Arceneaux likely to play

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 | 10:46 a.m.

Although there was some question whether Darnell Arceneaux would play again this season, Utah head coach Ron McBride said Wednesday that there's a good chance the highly regarded junior quarterback could see action in Saturday afternoon's EA Sports Las Vegas Bowl matchup with Fresno State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"Darnell looks good out there," McBride said following the Utes' Wednesday workout on the auxiliary fields next to Sam Boyd Stadium. "He's practiced well."

Arceneaux, a multi-threat quarterback with an 11-2 record as a starter, missed Utah's final two games of the regular season after suffering what was termed "a massive concussion" against Wyoming.

"He's taken part in about eight practices now," McBride said. "He's experiencing some of the normal stiffness and soreness you'd expect after a layoff."

McBride said that junior T.D. Croshaw, who led the Utes to two impressive season-ending wins over New Mexico and BYU, would start Saturday's game even though he is missing today's practice to get married in Salt Lake City.

"He's earned the job," McBride said. "He went out there those last two games and did an impressive job for us. He deserves (to start)."

How much action could Arceneaux see?

"That depends on what (offensive coordinator) Tommy Lee wants to do, and who has the hot hand," McBride said.

The injury news wasn't as good for all-conference wide receiver and return specialist Steve Smith, however.

Smith, who fractured his fourth cervical vertebrae in the Utes' win over BYU on Nov. 20, is still wearing a neck brace and will definitely miss the game.

"He won't even go out at night," McBride said. "He doesn't want anybody seeing him with that (brace) on."

* PARKER IMPRESSIVE: Arnold Parker, who helped lead Cimarron High School to the state title a year ago, made the trip with the Utes but won't play in Saturday's game because he is redshirting.

However, the 6-2, 210-pound linebacker has caught McBride's eye with his impressive showings in bowl practices.

"He's progressed more than anybody this month," McBride told the Salt Lake Tribune this week. "You watch the films of our practices, you really notice him."