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LOGAN - The WAC opens up against some very stiff Pac-12 competition. Louisiana Tech starts a true freshman at QB, while other teams have some starters out due to injuries and suspensions. Oregon, Stanford and Colorado are among the opponents for WAC teams for their first games of the season.
- Utah State (0-0, 0-0 WAC) at #19/23 Auburn (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 3
- Time: 10:00 am MT
- Site: Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451) Auburn, Ala.
- TV: ESPN2
- Radio: KVNU 610 AM, KVNU 102.1 FM (Cache Valley) and KLZX 95.9 FM in Logan; KZNS (97.5 FM and 1280 AM) in Salt Lake City
- Series Record: First meeting
- Kickoff Weather: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Temp: lower 90s
Fresno State: The Bulldogs open their season at Candlestick Park versus the California Golden Bears of the Pac-12 on Saturday. Head Coach Pat Hill is 10-4 in season openers and Fresno State is 2-0 against California all-time. Hawaii: Linebacker Aaron Brown and receiver Darius Bright are suspended for the Warriors' season opener against Colorado on Saturday in Honolulu. The suspension comes as a result of a brawl at a Waikiki nightclub involving both Brown and Bright, with both players being arrested and charged with misdemeanour assault. Coach Greg McMakin has not said if both players will be reinstated in time for the Warriors game against Washington on Sept. 10th.
Idaho: The Vandals receiving corps lost two starters this week to injury. Coach Robb Akey said that Preston Davis is out with foot problems and Justin Veltung is recovering from turf toe. Akey also said that he doesn't think that the injuries will be season-ending for the receivers, but it does put a damper on the season opener against Bowling Green on Thursday.
Louisiana Tech: Head Coach Sonny Dykes announced Monday that true freshman Nick Isham will be the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs first game against Southern Mississippi on Saturday. Dykes said that he feels Isham has led the Bulldogs in preseason workouts thus far and has gained the respect of his peers. Isham was the 2010 Old Spice National High School Player of the Year.
Nevada: Head Coach Chris Ault and his Nevada Wolf Pack open the season against national powerhouse Oregon in Eugene on Sept. 10. Coach Ault said he hopes that the late start to the season will be an advantage since the Ducks play LSU in a nationally televised contest. "It will give us an opportunity to see their schemes and plan for them accordingly".
New Mexico State: The NMSU Aggies open their season on Saturday against the Ohio Bobcats at home in the heat of Las Cruces. Head coach DeWayne Walker said he is relying on junior quarterback Matt Christian to lead the resurgence of the New Mexico State program. The Aggies were 2-10 last year and haven't been to a bowl game since 1960.
San Jose State: The Spartans begin their season against Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday. The last time that these two teams met when Stanford had a #1 overall draft prospect on their team was in 1982, when the John Elway led Cardinal fell 35-31 against San Jose State. Spartans head coach Mike MacIntyre would like a repeat of this game that happened some 30 years ago. He said that the Spartans are "prepared and are going in there [Stanford] with all guns blazing expecting a win".
