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Show Ai8 @ Continued from Al ting calls from the kid we sat next to in second grade, asking, ‘Can I get tickets?’ ” assistant athletic director Marc Amicone said but local hangouts are packed now whenthe Utes play, and the university is scrambling to keep upwith all the requests from wholesalers suddenly wanting to use their logo on merchandise. City police have been known to report gameupdates over their scanners. And that supposedly apathetic student body? They love this new guy. “Everybody just seems pretty psyched,” said Craig Kimball, a cashier at The Pie Pizzeria, a popularplace across the street from the campusthat has been swampedon gamedays.“I think Urban Meyer's got something.” Of course, the Utes aren't quitein the college football elite justyet. The season is barely six weeks old, and the surgein interest still doesn't compareto the en trenched following that rival Brigham Young University en joys, with crowds of 60,000 or morea regular feature. But for a team that has not often given its hometown muchreasonor opportunity to rally behindit, this latest trend is a welcomeone. “The biggest thing is walking around campus,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “It’s a bigger deal. To have people get excited to go to a football gamelikethat, it’s awesome.I can't say enough aboutthat. It has kind of turned intoalittle football school, whereaslast year it seemed, you know, kind of commuter-ish and people didn’t go to the games.” The Utes weren't winning,for one thing. A six-gamelosing streak last season spoiled an especially optimistic start, reducing the flow of fans through the gates at RiceEccles Stadium to a virtual trickle and ultimately costing longtime coach Ron McBride his job. Meyertook over amid a divided, dwindling and skeptical fan base. “Youstill get mixed feelings from both sides, with the McBride followers,” said Ken Dinsmore, the new ownerof Lumpy’s Social Club, a longtime headquarters for Utah fans. “But they're shifting back. Urban just had a lot to prove.” Hecertainly seemsto be provingit. The Utes are 4-1, having beaten defending Mountain West Conference champion Colorado State for thefirst time in nine years, as well as Pac-10 Conference opponents Cal and Oregon. A victory over San Diego State in the annual homecoming game Saturday might be enough to get them into the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1996. Even more impressive, perhaps, is that Meyer seemsto have inspired many Ute fansto put their trademarkfatalism on hold. “It’s not like before,” said Jesse Osman, an assistant manager at The Skybox sports restaurant at The Gatewayin Salt Lake City, where every tableis full on game days and where Meyeroccasionally dines. Indeed, fans are actually attending the games. Although the Utes built two of their largest crowds ever with the help of free and discounted tickets, they believe the strategy has paid off by luring fans who otherwise might never have gone to a game and who now might wantto go back. They drew their largest crowd in history to watch them beat Cal on national televisionlast month, and the sixth-largest crowd to see them stop Oregon last week. They're happythat a new ticket office and phone-order system at the stadium is in place to handle the new volume. “Last week,it was out of control,” said Brandon Shifflett, who has worked in the ticketoffice for four years. “You know when we have the NCAA basketball tournament? It was worse than that.” The Utes are expecting another crowd of perhaps 40,000 whenthey play the Aztecs on Saturday, and Shifflett and others agree that winningis the most important thingin attracting such interest. But other factors, such as Meyer's exciting newoffense and his willingness to campaign for his team in speeches to students and potential fans — “From anywhere from eight people to 200 people,I'd do it,” he said play a big role, too. “Theretotally is more of a buzz about it,” said Nate Terry, a junior at the U. “Everybodyis talking aboutit. Part ofit is we're doing well and have a new coach, and part of it is Urban is doing well marketing. ...It’sa lot more fun thanit has been in the past. I remember going to games and everybodyjustsits there and it wasn’t really very fun. Now, everybodyis excited.” Meyercertainly caters to “The Muss,” the student section of the stadium named for a phrase in the Utah fight song, praising the fans there and their attendance almost every chance he gets. Heplans to attend tonight’s homecomingrally near the Alumni House on campus, and he even pulled a student reporter aside from others after practice the other day, to good-naturedly offer a one-on-oneinterview to show how muchit means to him to reach out to the campus community. “You can doall those cute UTAH things coaches do to motivate players,” he said. “But pack that stadium and boom! They’re motivated.” There might benobetter place to gauge the heightened interest than at the university bookstore. Associate director Shane Hinckleysaid the store has produced record sales this fall, and in his otherjob as universitylicensing administrator, he has handledthe increaseof requests from wholesalers who want to put the U. on caps, mugsor Tshirts. Hinckley also said he has seen a sharprise in the number of out-of-town alumni returning to campusfor games including some from Nebraska, New Hampshire and Vermontlast weekend. “It has been directly attributed to the success ofthe football team,”he said. Other businesses are getting in on theaction, too. The Fanzz store in Crossroads ‘Thursday, October 9, 2003 ‘It’s a bigger deal. To have peopleget excitedto go to afootball gamelikethat, it’s awesome. I can't say enough about that.” tures of Utah players and cheerleaders on the windowsand decorating everything from the ALEX SMITH Ute quarterback ere sponsored pre-gametailgate parties at the Gallivan Center are still finding a niche they will move to The Gateway for the next three home games, before returning to Gallivanfor a live broadcast of the BYU game in Provo on a giant outdoor screen the TRAX trains from downtown have been packed taking fans to the stadium, Eventhe Smith's store near Ninth and Ninth, from which wide receiver Paris Warren noto- mall is hurrying to get in more Utah merchandise, a salesman said, after surprisingly selling out of some items last week. And Dinsmoresaid he could have filled seven buses forthe tradi tional Lumpy’s shuttle to the gameandback last week if he hadn’t hadestimatedfiveto makea reservationin time. Last year, he said, the club would have been lucky to fill two. “It’s insane” on game days, Dinsmoresaid. Although the university- OPENS TOMORROW domsearlier this season, is a big booster. The grocery store of choice for manyplayers wholive in the area, it has goneall outin its support this season, painting pic- main entrance to the deli counter with red-and-white logos and displays. The only downside? National football writer Ivan Maisel was on ESPN earlier this week, speculating that Meyer could become thenext Pat Dye, stopping at Utah for just one sea son before movingonto a better job, the way Dyedid at Wyoming before taking over at Auburn in 1981. “Somebody is going to notice the job he has done,” Maisel said. In Salt Lake City, though, somebody already has. mcl@sltrib.com yee a 25TH DESERET MORNING NEWS FALL a ? ME SnOX'A IMPROVEMENT, REMODELING & DECORATING DEMOS TOS “The Wall Roth Concept Centers will providefor Ege : 1 has trav- j eled for dmg (vor media 3 over 20 your enter- years with | tainment, cooking great food. Friday, October 11 TUNA ce ea a See Chef Adalberto Diazat 9575 4:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Saturday, October 12 See Chef Adalberto Diaz at 12:45 , 3:45 and 7:45 p.m. SOUTH ee ee Come see what’s new for your home. OVER 500 EXHIBITS DECORATING DEMOS Good Things Utahis the only local one-hour midmorning The talk/news show in Utah. Join regular guest Kathryn Elliott, author of French Country Junk Chic, andJill Williams Grover, author of Dime Store Decorating—they will be demonstrating everyday at the show. his Wall UTP demonstrations with famouschefs. Learn their secrets and how to cook latest products from best companies. the Magic Touring workshopsbringing the secrets of home decorating to do-it-yourselfers warldwide. The Wizard educates, entertains and empow- ers the audience with simple tips and techniquesto save time and money.Brian will cover painting, wall paper, and faux techniques. Friday: 3 & 6pm,Saturday: 2,5 & 8pm, Sun: 1 & 4pm DESIGNER ROOMS Weinvite you to sanaPee a WINDOWS taNe ee Nee aa UALLe a view HaAALe PU aL For more information visit = bylocal www.deseretnewshomeimprovementshow.com radio personalities from Clear Channel Radio & Citadel Broadcasting. You'll be able to vote on your favorite room THE GROCERY GURU bea Ken and one(1) lucky voterwill is the win a FREE consultation from one of Utah’sfinest designers. You'll see everything form “Retrofit” to decorating the ultimate “Guys Sports Room”. “Grocery Guru” he'll help you | save Money i at the grocery store. Friday: 2:45 & 8:45 p.m.; Sat: 2 & 6 p.m.; Sunday: 1:45 p.m. The Guru will have coupons and products for you to take home. TWENTY-FIFTH DESERET MORNING NEWS FALL FENG SHUI STYLE IMPROVEMENT REMODELING & DECORATING Mary Shurtleff is a fabulous Feng Shui designer. Sheis the expert on helping your home move in harmonywith you a Ute fans rediscover their team The Salt Lake Tribune SHOW Friday at 2:15 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. 2 ADULTS FOR THE PRICE OF 1 OTHER FEATURES SOUTH TOWNE EXPO CENTER and your family. See Mary OCTOBER 10-12 * Tuff Shed’s Playhouse ADMISSION ——— for Charity * Water Features aay aid) ae of TRADING SPACES * Ponds & Gardens * + * * HomeFor The Holidays Arrow Kennels Dog Training Rock Climbing Wall Decorator Rooms: * Featuring furniture and designs from European Classics, Hacienda Don Angel, The Image Group, Rustic Log Furniture of Utah and Turvilles. Friday 4 & 7pm, Saturday.12,4 & 7pm, Sunday 12.& 3 am ors ae é spaces ASE overachiever OIesisiiinsacitchinnscnactinad$6 SENIORS........ sees i JUNIORS (7-12)...$4 i HOURS j FRIDAY.............2PM -i10PM SATURDAY... 1 AM- 10 PM = SUNDAY oo HAM-6PM = rs “Good only Friday October 16,2003 é Valid on Adult Admission Only. = oe SS wae GRE Ree How FM100 @= [Fi |
