Utah State Football

Utah State Aggies finished the 2008 season with only three wins, but they were not the bottom feeder of the WAC football conference. In fact, in the three games they did win, they kicked tail. One reason they played well was then sophomore quarterback Diondre Borel

Borel has pretty much seen everything a young QB would want to see much less experience, but win or lose he played with heart. However, that is behind him now and Utah State looks the better for the wear. 

Sean Setzer has graduated now and if Borel is not up to par for what ever reason Jeff Manning will be waiting his turn in the wings. Given Manning’s wing size he won’t be waiting long. Jeff ended his High School career at Logan High School in Logan, Utah by virtually eating up many of the previous state records held. 

Manning’s 6,771 “total offense” yards leave him as third for all-time in the state of Utah. This kid passes like many only wishes they could and has thrown 71 touchdowns. He also ran for 22 more. This guy is unreal.

Utah State has not to make any apologies for their take in this year's signees. The Aggies brought in 20 fine candidates and many of these due to graduation should see true freshman play. 

All of these kids are excellent in their positions and should not surprise the Utah State fans with their proficient executions.

Michael Smith a JR TR from Tucson, Arizona was brought in to assist Robert Turbin, a So RB who had a pretty descent year and should do much better this time around with the DL backed off the line a bit to help protect against the pass. 

The wide receiver area was pure lotto. Freshman Cameron Sanders is a 6’0" 1,000-yard receiver from Millwood High School out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sander’s has helped his high school team win state championships in football, basketball, and track. This young man is a star.

Also, Freshman Travis Van Leeuwen is a 6’3" wide receiver that has helped his team win three straight high school football championships. This kid has done nothing but win all through high school and his numbers as a 1,000-yard receiver speak for his abilities. With Sanders and Van Leeuwen sprinting to receive this Utah State team has already upgraded its self. 

Then there is John Hendershott a JR TR WR from Diablo Valley CC via De La Salle High School in California (may suit up at wide out but should probably play safety at 6’3" with solid play experience in that position he could play right away due to the desecration of the Aggie secondary. 

Also due to the graduations of most of the USU secondary this seasons letters of intent brought two cornerbacks with junior college experience, and very talented to boot. Enter Jamaine Olson and Rajric Coleman CB. 

Coleman has free safety experience but should be a natural at corner. He tackles very well, has great speed, but best of all he has great hands. Raj helped his track team win back-to-back state championships. Thus when this kid gets his former wide receiver hands on the ball his instinct to goal should kick in and his track speed may take him the rest of the way.

Olson comes to Utah State having performed well in JC ball and as a high school junior and senior his teams won state. Jamaine is also a track star so they will be hoping he gets his hands on the ball regularly. 

Utah State also went for offensive lineman and these fellows have size. It appears that they expect the quarterback to have time to hit his new sprinters.

US picked up three offensive lineman and these kids are not tikes. 

The prize here may be Christian Browne-Frazier a 6’4" 305 pound sophomore transfer from Compton community college via Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles, California. Good luck breaking through these lines. 

As for breaking through lines, Utah State picked up a measure of quality defensive lineman, and many of these are very quick.

For example, Kamaloni Vainikolo is a 6’2" 280 pound junior transfer that knows how to get to the ball carrier. In high school he led his team “in sacks and tackles for loss all three seasons.”. 

Well Utah State got to endure the jokes from season past, but people, the joking is over. Under new coach Gary Andersen the Utah State Aggies will be out to show their fans and doubters alike that they are not just for real, they are ready.

The state of Utah has had another great season of College Football. The Utah Utes and the BYU Cougars are headed to bowls and one of them (barring unforeseen circumstance) to a BCS. Both of those schools boast marvelous coaches. 

Yet, for all the hoorah, there is a third Utah team that has done quite well in its own rights, but not brandishing the victories that success supposedly merits. The team is the Utah State Aggies.

Brent Guy has coached Utah State since 2005 but was fired this year. The irony behind Guy’s firing is that they (his players) were beginning to jell for the first time this season. 

Utah State lost six of their first seven games, winning only against the University of Idaho. Week eight would add another loss to their total. The Aggies lost a two-point heartbreaker that many believed was the fault of poor officiating. 

That game seemed to turn the tide for the Aggies, as they won their next game against Hawaii 30-14. Truly Guy’s team was motivated at the right time. However, their next opponent was Boise State, who beat them soundly 49-14. 

It was not right for the Aggies to fire Coach Guy because of that beating. The Boise State Broncos went undefeated this year and moreover were hardly tested by any team.

But the Aggies failed to win the next game at Louisiana Tech as well and came up short by a touchdown 45-38. 

Guy’s team was playing with heart and they showed it on senior day. On the Aggies final game of the season, they blasted New Mexico State 47-2. In that game, Utah State scored five touchdowns rushing, and their defense held New Mexico State to negative-seven yards on the ground. 

Who were these masked bandits? They were the same bunch of guys who fought hard each game, and they were improving. Coach Petersen of the Broncos noticed that they were beginning to make a statement with their play.

These well-coached kids played one of the hardest schedules this year. They opened the season with two road games: UNLV and the University of Oregon Ducks. They returned to play three home games.

Scheduling was not on their side, as they played Utah, who also went undefeated, then Idaho which they won. The first victory was short-lived, as the next opponent was BYU who at that time was winning and ended this season with only two losses.

After the pleasure of those home games, it was back on the road. The second road game was against Nevada, who had an offensive dynamo to contain as Nevada was nationally ranked.

But through those hard fought games the Utah State Aggies were getting better. They were playing with heart. Not many teams play schedules as tough as Utah State's, going 3-9 and finishing as strongly as they did. 

It may be that Utah State was a tad rash in firing Guy without recognizing the good that was accomplished and rewarding him with one more year.

Utah State may come to regret that move. Brent Guy still has quality coaching left in him.

If you look at the scoreboard upside down, we actually won.

Boise State gets the distinct pleasure of playing another Aggies team this weekend on the blue...the dreaded Utah State Aggies.

The Broncos are coming off a cakewalk win against New Mexico State, the Aggies are coming off a surprising win over Hawaii. Most fans, like me, know little about Utah State outside of Johnelle John L. Smith and his bifurcated tail.

Needless to say, there is a lot to be learned about this week's foe (don't worry, Kellen Moore already knows their defense intimately)...so let's explore through the magic of factoids and childish jokes.

For the mutual benefit of the Aggie faithful, I will let you get to know us a little bit too...so take notes.

Ten things Bronco fans might not know about Utah State

10. Why is the New Mexico State Aggie a cowboy and the Utah State Aggie a pig cow bull? Well, an Aggie mascot generally denotes that the school is an agricultural institution. Utah State was established in Logan, Utah as the Agricultural College of Utah and didn't become Utah State University until 1957. The first athletics teams actually were known as "the Farmers". I personally think that "Soil Strikers" would've been much more fearsome a nickname.

9. Utah State University faculty played a key role in advising Iran on water, soils, and crop management. They also helped Ahmadinejad pick out his snappy jacket.

8. Utah State manufactures a college ice cream known as Aggie Ice Cream, which is sold in 26 flavors. The football team's favorite flavor: Rocky Road.

7. The Aggie football team's most celebrated alum is Merlin Olsen, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams. Olsen was a 14 time Pro-Bowl selection and named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994. You may also remember Olsen as playing Charles Ingalls' pal Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie and trying to guilt you into buying FTD flowers.

6. In 1909 the first senior class gift was an "A" placed on the west side of Old Main tower. The "A," now on all four sides of the tower, can be seen throughout the valley, especially at night when lit in white. For special occasions and athletic wins, the "A" shines blue. In other words, it only shines during basketball season.

5. Utah State plays their football games at Romney Stadium (capacity 25,313). The stadium is named after coach E.L. "Dick" Romney, the Aggie coach from 1918 to 1949. Romney (yes, those Romneys) has the most career wins in Aggie history (128), and as you might expect, the most career losses as well (91).

4. Prior to becoming Boise State's head coach in 1968, Tony Knap led the Aggies for 4 seasons, going 25-14. Knap was 71-19 at Boise State.

3. In 1919, Utah State defeated Idaho State 136-0 in Logan. Every October, Aggie alums mark the anniversary by driving to Pocatello and kicking it in the groin.

2. In 1989, for a tax write-off on the unsold inventory, Apple Computer Inc. buried about 2,700 unsold Apple Lisas in a guarded landfill in Logan. Wonder what they're gonna do with all those unsold Brent Guy bobbleheads?

1. Utah State has long-standing ties with NASA and conducts extensive aerospace research. Utah State is one of only six universities to participate in NASA's New Millenium program, and as such, conduct research on the Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS). I don't think I am overstating when I say that the Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer is the most important issue facing Americans today.

Ten things Aggie fans might not know about Boise State

10. Boise State 2009 wide receiver commit and Kellen Moore kid-brother, Kirby Moore, last week became the new national record holder for career touchdown catches. Kirby now has 85 career TD grabs, which broke the record set by ex-LSU wide receiver Abram Booty. If anything, this record will provide newspapers a rare chance to print the words "Moore Booty" in a headline without any legal ramifications.

9. Boise State alum James Cassan ('60) is the founder of Dollar Rent A Car, which has the most misleading name since the Radio Flyer.

8. Boise was once a key trading post for the Hudson Bay Trading Co. Back then, you could get two potatoes for a smallpox-infested blanket...darn inflation.

7. Boise State's only member of the College Football Hall of Fame is Randy Trautman. Boise State's next member of the College Football Hall of Fame is my 1-year old son (a dad can dream).

6. Sideline reporter for Boise State football's local telecasts, David Augusto, is only 12 inches tall. His appearance on the sidelines as a man of 5'5" is accomplished by the use of stilts and a forklift...and never letting him stand next to Larry Gebert, whose mustache would quickly envelop him.

5. "Lost" star Matthew Fox's brother, Francis, teaches sculpture at Boise State.

4. Boise State offers the nation's only masters of science in Raptor Biology. I thought about being a raptor biologist myself, but watching "Jurassic Park" turned me off that idea.

3. Boise State recently passed a campus-wide smoking ban that prohibits the practice indoors and out on all university-controlled property. Boise State's football team will likely face a hefty fine after smoking the Aggies on Saturday.

2. In the 1970s at the height of the streaking fad, a male streaker attempted to duck through the Boise State Student Union lobby and out a back door. Unfortunately for him, the door was locked and he was caught in the act by a surprised University President John Barnes.

1. During 2008 spring practices, eight representatives of the American football club at Hosei University in Tokyo spent two weeks observing the Broncos' spring practices and meetings. The visitors may have been confused when they met Boise State wide receiver Toshi Franklin, Toshi means "town" in Japanese.

Well, there you have it...we now know a little bit more about the Aggies and they know a little more about us. Group hug.

The State of Utah is currently enjoying unprecedented success and exposure this college football season. Its two major college football programs, BYU (4-0) and the University of Utah (5-0), are both off to an undefeated start and seem to be on a collision course for a major showdown at the end of the regular season.

This is big-time stuff for a relatively sparsely populated state in the landlocked inter-mountain west.

But hold on just a minute...did I just say two major college football programs? Isn't there a third D-I team in the state of Utah?

Oh yeah, there is the matter of one Utah State University—member of the WAC and perennial doormat. It's easy to forget sometimes with a combined record of 12-46 over the past five seasons and not looking much better this season.

A look around the geographic landscape of D-I college football reveals some interesting tidbits about the relationship of population and geography to the success of a program.

The fact that Utah, 34th in population (source: 2000 U.S. Census), supports two competitive D-I teams that are ranked and not part of the BCS is incredible. However, some of that can be chalked up to the fact that BYU is a unique institution that recruits nationally from a different pool of players, somewhat like the military academies.

Where does that leave a program like Utah State? Locally, the top recruits are either signing with BYU, Utah, or even heading out of state. Unfortunately, Utah State is left with a lower caliber of recruit locally and must find talent through other sources out of state or through the JC ranks.

Recruiting is often referred to as the "lifeblood" of college football, and with that local talent pool dried up by the time Utah State takes a drink, it's hard to imagine this program ever being competitive.

Let's take a look at the map above. No other state the size of Utah (population-wise) supports more than two D-I schools. (see map above)

As a comparison, Utah is ranked 34th in population, followed by Nevada, New Mexico, West Virginia, Nebraska, Idaho, and Maine.

Each of these states, except for Nebraska and Maine, only has only two D-I football programs. Nebraska has one and Maine none. Even states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Missouri only have one (all ranked 21st or above in population).

There is a reason for this: The population cannot support more than two teams. They don't have the population, demographic, or monetary makeup to fuel a major college football program.

In earlier times, a program like Utah State could be competitive. BYU wasn't the regional or national power that it is today. Utah was inconsistent. There was still a niche for a team like the Aggies.

Utah State has produced several NFL players, but they are the rare exceptions. Many DI-AA (FCS) teams do the same. However, times have changed: There were fewer teams throughout the land competing at the D-I level in years past.

A look at today's college football landscape paints a different picture. Here's a look at the team distribution:

Div. I-A (FBS): 119 teams
Div. I-AA (FCS): 116 teams
Div. II: 156 teams
Div. III: 234 teams

119 teams compete at the D-I level today. Many, including myself, think that number is way too high.

A number of teams have moved up to the D-I level, but few have done it with a great degree of success. For every South Florida and Boise State, there is a Louisiana-Monroe or Idaho. Too many teams compete at this level, diluting schedules and competitiveness.

Utah State and other programs like them are likely to continue mired in their current state. There isn't enough local talent to support another D-I school in the state of Utah. Their best option would be to move down to the FCS level so their program could once again be competitive.

Another option would be to follow the lead of their former Big West competitors like Long Beach State and disband the program altogether. It's a radical move to be sure, but considering their distinct lack of success, something has to give.

The writing is on the wall and has been for the past 30 years.

This game is a rivalry that is one of the longest in college football. The first game goes backalmost 100 years, and Utah State has not had to many good years. Their best season was in 1997 when then coach John L. Smith led the team to the Humanitarian Bowl.

Offense: The team returns six starters but they lose their starting QB Leon Jackson III and top WR from last year Koren Robinson, not that those players were stellar. Robinson was a stud player who is getting looks at the NFL level. As for this year their top offensive players they have returning played and have some experience but their stats are nothing to get too excited about. 

Their top returning offensive players are: 

Curtis Marsh RB 302 Yards 2 TD

Derrvin Speight RB 504 Yards 3 TD

Jase McCormick QB 25-40 258 Yards 2 TD 5 INT

Omar Sawyer WR 6 Receptions 96 Yards

So, the Aggies do not have the returning talent offensively to compete with Utah. However their running game of 125 per game last year is not great, but was their best in a few years and 3 of the offensive lineman return, so the running game should be their bright spot. Their passing game which was not great last year will have a tough time by breaking in a new quarterback and new wide receivers. The basic point is that their offense will struggle to score points this year.

Defense: Not much better here with the Aggies defense they gave up 31.25 points per game last year. Utah State does have 9 returning starters, so the defense better come up with big plays and overall be better. Just by being experienced this defensive squad should improve on last seasons play. The BYU offense will be very explosive and it may not matter how the Aggies defense plays their defense will have a tough time.

Early Prediction: This will get ugly early and often, but in recent years have given the Utes trouble for at least a little while. Utah should win going away.

As WAC media days commence in Salt Lake City—Fight, Fight BSU is reminded that the season is just around the corner. The Beijing Olympics should be a nice diversion from the hand-wringing that Fall Camp usually initiates...then POW, it's August 30th and the ISU Bengals are running headlong into a Blue and Orange buzzsaw. Anyway, we'll know whom the preseason WAC faves are in the next few days...but I'd like to bring my own list to the table. How do the WAC coaches stack up? From the bottom...

9. Brent Guy, Utah State—Brent Guy used to be on staff as a Bronco assistant, and I'm sure he misses those salad days. Guy's Aggie teams have been laughably bad since he's taken the reins culminating in last season's 52-0 loss in Logan to the Broncos. Brent's a good guy, but that team is going nowhere fast. He's 6-29 as head man and looks destined to pillow fight it with Idaho for WAC doormat status.

8. Robb Akey, Idaho—Ok, so Akey's Vandals lost to Brent Guy's Aggies last season (Akey's first) AND Akey sports a cringe-worthy mustache and spouts stupid one-liners like he's auditioning for a James Bond role...but we gotta hand it to the guy...he has enthusiasm. Akey's golly-gee media demeanor and sideline fervor are the ONLY thing putting him ahead of Guy right now. Akey's first year at the helm produced 1 measly win...over a 1-AA team...and barely. We think they'll win more games this year...maybe 2. Our only advice: Leave the "donkey" comments at the Corner Club, Akey/

7. Hal Mumme, New Mexico State—It was hard for me not to put Mumme at the bottom out of spite. I can't stand the guy or his shtick. Mumme was even famously dissed by Boise State safety Marty Tadman after last year's beatdown on the blue (Mumme called down the wrath of the Broncos after disrespecting them in '06). Mumme is 8-29 as the head man in Las Cruces and with Chase Holbrook and a smattering of decent offensive players may win 3 WAC games this year...but no more. Mumme, since going to NMSU has showed less of his coaching chops and much more of his post-nasal drip. I think Mumme is a drip...don't forget to bring a towel!

6. Chris Ault, Nevada—This will be considered sacrilege to the Wolf_space_pack fans that think Ault hung the moon. I'll ignore their shouts of "he's in the college football hall of fame" to explain why I think the Lil General is past his prime. Ault, in his most recent head coaching stint in Reno has gone a ho-hum 28-22...it could be worse...but given some of the games I've watched, it could be much better. Ault has been unable to knock off Boise State in his current role (though not for lack of trying last year) and more often than not has laid a stinky egg against the Broncos. Last year in Reno, the Wolf_space_Pack had a Colt Brennan-less Hawaii team right where the wanted them, until Ault intervened with his coaching and gave the game away. Ault is middle of the road, but I think he's peaked. Oh, and we're still miffed about this.

5. Dick Tomey, San Jose State—Oh sure, Tomey has a worse record in his current SJSU gig than Ault's...but hear me out. Tomey helmed Hawaii and Arizona before landing in San Jose and while Tomey hasn't lit it up at 17-19. Tomey, however has taken San Jose State from Fitz Hill's 2004 2-9 campaign to a 2006 New Mexico Bowl berth and a 9-4 record (where they also beat rival Fresno State for the first time in quite a while). And while San Jose State has not beaten Boise State ever in WAC play...they've scared the bejeezus out of me more times than I would've imagined. Tomey is no miracle worker...they routinely have no offense...but he can get his boys up for some games and I believe that is why he is slightly ahead of Ault in the battle of the blue-hairs.

4. Greg McMackin, Hawaii—Maybe putting McMackin up this high in his inaugural season at Hawaii is a stretch, time will tell. McMackin has his work cut out for him this year as Hawaii basically put their entire 2007 offense on Oceanic flight 815—but with the emergence of Hawaii defense (McMackin was D-coordinator) over the last few seasons that made them much less of a pushover, I think that McMackin knows his stuff. That, or the 30 JC players or ex-cons that Hawaii has on its roster at any given time "got up" for the '07 campaign.

3. Derek Dooley, Louisiana Tech—Derek, the son of Georgia's legendary Vince Dooley is, in my estimation, a star on the rise. He went 5-7 in his first season last year putting scares into Sugar Bowl bound Hawaii and Boise State. The 2006 squad had only managed 3 wins. Dooley, is young...has a lot of enthusiasm and can inspire his athletes to play hard. I was genuinely a little scared last year when the Broncos went to Ruston and am equally pleased that his second year squad has to play on the blue. Dooley won't set the world on fire this year as Bicknell's recruits are still hanging around, but I think they may make a push at a bowl if luck is on their side. Dooley gets the "potential vote" to come in at #3.

2. Pat Hill, Fresno State—If getting guys up for big (read:BCS) games was the criteria for this list, Hill would win easily. Fresno State has put scares into numerous BCS teams and always manages to pull out a win or two a season against teams they "shouldn't". Hill has gone a respectable 85-55 in his tenure and shows a lot of loyalty to his 'dogs by not being led away by the prestige or paycheck of "better" jobs. Hill is a fierce competitor and can really coach. His near-miss against USC in 2005 was a thing of beauty. Hill's ultimate downfall has been his inability to win a WAC title. Even when the coast looks clear (2005) his teams have been snakebit and in 2006...they simply imploded after early season fistfights with BCS opponents. I think they'll be in the hunt this year and will be the media darlings, but ultimately I think #1 will still have his number.

#1. Chris Petersen, Boise State—Petersen's career is still young...but he has the wins and hardware to back up his #1 ranking. In his first year at Boise State, Petersen ONLY went 13-0, won the Bear Bryant coach of the year award and was widely praised for his bold coaching in the epic Fiesta Bowl. The honeymoon was over in 2007 when coach had to settle for second in the WAC...but his team still put beatdowns on some of the WAC's best (and worst) and finished just outside the top-25. Pete is 23-3 as the honcho at Boise State and prior to that won several awards as the top Offensive Coordinator in the country. Coach Pete is a player's coach, is innovative, and really has the respect of his team, assistants, community and administration. He's tearing up the recruiting trail this offseason and should be poised to make a run at another WAC title this year with a very young team. What more can you say? Coach Pete is the man in the WAC until someone else forcibly takes that title from him.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know!

Utah State, to put it nicely, is not a very good football team and has not been good since John L. Smith took the Ags to the Humanitarian Bowl in 1997.  The odd thing is that the Aggies regulary put players in the NFL, with the most notable players being TE Chris Cooley and WR Kevin Curtis.

The Aggies last year went 2-10 and had a tough time scoring and stopping teams as well, but the defense should be improved with nine starters back on that side.

This game used to be a yearly rivalry but tapered off until the two schools made a deal that combined scheduled games with the two basketball programs, which is a good thing since the two schools are about a three-hour drive apart.

A side note on the game that will fire up the fans for the home Aggies—the recent announcement that Riley Nelson, the QB who started his career at Utah State, transferred to BYU while on his church mission.  So the fans may bring some extra noise for the visiting Cougars.

Offense: The team returns six starters but lose starting QB Leon Jackson III and their top wide receiver from last year, Koren Robinson—not that those players were stellar.  Robinson was a stud player who is getting looks at the NFL level.  As for this year, their top returning offensive players played and have some experience, but their stats are nothing to get too excited about.

The Aggies do not have the returning talent offensively to compete with BYU.  However, their running game of 125 per game last year, while not great, was their best in a few years.  Three of the offensive linemen return, so the running game should be their bright spot.

Their passing game, which was not great last year, will have a tough time breaking in a new QB and new WRs.  The basic point is that their offense will struggle to score points this year.

Defense: Not much better here with the Aggies defense—they gave up 31.3 points per game last year.  Utah State does have nine returning starters, so the defense better come up with big plays and play better overall.  Just by being experienced, this defensive squad should improve on last season's play.  The BYU offense will be very explosive, and it may not matter how the Aggies defense plays—their defense will have a tough time.

Early Prediction: This will get ugly early and often—BYU should win by at least 21 points, and that is being conservative.