pleasant conversation. It was a truthful conversation. It was one that I would have with a member of my family because that's how I feel about Josh and his family," Meyer said. "A lot of times I think coaches make a mistake if they see something happening and they don't address it."
Meyer let Savage know, in no uncertain terms, that he didn't think the senior defensive end was playing up to his potential. "He was worrying about other things."
On top of being engaged, completing his studies in exercise and sport science, and contemplating his future in football, Savage faced the challenge of learning a new position — shifting ends spots to the open position held by All-America candidate Jason Kaufusi, who opted to redshirt because of shoulder problems.
Meyer said Savage was moved because the coaching staff considered him a soldier who could get the important job done until sophomore Marquess Ledbetter improved enough to cover the position. Savage was then moved back to his old spot. Utah went 7-1 after that and claimed its first outright conference title in 46 years.
"It felt great being back there," Savage said. "I like being in the trenches."
The former Hillcrest High star, who wound up earning Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors Oct. 6, finished the regular season with a team-high five pass breakups. He led Utah's defensive line with 46 stops, including seven tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks.
Savage was the lone Ute defender to make the all-conference first team.
"It's a great reward and a well-deserved reward," Meyer said. "There's a lot of people who don't deserve those kind of rewards. He is certainly deserving of it."
Savage is appreciative of the recognition but is baffled that more of his teammates weren't included. Wide receiver Paris Warren and tight end Ben Moa were Utah's only other first-team selections.
"It's a great honor. I think as far as the votes go, that they're a little messed up as far as us being outright conference champions and only having three first-teamers," Savage said. "There's plenty of guys on our defense that earned first-team honors before I got a chance to get it."
Savage added that players like Dave Revill, Ray Holdcraft, Sione Pouha and Steve Fifita "should have got it over me."
Meyer isn't convinced.
"That's the kind of guy he is. If you know his Mom and Dad, that's the kind of family he's from," Meyer said. "There's no one else more deserving on this team. There are others who deserve it, too, but to say there's guys ahead of him . . . there's not."
The accolades and upcoming trip to the Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31 against Southern Mississippi) have brought Savage great satisfaction.
"I couldn't ask for anything more. This is a great season — a good way to end it, go out and graduate," he said. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
EXTRA POINTS: Kaufusi will likely have another surgical procedure on his ailing left shoulder next week. After three months of recovery, he's hoping to begin weight training in preparation for next season . . . The Utes practiced with full pads on Saturday morning at Rice-Eccles Stadium . . . Less than one-fourth of Utah's allotment of 10,000 tickets to the Liberty Bowl have been sold . . . Moa will be featured on an upcoming ESPN SportsCenter segment.
E-MAIL: dirk@desnews.com