Utah's success in '99 could rest with special teams

Utah

Head coach: Ron McBride (62-43, 10th year) 1998 record: 7-4 (Tie for 3rd, WAC Pacific Division)

Returning starters: 16

Guy they'll miss: Receiver Daniel Jones

Player to watch: Running back Mike Anderson

Key game: Nov. 20, at BYU

Projection: 4th (MWC coaches' poll)

Utah coach Ron McBride is hoping there is something special about his special teams this season. If so, there's a good chance the Utes could be playing in their fifth bowl game in eight years come December.

If not for some major breakdowns in placekicking -- not to mention some rotten luck -- the Utes, and not in-state rival BYU, likely would have been playing Air Force in the final WAC championship game at Sam Boyd Stadium. Instead, Utah finished tied for third in the Pacific Division with a deceiving 5-3 mark and stayed home for the holidays.

Utah lost to Pacific Division co-champion San Diego State, 21-20, in overtime thanks in part to a missed 35-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in regulation and a missed extra point attempt in overtime. The Utes also had a punt blocked for a touchdown and another returned for a touchdown.

But the killer came in the season finale against BYU at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Ryan Kaneshiro's potential game-winning field goal try from 32 yards out with five seconds left hit the upright and bounced straight back as the Utes dropped a 26-24 heartbreaker.

It was enough to make a man want to move to Hawaii ... which McBride almost did after the season when he was interviewed for the Rainbows' head coaching job. But he elected to stay in Salt Lake City and got a nice contract extension in the process.

Add the very winnable San Diego State and BYU games to the victory total and Utah finishes 9-2 in 1998. With 16 starters returning, including Mountain West Conference preseason Offensive Player of the Year Mike Anderson at running back, the Utes undoubtedly would be picked a lot higher than fourth in this year's MWC coaches' preseason poll.

Although Utah must play probably its three biggest contenders for the MWC championship -- BYU, Air Force and Colorado State -- on the road this season, it's little wonder that McBride is optimistic about his squad's chances.

"We believe this team can contend for the conference championship and go to a bowl game," he said. "We should be a solid football team. But in this conference, every game is going to be tough. Every game is going to be a dogfight."

Besides shoring up the kicking game, a key for the Utes could be the health of junior quarterback Darnell Arceneaux.

Arcenaeux, a former prep teammate of UNLV linebacker James Sunia at perennial prep powerhouse St. Louis High in Honolulu, is a perfect 6-0 in his career as a starter. However, those starts have been few and far between over the last two season due to an assortment of injuries ranging from a separated shoulder to a broken finger to a sore back.

"Obviously, Darnell is the guy," McBride said. "The question mark is who will be two, three and four.

"We need Darnell to play every game. Mentally he knows what's going on, his huddle presence is excellent, he's a great athlete and he knows how to win. Instinctively, he does things that put him in situations where he can get hurt, but we can't worry about that."

A couple of juniors, T.D. Croshaw and junior college transfer Tony Alvarez, are battling to back up Arceneaux and have been impressive in fall camp.

The Utes have a veteran, physical offensive line blocking for two of the top running backs on the West Coast, seniors Mike Anderson (1,173 yards, seven 100-yard games a year ago) and Omar Bacon (718 yards, 9 TDs).

Defensively, six starters return including defensive end John Frank, who had 10 sacks in 10 games last season, all-WAC linebacker Kautai Olevao and talented corners Teneil Ethridge and Andre Dyson.

If, as McBride claims, most of the MWC games will be dogfights, the success of the 1999 Utes could very well come down to placekicking again. And if the team's scrimmage on Tuesday of this week is any indication, McBride better keep his fingers crossed.

On the day's last series, with the Utes running their two-minute offense, their drive stalled at the 25. Placekicking hopeful Cletus Truhe attempted a 42-yard field goal which was wide left. Enter highly touted junior college transfer Golden Whetman to try the same kick.

Wide right.

Oh, well. At least it didn't bounce off the upright.

Utah faces UNLV on Sept. 25 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

This is the sixth in a seven-part series previewing the Mountain West Conference. Friday: Wyoming

archive