Early season could make or break Utes

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000 | 10:35 a.m.

Facts and figures on the Utah Utes:

Head coach: Ron McBride (71-47, 11th season)

1999 record: 9-3 (5-2, Tie for 1st, Mountain West)

Returning starters: 18

Player to watch: WR Steve Smith

Guy they'll miss: RB Mike Anderson

Key game: Nov. 24 vs. BYU

Sun projection: 3rd place

At the Mountain West Conference media day in Las Vegas last month, Utah coach Ron McBride was asked about what the 2000 season had in store for his defending Las Vegas Bowl champs.

"The first five games will decide a lot about our football team," McBride said. "Our schedule is very tough up front. We open with three Pac-10 teams who feel like they cannot afford to lose to us. Then we have Air Force, which is one of the toughest teams there is to prepare for, and a traditional rivalry game with Utah State. That's five straight tough games without a bye."

So far, so bad.

In their season-opening 17-3 loss to visiting Arizona on Saturday, the Utes could manage just a field goal against a Wildcats squad that was coming off a disappointing 6-6 season and was picked to finish just eighth in the Pac-10 this year. It was the second-lowest scoring game by the Utes in McBride's head coaching career.

Arizona also exposed a glaring Utah weakness. The Utes, who have made their mark with big and physical run teams under McBride, will sorely miss powerful tailback Mike Anderson, the MVP of the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl.

Anderson's replacement, little D'Shaun Crockett (5-7, 190), gained just 41 yards on 17 carries against Arizona with 20 yards coming on one run. That means he gained just 21 yards on his other 16 carries.

And backups Nick Morgan and Thomas Fortune weren't much better, gaining a combined 18 yards on eight carries.

Look for JC transfers Adam Tate (6-1, 230) and Dameon Hunter (5-11, 230) to get much more playing time as the season progresses.

The good news for the Utes, who were picked to win the Mountain West Conference in the coaches' and media polls, is that Utah has two of the most dangerous receivers in the conference in Steve Smith and Cliff Russell.

Smith, the conference's preseason offensive player of the year, had 43 catches for 860 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior. He also returned three punts for touchdowns.

"I think the guy is one of the most exciting guys in college football," McBride said. "He's a game-breaker."

So is Russell, who is faster than Smith and has reportedly been clocked at 4.25 in the 40.

And the Utes have both of their starting quarterbacks returning in T.D. Croshaw and oft-injured Darnell Arceneaux, a dangerous scrambler who is trying to bounce back from a severe concussion in the Las Vegas Bowl win over Fresno State.

The defense, led by hard-hitting linebacker Kautai Olevao and NFL cornerback prospect Andre Dyson, once again should be one of the conference's best.

One big plus for the Utes is the conference schedule, which finds Air Force, Colorado State and BYU all having to visit Rice-Eccles Stadium this season.

McBride said he welcomes the lofty preseason expectations for his squad.

"I don't mind being picked first," he said. "I don't mind being picked fourth. I don't mind being picked seventh. It's where you finish that counts."

And if the Utes can get their running game going, they should be right back near the top again come November.