Dyson makes bowl a family affair

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 | 10:57 a.m.

If Las Vegas Bowl officials are disappointed with Saturday afternoon's turnout for the Fresno State-Utah matchup, they can't blame Ute cornerback Andre Dyson.

The 5-11, 179-pound junior had to round up 37 tickets for friends and family. And to hear the second-team all-Mountain West Conference choice tell it, that might have been almost as difficult as trying to cover Bulldog receiving stars Charles Smith or Rodney Wright at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"I had to talk with a lot of players on our team to try and get that many tickets," Dyson said. "That was one of the hardest things I've had to do because so many of the players have friends and family coming out for the game."

But Dyson, who moved from Las Vegas to Clinton, Utah, in the first grade to live with his mother, Susan, isn't complaining too loudly.

"It was real exciting when I found out I'd get the opportunity to play here," Dyson said. "It's probably going to be my last chance to play here (UNLV plays at Utah next year). I was born here and a lot of my family is still out here."

Dyson's father, Steve, still lives in Las Vegas along with a stepbrother and stepsister. A younger brother, Patrick, who once attended Rancho High School, is a backup free safety on the squad.

One family member who won't be at the game is older brother Kevin. The former all-WAC wide receiver at Utah and first-round NFL pick of Tennessee will be busy preparing for the Titans' Sunday game against the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

"I talk to him about twice a week," Andre said. "We usually talk once before our games and then again on Sunday night after our games.

"He was kind of like a father to me in Utah, a big brother who was very protective."

Dyson would spend the school year in Clinton with his mother and then would travel down I-15 to Las Vegas to spend summers with his father.

"The hard part was going back and forth," he said. "You'd have two different sets of friends. You'd get used to hanging out with one set and then have to leave and start back up with another group."

Dyson, who set a school record at Clearfield High School in Clinton with a 4.42 40-yard dash, may be joining his big brother in the NFL one day.

He tied for the Mountain West Conference lead in interceptions this year with six and finished second to UNLV's Kevin Thomas in pass breakups with a school-record tying 17.

"He's a real (player)," Utah coach Ron McBride said. "He's a fine cover guy who breaks well on the ball. He's very smart. He, like all our cornerbacks this year, has been very consistent. ... There's no question he has a chance to join his brother (in the NFL one day)."

Dyson, a sociology major, said he hasn't thought much about playing in the NFL yet.

"Right now I'm just worried about Saturday," he said.

"I'm pleased with the year I've had, but it's not over yet. I need to come out on Saturday and play well. After all, I'm going to have a lot of people here watching me.

"Hopefully, they'll have something to cheer about."