Friday night, Nicolle Ford proved yet again why she was a unanimous choice for captain in this year's U gymnastics team -- and it had nothing to do with her 39.625 All-Around score. While the Utes were warming up for vault, a group of rowdy and shirtless Utah State fans stood within a whisper's length from the vault runway and patiently waited.
Unless you spent last week trapped in a well, or you avoid sports like a vegan steers clear of a Black Angus Steakhouse, you probably have heard that former NBA player John Amaechi announced to the world that he is gay. According to many former teammates, that news really wasn't news at all since many of them had a pretty good idea of that fact already.
When Alex Smith finished playing football for Helix High School, Utah was the only Division I program to offer the La Mesa, Calif., native an athletic scholarship. A three-year collegiate career, a No. 1 pick in the 2005 NFL draft and two NFL seasons later, Smith is giving back to the only collegiate program willing to give him a chance.
As the first phase of the 2007 season came to a close for the Red Rocks on Friday night, one thing remained quite clear: The Utes still have a long way to go if they hope to capture their first National Championship in 11 years. Despite improving their record to 7-0, the Red Rocks failed to capitalize on a generous scoring night from the judges and came away from Logan with an unimpressive 196.
Growing up, Ute gymnast Sarah Shire did not have much of a shot living a life without sports. Her dad, David Shire, has been a high school teacher for 27 years. During that time, he coached practically every sports team, except the chess club and synchronized swimming.
Thursday afternoon, Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts looked like he had just finished a roller coaster ride-a weeklong roller coaster ride. Since August, Checketts has seen his plans for a new soccer stadium in Sandy City flat-line more times than in a season of "ER," but Thursday afternoon Utah Gov.
On paper, Friday night's meet between Utah State and Utah doesn't exactly scream excitement. The Red Rocks haven't lost to the Aggies since the United States boycotted the XXII Summer Olympics in 1980 and Jimmy Carter was president. Though Greg Marsden has repeatedly explained that no opponent can be taken "lightly," the fact remains that the Aggies are, without question, the least imposing opponent on the Red Rocks' 2007 schedule.
After Sarah Shire barreled across the floor of the Huntsman Center and launched her body into the air for the first scoring vault of her collegiate career, it seemed like a good night in the makings for the U gymnastics team. Shire's 9.85 set just the right tone for the Red Rocks, as the team combined to score a 49.
Throughout a soccer match, it is not uncommon for a soccer player to flop to the ground, grab the first appendage that comes to mind and roll around on the ground until the referee makes a call. Seeing that player bounce back up seconds later in perfect condition is not all that uncommon, either.
Back in mid-October, the U women's swimming and diving team co-captain Marissa Martin expressed her confidence in the team's chances of going through the regular season undefeated. As Martin stood arm-in-arm with her father, Gary Martin, and was introduced to the capacity crowd on Senior Night at the U Natatorium Friday night, she and her teammates had just one obstacle left before reaching that goal.
