Utah
Stewart Mandel’s Big 12 predictions: Utah leads deep race
The new Big 12 may lack national championship contenders, but it could be extremely competitive. That starts with its impressive group of coaches, including three who made my top 10 in the country this spring — Kansas’ Lance Leipold, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy. Kansas State’s Chris Klieman, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and new Houston coach Willie Fritz made my list, too.
I could see any of six teams — Utah, Kansas State, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Kansas or Iowa State — winning the league this season, without much separation between them. (And West Virginia and UCF aren’t that far behind). But as I dug deeper into depth charts and schedules this week, I realized one team does stand out above the others.
Big 12 predictions
| Team | Big 12 record | Overall record |
|---|---|---|
|
8-1 |
11-1 |
|
|
7-2 |
10-2 |
|
|
6-3 |
9-3 |
|
|
6-3 |
9-3 |
|
|
6-3 |
9-3 |
|
|
6-3 |
9-3 |
|
|
6-3 |
8-4 |
|
|
5-4 |
7-5 |
|
|
4-5 |
7-5 |
|
|
4-5 |
6-6 |
|
|
3-6 |
5-7 |
|
|
3-6 |
5-7 |
|
|
3-6 |
5-7 |
|
|
2-7 |
5-7 |
|
|
2-7 |
4-8 |
|
|
1-8 |
3-9 |
Few thoughts on top contenders
Utah: Whittingham’s program comes in ready-made to contend for Big 12 titles, starting with the return of two-time Pac-12 champion quarterback Cam Rising after missing all of last season. The defense was solid last year even with a ton of injuries and brings back eight starters. One concern: Will a feature running back will emerge?
Kansas State: Klieman’s team is going to run the ball like mad with star dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson and the backfield tandem of DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards. That is, if the offensive line successfully retools after losing four starters. The defense should be able to rush the passer but needs to improve against the run.
Arizona: You can never predict how a coaching transition will go, but Brent Brennan walked into a nice situation. Star quarterback Noah Fifita and All-America receiver Tetairoa McMillan return from a 10-win squad. The defense, led by linebacker Jacob Manu, could be sneaky good. There’s only one problem: The team’s games against Utah and K-State are on the road.
Oklahoma State: You won’t find more continuity than with the Cowboys, who bring back both coordinators and 20 starters, including Doak Walker winner Ollie Gordon II, quarterback Alan Bowman and the entire offensive line. But the Cowboys’ defense remains suspect, and they unfortunately drew both Utah and a trip to K-State.
Kansas: Yes, the Jayhawks can win the Big 12, provided quarterback Jalon Daniels remains healthy. Leipold’s offense is brimming with playmakers like running backs Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. and receivers Lawrence Arnold, Quentin Skinner and Luke Grimm. The defensive front needs to be more disruptive to take the next step.
Iowa State: On paper, this should be Campbell’s best team since the Brock Purdy era. Quarterback Rocco Becht was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, running back Abu Sama III exploded onto the scene late last season, and the defense is brimming with experience. But the schedule looks to be the toughest of my top six teams.
West Virginia: Neal Brown became the rare coach to win his way off the hot seat, going from 5-7 to 9-4. Quarterback Garrett Greene and running back CJ Donaldson should benefit from an experienced offensive line, and the defense gained some nice portal adds. But it’s crowded at the top of the league, and the Mountaineers could get squeezed out.
UCF: UCF was the only one of last year’s four new programs to reach a bowl game and won three of its last four, most notably a 45-3 rout of 10-win Oklahoma State. And that was before adding veteran quarterback KJ Jefferson from Arkansas. While I predicted a modest two-win improvement in conference play, the ceiling may be higher.
Thoughts on other new schools
Arizona State: Kenny Dillingham walked into a doozy of a rebuilding job last season. The Sun Devils finished 3-9 but lost several close games, shut down Michael Penix Jr. and knocked off UCLA (running the swinging gate, no less.) ASU is at least another year away, however, as it develops a quarterback and builds experience on defense.
Colorado: We know Deion Sanders has a quarterback, son Shedeur, a high first-round two-way playmaker in Travis Hunter and proven tailback Dallan Hayden (from Ohio State). But the Buffs underwent significant staff turnover (five new assistants, including defensive coordinator Robert Livingston), and the offensive line will be a huge question mark again.
(Photos of Avery Johnson, left, and Cam Rising: Julio Aguilar, David Becker / Getty Images)
Utah
Utah man dies of injuries sustained in avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A man died after he was caught in an avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend.
A spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that Kevin Williams, 57, had died.
He, along with one other person, was hospitalized in critical condition after Saturday’s avalanche in the backcountry.
MORE | Big Cottonwood Canyon Avalanche
In an interview with 2News earlier this week, one of Williams’ close friends, Nate Burbidge, described him as a loving family man.
“Kevin’s an amazing guy. He’s always serving, looking for ways that he can connect with others,” Burbidge said.
A GoFundMe was set up to help support Williams’ family.
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Utah
911 recordings detail hours leading up to discovery of Utah girl, mother dead in Las Vegas
CONTENT WARNING: This report discusses suicide and includes descriptions of audio from 911 calls that some viewers may find disturbing.
LAS VEGAS — Exclusively obtained 911 recordings detail the hours leading up to the discovery of an 11-year-old Utah girl and her mother dead inside a Las Vegas hotel room in an apparent murder-suicide.
Addi Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, lived in West Jordan and had traveled to Nevada for the JAMZ cheerleading competition.
The calls show a growing sense of urgency from family members and coaches, and several hours passing before relatives learned what happened.
MORE | Murder-Suicide
Below is a timeline of the key moments, according to dispatch records. All times are Pacific Time.
10:33 a.m. — Call 1
After Addi and her mother failed to appear at the cheerleading competition, Addi’s father and stepmother called dispatch for a welfare check.
Addi and her mother were staying at the Rio hotel. The father told dispatch that hotel security had already attempted contact.
“Security went up and knocked on the door. There’s no answer or response it doesn’t look like they checked out or anything…”
11:18 a.m. and 11:27 a.m. — Calls 2 and 3
As concern grew, Addi’s coach contacted the police two times within minutes.
“We think the child possibly is in imminent danger…”
11:26 a.m. — Call 4
Addi’s stepmother placed another call to dispatch, expressing escalating concern.
“We are extremely concerned we believe that something might have seriously happened.”
She said that Tawnia’s car was still at the hotel.
Police indicated officers were on the way.
2:26 p.m. — Call 5
Nearly three hours after the initial welfare check request, fire personnel were en route to the scene. It appeared they had been in contact with hotel security.
Fire told police that they were responding to a possible suicide.
“They found a note on the door.”
2:35 p.m. — Call 6
Emergency medical personnel at the scene told police they had located two victims.
“It’s going to be gunshot wound to the head for both patients with notes”
A dispatcher responded:
“Oh my goodness that’s not okay.”
2:36 p.m. — Call 7
Moments later, fire personnel relayed their assessment to law enforcement:
“It’s going to be a murder suicide, a juvenile and a mother.”
2:39 p.m. — Call 8
Unaware of what had been discovered, Addi’s father called dispatch again.
“I’m trying to file a missing persons report for my daughter.”
He repeats the details he knows for the second time.
3:13 p.m. — Call 9
Father and stepmother call again seeking information and continue to press for answers.
“We just need some information. There was a room check done around 3:00 we really don’t know where to start with all of this Can we have them call us back immediately?”
Dispatch responded:
“As soon as there’s a free officer, we’ll have them reach out to you.”
4:05 p.m. — Call 10
More than an hour later, Addi’s father was put in contact with the police on the scene. He pleaded for immediate action.
“I need someone there I need someone there looking in that room”
The officer confirmed that they had officers currently in the room.
Addi’s father asks again what they found, if Addi and her mother are there, and if their things were missing.
The officer, who was not on scene, said he had received limited information.
5:23 p.m. — Call 11
Nearly seven hours after the first welfare check request, Addi’s grandmother contacted police, describing conflicting information circulating within the family.
“Some people are telling us that they were able to get in, and they were not in the hotel room, and other people saying they were not able to get in the hotel room, and we need to know”
She repeated the details of the case. Dispatch said officers will call her back once they have more information.
Around 8:00 p.m. — Press Conference
Later that evening, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police held a news conference confirming that Addi and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, were found dead inside the hotel room.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Utah
Ban on AI glasses in Utah classrooms inches closer to passing
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — AI glasses could allow you to get answers, snap photos, access audio and take phone calls—and now a proposal moving through the legislature would ban the glasses from Utah school classrooms.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Kizzy Guyton Murphy, a mother who accompanied her child’s class on a field trip to the state Capitol on Wednesday. “You can’t see inside what the student is looking at, and it’s just grounds for cheating.”
Mom Tristan Davies Seamons also sees trouble with AI glasses.
“I don’t think they should have any more technology in schools than they currently have,” she said.
Her twin daughters, fourth graders Finley and Grayson, don’t have cell phones yet.
“Not until we’re like 14,” said Grayson, adding they do have Chromebooks in school.
2News sent questions to the Utah State Board of Education:
- Does it have reports of students using AI glasses?
- Does it see cheating and privacy as major concerns?
- Does it support a ban from classrooms?
Matt Winters, USBE AI specialist, said the board has not received reports from school districts of students with AI glasses.
“Local Education Agencies (school districts) have local control over these decisions based on current law and code,” said Winters. “The Board has not taken a position on AI glasses.
MORE | Utah State Legislature:
Some districts across the country have reportedly put restrictions on the glasses in schools.
“I think it should be up to the teachers,” said Briauna Later, another mother who is all for preventing cheating, but senses a ban could leave administrators with tired eyes.
“It’s one more thing for the administration to have to keep track of,” said Later.
The proposal, HB 42, passed the House and cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday.
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