By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Elevation shouldn't be a factor for UA in Utah
A day after senior wide receiver Brad Brennan insisted that he would play in Saturday's game versus Utah in Salt Lake City, UA head coach Dick Tomey told reporters that the senior will likely be out of the lineup.
"Brad probably will not play," Tomey said.
Brennan, who missed most of 1999 with a right hamstring injury, missed spring practice and part of Camp Cochise with nagging injuries.
As late as Monday, the senior was wearing a yellow "no-contact" jersey at practice.
In a conference call yesterday, Utah head coach Ron McBride was quiet as to which of his two quarterbacks will start Saturday's game against the Wildcats.
Seniors Darnell Arceneaux and T.D. Croshaw platooned last year for the Utes and should each see significant time behind center in the beginning of the season.
"We have a lot of question marks to answer," McBride said of the offensive situation. "(We have) not made a decision yet - we're waiting to see what we're going to do."
Tomey, who will be abandoning the two-quarterback system for the first time in three seasons, believes McBride, a close friend, has already made up his mind.
"I think they know who they're going to start," he said. "We expect them to go with Croshaw."
A drop-back passer and son of a football coach, Croshaw is considered the least threatening of the two quarterbacks.
"(Arceneaux) is a versatile guy," UA linebacker Lance Briggs said. "Croshaw stays in the pocket, which is a good thing. It's a good combination."
Croshaw played two seasons for his father, Greg, at Dixie College in St. George, Utah, before transferring to Utah. His full name, Trace Denzel Croshaw, was shortened to T.D. because of his father's profession.
Tomey warned the assembled media at yesterday's press conference to avoid comparisons between sophomore wide receiver Bobby Wade and departed senior Dennis Northcutt, currently playing for the Cleveland Browns.
While both players play wide receiver and return kicks, the comparisons end there, according to Tomey.
"Let's not make Bobby Wade into Dennis Northcutt - because he ain't," Tomey said. "(Wade's) a good player, but he's not trying to be Dennis Northcutt."
In his freshman season, Wade started in nine of the team's 12 games and had 30 receptions for 454 yards.
As the Wildcats' No. 2 kick returner, Wade gained 191 yards on 10 returns.
According to Tomey, Salt Lake City's altitude should have less effect on players than other locales. Home of Saturday's football game, the Utah capital is roughly 5,200 feet above sea level.
The thin air found in high altitudes often makes it hard for players to breathe.
Tomey has seen worse.
"You've got to remember, (Camp) Cochise is 4,300 feet (in elevation). The players are going to be breathless."
Remembering his seasons as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, Tomey recounted the obstacles faced in Laramie, Wyo., some 7,500 feet above sea level.
"Laramie is much different (than Salt Lake City)," he said. "They say for every 2,500 feet over 5,000 feet, the difficulty (to breathe) increases times four."
