Utah Utes football: All U. players benefit from bowl

NEW ORLEANS — The Utah football team brought a little more than 100 players to the bowl game, but less than half of them will actually play in the game.

For the rest, it's a time to get extra practice time in and to enjoy the rewards a bowl game brings.

"It's awesome," said T.J. Canales, backup quarterback from Northridge High School. "It's a great experience. It's a fun time, but at the same time we're just trying to help the team by doing our best during practice."

Canales was the quarterback in a short scrimmage at Tulane University for nearly a half hour after the main players had gone inside to lift weights. He said even though the players on the "developmental" squad know they won't play a minute, they still feel a part of the team.

"They let us go to all the meetings and meals," he said. "The starters are really cool to include us in everything. But we know what we're here to do, to help them get ready for the game."

Even the injured players are included.

Sophomore receiver Collin Robinson has a torn labrum and stood on the sidelines with his arm in a sling, but he's still a part of the team.

"Even though we can't play, it's fun to take it all in and be a part of it," Robinson said. "It's been a fun experience."

Robinson was on the team last year as well and has noticed the difference between the Poinsettia Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.

"It's a lot bigger bowl," he said. "A lot more people ask us about it back home, and it's a bigger deal here. We get a lot more attention from the media and get more stuff."

More stuff, as in a Sony Blu-ray player, a MP3 Walkman, a watch, a travel jacket, travel pants, two polo shirts, a backpack and a $100 Best Buy gift card.

For the coaches, having extra players at the bowl game means looking toward the future.

"It's invaluable," said coach Kyle Whittingham. "It's almost the equivalent of an extra spring camp. We've seen a lot development in those guys. These guys are scrimmaging each other, so it doesn't require any extra practice or preparation. We just go ahead and play 11 on 11."

"Most of them are redshirting and some of them are coming off missions and we want to get them experience in scrimmaging," added linebacker coach Kalani Sitake, who will take over as defensive coordinator when the bowl game is over. "So we do this especially during the bowl period and we do this every day. This is the future here, so we have to invest a lot of time in these young men."

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