Thin air, high hopes

In February, Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium played host to the world for the Winter Olympics. On Saturday, it will play host to the Hoosiers (1-0) as they take on the Utes (1-0) at 7 p.m. EST.\nThe long flight out to Salt Lake City will mark IU's furthest westward jaunt since they took on Baylor in the 1991 Copper Bowl in Tucson, Ariz.\nSenior quarterback Tommy Jones said he doesn't think that being cooped up on a long plane ride will have an effect on the team.\nBut both Jones and senior defensive lineman Kris Dielman said they believe the high altitude of Salt Lake City (4,390 feet above sea level, compared to Bloomington's 823 feet above sea level) may have a noticeable effect on the Hoosiers.\n"I think that it might affect us at first," Dielman said. "We're pretty much all guys from the Midwest; we've never played in the mountains before."\nDielman said he believes Coach Gerry DiNardo has the team in good enough shape for the altitude effect to wear off.\n"That can't be an excuse for anything that happens in the game, and I hope nobody uses it as an excuse," Dielman said.\nWhile the geography may be different, team veterans certainly cannot forget last year's game against Utah, in which IU squandered a fourth quarter lead to lose 28-26. The game was seen by many as a difference between a 5-6 team and a 6-5 bowl-bound team.\nThough the Hoosiers may be itching for revenge, the Utes have become no easier to beat this year. Utah is currently on a five-game home winning streak.\nIn addition, Utah stifled rival Utah State to minus-nine yards rushing last week, which is third-best in the nation. Last season, Utah's total defense was 17th in the nation, and their scoring defense was 13th.\nIU's challenge to rush the ball will be further exacerbated by the fact that junior running back Brian Lewis, who has a shoulder sprain, is still questionable for Saturday's game.\nTo top it off, DiNardo has voiced his concerns about the IU running game after last week's performance against William & Mary.\n"We didn't generate much running game in the second half," DiNardo said. "We're not going to invent new plays. We're going to block better than we did."\nFor the IU offensive line that means blocking three linemen who were named all-Mountain West Conference last season -- Jason Kaufusi, Garrett Smith and Lauvale Sape.\n"Utah is a very physical team," DiNardo said.\nWith Utah's ability to stuff the run well-known, the Hoosiers might put more of an emphasis on Jones and the passing game. Jones talked about the adjustments that the offense has made in practice this week.\n"We've run the shotgun a little more and more quick passes, but nothing really different from last week," Jones said.\nJones was 16-of-32 for 165 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions against William & Mary.\nWhile the Utah run defense may be third in the nation, there are two defenses ranked higher -- and IU is one of them, thanks to holding William & Mary to minus-32 yards rushing.\n"IU looks much better defensively than they did a year ago," said Utah coach Ron McBride.\nLeading the way for the Utes will be a pair of running backs who spent their first three seasons as backups, seniors Marty Johnson and J.R. Peroulis. They do have the benefit of playing in the same offense that has produced NFL running backs Jamaal Anderson and Mike Anderson.\n"We've just got to stay in there, not get pushed off the ball and keep control of the line of scrimmage," said Dielman about defending the run.\nOne offensive player IU is familiar with is Utah senior quarterback Lance Rice, who threw three touchdowns in the Utes' victory last year. Rice's stats were similar to Jones' last week, as he completed 16 of 30 passes for 165 yards and no touchdowns.