Utah Utes football: 20 years ago this week

McBride to begin first year at Utes' helm

Led by first-year head coach Ron McBride, the University of Utah will open fall football practice this week.

The Utes, who open the season Sept. 1 against Utah State in Logan, will practice on their own campus for a week before moving to Price for a week of drills on the College of Eastern Utah campus. The Utes will hold two-a-day practices in Price from Aug. 18 through Aug. 25.

"It will be really good for the team," said McBride. "There will be no distractions. Everyone will be together and will have to learn to depend on each other. We'll really be able to concentrate on football."

The team won't practice in pads until Wednesday. By then, McBride hopes, the Utes will "have both our offensive and defensive packages installed."

During the next couple of weeks, McBride and his staff must evaluate a number of new junior college transfers who were unable to participate in spring drills because of school commitments.

One of the Utes' most unsettled positions is quarterback. Mike Richmond, who started two games last season, still isn't fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery. Jason Woods, a transfer from Lamar, made the best showing in spring practice, but Frank Dolce, a 1989 Junior College All-American, was a close second.