Notebook: Star lineman sits out for Utah

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

University of Utah players didn't find out until just before boarding their bus for Sam Boyd Stadium on Tuesday morning that they would be without their best offensive lineman, senior all-Mountain West Conference left tackle Doug Kaufusi.

Kaufusi, a 6-foot-6, 311-pounder who started for four years, was suspended due to a violation of the school's Code of Conduct, which requires a suspension for an assault charge. Utah learned on Nov. 21 that Kaufusi had been involved in an incident 10 months earlier that led to a misdemeanor assualt charge.

Kaufusi continued to practice with the squad as the Utah athletic department reviewed the case. But the decision was made on Tuesday to not allow the big offensive lineman to play.

"It was very tough not to play," Kaufusi said. "We had a team meeting this morning and I had to tell my teammates that I wasn't going to be able to play. It broke my heart and it broke all of theirs. They gave me a moment of silence. Then they told me, 'We're going to run all over (USC) for you.' And they did."

Junior Jordan Gross, who normally starts at right tackle, switched to Kaufusi's spot. Senior Kevin Wilson took over at right tackle.

"I found out right before we got on the bus to head to the stadium," Gross said of the switch. "I had been practicing about half of the time at left tackle and half of the time at right tackle because we didn't know if Doug would play or not."

"It hurt us big-time because he's my better half on the left side," senior left guard Ed Ta'amu said. "But Jordan filled in great for us and we never really lost a step. We hurt on the inside for Doug, but we had to move on and play the game."

Even without their star all-conferece tackle, Utah still managed to outrush USC, 222 to 1.

The actual in-house attendance was announced at 22,385. Pregame forecasts called for a crowd in the 12,000 to 15,000 range.

The 6-2, 214-pound sophomore strong safety was mobbed by family members on the field after the game. He was credited with five tackles, including one for a nine-yard loss.

"This is the best Christmas present you can get right here," Parker said. "This is the first time I've played in a bowl game. Last year we had a bad season but we turned the whole thing around this year."

Meanwhile, Trojan junior safety Troy Polamalu showed why he earned All-America honors this season with a game-high 20 tackles. He also came within inches of blocking a Utah punt in the fourth quarter.

Polamalu was selected USC's game MVP by a media vote while Utah tailback Dameon Hunter (94 yards on 17 carries) was named Utah's MVP.

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