Seasoned Andy Phillips Sees Potential for a Successful Season
Salt Lake City (Saturday April 25th) – Utah football held their White vs Red Spring Scrimmage at Rice Eccles Stadium. The White team, lead by QB Donovan Isom, scored 6 points in the 2nd and 4th quarter. The Red team was lead by Connor Manning who started the game, and threw 96 yards in 4 quarters. QB’s Travis Wilson, Chase Hansen, and Kendal Thompson did not play.
Among others that did not play today were running back Devontae Booker, wide receiver Kenneth Scott and defensive back Reggie Porter.
In the final minutes of the 4th quarter, Conner Manning threw a corner pass that was intercepted by Marcus Williams, who returned the ball 99 yards for a touchdown to end the game by a score of White: 12, Red: 0.
Following the game, Utah Football’s seasoned kicker Andy Phillips critiqued himself, stating that he would have liked to have had more PATs than field goals. However, he thought it was a good game overall.
Phillips said that he has really enjoyed spring ball this year. He was 100% in all kicks during practice up until today. He missed a 55 yard field goal in the 3rd quarter. He holds himself accountable to the goals he has set, and is aware of what he wants to do to improve.
The specialists have been working on their mental game and perfecting their technique. Aside from football and the development of the players during spring ball, Phillips mentioned a couple keys to what makes Utah Football unique and unified; Phillips has been soaking it all in.
As an experienced kicker this year, Phillips set the bar high for himself to improve his football technique, and to help the brotherhood surrounding the team.
“I had great leaders in front of me: Jake Murphy, Trevor Riley, and Nate Orchard last year…So I try and set that [same] atmosphere in the weight room, during conditioning and then in the locker room, letting the guys know that I’m old. I’ve been through a lot in life and I’m here to help, to be a good mentor if possible.”
Phillips is also learning from his teammates as well.
“A lot of people don’t think about it, but you have so many different kids coming from so many different cultures, a lot of different ages, a lot of different backgrounds. You can take a lot from a kid from Florida who grew up with out a father figure, and a kid from California who grew up fighting through life- being from Utah, living a pretty comfortable life- it’s really cool to see the diversity they’ve been through and how they have over come that and try to apply that in my life.”
Looking forward to fall camp, Phillips said he can’t wait to just focus on football, and to continue working on those things he would like to improve.
“Fall camp, you know its just around the corner (that first game). It’s just football, football- and that’s it.”
LISTEN TO ANDY PHILLIPS TALK ABOUT WHITE VS RED AND SPRING BALL HERE:
