The highlights of McBride's 13-year tenure: three bowl wins in six appearances from a team that hadn't seen a football postseason since 1964. He left the U with a career record of 88-63 and helped build the foundation of what the Ute football program is today.

Two of the Utes starting receivers, Derrek Richards and Brian Hernandez, graduated last year, leaving a hole in the team's leadership, play-making ability and most notably, a ruffian style of football open for someone to fill. The receiving corps, and the offense as a whole, found that missing link in Godfrey.

Although official practice hasn't started, and won't for a few weeks, the Runnin' Utes have done other things to prepare themselves for the upcoming season.

The 2008 Utah Men's tennis team will hit the courts for its first matches of the year in the preseason U Intercollegiate Tournament beginning today at the Tennis Center.

The Utah women's volleyball team learned the hard way what happens when you don't play as a team in its 3-0 loss to Wyoming last weekend.

The Utes will have one final tune-up weekend before they open up conference play against BYU at Ute Field.

Laugh all you want at Utah's opponent. Weber State is going to allow the Utes to rest players who have been nicked up and refocus for the stretch run through conference play.

What a waste. This boost could be the difference in a game against TCU or a non-conference heavyweight. Instead it will be used up on a team the Utes could beat in the most hostile of environments anyway.

The enigmas facing the Utes are the dreaded penalties and turnovers that have perhaps stalled the offense from putting 50 on the board every game.

Only two things matter in the game of football8212;how many points the team puts up, and how many points the other team doesn't.