Utah football coach Ron McBride wouldn't say Monday exactly how Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone has contributed to his program, but he said, "He's very giving of his time. Karl has always been very supportive of what I'm doing here."

Malone has attended a number of Ute games, and his wife, Kay, "is a huge football fan," said McBride, who has been to the Malone home above the U. several times and counts Karl and Kay as friends.
     
"I appreciate his comments," McBride said of the way Malone defended him to reporters from the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune on Sunday. His words were published in Monday's papers.
     
That so many are calling for McBride's dismissal with one year left on his contract in this 3-6 season, 1-4 in the Mountain West for a team that was thought to be a strong title contender, "to me is disgusting. They want to kick him out ? for no reason," Malone told Tim Buckley of the Deseret News.