Friday, December 10Back injury sidelines SmithAssociated PressSALT LAKE CITY -- Utah will take on Fresno State in the Dec.
18 Las Vegas Bowl without one of its most important weapons: speedy
punt returner and receiver Steve Smith.
Smith, who scored 11 touchdowns this season, suffered a small
crack in his fourth cervical vertebra when he was hit during a
20-17 victory over BYU on Nov. 20.
"You miss his competitiveness," Utah coach Ron McBride said
Monday. "Hopefully, it doesn't hurt us too much. We've got other
guys that can make plays."
A junior, Smith ranked fifth in the nation this season by
averaging 17.1 yards per return. He returned three punts for
touchdowns, including two in a 52-7 win over New Mexico.
Patrick Dyson will return punts while Johnny Lundy and Phillippe
Wells will replace Smith at receiver.
