Thursday AM practice

Thursday’s practice in full pads began with regular position drills and with the gates opened for fans (the only open practice), a small crowd is here initially and unless it grows substantially, it may not match what we’ve seen in the past.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer attended practice and shuffled through some interviews. A crew from the Mtn network have been in town this week producing an indepth profile on LaVell Edwards. That piece included interviews with coaches, former players like Gifford Nielsen and former Ute coach Ron McBride. They chatted with me for about 30 minutes on Wednesday.

The buzz about practice on O’Niell Chamber’s interview on ESPN.com was that the reporter, Graham Watson actually toned down her use of Chamber quotes and did indeed give him plenty of opportunities to explain exactly what he meant. She did her job very well, he spoke his mind.

Don’t think much will be made of it except he’ll get some “chippy” bumps and hits today, doing so already as I write.

Detmer said he’s in town to look over a charity sporting clay event at a facility near Salt Lake City. The money taken in for the event (Sept. 19) will benefit two former teammates. Lineman Brian may passed away this past winter from an illness and Brent Griffith died from a gunshot wound in Pleasant Grove when a disgruntled employee came into a business and starting firing away.

You can see Detmer’s sporting clay event at www.regonline.com/tydetmer.

Jeff Reynolds, a football spokesman said the lack of a crowd may be due to this open pratice not taking place during the annual Education Week. It’s a time when a lot of walkup traffic cruises over and RVs are scattered in the parking lot.

Mendenhall is limiting a lot of the contact today, players are being held up after contact. Having seen any take downs yet. Jeff Call will file a full camp report blog and I’ll add some material later today.