Utah won’t let Sanford coach in bowl

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004 | 10:53 a.m.

New UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford will not be allowed to return to his old job of offensive coordinator at Utah for the Utes' historic Fiesta Bowl game against Pitt on Jan. 1. in Tempe, Ariz.

Sanford, who called the plays for the 11-0 Mountain West Conference championship team, had indicated a desire to possibly return to Salt Lake City during the recruiting dead period next week to help Florida-bound coach Urban Meyer prepare the Utes offense one last time.

However, the school announced late Wednesday that Sanford and two other former Utes assistants who have joined him at UNLV -- linebackers coach Kurt Barber and offensive line coach Keith Uperesa -- will not be allowed to take part in the bowl game.

"Chris Hill and the University of Utah have made a decision that myself, Keith and Kurt are not going to coach in the bowl game," Sanford said this morning from southern California where he has been recruiting.

Sanford said he wanted to coach the Utes and Heisman finalist Alex Smith in the bowl game. He said UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick and school president Dr. Carol Harter had given him permission.

"They both agreed to let me do it," Sanford said.

Utah's decision is probably because Sanford, Barber and Uperesa have moved to a rival conference school. Meanwhile, Meyer and three Utes assistants he's taking to Florida will all be allowed to coach in the Fiesta Bowl.

"Basically we just decided it was in the best interest of our current team and our future team if we just went with the coaching staff that we're taking with us," Utah sports information director Liz Abel told the Deseret News.

"We feel bad because they're coaches that have been with us all season long," team captain Morgan Scalley said. "It's tough in the fact that they've been with us all season long. They're what we're used to.

"But it's something that happens in college football. Chris Hill made the decision. It happens."