Locomotives roster has Utah influence

Maybe the fledgling United Football League should have put a franchise in Salt Lake City. Or at least let the Las Vegas Locomotives play a game at the University of Utah.

Five former Utah players are on the Locos' 50-man roster for the UFL's debut season, which begins Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium. They are wide receiver Brian Hernandez, tight end John Madsen, center Jesse Boone, nose tackle Lauvale Sape and defensive tackle Gabe Long.

Also, Locos coach Jim Fassel is a former Utah coach, leading the Utes to a 25-33 record from 1985 through 1989.

Two other former Utes -- wide receiver Paris Warren and defensive end Josh Savage -- made the Orlando Tuskers' roster.

Former UNLV receiver Casey Flair isn't on the Locos' 50-man roster, but he made the two-man practice squad with defensive back Jamal Lewis out of Georgia Tech. No other former UNLV players are on a UFL roster or practice squad.

Fassel said his hardest roster decisions were at receiver and defensive back.

"It was kind of a mixed bag at receiver," the former New York Giants coach said. "We had guys with nagging injuries who missed some time, and we had some guys who didn't perform as well as we had hoped."

Fassel had initial misgivings about his secondary, but said there was intense camp competition. The presence of NFL veteran safety Tony Parrish helped balance out the Locos' youth in the secondary.

"I was concerned about our corners lacking pro experience, but they've stepped up and I'm not as worried as I was when we started training camp," Fassel said.

His easiest call was at quarterback, where one NFL veteran, J.P. Losman, will start ahead of another, Tim Rattay. Russ Michna (Western Illinois) is the No. 3 QB. He had played in the Continental Indoor Football League.

"J.P. has done an excellent job in camp," Fassel said of the former Buffalo Bills starter. "He's a bright kid who has picked things up quickly. I also like the fact we've been able to beef up our offensive line the past few days, and it's going to give J.P. a little more time in the pocket."

The kicking game will be in the hands of Florida State rookie placekicker Graham Gano, the Lou Groza Award winner in 2008, and former Arizona punter Danny Baugher. Neither has any pro game experience, though Baugher spent time in NFL training camps with Cincinnati, New England and Denver the past couple of years.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.