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LOGAN — Since becoming the head coach of the Utah State football team since Dec. 20, 2012, Matt Wells is 5-0 coming out of the bye week.
On Saturday, when the Aggies host Hawaii in the final home game of the season, Wells has a chance to improve that record to 6-0.
"I like what we do during bye weeks," Wells said. "Here's what it comes down to. It comes down to a mix between rest, between practicing for the next upcoming opponent and getting a head start, between practicing your fundamentals with your younger players. … I think the key to playing well after a bye week is really the week of the game and what we're doing on the practice field and how our players are handling it off the field."
What that sixth win means for the Utah State football team is bowl eligibility, which is significant because the Aggies missed out on a bowl game in 2016 following a 3-9 season.
USU is currently 5-5 overall and 3-3 in Mountain West Conference play. The Aggies last played on Nov. 4 when they won, 24-10, in an ugly fashion at New Mexico. It was another solid performance by senior running back LaJuan Hunt Jr., who had 117 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. It also marked the third straight road win for the Aggies.
It sets the stage for a very important football game in the home finale against Hawaii on Saturday afternoon. With a win, USU becomes bowl eligible for the sixth time in the last seven years.
“As I look at this week, coming off the bye week, I’ve thought before I’m not sure what bye weeks late in the year give you, but I know this: we are re-energized, and we have a little bit of a hop in our step," Wells said. "We control our own destiny in this deal. This week against Hawaii is really a couple things. Number one, we’re looking for our first Mountain West win at home. Second of all, we’re looking to send the seniors out with a win, play great and win a Mountain West game at home in front of our fans, but send these seniors out as winners at Maverik Stadium for the last time in their careers. That certainly is plenty of motivation for us this week."
One thing that the USU offense should set as its goal is to score 30-plus points. USU has won 39 out of its last 40 games dating back to 2011 when scoring at least 30 points. It will be in the hands of redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan Love to get the job done. Love is 77 of 145 for 983 yards passing with five touchdowns and five interceptions on the season. Considering that Hawaii gives up 33.9 points per game and 265 pass yards per game, the USU offense should have a big day in the home finale.
Speaking of seniors, USU will honor 18 seniors in pre-game ceremonies. The Aggies are 68-39-3 all-time on Senior Day and won four of their last six games on Senior Day. One thing that sticks out for Wells about this class is that all 18 seniors will be graduating. Thirteen will graduate in December while the other five will graduate in May.
"I know this: every senior that has gone through Utah State for the last eight years, we’ve graduated every one of them on time except two," Wells said. "I had two knuckleheads mess it up two summers ago. This year, we have 18 seniors, 13 of them are graduating in December, the other five are graduating in May. … We only missed those two guys, that's going to be over 200. … That's something I'm very, very proud of."
A win on Senior Day to send 18 seniors out on a winning note and a chance at bowl eligibility. What more could you ask for in your final home game of the season?
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. and can be streamed live on WatchStadium.com. Kyle McDonald is sports fan who loves the Chicago Cubs. Follow him on Twitter at @kylesportsbias
