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Show TATE IS LIVING THE DREAM MATTHEW PIPER continued from Game Guide 2 Vegas wants you to pick Utah State Game Guide 3 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Friday, September 28, 2007 195-pound defensive back led the Utes with 102 tackles, including 8.5 per game (40th in the nation). The season before, he tallied a ridiculous 17 tackles against Boise State and 13 each against Wyoming and New Mexico. "I always had a nose for the ball, but as far as collisions go, I had to learn the hard way. I play with instincts," Tate said. "I take pride in tackling and hitting. It's kind of a dirty man's job. Not many people like to get in the mix and hit someone, but that's something I love and crave." One can imagine how little Tate's mother craves to see her son risk injury after each snap—a problem the Utes seem to be familiar with this season. "She doesn't see any of the games anymore," Tate said. "She used to pace back and football," he said. "Obviously, we're going through that right now, and it's helped me to stay steady in those times." Now that Tate is fulfilling his lifelong dream of suiting up in the red and white—he calls his election as a team captain his best moment in his football career—'he hopes that he can play up to the expectations of Utah fans. "I grew up a Ute fan—I know what to expect," Tate said. "And playing on the team, sometimes it gets tough for us. But that's where the true fan comes out. They can be sure that we're not going to settle with the way we're playing. We're not having a good time losing out here." Tate and the Utes will attempt to clear things back up against the Aggies on Saturday—Tate's former team. "There's a little meaning involved, but with the situation we're in right now, we can scratch all that," Tate said. "It's just a matter of getting a win." '}.peterson@ chronicle.utah.edu forth, but two years ago she just decided she wouldn't go. I guess she's my mother, but she's a nervous wreck, so it's kinda best that she stays back a little bit." As for the Utes' unpredictable season so far, Tate doesn't have an answer. "You know, I can't put my finger on it," he said. "There's no real explanation and it's definitely not acceptable for us." The one thing Tate will not admit as the cause for the Utes' downfall is the changing of the coaching staff. "To tell you the truth, (the situation this year) is really similar (to the Utes of 2004)," Tate said. "When coach Whittingham took over, there wasn't a drop-off. I think the camaraderie on this team is great." Tate, who has seen college football through both clear and muddied lenses, attributes his ability to handle all of it in stride to his mission. "You learn that there are some ups and downs in life, and that's the way it is in lowouts arfen't an exact science for normal human beings. I don't know about you, but I don't usually remember the specific outcomes of past mis-matchups. Meanwhile, those sinister MIT grads who could be making particle bombs or powering all of Northern Africa are spending 60 hours per week pouring over these numbers so they can stick it to the middle-aged alcoholics who gave them wedgies in P.E. Anyway, when I see the 21.5 point spread, I think, "Uh-oh. I really want to take Utah State since just three even touchdowns would win it for me—especially after Utah lost by 27 to a UNLV team that was given a run for its money by the Aggies in the opener." Whenever it's that clear-cut, it's time to reconsider. That's exactly how Vegas wants you to feel. Here are some more relevant facts: * Utah is 6-3 against the spread in its last nine games. * Utah State is 1-8 against the spread in its last nine games. * Utah is 5-1 against the spread in its last six home games. * Utah State is 1-4 against the spread in its last five games on the road. Then there's the "motivation factor." Utah is coming off a 27-point loss on the road to a clearly inferior team. Utah State just suffered a demoralizing, 23-20 loss to San Jose State at home. The Utes are angry. The Aggies don't have anything left to play for but a quiet bus ride home to s****y Logan. Piper's pick: Utah -21.5 (Utes 48, Aggies 17) Editor's note: Gambling is illegal in the state of Utah. m.piper@chronicle.utah.edu B Cody Brunner ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Homecoming is a time for big football games in Rice-Eccles Stadium, but historically Utah has not had the kind of success one would expect in the Homecoming game.Th'e Utes are 71-39 (.645) at home since 1987. Utah is just 11 -9 (.550) in the same time frame. Here are the results from the past 20 years. 2006—L 36-3 vs. Boise State 2005—L 28-19 vs. San Diego State 2004—W 49-35 vs. Air Force 2003—W 27-6 vs. San Diego State 2002—L 30-26 vs. Air Force 2001 —W 37-16 vs. New Mexico 2000—L 23-14 vs. Air Force 1999—W 42-0 vs. Louisiana-Monroe 1998—L 31 -28 vs. Boise State 1997^W 15-10 vs. New Mexico 1996—W45-19vs.Tulsa 1995—W 40-20 vs. Utah State 1994—W 52-7 vs. UTEP 1993—W 45-41 vs. San Diego State 1992^L20-13 vs. UTEP 1991—L 24-21 vs. San Diego State 1990—W 37-23 vs. UTEP 1989—L 50-10 vs. Colorado State 1988—W 41 -20 vs. San Diego State 1987—L 30-24 vs. UTEP Steve Tate, a senior economics major, led the Ute defense last year with 102 tackles. continued from Game Guide 1 the team with 37.2 rushing yards per game while Speight averages 25.5. Possibly the biggest running threat on the Utah State offense is at quarterback, where the shifty i. Life of Brian: Give it another go Homecoming '07 UTES WILL TRY TO PUT THEIR BEST SIDE FORWARD tDutfLHehCkteairk Brian Johnson watches from the sideline before entering last week's game against UNLV. Johnson will try to help the team bounce back this week against Utah State. Leon Jackson III has been escaping the pocket all year. Jackson's biggest receiving threat is Kevin Robinson, who has 19 receptions for 192 yards and one touchdown this year. The senior was named the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after accumulating a total of 223 return yards against San Jose State. Jackson's performance was highlighted by a 53-yard punt return and an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. "Robinson is a good player," Whittingham said. "He's their leading receiver and is a good special teams guy. Right now, they're kind of a power run team, but we've got to be well aware of Robinson at all times." Utah State has failed to win a game to this point, losing close contests to UNLV, Wyoming and San Jose State, as well as getting handled by Oklahoma. With both Utah State and Utah desperate for a win tomorrow, the focus turns to which Ute team will show up. "We're going to count on the team that beat UCLA," said Utah State head coach Brent Guy. "San Jose State was the same way because we didn't know what team was going to show up there. So, we*re going to count on it being (Utah's) best effort and expect anything to happen." c.brunner@ chronicle.utah.edu i The storyline at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas would have been perfect last week. The Utes' offense looked anemic throughout the first half, so they turned to quarterback Brian Johnson for the second half. Johnson, who wasn't completely healed from a shoulder separation, led Utah down the field on the opening drive and got the ball to the i-yard line. Then the storyline collided with U running back Darrell Mack. The Utes were stopped short of the goal line, and the wind was knocked out of them for the remainder of the game. Now the Utes find themselves in a familiar position—coming off a loss to a team that they should have beaten. TTie Chronicle caught up with Johnson earlier this week to see how his shoulder was doing and where he stands heading into homecoming against Utah State. The Chronicle: So, youfinallygot back into the game. How did it feel? Johnson: It felt good to get back out there, you know. It was a great feeling, and I was excited to finally get out there and play. I was tired of not being able to play, so it was great to get back out there. The Chronicle: You'll probably back me up on this. It didn't really look like the Brian Johnson that Utah fans have known to come and love in the UNLV game. Was it more pain that limited the velocity or was it not having a full range of motion? Johnson: I think it was a little bit of both. With an injury like that, the most important thing you lose is your range of motion and then strength. What we tried to do was get my range of motion back and then worry about the strength. I'm pretty sure my strength will be better this week. The Chronicle: Talking about the game, you came in to play at the start of the second half and immediately drove the Utes downfield, and you looked pretty pumped about it. What was going through your head on that drive? Johnson: I was just trying to find a way to give us a spark. We were bland on the sidelines, and we didn't have much emotion. I was just trying to provide something to get our team going. The Chronicle: What happened on that fourth and one on the goal line? Johnson: It was just timing issues with me and Darrell. We collided in the backfield, so the play started bad from the beginning. We were just on the wrong page. The Chronicle: It seems like I've been asking you this every week, but how does the team bounce back from such a devastating loss? I mean, this was the first shutout a U team has suffered in 14 years. Johnson: We just got to find a way. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We've been in this situation before. Nobody gave us a chance to beat UCLA after we lost to Air Force. We just have to come together as a team and find a way to win a ball game. The Chronicle: Coach Whit basically said he didn't know which Utah team would show up on a given week. How do you feel about that assessment that you guys are a hot-and-cold team? Johnson: I definitely agree with it. I think that, for whatever reason, this team struggles to be the same team week in and week out, you know. It's mind-blowing that we came out and play so well one week and then so poorly the next. You have to find a way to come out and play the way we are capable of playing week in and week out. The Chronicle: So, where do you think that shoulder will be this Saturday? Johnson: I think it should be around 95 percent. Last week I wasn't really ready for the game, so it'll probably .be even higher. It should be pretty close to being back to normal. The Chronicle: Looking at the Aggies, See JOHNSON Game Guide 4 |