U. coaches take exception to comments

As assistants on Urban Meyer's staff at Utah, Kyle Whittingham, Gary Andersen and Mike Sanford got along famously. They helped coach the Utes to the Bowl Championship Series.

Nearly three years later, though, the relationship has hit a rough patch.

Sanford, who is now UNLV's head coach, made comments to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that have drawn the ire of Whittingham and Andersen.

Sanford told the newspaper that the Utes were afraid to tackle UNLV running back Frank Summers in the Rebels' 27-0 victory last Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"It's very evident on tape," Sanford said. "They were avoiding trying to tackle him, no question in my mind."

In response, Whittingham said the comments were "very low-class" in his opinion.

"You don't come out in the press and blast other people's players," Whittingham said. "I just don't think that's a class thing to do.

"It is what it is," he added. "I just don't think that's the way to handle things."

Andersen offered a more terse response.

"Desperate people feel and say desperate things," he said.

Sanford, who was Utah's offensive coordinator from 2003-04, is 6-21 as UNLV's head coach.

In the win over the Utes, Summers wound up rushing for 190 yards and scored three touchdowns.

"We watched the film today, and we just kind of laughed at all the people that dived at my ankles after a while," Summers told the Review-Journal. "People were just throwing themselves in front of me."

On one of his touchdown runs, Summers said Utah defensive end Paul Kruger avoided contact with him until he reached the end zone.

EXTRA POINTS: Whittingham said Wednesday's practice went well with "good spirits and people working hard" ... Cornerback Brice McCain practiced for the first time this week. He has a thigh contusion but is expected to play Saturday ... Whittingham said that defensive tackle Gabe Long, who suffered an MCL sprain in the loss to Air Force, will return to action this weekend as a starter. Long and Kenape Eliapo will get a bulk of the work inside. Koa Misi, who suffered an open-wound broken finger last week, may also be in the mix. Greg Newman will be a swing guy — rotating inside and outside ... RJ Rice will make his first start at free safety.

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E-mail: dirk@desnews.com