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Press ReleaseLOGAN -- Utah State football will conclude spring drills on Saturday with the Blue-White Spring Game, kicking off at 2 p.m. at Romney Stadium.
"We'll have some fun, we're really looking forward to it. I hope the kids can go out and enjoy it. It should be very competitive," said USU head coach Gary Andersen. "I'm asking the kids to compete at a high level for a long period. We're looking for and will be evaluating guys flying to the football, a lot of collisions and a lot of great efforts. We're looking for a team that is organized, clean and crisp."
Saturday's action will be just a like game, except the only special teams plays will be field goals and extra points, while there will specific advances and ball placements for kickoffs and punts.
The ceremonial coin toss will be conducted by Utah State University President Dr. Stan Albrecht and USU Athletics Director Scott Barnes.
USU will divide into two teams as chosen by the coaches, and the two sides will be led by honorary coaches. Guiding the white team will be Dave Moore while the blue team will be coached by Steve Mothersell.
Both Moore and Mothersell are Utah State alums. Moore is a former member of the USU Board of Trustees as well as a former president of the Alumni Association. Currently, Moore is a member of the Utah State University Foundation Board and the National Advisory Board for Aggie Athletics (NABAA).
Mothersell was a tight end for the Aggies, lettering in 1973-74. He is President of SCM Corporate Group, a developer in the Sacramento area. He is a major contributor to the Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex, specifically, the Steve Mothersell Hall of Fame area on the first floor.
Following the scrimmage, players will be available for autographs. Mini-schedule posters will be provided.
Saturday's action concludes USU's spring drills, coming after two scrimmages. The offense dominated the first scrimmage, on Monday, April 13, sparked by the Aggie rushing game which amassed 196 yards on 55 carries with a total of five rushing TD's. Through the air, USU's three quarterbacks were a combined 27-of-36 for 309 yards and two TD's.
In the second scrimmage of the spring this past Saturday, the Aggie defense stole the spotlight, as six players tallied four or more tackles, including a total of 10 tackles for loss with three quarterback sacks. Senior LB Paul Igboeli had two TFL's, while freshman S Cache Morgan led the way with 10 total stops. Senior S Kejon Murphy snared the lone interception of the day and had four tackles.
The USU defense features 15 players who have spent the spring adjusting to new or different positions than they were accustomed to.
The Aggie offense was led by junior QB Diondre Borel with six rushes for 84 yards, highlighted by a 70-yard scamper. Sophomore RB Robert Turbin capped the three-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard TD plunge for the first score of the day. Borel was also 17-of-24 passing for 145 yards with 2 TD's and the one INT. Turbin had four carries for 71 yards, including a 27-yard run and a 39-yard dash, in addition to one catch for 15 yards.
USU has 21 starters returning (10 offense, seven defense and four special teams) as part of 46 returning lettermen from last season's 3-9 team. Last season was the first time since 2005 that the Aggies had three wins in a season and USU's 3-5 Western Athletic Conference record was their most wins in the four seasons that USU has been in the league. It was also the first time since 2003 that USU has won three conference games and just the third time in the 2000's (2000: 4-1 Big West; 2003: 3-4 Big West; 2008: 3-5 WAC).
Andersen and Utah State open the 2009 season against a familiar foe for Andersen, as the Aggies tangle with the Utes of Utah on Thursday, Sept. 3. After a bye and a road game at Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 19, USU hosts in-state foe Southern Utah in the Aggies' home opener on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Utah State football season ticket renewal applications are currently available online at www.utahstateaggies.com. Paper renewals were mailed out last week. General Admission season tickets will be available for purchase at Romney Stadium during the Aggies' spring game on Saturday. Orders for both West and East side reserved seats will also be taken with payment, though seat locations will not be available until after June 1.
For more ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.
(Courtesy USU Athletic Department)
