Kerfuffle Concert Excites Utah Campus

The annual Kerfuffle concert rocked the U. campus Wednesday evening. The headliners were Lupe Fiasco and Girl Talk. Over 4,800 attended the show, which is put on by the ASUU for Utah students.

Several of our soccer players attended...and rumor has it that one of them may have suffered an unfortunate injury dancing in the rain!

Click here for more on Kerfuffle from the Daily Utah Chronicle!

Women's Week at the U.

Today begins Women's Week at the U. There are some great events and lectures going on through the end of March. Today the Keynote Address will be given by the Rev. Irene Monroe, a noted theologian and Harvard professor. And the week will culminate with the presentation on “Self-Empowered Professional Development: Presenting Yourself with Confidence”...something we could all use!

Of course, with the Ute soccer team, every week is women's week!

For more information, click here!

Breaking News: Kelly to Retire From Soccer

Well, you are hearing it first...we pride ourselves in having the latest news from Ute Soccer...and this is a News Flash of the highest order...Junior Ute midfielder, Kelly Isleib, is retiring from soccer effective immediately.

Kelly won the U of U Bowling tournament (her exact scores are a bit cloudy...we're double-checking our sources...however, she has hired an agent and will join the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) for this week's event at the Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator Series in Columbus, Ohio. Hopefully, we will be able to see her on ESPN in the finals this weekend.

While we are said to see her leave, we wish Kelly the best! Good luck, Kelly!

Rail Jam Rocks Campus on Wednesday

In the land of the "Greatest Snow on Earth", this is high time for skiing, snowboarding and the like. And we had a great event on campus this week...the Rail Jam came to the area just outside the Olpin Student Union Building. And a group of ski and snowboard artists rocked the crowd with incredible tricks.

As the saying goes..."Go big or go home" was the theme of the day.

Great event...click here for more photos and an article about the spectacular fun.

It's Time to Hit the Slopes

There's a saying here in Utah that we have the "Greatest Snow on Earth"...and the hills of the Wasatch Mountains are filled to the brim...so it's time to get out the skis and snowboards and head out to one of the seven world-class ski resorts within 45 minutes of the campus!

Park City Mountain, The Canyons, Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude...all great places...here is a Very brief guide...





















Park City is the host of three great parks...Check them out!
Park City Mountain
The Canyons
Deer Valley


Little Cottonwood Canyon hosts two great places...Check them out!
Alta
Snowbird

Big Cottonwood Canyon has two great resorts...Check them out!
Solitude
Brighton

What do you like to do...?





If you like to ski...? head to Alta or Deer Valley (skiers only)
If you like to snowboard with half-pipes and rails...? head to Park City or Brighton
Want fantastic powder...? Alta and Deer Vally have great groomed runs
Want a huge mountain...? Park City has tons of options...or get the Alta/Snowbird two-mountain pass!
Want a steep mountain with rugged terrain...? Snowbird has it...
On a tight budget...? Try the Canyons....great student rates
Want something different...? Try the Friday night skiing at Brighton...

We'll see you out on the slopes!

Follow The Utes on Twitter

"What are you doing?"

That is always a great question to ask of a friend...there is a new way to find out what your friends are up to...and it's called Twitter! The Ute Soccer team has started to Twitter...and you can now follow along to know what we are up to...

Here's how it works...you click on www.twitter.com ...you sign up for a free account...this allows you to update folks...and you can follow along with your friends...including us! Once you sign up, just search for Utesoccer

You can follow on your twitter account, your desktop (through instant messaging) or through your mobile phone! COME JOIN US!

Sundance Fever Hits Salt Lake City

The Sundance Film Festival is here! From January 15-25, the hottest new films with the hottest new (and familiar) stars and directors are converging in Salt Lake City (and Park City) to show their latest movies. It is a HOT ticket each year and this year is no different...

Want to know what films might be up for Academy Awards next year...just pay attention to the Sundance Film Festival. Don't believe us? Check out this list of all-time greats shown at Sundance: How about..."Falcon and the Snowman" (early Sean Penn great)..."Hannah and Her Sisters" (Woody Allen Oscar-winner)..."River's Edge"...."Hoosiers"..."Sex, lies and videotape"..."Reservoir Dogs" (Quentin Tarantino at his most demented), "Four Weddings and a Funeral"..."Shine"..."The Blair Witch Project"..."Napoleon Dynamite"..."Little Miss Sunshine"....

And how about these epic documentaries that have been shown at Sundance..."Roger and Me" (Michael Moore's first), "Super Size Me" (watch this and you'll never go to MacDonald's again)..."March of the Penguins"..."An Inconvenient Truth"...."Man on Wire" (from Sundance 2008...definitely rent this!)...

Well, we invite you to check out all the action at the Official Sundance Web Site...by clicking here.


So, new movies and great art of wonderful and all that...but we Americans love our celebrities and gossip...Who has been seen in town this week? Here is a short list...Robin Williams, Jim Carey, Chris Rock, Nia Long, Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ewan McGregor, Spike Lee, Jeff Daniels, Amy Poehler, Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes, Kevin Spacey, Paris Hilton, Uma Thurman....the list goes on and on...However we can't forget to mention Robert Redford...the "Godfather" of the film festival....and, of course, we can always play 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon here as well....(Here is Kevin with his wife and one of our favorites, Kyra Sedgwick from "The Closer")

Utes take in 'Forever Strong'

Monday practice???? Not today...after a hard-fought weekend and two victories...the Utes went to the movies together this afternoon. The team watch "Forever Strong", a piece about a high school rugby team and its quest for the national championship. The film is based upon the boys' rugby team from Highland High School here in Salt Lake City. Highland's rugby team has won several national championships and is coached by local legend, Larry Gelwix.

Check out this nice piece on Coach Gelwix here.

Highland High School is located just two miles from the U campus. Goalkeeper Amy Edman attended Highland and the show brought back memories for Amy. The movie was inspirational, for sure...don't know if the Utes will be doing the Haka before the next few games...but there are great lessons for any team.

For more information on the movie, click here!

Helping Out the Monticello Walk-a-thon

Earlier in the year, we had a group of students from the Monticello Academy in Salt Lake City come to our game against Long Beach State. And today we got to return the favor and visit the school as they participated in a walk-a-thon to help raise money for the school. Former Ute Erin (Pruitt) Kay is a 2nd grade teacher at the academy and arranged the outing. Here is Erin, joining in with the jumping jacks.




So we had a group of us out leading the students in some warm-up exercises...Lauren Dudley, Lauren Porter, Danielle Sample, Katy Reineke, Anne Shallenberger, Erin Dalley, Katie Martinez, Lauren Hair, Hannah Turpen and Morgan Skeen helped out with some jumping jacks, star jumps, high knees, stretches and other exercises....We led a group of 4-6 graders...then came the K -3 group....very fun and very excited about the day. Grizby, the mascot for the Utah Grizzlies hockey team was there.... After warming up, the students went for their walk and came back to some water, fruit and other treats. Then we set up some informal soccer games. Overall, a fun time and a great way to connect with young people in the community. Check out the little ones getting ready!

Bowling in Corvallis Clears the Mind for the Beavers

Well, Friday was another tough loss...falling 3-2 to the Oregon Ducks. The winning goal was scored with less than 7 minutes left on a corner kick. The second straight game in which we fell to a late goal was disappointing. After falling behind in the 10th minute, we fought back to take a 2-1 lead after a PK by Katy Reineke and a bullet from Kelly Isleib. After going into the half at 2-2, we couldn't get another and were forced to swallow another bitter pill. Good lessons for us all and these will serve us well as we move forward this season. We definitely are trying to clean up our late-game tactics and mentality.

Being on the road is tough and one of the qualities needed is the ability to "brush off" a tough loss on Friday night and come back strong for Sunday. We were able to do it against UNC Greensboro two weeks ago and will attempt the same tomorrow against the Oregon State Beavers.

This morning, we slept in and then made the 40-minutes drive from Eugene to Corvallis. After a brief practice at Oregon State, we checked into the hotel. After a 3-game losing streak...and needing a little break, we headed to the Highland Bowl for a quick game or two...it was good to take our minds off soccer for an hour or so...and, do we ever have some bad bowlers...notable exceptions were goal keeper Amy Edman and freshman Lauren Dudley, who were solid.















Freshman goal keeper, Shay Kennedy, celebrates half of a strike...while assistant coach, Laurel Roderick, gives it some body english...
















Alyssa Toomey and Erin Dalley practice a new bowling grip...while Amy Edman consoles Katie Brower after a tough frame.



The Utes also had some birthday cookies for Chelsea Forbes and Kelly Isleib who celebrate this weekend! An evening video review of the Oregon game and some mexican food capped the day and we hope to come away with a victory tomorrow.

Fun night at the baseball game

More notes from the baseball game....watch here as Danielle Sample and Addie Hair interview Wally the Warthog and find out if he's a fan of the Utah Utes...if he can take on the Utes and more...professional journalism as its finest!

Utes' Travel Notes on Tobacco Road

The first road trip of the season started yesterday (Wednesday) as we flew from SLC to Raleigh-Durham airport. With the two hour time difference, we arrived at 12:00 A.M. local time and got to the hotel in Winston-Salem at about 1:15 A.M. It's amazing how IHOP, Wendy's and MacDonalds' can sound so good when nothing else is open!

Thursday was EVENTFUL to say the least. It began with the nail-biting Gold Medal Soccer Game between the USA and Brazil, which the US won by a 1-0 score in overtime.

Then we headed off to the campus of Wake Forest University, just five minutes away for a little day-before-the-game kick around. Spry Stadium, the home of the Demon Deacon soccer team, is a beautiful park for soccer and we are looking forward to Friday's game.






























After training and dinner, we walked a few blocks to Ernie Shore Stadium to watch the minor league baseball game between the Winston-Salem Warthogs and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The evening was relaxing and filled with all kinds of fun...we will be using material from the game on the blog for a while! It was Cap Night, so the team members each got a free baseball cap. And the team was introduced during the middle of the 4th inning. See photos and video below for more fun!




Member of the Ute team pose with Wally the Warthog while enjoying the minor league baseball game on Thursday night.










Sophomores Alyssa Toomey and Morgan Skeen participate in a "dance off" during the 6th inning break...This is stuff of Ute team legend and there will be video to come....Can't Miss TV here!














Freshman Chelsea Forbes gets help with an "itch" on the nose while posing for photos as a Warthogs player

Team BBQ finishes Double Days Sessions

After 10 days of preseason...with many of those days consisting of two practices...the Utes decided to cool off by the pool as the grandparents of junior, Danielle Sample, generously hosted the team and coaches for a fun-filled afternoon BBQ and swim party. Here Danielle chats with her family....mother Chris, grandfather Bob Meyer, father Jay, and grandmother Carol Meyer...







The events included water basketball...a Michael Phelps "swim-a-like" contest...which was won by senior Katy Reineke. The new hit backyard game of "ladders"...play with Rachel (the 20 month old daughter of Ute assistant coach, Laurel Roderick. And relax and munch on great food from Famous Dave's!



Ute players enjoy the BBQ and re-live horror stories from this year's pre-season soccer camp...
From the right Christine Quinn (green shirt), Lauren Dudley (shades), Katie Martinez, Addie Hair, Hannah Turpen, Anne Shallenberger, Kellie Woodfield, Katie Brower, Shay Kennedy, Nicole Cardon (standing), Emalee Rogers, Lauren Hair, Lauren Porter (trying to get out of picture), and Katy Reineke (back to camera)...







Ladders is the big new picnic game favorite of the preseason so far...watch here as Alyssa Toomey and Jen Christoffers try to hit the ladder...






Ute freshman, Chelsea Forbes, presents the pool in which all the action occurred at the Ute team BBQ. Chelsea is from Bountiful High School here in Utah.

Cabin Fever: Exclusive Video

Okay, the blog has obtained exclusive video of the Utes' weekend getaway. First, we have a bit of the knock-down, drag-out foosball match between Utah natives Kelly Isleib and Katy Reineke...and Cal North gals Leslie Keener and Amanda Sanchez. It was a match fought with great intentions...but not the most elegant thing in the world...Notice that Katy has yet to master the foosball etiquette of not spinning your men...Also, a WARNING...you will notice Morgan Skeen doing a very loud and very interesting impression of a rock singer in the background...you may want to turn the sound down...way down!






Now watch Ute freshman goal keeper, Hannah Turpen give her best shot at wind surfing. Now, Hannah has grown up on the beaches of San Clemente, California and is a pro at many water-related activities. We have to give her an A for effort as there wasn't much wind on the day....but in the end...SPLASH!

Cabin Fever Hits the Utes

After 3 days of hard training and competition, the Utes headed out to Oakley, Utah (about 45 minutes away) and the cabin of Ute goal keeper Amy Edman for an overnight team trip...
25 players
4 coaches
1 trainer...Morgan Collins our new athletic trainer for the year.

Just enough folks for some good "Rock Band", Foosball, Volleyball, Hula hoops, ATV riding...and, oh yeah...maybe some team conversations about the season...overall it was a much needed breather and a great time....Friday night was spent at the cabin and Saturday at beautiful Smith and Morehouse Lake down the road.

Much thanks to assistant coach, Leslie Keener, for setting it up and to Boyd Edman, Amy's father, for coming out to help us at the cabin and the lake. Okay...let's get to some photos and video...






Assistant coach Laurel Roderick shows some great balance and agility in the morning volley ball match. Roxy Tebbs and Jen Christoffers can only watch the magical shot fall in for a point.









ATV action...Chelsea Forbes, Lauren Dudley and a mystery player sandwiched in between the two enjoy a morning ride along the road...all other vehicles watch out!













Trainer Morgan Collins plays guitar as Erin Dalley drums away and Morgan Skeen belts out the notes in this rock band dream team. Freshman Lauren Porter can only watch in amazement!














Saturday was spent at Smith and Morehouse Lake. Here Mr. Edman gets the kayaks, rafts and even a wind sail ready for action!












Let's compare the technique! Freshmen Anne Shallenberger and Kellie Woodfield try the alternating-side stroke while sophomores Erin Dalley and Alyssa Toomey go for the same-side paddling...we need to set up a race!