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Show Thursday, January 1 6 c 2 0 0 3 Utes Open MWC With Wyo. Sanders Only benior Bowl Hosier v CHRIS BELLAMY Chronicle Sports Writer , (10-3- ). A i XJ Antwoine Sanders, a junior free safety on Utah's 6 football team, was one of 96 players selected to play in the Senior Bowl game in Mobile, Ala. The starts Saturday at noon and game will be televised on ESPN. Though Sanders is only a junior, decided that he the would enter the NFL Draft following his junior year before the Utes' season began. 5-- all-st- 1 f: top-rank- i i a NEXT: J . ar Utah vs Wyoming Tonight, 1 p.m., Huntsman Center joining weeks. The Cowgirls have seen success in the season's earlygoing as well, winning 10 of their first 13 games of the season. Wyoming closed out their schedule on Jan. by toppling the Montana State Bobcats Senior Carrie Bacon led the Cowgirls' balanced scoring attack with 18 points, and three others finished in s as well. Wyoming will be coming into Salt Lake on a roll, having won its last four contests to rise seven games above .500. But the Utes have plenty going for them as well. They have won two in a e row following a setback and look to be gaining back the Kim Smith and eight-gam- 5. top-tw- rebounds. As a team, Utah is holding opponents to just 50.9 points per game on 36.7 percent shooting. And the U's two-gam- "i e o giate seasons, are the team's scorers and have been an integral part of the young team's development. While their inside game lacks depth, junior center Carlcy Marshall has been a big factor. In her last two contests, both Utah wins, she has combined for 28 points and 16 . - the Utes look to give coach Elaine Elliott win No. 400. momentum they had during an earlier winning streak. Kim Smith and Shona Thorburn, both competing in their first colle- 11 double-figure- strong team defense is forcing 20 opponent turnovers per game. A win over the Cowgirls would give the Utes a solid start to the conference season, but it could also be a special night for head coach Elaine Elliott. 7 career record, she's With a on the verge of setting a personal milestone with her 400th career victory. If a home game against conference rival Wyoming isn't enough incentive already, perhaps that possibility could propel the Utes to their nth victory. 399-16- cbellam ychronicle. utah. edu Antwoine Sanders is slated to play in the Senior Bowl Saturday. Niners Were Wrong for Firing Mariucci TRENT TOONE Chronicle Jv, Dear 1 Sports Columnist San Francisco Front Office: I am just writing to inform you of how incredibly stupid you all arc for firing head coach Steve Mariucci on Wednesday. Has there ever been a more swell, guy in the league? While you tell the media that Mariucci was dropped for philodifferences mainly sophical because he wanted more also knows you had unreasonable expectations for the all-arou- nd authori-ty--everyo- ne coach. Or is it really because he was tempted to go coach at Tampa Bay last year? Did he anger the front office last winter by campaigning WOMEN'S HO vs Utah Wyoming UO-3(10-3- ) 116 at 7 p.m. .sman Center 5 -' for a new contract through the media, and then talking to the Buccaneers last February about becoming their coach and general manager? After all, he stayed in San Francisco, didn't he? So why do you still fire the guy after he rejected Tampa Bay's offer, changed agents and rededicated himself to the 49ers? Is it not true that Mariucci led the 49ers to recapture the division title and finish 10-- despite significant injury problems on defense? You don't "have to feed us the feces that "Your decision is based upon a difference in philosophy within the 49ers' structure on how to best utilize various talents in pursuing the goal of fielding championship teams and winning a Super Bowl." We can see through that public relations hubbub. This can't be true because Mariucci went 9 while leading the 6, 57-3- 49ers to four playoff berths over six seasons. He did this despite losing quarterback Steve Young to a career-endin- g concussion and constantly dealing with a poor defensive secondary. He was very close to fielding championship teams and winning Super Bowls. He can't be blamed for that. In firing Mariucci, you've also lost a good player's coach. Defensive tackle Sean Moran was quoted by ESPN.com as saying Wednesday was "a sad day for players." He added, "I can't believe they let him go. He's a great coach and a wonderful human being. You could actually talk to him. He wasn't one of those dictator types who you're afraid to meet with because you don't know what will happen." The one bit of credit I will give you is the fact that you paid Mariucci for the one season on his contract worth $2.25 million. But now you're thinking' former i SWIMMING ) m . st ce 74-6- a was a first-teaafter selection ranking third on the team in tackles (65) to go along with two interceptions. Sanders will be in some highly esteemed company this weekend, as Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, Seneca Wallace, Larry Johnson and Chris Simms are among those on the roster to play in the postseason bowl game. Others invited with ties to the area are Utah State's Kevin Curtis and Colorado State running back Cecil Sapp. Sanders' North team roster will be coached by Dom Capers and the staff of the Houston Texans. The South team is coached by Marty Mornhinweg and his Detroit Lions' coaching staff. After no Utah player was repreShrine sented in the East-Welineman defensive Lauvale Game, Sape was chosen to participate in the Rotary Gridiron Classic on Jan. 25 in Orlando. On the same day, the Paradise Bowl will take place in St. George, Utah. Last season, seven Utes were invited to play in the Paradise Bowl, including Thomas Fortune, Phil Blackmon, Micjiael Richardson, Dennis Smith, C.R. Dwinell and Adam Tate. However, no official list is up for the game yet, but is can be assumed Ute players will be used as fillers. Also, the roster for the Feb. 1 Hula Bowl in Maui has not yet been released. Sanders RORY BRUNNER Chronicle Sports Editor Two months of practice and preparation will tome to a head at the Huntsman Center Thursday night, as the U women's basketball team now done with play, slate West its Mountain begins iKainst the Wyoming Cowgirls. The Utes have played considerably of well despite a roster chock-ful- l youth and inexperience. The team has one of the nation's Jefenses thus far, but will face some .if its toughest competition in the Ute on at Utah Colorado State 116 at 5 p.m. Ft. Collins, Colo. CHRONICLE SPORTS EDITOR GYMNASTICS VS Utah (0-1- ) BYU (0-0- ) 117 at 7 p.m. Huntsman Center RORY BRUNNER Vikings coach Dennis Green or 49ers defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. to replace Mariucci? Don't you realize how lucky you were to have this guy? Money obviously didn't matter to him because he earned the salary among the NFL's head coaches a bargain rate for a coach with his track record. He has also shown he's been willing to work out friction and problems, just like he did with receiver Terrell Owens. San Francisco front office, this move is going to come back and bite you in the butt someday. You think the day will come when the 49ers are on the verge of winning another Super Bowl, with another coach, during another season. But it won't happen. You will get beat and And who will that coach be? Steve Mariucci. Trent welcomes feedback at i9th-high-e- st out-coache- d. ttoonechronicle.utah.edu rbrunnerchronicle.utah.edu Swimmers Start Road Trip at Fort Collins Tonight The U women's swimming and diving team gears up for a pair of Mountain West challengers starting today, while the men take the weekend off. 1 in the MWC) The women (7-6, (5-- 2, one-poi- nt all-ti- 22-- SKIING MEN'S HOOPS at Utah Montana Invitational at Utah 117 All Day Bozeman, Mont. RBRUNNERCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU 2-- 1 hit the pool with Colorado State in Fort at MWC) this evening 5 p.m. Collins, Colo. Following the meet, the Utes continue the road trip in New 2 Mexico against the Lobos (7-MWC). The meeting between the Utes and CSU went down to the wire last year, but the Rams claimed a win in a meet that came down to the last 0 race. The Rams are Utah. against After two losses this weekend, the focus shifts to the MWC. "The remainder of the schedule will show us where we stand compared to the conference." The men will resume competition on Jan. 24. RORY BRUNNER SDSU (12-3- ) (10-4- ) 118 at 1 p.m. San Diego, Calif. 581 - 6397 2, 3-- 4-- |
