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Press releaseUTAH STATE at #18/19 UTAH
Thursday, Sept. 3 - 7 p.m. (MT)
Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,017)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Game Notes
QUICKLY -- Utah State (0-0, 0-0 WAC) will open the head coach Gary Andersen era against his old team, leading the Aggies against No. 19 Utah (0-0, 0-0 MWC) on Thursday, Sept. 3 in the 109th meeting between the Aggies and Utes... Kickoff for the 12th-most played rivalry in NCAA Division I Football from Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,017) is slated for 7 p.m... The clash between the Aggies and the Utes will be telecast on the mtn. (Comcast Ch. 37).
ON TV -- Thursday's battle between the Aggies and the Utes will be televised by The Mtn. (Comcast Ch. 37 in Cache Valley)... James Bates will handle play-by-play duties, Todd Christensen will provide commentary and Sammy Linebaugh will be the sideline reporter.
ON THE AIR -- All Utah State football games are carried live on KVNU 610 AM and KLZX 95.9 FM in Logan; 1320 AM in Salt Lake City; on KLZX 105.3 FM in Montpelier, Idaho, and on the Internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com by clicking on "Listen Live"... Al Lewis handles the play-by-play duties and Craig Hislop provides analysis.
ON THE INTERNET -- USU home football games are also streamed on the Internet through "Aggies All Access," by clicking on the "Live Aggies Video" link in the right hand column on the home page of www.UtahStateAggies.com.
Related:
USU's Andersen recognizes first game pressure
New Utah State head football coach Gary Andersen readily admits the first game of this 2009 season is unlike any other. Not only is it his first game as a Division I head coach, but it is against his old team, the Utah Utes.GAMETRACKER - Fans can follow Thursday's game at Utah plus all Aggie home games through the USU web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com via GameTracker, a free service, which updates play-by-play and statistics throughout the game.
COACHES SHOW ON THE ROAD -- The Gary Andersen radio show will rotate between the A&W Restaurant and Firehouse Pizza on Thursday nights (6:05-6:45 p.m. on 610 AM KVNU). The show gives USU fans an opportunity to ask questions and interact with Coach Andersen and players.
Sept. 1, 17, 30 - A&W Restaurant / Sept. 10, 24 - Firehouse Pizzeria
UP NEXT -- Utah State has an off week before traveling to Texas A&M for an all-Aggie match-up on Saturday, Sept. 19... Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. from College Station, Texas.
RIVALRY -- Thursday is the 109th meeting between Utah State and Utah... This is the nation's 12th-most played rivalry in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Formerly Division I)... After playing every season since 1943, the Utah State-Utah series will take a two-year hiatus in 2010 and 2011 and the series will resume in 2012... Here's a look at the nation's most played rivalries:
144 games
Lafayette - Lehigh*
131 games
Princeton - Yale*
125 games
Harvard - Yale*
118 games
Minnesota - Wisconsin
Richmond - William & Mary*
117 games
Kansas - Missouri
115 games
Cornell-Penn*
Texas - Texas A&M
Nebraska-Kansas
113 games
Cincinnati - Miami (OH)
North Carolina - Virginia
Yale - Brown*
112 games
Auburn - Georgia
Oregon - Oregon State
Harvard - Dartmouth*
111 games
Indiana - Purdue
California - Stanford
109 games
Army - Navy
108 games
UTAH - UTAH STATE
Montana State - Montana*
<p>* = Championship Subdivision (Formerly I-AA)
</p>USU-UU SERIES -- Utah leads the all-time series by a 76-28-4 count, including 11 straight victories since the Aggies posted back-to-back wins in 1996 and 1997... In fact, the Utes have won 19 of the last 21, 22 of the last 25 and 25 of the last 29 meetings between the two schools... In games at Salt Lake City, USU is 17-51-4 vs. Utah, losing the last five on the Utes' turf... The Aggies' last win at Salt Lake City was a 21-14 triumph on Aug. 30, 1997. {See Page 7 for complete breakdown} FAMILY FEUD -- Utah State junior CB Curtis Marsh's father Curtis Marsh, Sr., played wide receiver at Utah from 1993-94 before going on and playing in the NFL, playing for Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Cleveland... Both of Utah sophomore C Zane Taylor's parents are Utah State alums.
BOTH SIDES -- Utah State sophomore WR Ben Macey transferred to USU after two seasons at Utah, redshirting in 2007 and not seeing any action in 2008.
ANDERSEN STORYLINES -- USU head coach Gary Andersen will be reaching a rare plateau in USU's season-opener on Sept. 3, when he leads the Aggies into action against his former team Utah... Since 1982, only two other head coaches in college football have began the season against their former team from the season before:
Virginia - In 1982, George Welsh coached his first game at Virginia against Navy, the school he coached at before going to UV.
Northwestern - In 1999, Randy Walker opened his Northwestern head coaching career by facing his former school, Miami (Ohio). He was the head coach at Miami from 1990-98.
Toledo - In 1991, Gary Pinkel of Toledo played at Washington in the fifth game of the season, where he was defensive coordinator the previous season.
• Andersen, a 1986 Utah graduate, is one of 12 Division I head coaches who will be facing their alma mater this season:
School - Head Coach (Alma Mater/Opponent)
Arizona - Mike Stoops (Iowa)
Baylor - Art Briles (Texas Tech)
Boise State - Chris Peterson (UC Davis)
Memphis - Tommy West (Tennessee)
Minnesota - Tim Brewster (Illinois)
Missouri - Gary Pinkel (Bowling Green)*
Navy - Ken Niumatalolo (Hawai'i)
South Carolina - Steve Spurrier (Florida)
Temple - Al Golden (Penn State)
UConn - Randy Edsall (Syracuse)
UTAH STATE - <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/andersen_gary00.html">Gary Andersen</a> (Utah)
Wisconsin - Bret Bielema (Iowa)
* Missouri's Gary Pinkel got a graduate degree from Bowling Green (while an assistant there)• Andersen will be trying to become the first new Aggie head coach to win in his debut since Phil Krueger in 1973, as his eight predecessors all lost their debuts.
• Andersen is the second coach in USU history to open their coaching career against Utah, as Dave Arslanian began his Aggie tenure against the Utes on Sept. 5, 1998.
• Andersen also faces another former team when he and the Aggies make their home debut against Southern Utah on Sept. 26... Andersen was head coach at Southern Utah in 2003.
• Andersen, a 1986 Utah graduate, becomes the second Aggie head coach that is a Utah alum, joining USU legendary head coach E. Lowell Romney (1919-48), who graduated from Utah in 1917 and is USU's football stadium namesake.
• While at Utah, Andersen was a part of a Utes coaching staff that posted a 13-5 (.722) record against current WAC schools, going 0-3 vs. Boise State, 2-1 vs. Fresno State, 1-0 vs. Hawai'i, 1-0 vs. San Jose State and 9-1 vs. Utah State.
• At Utah, Andersen was a part of two Ute teams that went 2-0 in BCS action, finishing No. 2 in the 2008 AP Poll and No. 4 in 2004.
• Andersen and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham are the only two non-BCS coaches to coach in two BCS games, as they both coached in the 2004 Fiesta Bowl and the 2008 Sugar Bowl, leading Utah to victories in both.
• Andersen is coaching the defensive tackles, becoming one of six head coaches in the country who is a position coach:
Ball State Stan Parrish Quarterbacks
Colorado Dan Hawkins Receivers
Kent State Doug Martin Quarterbacks
Nevada Chris Ault Quarterbacks
San Diego State Brady Hoke Defensive Line
UTAH STATE <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/andersen_gary00.html">Gary Andersen</a> Defensive TacklesSEASON-OPENERS -- After opening in August the past two season, Thursday's season-opener marks the second time in the last five years that USU is scheduled to begin the season on Sept. 3... However, this will be the first time played on Sept. 3 as the last occasion, Sept. 3, 2005, the USU game vs. Nicholls State was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina... USU has begun the season on Sept. 3 four times, but has played only three, going 1-2... Overall, Utah State is 3-19 in its last 22 season-openers, winning in 1993, 1996 and 1997... In those three years of the Aggies winning their season-opener, USU has had a winning season, been to a bowl game or in some cases shared or won the conference title (USU was 7-5 in 1993, winning the Las Vegas Bowl and tying for the Big West Conference championship; 6-5 in 1996; 6-6 in 1997 after losing in the Humanitarian Bowl and again tying for the Big West championship). ``` Sept. 3 Season-Openers 1978 - W 10-0 vs Idaho State @ Osaka, Japan 1988 - L 13-53 at #2 Nebraska 1994 - L 17-32 vs. Utah 2005 - vs Nicholls State - Cancelled
USU VS. UTAH IN SEASON-OPENERS -- Thursday marks the 19th time overall that Utah State has began its season vs. Utah... The last time that the Utes were the Aggies' first game of the season was 2005, after the Nicholls State game was cancelled. ``` 1892 - W, 12-0 vs Utah Aug. 31, 1991 - L, 7-12 at Utah 1900 - L, 0-21 vs Utah Sept. 3, 1994 - L, 17-32 vs Utah 1907 - W, 24-10 at Utah Aug. 31, 1996 - W, 20-17 vs Utah Oct. 9, 1909 - L, 0-28 vs Utah Aug. 30, 1997 - W, 21-14 at Utah Oct. 8, 1910 - L, 12-21 vs Utah Sept. 5, 1998 - L, 12-20 vs Utah Sept. 13, 1975 - W, 13-7 at Utah Sept. 1, 2001 - L, 19-23 at Utah Sept. 5, 1981 - L, 0-10 at Utah Aug. 31, 2002 - L, 3-23 vs Utah Sept. 9, 1989 - L, 10-45 at Utah Aug. 28, 2003 - L, 20-40 at Utah Sept. 1, 1990 - L, 0-19 vs Utah Sept. 10, 2005 - L, 7-31 at Utah Breakdown - Total: 5-13 / Home: 2-7 Away: 3-6 / Largest Attend. 44,639 at Utah, 2005
USU VS. THE TOP 25 -- USU will be playing its 50th game all-time against a ranked team (Utah is No. 19 in the preseason AP poll) and is just 1-48 against teams in the AP poll... The Aggies are 0-38 on the road vs. a top 25 team... The Aggies' lone win against a ranked team was a 20-19 upset of 25th-ranked Fresno State in 1991... Since then, USU has lost 23 straight games against ranked team... Thursday marks the 17th time during the 2000's decade that USU has faced a ranked team - here is a look at those games: ``` Sept. 8, 2001 - L 14-31 at #13 LSU Sept. 29, 2001 - L 21-38 vs #6 Oregon Oct. 5, 2001 - L 34-54 at #18 BYU Dec. 1, 2001 - L 21-70 at #21 Fresno State Sept. 7, 2002 - L 13-44 at #9 Nebraska Sept. 6, 2003 - L 7-31 at #23 Nebraska Sept. 18, 2004 - L 6-48 #15 Utah Oct. 29, 2005 - L 3-35 at #5 Alabama Nov. 18, 2006 - L 10-49 at #18 Boise State Sept. 15, 2007 - L 3-54 at #3 Oklahoma Oct. 6, 2007 - L 37-52 at #16 Hawai'i Nov. 10, 2007 - L 0-52 vs #19 Boise State Sept. 6, 2008 - L 24-66 at #18 Oregon Sept. 13, 2008 - L, 10-58 vs #22 Utah Oct. 3, 2008 - L, 14-34 vs #8 BYU Nov. 8, 2008 - L, 14-49 at #9 Boise State
AGGIES VS. RANKED UTES -- Thursday is the third time that USU has faced a Utah team ranked in the top 25 as well as facing the Utes seven times when they were among others receiving votes... The Aggies are 0-2 vs. a ranked Ute team, but have a 3-4 mark when the were receiving votes. ``` Date Utah's Rank Result Location Nov. 18, 1961 RV W 17-6 Salt Lake City Nov. 21, 1964 RV L 6-14 Salt Lake City Sept. 3, 1994 RV L 17-32 Salt Lake City Aug. 31, 1996 RV W 20-17 Logan Aug. 30, 1997 RV W 21-17 Salt Lake City Sept. 18, 1999 RV L 18-38 Salt Lake City Sept. 18, 2004 15th L 6-48 Logan Sept. 10, 2005 RV L 7-31 Salt Lake City Sept. 13, 2008 22nd L 10-58 Logan
USU-UTAH SERIES NOTE-ABLE -- The Utah State - Utah series is the 12th-most played rivalry in the nation with 108 previous meetings... It is the most played rivalry in the Rocky Mountain region and third-most played in the west (Oregon and Oregon State have met 112 times while Stanford and California have met 111 times)... Did you know that the legendary Army-Navy game has been played just one more time than the Aggies and the Utes?... The first meeting between the schools was a 12-0 USU win in 1892... The Aggies must have been so excited that they did not field a team for three more years and did not play Utah again until 1900... By then the Utes had worked out the kinks in numerous games against City High, the YMCA, the BY Academy and the ninth Calvary, that when they met again in 1900, the Utes won 21-0. USU BESTS VS. UTAH -- Here is a look at some of the top USU statistical individual performances against the Utes over the years: Louie Giammona ran for 207 yards against Utah in 1974 for what was then the fifth-best total in school history (now tied for 19th)... Tony Adams threw for a school record 561 yards in 1972, a mark that still stands... That total was also an NCAA record at the time and now ranks 22nd all-time... Anthony Calvillo threw for 380 yards in the 1993 game (14th) and Brent Snyder threw for 360 in 1987 (23rd)... Craig Clark had 224 receiving yards against the Utes in 1972, then a school record and now sixth... Cotie McMahon had 207 recieving yards in the 1993 game (13th).... Long plays included Giammona's 89-yard run in 1974 (third in USU history), four 80-plus yard passes, Tom Larscheid's 85-yard punt return in 1961 (4th), Steve Mullins' 70-yard punt in 2002 (T-11th) and Mickey Doyle's 52-yard field goal in 1972 (T-9th).
USU IN NON-SATURDAY GAMES -- Utah State has lost 12-straight non-Saturday games since winning the Las Vegas Bowl against Ball State on Friday, Dec. 17, 1993... Seven of those last 14 games have been against BYU on Friday nights (all losses), with a Monday appearance in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl (lost 33-19 to Cincinnati) and a Friday 42-33 win against Ball State in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl... Here is a look at USU's last six non-Saturday games:
Date Score Opponent
Fri., Oct. 5, 2001 L 34-54 at BYU
Fri., Oct. 4, 2002 L 34-35 BYU
Thurs., Aug. 28, 2003 L 20-40 at Utah
Thurs., Nov. 6, 2003 L 21-26 at New Mexico State
Thurs., Nov. 11, 2004 L 7-16 at Arkansas State
Thurs., Aug. 30, 2007 L 16-23 UNLV
Fri., Oct. 3, 2008 L 14-34 BYUUSU VS. THE MOUNTAIN WEST -- Utah State is playing the first of two games against a member of the Mountain West Conference this season as the Aggies also play at BYU on Oct 2... This is the first time since 2004 that USU is playing only two MWC teams after playing three the last four seasons... All-time USU is 146-206-14 vs. current members of the league... USU has lost nine straight against the MWC, as the Aggies' last win vs. a MWC team was a 31-24 win over UNLV in 2005... In its last 18 games against MWC teams, USU is 3-15... Other WAC teams playing MWC teams include San Jose State (vs Utah Sept. 12), Nevada (at Colorado St., Sept. 19; vs UNLV, Oct. 3), Idaho (vs San Diego St., Sept. 19; vs Colorado St., Oct. 3), Hawai'i (at UNLV, Sept. 19), New Mexico State (at New Mexico, Sept. 26; at San Diego St., Oct. 3). USU VS. FELLOW BEEHIVE STATE TEAMS -- The Aggies are a combined 73-119-7 vs. teams from the state of Utah, with a 28-76-4 mark vs. Utah, a 1-0 ledger against Southern Utah, a 33-42-3 mark vs. BYU and an 11-1 mark against Weber State... This is the first time since 2001 that Utah State has played three of its in-state foes in the same season, when USU played Utah, BYU and Weber State that year, a season after playing Utah, BYU and Southern Utah in the same ledger.
USU IN SEPTEMBER / ON SEPT. 3 -- Utah State snapped an 11-game September losing streak with the Aggies' 42-17 win over Idaho on Sept. 20, 2008... USU was 1-2 in September last season after dropping all four of its September games in 2007 and all five games in September in 2006... Thursday is the Aggies' first game played on Sept. 3 since 1994 after having a game scheduled on the date in 2005 vs. Nicholls State that was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina... The Aggies are 0-1 against Utah on Sept. 3, as well as 0-1 on the road on the date.
1978 - W 10-0 vs Idaho State @ Osaka, Japan
1988 - L 13-53 at #2 Nebraska
1994 - L 17-32 vs. Utah
2005 - vs Nicholls State - CancelledOH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN -- Utah State football head coach Gary Andersen announced the Aggies' 2009 captains, after a vote by the team... All three of the defensive captains are seniors, while the offensive captains consist of a senior, a junior and a sophomore... Representing the defense will be the senior trio of safety James Brindley, linebacker Paul Igboeli and cornerback Kejon Murphy... The offensive captains are senior center Brennan McFadden, junior quarterback Diondre Borel and sophomore running back Robert Turbin. SEVEN OF UTAH STATE'S 2009 OPPONENTS WENT TO BOWL GAME -- A total of seven of Utah State's 2009 opponents went to a bowl game... The list includes five Western Athletic Conference teams in addition to two non-conference foes, including Utah who was selected to a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game and won the Sugar Bowl... The WAC tied a conference record by having five teams selected to a bowl game, last happening in 1992... There were six bowl eligible teams and only San Jose State did not get selected, while Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Louisiana Tech and Nevada were all selected for postseason play.
NEW MEXICO BOWL - Albuquerque, N.M. - Colorado St. 40, Fresno St. 35
POINSETTIA BOWL - San Diego, Calif. - #11 TCU 17, #9 Boise St. 16
HAWAI'I BOWL - Honolulu, Hawaii - Notre Dame 49, Hawai'i 21
INDEPENDENCE BOWL - Shreveport, La. - Louisiana Tech 17, No. Illinois 10
HUMANITARIAN BOWL - Boise, Idaho - Maryland 42, Nevada 35
LAS VEGAS BOWL - Las Vegas, Nev. - Arizona 31, #16 BYU 21
SUGAR BOWL - New Orleans, La. - #6 Utah 31, #4 Alabama 17Aggies Lead WAC, Tied For Third In NCAA In Red Zone Efficiency IN '08 -- Utah State led the WAC and was tied for third in the NCAA with a 94.1 percent red-zone scoring efficiency in 2008, scoring on 32 of its 34 possessions in the red zone... USU was tied with Miami (Fla.), who was 44-of-47, while Ohio State (39-of-41) and UNLV (35-of-37) tied for the nation's lead at 95 percent... The Aggies were the only team in the conference in the 90's percentage, as Fresno State was second at 88.9 percent (40-of-45)... USU and Fresno State were also the only two teams in the league without a turnover in the red zone and the Aggies were one of four teams in the conference who didn't turn the ball over on downs... Utah State's two non-scoring red zone attempts came in the Idaho game on Sept. 20 with a missed field goal and against BYU on Oct. 3 when the game ended while the Aggies were driving.
AGGIE-BITS
• Sophomore RB Robert Turbin had three rushing TD's vs. Louisiana Tech last season, becoming the first USU RB to have three rushing TD's in one game since Emmett White had three on Nov. 17, 2001 against Weber State... The last three-rushing TD outing against a Division I team was also by White, against Arkansas State on Oct. 28, 2000.
• Turbin's eight rushing TD's last season put him five shy of USU's career top 10 list, trailing three players with 13 each in Jerry Cox (1973-74), Jerry Hughes (1971-72) and Altie Taylor (1966-68).
• Sophomore QB Diondre Borel smashed USU's single-season rushing yards by a QB record with 632 yards... The previous record was 338 by Leon Jackson III in 2007... His 632 yards rushing puts him over two-thirds of the way to Jackson's career record of 814 yards from 2004-07.
• Borel's 1,705 passing yards is the most by a USU QB since Travis Cox's 1,908 yards in 2004... Borel's total offense sum of 2,337 yards is No. 13 on USU's single season total offense list, becoming the 17th Aggie overall in school history to reach the 2,000-yard plateau and the first since Cox with 2,844 in 2003.
• Borel's single-game rushing high was 93 yards, 28 yards shy of the USU single-game record for a QB of 121 yards, held by Tony Adams from 1972.
• Borel was one of seven quarterbacks in the country to lead their respective teams in both rushing and passing, and Borel was the only sophomore on the list:
Name School YR
Julian Edelman Kent State SR
Juice Williams Illinois JR
Colt McCoy Texas JR
Dan LeFevour Central Michigan JR
Joe Webb UAB JR
Matt Grothe South Florida JR
<a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/borel_diondre00.html">Diondre Borel</a> UTAH STATE SO• Lombardi Award Watch List member, senior LB Paul Igboeli is closing in on the USU and WAC career tackles top 10 lists, currently with 242 stops... He needs 85 tackles to tie Al Smith (1984-86) for No. 10 on the Aggies' career list, as well as needing 63 stops to tie Bryce McGill (1999-2003) from Fresno State on the WAC list. • Senior S James Brindley enters his senior season No. 2 on USU's career interception return yards with 186 yards on six career INT's, needing four to crack the top-10 list.
UTAH STATE RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS
Category Top Returnees Key Losses
Rushing QB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/borel_diondre00.html">Diondre Borel</a> (179-632, 5TD) RB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cumbee_derrick01.html">Derrick Cumbee</a> (6-22)
RB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/turbin_robert00.html">Robert Turbin</a> (106-485, 8TD)
RB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/butler_marquis00.html">Marquis Butler</a> (52-171 2 TD)
FB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/scott_ronald00.html">Ronald Scott</a> (15-141, 1TD)
Passing QB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/borel_diondre00.html">Diondre Borel</a> QB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/setzer_sean00.html">Sean Setzer</a>
(136-242, 1,705 yds., 10 INT, 11 TD) (57-99, 653 yds, 4 INT, 5 TD)
Receiving WR <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/morrison_stanley00.html">Stanley Morrison</a> (26-291, TD) WR <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nelson_otis00.html">Otis Nelson</a> (37-455, 4TD)
WR <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gwacham_nnamdi00.html">Nnamdi Gwacham</a> (20-370, 2TD)
RB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/turbin_robert00.html">Robert Turbin</a> (20-256, 2TD)
WR <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/sawyer_omar00.html">Omar Sawyer</a> (19-246)
TE <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/barbour_jerome00.html">Jerome Barbour</a> (12-169, TD)
Scoring PK/P <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/caldwell_peter00.html">Peter Caldwell</a> (32 PAT, 10 FG - 62 pts.)
RB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/turbin_robert00.html">Robert Turbin</a> (10 total TD's - 60 pts.)
QB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/borel_diondre00.html">Diondre Borel</a> (5 total TD's, 2 rush PAT's - 34 pts.)
Tackles LB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/igboeli_paul00.html">Paul Igboeli</a> (78, 6.0 TFL) LB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hutton_jake01.html">Jake Hutton</a> (110, 8.0 TFL)
S <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/brindley_james00.html">James Brindley</a> (75, 3.5 TFL) S/LB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hall_devon01.html">De'von Hall</a> (72, 2 TFL)
LB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wagner_bobby00.html">Bobby Wagner</a> (51, 2.0 TFL) S <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taylor_caleb00.html">Caleb Taylor</a> (63, 2.0 TFL)
DL <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bishop_alan00.html">Alan Bishop</a> (37, 4.5 TFL) DL <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/calderwood_ben00.html">Ben Calderwood</a> (39, 8.5 TFL,
CB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/murphy_kejon00.html">Kejon Murphy</a> (30) 4.5 sacks)
Interceptions S <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/brindley_james00.html">James Brindley</a> (3) S <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hurst_roy00.html">Roy Hurst</a> (2)
CB <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/murphy_kejon00.html">Kejon Murphy</a> (2)
Punting PK/P <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/caldwell_peter00.html">Peter Caldwell</a> (41.9 avg., 15 50+ yds)
Field Goals PK/P <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/caldwell_peter00.html">Peter Caldwell</a> (10-12, long 42)
PK <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ulinski_chris01.html">Chris Ulinski</a> (2-2, long 56)
PAT's PK/P <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/caldwell_peter00.html">Peter Caldwell</a> (32-33)ABOUT UTAH STATE -- GENERAL -- The Aggies, who were picked seventh in both the WAC Media and Coaches Preseason Poll, return a WAC-leading 19 total starters, including a conference-best 10 on offense, as well as seven on defense and two kickers... Those 19 starters are part of 48 returning lettermen from last season's 3-9 team... Last year was the first time since 2005 that the Aggies had three wins in a season and USU's 3-5 WAC record was its best in its four seasons 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).
PLAYERS TO WATCH -- Senior linebacker Paul Igboeli was named to the preseason all-WAC team... Several other USU players were named to various preseason all-WAC teams, including six to Phil Steele's College Football Preview all-WAC list... Igboeli was selected to the first-team while the second-team included senior tight end Jeremy Mitchell and junior placekicker Peter Caldwell... Caldwell was also on the third-team as a punter, and was joined on the third-team list by senior center Brennan McFadden... Senior wide receiver Nnamdi Gwacham and sophomore linebacker Bobby Wagner were on the fourth-team to round out the list of USU honorees.
Six Aggies were among the top 15 in the WAC stats in Borel, sophomore RB Robert Turbin, Igboeli, senior S James Brindley and Caldwell... Three were in the NCAA rankings in Borel, Brindley and Caldwell {See Page 4 for complete list}.
ABOUT UTAH --
GENERAL -- The Utes begin the season ranked No. 19 in the AP Preseason Top 25 Poll... It is Utah's first preseason ranking in the AP Poll... The defending Mountain West Conference champion Utes were picked third in the MWC Preseason Poll... Utah returns 11 starters, four on offense and seven on defense, from last season's 13-0 Sugar Bowl Champion team that finished No. 2 in last season's AP ranking... The Utes posted an 8-0 MWC ledger, marking the fifth-straight league champion with an unblemished record, and the sixth overall... The 2008 undefeated Utes join the 2004 Utah team for unbeaten MWC marks... Utah has won the MWC title a total of three times (2003, '04 and '08).
PLAYERS TO WATCH -- Five Utes were named to the preseason all-MWC team and all five are seniors in LB Stevenson Sylvester (one of just three unanimous picks), OT Zane Beadles, RB Matt Asiata, DE Koa Misi and DB Robert Johnson... Beadles is the lone returning first-team all-MWC honoree from last season... Sylvester and Misi both earned second-team all-MWC recognition a year ago... Senior RB Matt Asiata returns after leading Utah's ground game last season with 707 yards and 12 TD's.
USU-UU SERIES -- Utah leads the all-time series by a 76-28-4 count, including 11 straight victories since the Aggies posted back-to-back wins in 1996 and 1997... In fact, the Utes have won 19 of the last 21, 22 of the last 25 and 25 of the last 29 meetings between the two schools... In games at Salt Lake City, USU is 17-51-4 vs. Utah, losing the last five on the Utes' turf... The Aggies' last win at Salt Lake City was a 21-14 triumph on Aug. 30, 1997.
Utah State vs. Utah
Overall: 28-76-4 / Home: 11-25-0 / Away: 17-51-4 / Largest Attend. 44,639 at Utah, 2005
11-25-1892 W 12-0 H
11-17-1900 L 0-21 H
11-9-01 L 0-17 A
11-15-02 L 0-18 A
10-17-03 W 17-0 H
11-19-04 L 0-43 A
11-25-05 L 0-5 H
11-29-06 L 0-35 A
11-9-07 L 0-10 A
10-9-09 L 0-28 H
11-27-09 L 0-22 H
10-8-10 L 12-21 H
11-24-10 L 0-6 A
11-28-12 T 7-7 A
11-27-13 W 21-0 H
11-26-14 L 2-29 A
11-25-15 L 0-14 A
11-11-16 L 0-46 A
11-29-17 W 14-0 A
11-29-19 L 0-10 A
11-25-20 W 9-3 A
11-24-21 W 14-3 A
11-30-22 L 0-14 A
11-29-23 W 21-13 A
11-27-24 T 7-7 A
11-26-25 W 10-6 A
11-25-26 L 0-34 A
11-24-27 T 0-0 A
11-29-28 L 0-20 A
11-28-29 L 7-26 A
11-27-30 L 0-41 A
11-26-31 L 0-34 A
10-29-32 L 0-16 A
10-28-33 L 6-14 A
11-29-34 L 7-14 A
11-28-35 T 14-14 A
10-24-36 W 12-0 H
11-25-37 L 0-27 A
10-22-38 L 0-33 H
11-23-39 L 0-27 A
10-19-40 W 7-0 H
11-20-41 L 21-33 A
10-17-42 L 6-34 H
11-23-44 L 0-47 H
11-22-45 L 6-24 A
11-28-46 W 22-14 A
11-27-47 L 14-40 A
11-25-48 L 7-41 A
11-24-49 L 0-34 A
11-23-50 L 0-46 A
11-3-51 L 20-28 H
11-27-52 L 0-28 A
10-10-53 L 13-33 H
11-25-54 W 35-19 A
11-24-55 L 13-14 A
11-22-56 L 7-29 A
11-28-57 L 6-21 A
11-27-58 L 7-12 A
11-21-59 L 21-35 A
11-19-60 L 0-6 A
11-18-61 W 17-6 A
11-17-62 W 19-6 A
11-23-63 L 23-25 H
11-21-64 L 6-14 A
11-20-65 W 14-7 A
11-19-66 W 13-7 A
11-18-67 W 19-18 A
11-23-68 W 28-13 H
11-1-69 L 7-27 A
11-7-70 L 0-17 H
11-13-71 W 21-17 A
11-11-72 W 44-16 H
11-17-73 L 28-31 A
11-16-74 W 31-0 H
9-13-75 W 13-7 A
10-16-76 W 28-17 H
10-15-77 L 0-20 A
11-25-78 L 20-23 H
9-29-79 W 47-21 A
10-4-80 L 19-23 H
9-5-81 L 0-10 A
11-6-82 L 10-42 A
11-12-83 W 21-17 H
11-10-84 L 10-21 H
11-2-85 L 7-34 A
11-15-86 L 10-27 H
11-24-87 W 41-36 A
11-12-88 L 21-42 H
9-9-89 L 10-45 A
9-1-90 L 0-19 H
8-31-91 L 7-12 A
9-12-92 L 18-42 H
9-11-93 L 29-31 A
9-3-94 L 17-32 H
10-28-95 L 20-40 A
8-31-96 W 20-17 H
8-30-97 W 21-14 A
9-5-98 L 12-20 H
9-18-99 L 18-38 A
10-30-00 L 14-35 H
9-1-01 L 19-23 A
8-31-02 L 3-23 H
8-28-03 L 20-40 A
10-11-04 L 6-48 H
9-10-05 L 7-31 A
9-16-06 L 0-48 H
9-29-07 L 18-34 A
9-13-08 L 10-58 H
<p>
</p>UTAH STATE-UTAH STATE LAST TIME --
#22 UTAH 58, UTAH STATE 10
September 13, 2008 • Logan, Utah • Romney Stadium
LOGAN, Utah - In the 108th meeting with its in-state rival and the 12th-longest rivalry in the country, Utah State lost to 22nd-ranked Utah, 58-10, on Sept. 13 at Romney Stadium in the Aggies' home-opener. The Aggies have now lost 11 in a row to the Utes and trail the all-time series, 76-28-4. The Utes amassed 461 yards of total offense while limiting the Aggies to 116 yards. Just like its first two games of the season, Utah State was led by sophomore QB Diondre Borel off the bench with 62 yards passing and 23 yards rushing. Sophomore RB Curtis Marsh had three catches for a career-high 51 yards including a 31-yard reception. The Aggies took a 7-0 lead on a nine-yard pass from senior QB Sean Setzer to classmate WR Otis Nelson after the Aggies recovered a muffed Utah punt return at the USU 24. It was Setzer's first USU career TD pass. Utah had 248 rushing yards, led by 75 by Darrell Mack while Eddie Wide had 69 yards and Matt Asiata had 56 yards and three TD's. Brian Johnson was 22-of-31 passing for 204 yards with two TD's, with Bradon Godfrey snagging game highs of six catches for 57 yards. USU senior LB Jake Hutton made a game-high 11 tackles while fellow LB, sophomore Jordan Glass logged 10 stops, one shy of his career-high from last week. After the Aggies' first quarter lead, which was their first of the season, the Utes reeled off 30 unanswered points, taking a 30-7 lead into halftime. The avalanche started on the ensuing kickoff after Utah took a 10-7 lead, when USU fumbled and Utah's Elijah Wesson recovered and ran in from the 20 to put UU up 17-7 and USU never recovered. Utah State opened the third-quarter scoring on a 20-yard field goal from sophomore PK Peter Caldwell before Utah scored on four more TD's.
Score By Quarters
Utah 17 13 14 14 - 58
Utah State 7 0 3 0 - 10
<p>Scoring Summary
USU - 1st 12:09 - <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nelson_otis00.html">Nelson, Otis</a> 9 yd pass from <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/setzer_sean00.html">Setzer, Sean</a> (<a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/caldwell_peter00.html">Caldwell, Peter</a> kick)
UU - 1st 08:03 - Asiata, Matt 4 yd run (Sakoda, Louie kick)
UU - 1st 03:34 - Sakoda 48 yd field goal
UU - 1st 03:24 - Wesson, Elijah 20 yd fumble recovery (Sakoda kick)
UU - 2nd 10:23 - Sakoda 35 yd field goal
UU - 2nd 08:53 - Sakoda 24 yd field goal
UU - 2nd 00:23 - Brown, Freddie 10 yd pass from Johnson, Brian (Sakoda kick)
USU - 3rd 12:45 - Caldwell 20 yd field goal
UU - 3rd 08:11 - Sampson, Colt 8 yd pass from Johnson (Sakoda kick)
UU - 3rd 04:19 - Asiata 4 yd run (Sakoda kick)
UU - 4th 08:31 - Asiata 3 yd run (Sakoda kick)
UU - 4th 03:19 - Stowers, Ray 2 yd run (Sakoda kick)
</p><p>Attn: 19,061
</p><p>Team Statistics UU USU
First Downs 30 8
Rushing 248 27
Passing 213 89
Total Offense Yards 461 116
Fumbles: Number-Lost 3-2 3-2
Penalties: Number-Yards 7-80 7-82
Punts-Yards 0-0 8-274
Punt Returns: No-Yds-TD/Avg. 3--2-0/-0.7 0-0-0/0.0
Kickoff Returns: No-Yds-TD/Avg. 2-41-0/20.5 4-76-0/19.0
Interceptions: No-Yds-TD 1-11-0 1-0-0
Fumble Returns: No-Yds-TD 1-20-1 1-4-0
Possession Time 39:38 20:22
Third-Down Conversions 10-of-17 2-of-12
</p><p>Individual Rushing
UU: Mack 14-75
USU: Borel 11-23, Marsh 5-13, Turbin 6-4, Morrison 1-(-4), Setzer 2-(-9)
</p><p>Individual Passing (A-C-I, Yds, TD)
UU: Johnson 22-31-1, 204, 2
USU: Borel 5-14-1, 62, 0; Setzer 4-9-0, 27, 1
</p><p>Individual Receiving
UU: Godfrey 6-57
USU: Marsh 3-51, Morrison 1-15, Nelson 1-9 1TD, Mitchell 1-8, Scott 1-6, Sawyer 1-3, Polley 1-(-3)
</p><p>USU Punt Returns: None
USU KO Returns: Marsh 2-36, Odong 1-22, Harris 1-18
USU Interception Returns: Igboeli 1-0
USU Tackle Leaders: Hutton 11, Glass 10, Hall 8, Igboeli 8
</p>AGGIES-UTES LAST TIME AT SALT LAKE CITY --
UTAH 34, UTAH STATE 18
September 29, 2007 • Salt Lake City, Utah • Rice-Eccles Stadium
SALT LAKE CITY - Despite not only scoring first but scoring in the opening quarter for the first time all season, Utah State lost to Utah, 34-18, at a cold and snowy Rice-Eccles Stadium on Sept. 29, 2007. USU has now lost 10 in a row to Utah and trail the all-time series, 28-75-4, including 17-51-4 at Salt Lake City. After a 64-yard interception return by sophomore S James Brindley gave the Aggies a first-and-goal at the Utah 1, USU got on the board first, with a 1-yard plunge from senior QB Leon Jackson III. Freshman K Peter Caldwell followed with an upright split to gave the Aggies their first points in the opening quarter all season. Utah then scored the next 14 points, a 22-yard pass from Brian Johnson to Jereme Brooks and later a 75-yard punt return for a TD by Derrek Richards and USU never saw the lead again. Caldwell hit a 24-yard field goal, capping a 12-play, 66-yard drive to pull USU within 14-10 midway through the second quarter. Johnson had a 38-yard scoring pass to Marquis Wilson and Louie Sakoda hit a 31-yard field goal as time expired to send USU into halftime on the short side of the 24-10 score. The Utes expanded the lead to 34-10 on a 3-yard run by Darrell Mack and a 39-yard Sakoda field goal. The Aggies countered with a 10-yard pass from Jackson to junior WR Otis Nelson, then freshman RB Derrvin Speight tacked on the two-point conversion to pull USU within 34-18. Utah State recovered the onside kick and after a lengthy review on the play, senior WR Kevin Robinson was ruled to have successfully covered the ball. The Aggies drove to the Utah 13 before getting stopped on fourth down. The Utes took two knees to run out the clock and end the game. USU ended with 275 yards of total offense, led by Jackson's 17-of-24 passing with the one TD pass. Jackson's 17 completions gave him 298 for his career and moved him into seventh on USU's career passing completions list. Jackson also moved to No. 9 on the Aggies' career total offense list with 3,711 yards. Speight matched last week's debut with 22 carries for the second game in a row, but only had 67 yards. Robinson had seven catches for 71 yards, giving him 149 for his career and moving him to tied for No. 5 on USU's career receptions list with Kevin Alexander (1992-95). Defensively, the Aggies were led by linebackers, junior De'von Hall and sophomore Paul Igboeli with 11 tackles each. Fellow linebacker, junior Jake Hutton also nabbed his first career interception to go with eight tackles. Utah had 325 yards of total offense, led by Johnson with 18-of-29 passing for 181 yards and two TD's.
Score By Quarters
Utah State 7 3 0 8 - 18
Utah 7 17 7 3 - 34
<p>Scoring Summary
USU - 1st 06:15 - Jackson, Leon 1 yd run (<a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/caldwell_peter00.html">Caldwell, Peter</a> Kick)
UU - 1st 02:42 - Brooks, Jereme 22 yd pass from Johnson, Brian (Sakoda, Louie kick)
UU - 2nd 14:36 - Richards, Derre 75 yd punt return (Sakoda kick)
USU - 2nd 09:25 - Caldwell 24 yd field goal
UU - 2nd 07:04 - Wilson, Marquis 38 yd pass from Johnson (Sakoda kick)
UU - 2nd 00:00 - Sakoda 31 yd field goal
UU - 3rd 03:41 - Mack, Darrell 3 yd run (Sakoda kick)
UU - 4th 11:21 - Sakoda 39 yd field goal
USU - 4th 02:33 - <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nelson_otis00.html">Nelson, Otis</a> 10 yd pass from Jackson (<a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/speight_derrvin00.html">Speight, Derrvin</a> rush)
Attn: 41,884
</p><p>Team Statistics USU UU
First Downs 15 16
Rushing 136 144
Passing 139 181
Total Offense Yards 275 325
Fumbles: Number-lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties: Number-yards 4-38 4-30
Punts-yards 7-265 3-119
Punt Returns: No-yards-TD 1-44-0 4-135-1
Kickoff Returns: No-yds-TD 6-122-0 3-70-0
Possession Time 33:21 26:39
</p><p>Individual Rushing
USU: Speight 22-67, Jackson 18-60 1TD, Borel 1-4, Lesue 3-3, Robinson 2-2
UU: Mack 26-132 1TD
</p><p>Individual Passing (A-C-I, Yds, TD
USU: Jackson 24-17-0, 139, 1
UU: Johnson 29-18-2, 181, 2
</p><p>Individual Receiving
USU: Robinson 7-71, Nelson 3-35 1TD, Actkinson 2-27, Myers 1-9, Fausel 1-1, Lesue 1-(-1), Speight 2-(-3)
UU: Hernandez 5-50
</p><p>USU Punt Returns: Robinson 1-44 USU KO Returns: Robinson 5-105
USU Interception Returns: Brindley 1-64, Hutton 1-0
USU Tackle Leaders: Hall 11, Igboeli 11, Hutton 8, J. Taylor 7
</p>Utah State Head Coach
Gary Andersen
• Gary Andersen was named Utah State head football coach on Dec. 4 by USU Athletics Director Scott Barnes.
• Andersen becomes the 26th head coach in 115 years of Aggie football.
• Andersen comes to Utah State after five seasons as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Utah, where he has helped guide the Utes to a 13-0 record in 2008. Utah finished the season ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll after winning the BCS Sugar Bowl with a dominating 31-17 victory over Alabama.
• Andersen was a part of seven bowl teams as Utah has an 8-0 bowl record since 1999, giving the Utes the nation's longest bowl winning streak.
• Overall, Andersen spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Utah after coaching for the Utes from 1997-2002 before becoming the head coach at Southern Utah in 2003 and then returning to Utah in 2004.
• Andersen was named a finalist for the 2008 Broyles Award, honoring the top assistant coach in college football. He was also tabbed as the No. 1 non-BCS recruiter by Rivals.com in 2005 and was named a Rivals.com top 10 non-BCS recruiter in 2008.
• In 2003, Andersen migrated south to become the head coach at Southern Utah, guiding the Thunderbirds to a 4-7 record and bettering their win total of the previous three seasons combined. He turned around a program that was 102nd in the nation in the final 2002 I-AA Gridiron Power Index, which is used to determine playoff selections, into the No. 36-ranked team in his lone season.
• Andersen will be reaching a rare plateau in USU's season-opener on Sept. 3, when he leads the Aggies into action against his former team Utah... Since 1982, only two other head coaches in college football have began the season against their former team from the season before.
Virginia - In 1982, George Welsh coached his first game at Virginia against Navy, the school he coached at before going to UV.
Northwestern - In 1999, Randy Walker opened his Northwestern head coaching career by facing his former school, Miami (Ohio). He was the head coach at Miami from 1990-98.
Toledo - In 1991, Gary Pinkel of Toledo played at Washington in the fifth game of the season, where he was defensive coordinator the previous season.
• Andersen will be trying to become the first new Aggie head coach to win in his debut since Phil Krueger in 1973, as his eight predecessors all lost their debuts.
• Andersen is the second coach in USU history to open their coaching career against Utah, as Dave Arslanian began his Aggie tenure against the Utes on Sept. 5, 1998.
• Andersen also faces another former team when he and the Aggies make their home debut against Southern Utah on Sept. 26... Andersen was head coach at Southern Utah in 2003.
• At 45, Andersen is the second-youngest head coach in the WAC behind Boise State's Chris Peterson, by six months.
Utah State Football Coaching Staff
Gary Andersen - Head Coach - 1st Year - (Utah, 1986)
Dave Baldwin - Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers - 1st Year - (Cal State Northridge, 1978)
Bill Busch - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties - 1st Year - (Nebraska Wesleyan, 1988)
Kevin Clune - Linebackers - 1st Year - (Cal State Fullerton, 2000)
Alex Gerke - Offensive Line - 1st Year - (Utah, 1988)
Chad Kauha'aha'a - Defensive Line - 1st Year - (Utah, 1996)
Kevin McGiven - Quarterbacks - 1st Year - (Utah Valley, 2001)
Corey Raymond - Cornerbacks - 1st Year - (LSU, 1992)
Ilaisa Tuiaki - Running Backs - 1st Year - (Southern Utah, 2006)
T.J. Woods - Tight Ends - 1st Year - (Azuza Pacific, 2002)
Jovon Bouknight - Offensive Graduate Assistant - 1st Year - (Wyoming, 2006)
Charles Henderson - Defensive Graduate Assistant - 1st Year - (Southern Utah, 2005)
Ben Barton - Defensive Administrative Assistant - 1st Year
Ryan Zimmerman - Offensive Administrative Assistant - 1st Year
Tony Flores - Staff Administrative Assistant - 4th Year - (Utah State, 2003)
Steve Mathis - Director of Football Operations - 1st Year - (Snow, 1980)
Evan Simon - Strength and Conditioning Coach - 1st Year - (Frostburg State (Md.), 2002)
AGGIE FOOTBALL TIDBITS
THESE UNITED STATES -- There are a total of 42 Californian's on USU's 2009 roster, the most from any state, while there are 33 players from Utah, which ranks second, followed by Texas (13) and Florida (3)... Six other states have two players each, while a total of eight players are the lone representative of their home state... Overall, the Aggies' roster has 17 different U.S. states represented, which is one of two countries represented as freshman LB Connor Williams is from Canada.
FOOTBALL ISN'T JUST AMERICA'S GAME -- USU has six players who were born internationally, believed to be the most of any team this season in the country... Senior WR Nnamdi Gwacham (Nigeria), junior TE Jerome Barbour (Germany), junior OL Tariq Polley (England), redshirt freshman WR Emmanual Ojeriakhi (Nigeria), redshirt-freshman LB Alfred Kikau (Fiji) and freshman LB Connor Williams (Canada) all were born outside of the United States.
THE SHORT OF IT -- Sophomore RB Josh Flores is the shortest player on Utah State's 2009 roster at 5'5"... Overall, Flores is one of seven players on the Aggies' roster under 5'10" tall.
THE TALL OF IT -- Sophomore TE Tarren Lloyd is the tallest player on Utah State's team at 6'7"... Lloyd is also one of two players on the squad who is over 6'5"tall, joined by 6'6" senior TE Zac Zimmerman.
TRANSFER-MERS -- USU has 13 junior college transfers on the Aggies' 2009 roster... Four players on the roster came to USU from Snow College: junior LS Dustin Akana, senior DT Casey Davis, junior OL Preston Erickson and junior S Joey Schrader.
HEAVY O-TILLERY -- Sophmore OG's Philip Gapelu and Funaki Asisi are the lone two players on Utah State's 2009 roster who are at least 300 pounds... The Aggies have five other offensive linemen who are in the 290's: senior OC Brennan McFadden, junior OT Spencer Johnson, junior OL Tariq Polley, sophomore OL Christian Browne-Frazier and freshman OL Tyler Larsen.
WISE, EXPERIENCED OL' MEN -- Five Aggie seniors are three-year letterwinners: DT Alan Bishop, WR Xavier Bowman, WR Nnamdi Gwacham, LB Paul Igboeli and WR Omar Sawyer.
JUNIOR DOZEN -- A total of 12 juniors on the USU roster are two-year lettermen.
KICKIN' CHRIS -- Chris Ulinksi's WAC-leading 21 touchbacks in 2008 were three more than USU's three previous years combined total of 18 consisting of nine in 07 (by Ulinski), one in06 and eight in `05, especially impressive since kickoffs were moved back from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line prior to the 2007 season.
(Courtesy Utah State University)
