Christmas coming early as Utes prepare for Navy

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson and his teammates didn't leave Tuesday's practice empty handed.

They each left with a new pair of Nike shoes — the first of daily Poinsettia Bowl gifts to be distributed to the players.

"It's like Christmas early. We try to give them something each day — spread it out," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "It's a good reward for our guys. They earned it and they deserve it."

NCAA rules allow for both the bowl and participating schools to provide gifts. The Poinsettia Bowl plans to give each of the Utes a watch, a hooded sweatshirts, a Sony PSP, a Madden NFL 2008 PSP game, a PSP case and a cap. The school-provided gifts, limited to a total of $350 by the NCAA, include a $175 gift card to Best Buy, a commemorative football, a plaque and apparel.

Tuesday's practice at the Spence Eccles Field House was somewhat brief since many of the players are still involved in final exams.

Johnson acknowledged the combination of a short practice, getting in and getting their work done and leaving with a gift was pretty sweet.

"It can't get any better than that," he said.

With the Poinsettia Bowl game with Navy less than 10 days away, Whittingham noted that the Utes are "back in full swing now" in terms of preparation.

Aside from traveling to San Diego Sunday, they'll practice on a daily basis — essentially invoking two game-week preparations.

"It's nice to finally find some kind of routine again," Johnson said. "You can feel that the time is closing in on us and we're getting ready to play."

LOUIE, LOUIE: Utah junior Louie Sakoda has picked up two more All-America honors. SportsIllustrated.com awarded him second-team recognition as a punter, while Phil Steele Publications honored him as a punter.

Sakoda has now made five All-America teams. The Football Writers Association of America and CBSSports.com named him as a first-team punter and Rivals.com as a kicker.

"We know what we've got in Louie — a great weapon," Whittingham said. "All these accolades that are being bestowed upon him are well deserved."

Sakoda, who is a two-time Mountain West Conference Special teams Player of the Year, is the fifth Utah player to earn first-team All- America honors since 2002. Jordan Gross (2002), Chris Kemoeatu (2004), Alex Smith (2004) and Eric Weddle (2006) are the others.

"It's good to be noticed for what you do and your hard work," Sakoda said. "It really means a lot."