Saturday morning practice like a Tuesday

Although it was Saturday morning for the Utah football team, is was like a Tuesday afternoon for its preparation for the Pittsburgh Panthers, who come to town for a Thursday night game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
With the marching band playing across the street at the Fan Fest, the Utes’ starting teams played against Pitt, at least the scout team, which donned yellow jerseys. Media access was limited as usual and the players went to the far end of McCarthey field for the final 20 minutes of practice, presumably to keep us from seeing some offensive plays.
Afterward coach Kyle Whittingham expressed satisfaction with the practice and said his team had “good focus” and “good concentration” as it has for most of fall camp.
“We have the right mentality and work ethic and now it’s a matter of going out the making the right plays Thursday night,”
On the injury front, Whittingham said it continues to be on an “uptrend” with two more players, receiver Sean Fitzgerald and offensive lineman Ron Tongaonevai both coming out of the pit to practice. The one player Whittingham is most concerned with is starting linebacker J.J. WIlliams, who he said is “50-50 at best” to play Thursday. As for backup running back Sausan Shakerin, he is out indefinitely with a concussion.
After the practice, the players walked across 5th South at about 12:15 to join the Fan Fest and mingle with fans and sign autographs.