They’re No. 1

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999 | 10:32 a.m.

When the University of Utah football team arrives in Las Vegas early next week for the fun and festivities of the EA Sports Las Vegas Bowl VIII, the Utes will be bringing along more than their gear and pep squad.

"We'll be bringing along some monitors, tutors and proctors with us," Utah coach Ron McBride said. "Some of our kids will take their final exams before we leave, but some of them will have to take them here."

If there is one negative about the Dec. 18 date for the game between the Utes and Fresno State at Sam Boyd Stadium, it's the fact both schools are juggling their practice schedules around final exams this week and next.

But despite that inconvenience, you won't be hearing any complaints from McBride or Bulldog head coach Pat Hill.

"I think the timing of the game is terrific," McBride said during a Tuesday media luncheon at All-American SportPark.

"For our fans and players, you couldn't ask for anything better. You can come here, have a good time, and still be home for the holidays. It's great."

Hill agreed.

"It's the first bowl game out of the chute, so that makes it special," he said. "And you get to be home for Christmas. The only problem is (today) through next Thursday are final exams for us. That creates a lot of distractions and kids are going to have to miss some practices. But, hey, it's something you can live with."

Rossi Ralenkotter, vice president of marketing for the LVCVA, said the topic of moving the date of the Las Vegas Bowl to after Christmas is one the bowl committee will consider when it gets together in January.

"There's been some discussion about doing that," Ralenkotter said. "But the objective (of the bowl game) is to bring people into Las Vegas during the slowest part of December."

Moving the game more than a day or two past Christmas would bump the contest against the very busy New Year's Eve weekend crowds.

* SMITH TO PLAY? Although it's still a long shot that he'll see action, Utah star wide receiver/kick returner Steve Smith has not been totally ruled out from playing next week.

Smith suffered a cracked fourth vertebra in his neck in Utah's season-ending 20-17 win over BYU.

"We're going to reevaluate his status at the end of the week," McBride said. "He's still doubtful. But he's kind of a goofy guy who could just get better and play. Still, it's not the kind of injury you want to mess with."

Smith, a 6-0, 180-pound transfer from Santa Monica (Calif.) JC, led the Mountain West Conference in all-purpose yards with a 140.5 average. He ranked fifth nationally in punt returns with a 17.1 average and returned three punts for TDs.

* TRAVEL PLANS: Both Utah and Fresno State will arrive in Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon and practice Wednesday and Thursday on the auxiliary practice fields outside of Sam Boyd Stadium.

Utah will be staying downtown at the Golden Nugget; Fresno State will be at the MGM Grand.