Ute Sports

Utah offensive lineman Zane Beadles was named one of 12 finalists for the Wuerffel Trophy and has been invited to the East-West Shrine game where he'll play for the West team. The Wuerffel Trophy goes to the football player who best combines community service with academic and athletic achievement.

 In other news, rumors that Boise State is going to join the MWC just keep coming, much like the rumors Utah is about to join the Pac-10. MWC officials are denying there is anything to the rumors.

 Yesterday when I was talking to WAC commissioner Karl Benson for today's column, I asked him his thoughts on the possibility of losing Boise State.

 His answer was to remind me that Boise State has only been in the WAC eight years and that while the league wants Boise State to remain in the league, "if it didn't, we'd find another team and move on," he said.

Brian Johnson, the Utes' winningest quarterback in school history, has been hanging out at practice this week as he has been for most of the season season. His insight into the TCU matchup might be more helpful than ever considering the Utes are about to face the nation's best defense with a freshman quarterback making only his second start.

 What has Johnson's advice been for Jordan Wynn?

 "For him the biggest thing is to go in there as confident as he has been and know going in it is going to be a rowdy atmosphere, but you have to do what you can do," Johnson said. "I think he'll be ready for this moment and I know he is excited about it, but at the same time excitement only gets you so far. You have to put the work and the preparation in and that is the biggest key for him to be successful individually and the offense, how they prepare throughout the week."

 Johnson was one of the best at breaking down teams' defenses. Preparing for the Frogs though, wasn't anymore challenging than any other team for him because they rely more on athleticism than anything else.

 "The biggest thing, scheme-wise, they haven't changed in forever," Johnson said. "It is the same scheme. The thing that makes them so good is they aren't very complicated structure-wise but it's more so their speed and athleticism and the way they can cover ground. They take away things you can do against other teams in the Mountain West Conference. I think Jordan understands that and the rest of the offense understands that, you just have to put them in position where they can be successful."

 Links to today's Utah stories are here.

 A blood drive starting Friday at the Salt Lake City, Ogden and Draper AAA branch offices will pit Utah and BYU fans against each other. Once you donate blood you can "vote" for your favorite team by dropping your entry form into your team's bowl. Once the winner of the game is decided a winning entry will be drawn from that team's bowl. AAA Travel is sponsoring a two-day, Grand Canyon Railway vacation for the winner of the drawing in each office.

 Here is more info according to the press release:

WHEN: Salt Lake City Ogden 

Draper

Friday, Nov. 13 Monday, Nov. 16 Friday, Nov. 20

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHO: ARUP's mobile blood mobile will be at the Salt Lake, Ogden

and Draper AAA branch offices with its state-of-the-art facilities to

easily draw blood. Appointments are preferred. Please call the branch

office to schedule an appointment.

WHERE: AAA Salt Lake City AAA Ogden 

AAA Draper

560 East 500 South 5705 S. Harrison

Blvd. 185 E. 12300 S. Ste.100

Salt Lake City, UT Ogden, UT 

Draper, UT

(801) 364-5615 (801) 476-1666 (801)

553-8582

 The Utah men's basketball program announced its signees, Preston Guiot, a 5-11, 175-pound guard out of Bolivar, Mo.; Dominique Lee, a 6-4, 200-pound guard out of Oakland, Calif., and JJ O'Brien, a 6-6, 205-pound guard out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

 Also committing to the Utes Wednesday was Neal Monson, a 6-10, 215-pound center out of Sandy, Utah.

 "I am really excited about this class," Utah coach Jim Boylen said. "Similar to what we accomplished last year, we have brought in another versatile class that fills multiple positions. This group adds even more depth, toughness and athleticism as we continue to build this program."

 Guiot averaged 24 points, five assists and three steals as a junior, Lee ranked among the top 10 upperclassmen in the state of California last year averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds and O'Brien averaged 27 points and 13 rebounds while ranking among the top 15 players in California.

 Monson, who plays for Waterford H.S., averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds in addition to six blocks a game. Waterford is coached by his father, Reid, who played for Utah from 1986-89.

 O'Brien is considered the premier player in the class after earning first-team all-CIF Div. 2 honors and being named the MVP of the Baseline Conference.

 "He is another big wing player who gives us more length, scoring ability and versatility," Boylen said. "He also possesses great lat-game scoring and decision-making ability."

Journalist John P. Wise, who is traveling around the country writing a book about college football called "One Great Season," is in Ft. Worth this week for the Utah-TCU game.

 This is his first MWC game and he said he's eager to see what kind of atmosphere there is for the showdown.

 Already, he has attended USC at Ohio State, Florida at LSU and Ohio State at Penn State.

 He sent along a clip of the TCU press conference in which Patterson talks about the new TCU helmets and the rest of the Frogs' season in which he compares them to Cinderella, kind of anyway.