Homecoming 2010

When the Utes take the field against Union High School this Friday night it will be more than just another football game.

This week’s matchup is homecoming for Uintah and it will be the highlight of a week filled with excitement for the school, parades, pep rallies and most of all, Ute Pride.

That makes it a perfect time to write about what homecoming means to the young men that slog it out in the trenches once a year in September.

Homecoming is a tradition dating back to 1891. That year, the University of Missouri Tigers played the Kansas Jayhawks in what came to be know as the “border war” rivalry.

In 1911, Mizzou invited all the alumni to come to the first home game between the Tigers and Jayhawks, thus establishing the concept “coming home” for fans and former students.

In my time here so far, I’ve figured that a lot of the readers and residents of Uintah County went to either Uintah or Union. The alumni base here is thick and, as a result, the stands should be overflowing with red, white, gold and black this weekend.

Since I write in Vernal, though, I’ll be wearing red and white.

And that is what I’m talking about: UTE PRIDE.

Mark your calendars

Everyone who gives a hoot about our student-athletes, and to a greater extent the student body, should find themselves at Ute Stadium on Friday night at around 7 p.m.

That is when, Lord willing, either Uintah’s Tanner Seitz, or the kicker from Union will send the pigskin flying high into the air. The ball will hurtle, end over end, toward the other team — and a date with destiny that will follow four quarters later.

What I ask of the Uintah fans, alumni, students, friends and anyone else at Ute Stadium is to make more noise than you’ve ever made before. Cheer on the home team with a fervor that drives them to do some good works out on the field. Make them feel as special as they really are.

What I would like to see out of the Utes is a fire in the belly and a desire to do better than they have over their last two games. I have been to their practices and seen the way this team put it all together during the first game at Lehi.

I also have firm faith that the team will want to come out heavy-handed and hard-hitting.

Kalen Williams

A team captain in football is more than just a force to reckon with on the field every Friday night. They are the eyes, ears and motivational peers that head coaches rely upon during practice and throughout the week.

Senior Kalen Williams is a captain to the 2010 Uintah Utes and according to his coaches, a role model for others — but it may be a while until you see him don the pads during a game.

Williams is missing from the lineup this week due to an injury he sustained during a practice nearly two weeks ago, dislocating his right elbow.

“It hurt pretty bad. I was tackling someone in full-contact practice and a linebacker came in from the side and hit me. It was painful and I started to go into shock once I was at Ashley Regional. The doctors and coaches took good care of me though and it’s feeling better,” said Williams.

According to medical personnel treating Williams, he will miss the next two weeks at a minimum. That puts his return right at the start of regional action with Spanish Fork or Springville — two of Uintah’s most important games of the season.

“It’s really hard for me to not be out there,” said Williams, adding, “I just want to be out there hitting someone and helping us win the game.”

Williams is limited to simple condition exercises for now that include running, stretching and basic warmups. For now, it’s no hitting allowed.

“Like I said, I just want to be out there hitting someone. I really miss that,” said Williams.