Cimarron-Memorial grad Eddie Wide will star for Utah in Las Vegas Bowl

By Case Keefer (contact)

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Utah running back Eddie Wide began preparing himself for a bowl trip to San Diego a month ago.

Wide figured the Utes would spend this week at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl for the second consecutive season. When the Cimarron-Memorial graduate found out Utah would represent the Mountain West in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas against Boise State instead, he was thrilled.

“It means a lot for me to be back here at home,” Wide said. “It’s a great place for a last game.”

Wide, a senior, will have the luxury of ending his college career in front of a large contingent of friends and family when the game kicks off at 5 Wednesday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Wide has found plenty of success in Salt Lake City after earning Nevada’s Gatorade Player of the Year award during his senior season in high school. He found immediate playing time as a freshman, started four games his sophomore year on Utah’s undefeated Sugar Bowl championship team and rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

“He was one of the primary reasons we were able to win 10 ballgames last year, his efficiency and production in the run game,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “This year, I can’t say enough about how he and (running back Matt Asiata) handled their situation.”

Wide and Asiata have split carries for Utah in 2010. Although Asiata has registered seven more rushes, Wide leads the team with 57 rushing yards per game.

Whittingham makes it obvious how much he’ll miss Wide after this season. He said it took it a special player to sacrifice carries for the good of the team. In that regard, both Asiata and Wide have exceeded Whittingham’s expectations.

“They both could start at most all of the schools in the Mountain West Conference,” Whittingham said. “But they coexisted.”

Whittingham said he was excited Wide and four of his teammates were getting to play in a bowl game in front of their hometown. In addition to Wide, receiver DeVonte Christopher went to Canyon Springs, receiver Mitchell Deas went to Valley, offensive lineman Po’u Palelei went to Bishop Gorman and offensive lineman Jermiah Tofaeono went to Cheyenne.

Whittingham compared it to last year's Poinsettia Bowl when quarterback Jordan Wynn returned to San Diego. Wynn starred in the win over California, but will miss this year’s bowl game.

That means Wide could receive a few extra carries. With quarterback Terrance Cain at the controls, Utah figures to make its attack more ground-based and throw in some option looks.

“We need to establish the run,” Wide said. “It’s important that we get that going.”

None of the added pressure of playing in Las Vegas is affecting Wide. He said he hadn’t left his team since they arrived or thought about anything else that accompanies coming home.

“I’m just here to play this game, but it’s incredible right now,” Wide said. “When we get out there, it’s going to be even more exciting.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.