Dec. 17, 1999

LAS VEGAS -- It took Darnell Arceneaux all of about two minutes to figure out his future.

That's how long he stood on the sidelines watching his University of Utah teammates square off with Brigham Young University back on Nov. 20.

By the time the Utes had rallied to beat the Cougars 20-17 and secure a piece of the Mountain West Conference title, Arceneaux knew there was still more football in his future.

"Being out there and feeling that excitement, that adrenaline, I knew I could never walk away from the game," said the Utes' junior quarterback.

More than a month ago, the future wasn't so clear.

In fact everything seemed a little hazy.

Back on Nov. 6, Arceneaux was in University Hospital, suffering a massive concussion he received during the Utes' 43-29 loss to Wyoming. He remembers nothing of the game, especially not the punishing hit that left him in a heap on the Rice-Eccles Stadium turf.

Nor does he remember the way the crowd sat in silence as he was taken from the stadium in an ambulance.

Perhaps that's why he's so anxious to get back on the field when the Utes take on Fresno State on Saturday afternoon in the eighth annual Las Vegas Bowl.

For a while, the 22-year-old considered giving up the game because he had suffered so many injuries during his three seasons at Utah. But Arceneaux said even before the BYU game he wondered if he would be sending the wrong future message to his infant son, Cole.

After watching back up T.D. Croshaw lead Utah's hard-fought win over the Cougars, Arceneaux told his coaches he wanted to play again. Not long after that, doctors cleared him to begin practicing. Shortly after the Utes learned of their Las Vegas Bowl invitation, Arceneaux was given the OK to play.

"Darnell is doing real well," said Utah coach Ron McBride. We're glad to get him back."

McBride said Arceneaux will see action during Saturday's game, but he wouldn't say where.

Croshaw played well enough in Arceneaux's absence to win the starting job and he is expected to play with the first team against Fresno State.

Technically, Arceneaux is Utah's back up quarterback, but during practice on Wednesday, he took several reps at wide receiver.

"That's something that's new to me," said Arceneaux. "But it's something I enjoy, it's a new experience ... I know I'll be in the game somewhere on Saturday. I expected to play receiver if not quarterback."

With Croshaw and Arceneaux both healthy, there's a good chance the Utes will pull something tricky from their playbook. And even if they don't, the mere threat of a trick play would probably be enough to cause a reaction from the Bulldogs.

There's also the possibility the Utes will use the Croshaw-Arceneaux tandem in a more conventional way, with the two players alternating each quarter or even each series.

When asked about that possibility, McBride was typically coy.

"I don't know," he said. "There are probably a couple of things we could do with Darnell in there."

Arceneaux is 11-2 as a starter in three seasons at Utah, while Croshaw, who has played in 10 of the Utes' 11 games this season, is 3-1 as a starter.

Croshaw has completed 56 percent of his passes this season for 1,176 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Arceneaux has completed 50 percent of his throws for 1,342 yards, 10 TDs and seven interceptions.

Las Vegas Bowl notes: After each team practiced on Wednesday, both sides got together for some fun and games at a local sports park. Ron McBride edged Fresno State coach Pat Hill in a go-cart race and afterward Fresno State beat Utah in a pie-eating contest and an Elvis Presley sing-along. ... A Las Vegas newspaper reported Wednesday that Fresno State had only sold about 6,000 of its 12,500 required tickets. As of Tuesday, Utah had sold 10,000 tickets.