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Utah State Plays At No. 9 Boise State Saturday
Nov. 3, 2008 LOGAN, Utah - Complete Utah State at Boise State Notes in PDF Format
UTAH STATE at #9 BOISE STATE Saturday, Nov. 8, Noon (MT) Bronco Stadium (32,000) - Boise, Idaho
QUICKLY -- For the fourth time this season, Utah State (2-7, 2-3 WAC) will face a team ranked in the AP Top 25 poll when the Aggies take on No. 9 Boise State (8-0, 4-0 WAC) on Saturday, Nov. 8... The showdown between the Aggies and the Broncos kicks off at high noon from BSU's Bronco Stadium (32,000)... The game will be televised by KTVB Boise and will be broadcast on ESPN GamePlan as well as KJZZ (Comcast Ch. 14 in Cache Valley). 2008 RANKED OPPONENTS -- Saturday is not only the great state of Montana's 119th anniversary for its admittance to the Union as the 41st U.S. State, but also marks Utah State's fourth AP Top 25 opponent this season, after playing No. 18 Oregon (L, 24-66 on Sept. 6), 22nd-ranked Utah (L, 10-58 on Sept. 13), No. 8 BYU (L, 14-34 on Oct. 3) and now ninth-ranked Boise State... This is the first time since 2001 and just the second time since 1957 that the Aggies face four ranked opponents in the same season. TWO TOP 10's -- This is only the second time ever and the first time since 1972 that Utah State is playing two Top 10 teams in the same season... That year, USU lost at No. 4 Oklahoma, 49-0, and at No. 9 Texas, 27-12. USU VS. THE TOP 25 -- USU will be playing its 49th game all-time against a ranked team (Boise State in No. 9 in this week's AP poll) and is just 1-47 against teams in the AP poll... The Aggies are 0-37 on the road vs. a Top 25 team... USU has two losses to a ranked Boise State team during the last three seasons... 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 22 straight games against ranked team... Saturday marks the 10th time in the Brent Guy era that USU has faced a ranked team, and the Aggies are 0-9 in the previous nine, including 0-5 on the road - here is a look at those games: 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 BYUAGGIES VS. NO. 9 -- The Aggies will be playing a No. 9 ranked team for the first time since 2002 and the fourth time overall, going 0-3 in the previous three meetings, all of which were on the road, as is this occurrence... Saturday is USU's first non-current Big XII ninth-ranked opponent: Oct. 7, 1972 - L, 12-27 at #9 Texas Oct. 16, 1999 - L, 0-40 at #9 Kansas State Sept. 7, 2002 - L, 13-44 at #9 NebraskaUSU VS. RANKED BOISE STATE -- Saturday is not just the 215th anniversary of the opening of the Louvre as an official museum, but it marks the third year in a row that Utah State has faced Boise State when the Broncos are ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll... USU lost both of the previous meetings by an average score of 51.5-5, losing 49-10 at 13th-ranked Boise State in USU's last trip to Boise, on Nov. 18, 2006, as well as getting bucked by the No. 19 Broncos, 52-0, last season on Nov. 10 at Logan. AGGIES AGAINST RANKED WAC FOES -- This is the sixth time that USU has played a fellow WAC foe that is ranked in the AP Top 25 or receiving votes: Oct. 15, 2005 - L, 21-53 at RV Fresno State Nov. 4, 2006 - L, 10-63 vs RV Hawai'i Nov. 18, 2006 - L, 10-49 at #13 Boise State Oct. 6, 2007 - L, 37-52 at #16 Hawai'i Nov. 10, 2007 - L, 0-52 vs #19 Boise State BACK TO BOISE -- Four members of the Utah State coaching staff have a stint at Boise State, either as an assistant coach, a player or a student:
ON TV -- Saturday's battle between the Broncos and the Aggies will be televised by KTVB Boise and will be broadcast on ESPN GamePlan as well as KJZZ (Comcast Ch. 14 in Cache Valley)... Mark Johnson will handle play-by-play duties, with commentary from Tom Scott while David Augusto will be the sideline reporter. ON THE AIR -- All Utah State football games are carried on KVNU 610 AM and KLZX 95.9 FM in Logan; 1230 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 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... Fans can watch Saturday's game at Boise State on the internet by clicking on the "Watch Live" link to watch the streamed broadcast through Boise State's web site. GAMETRACKER / LIVE STATS - Fans can follow 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... Live stats for Saturday's game at Boise State are available by clicking on the "Live Stats" link. COACHES SHOW ON THE ROAD -- For the fourth-straight year the Brent Guy radio show will be held at different locations on campus on Thursday nights (6:05-6:45 p.m. on 610 AM KVNU). The show gives USU students an opportunity to ask questions and interact with Coach Guy and players. Food will be available at each show at a reduced rate from University Food Services. Upcoming Coaches Show Schedule: Nov. 6 (Institute), Nov. 13 (The HUB), UP NEXT -- The Aggies continue their tough two-game road stretch by heading to Ruston, La., to tangle with Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Nov. 15... Kickoff for USU's final road game of the season is at 12:30 p.m. (MT). THREE OUT OF FOUR VS. RANKED OPPONENTS -- USU's game on Oct. 3 vs. No. 8 BYU was Utah State's third ranked opponent in four games after playing 18th-ranked Oregon (L, 24-66) on Sept. 6, then 22nd-ranked Utah on Sept. 13 (L, 10-58) and then unranked Idaho on Sept. 20 (W, 42-17)... This season is the first time since 2001 that USU faced three ranked opponents in a span of four games, playing at No. 13 LSU (L, 14-31), then playing unranked Wyoming on Sept. 22 (L, 42-43) before taking on 6th-ranked Oregon on Sept. 29 (L 21-38) and at No. 18 BYU on Oct. 5 (L, 34-54)... USU played three ranked opponent this season for the second year in a row, after not playing three in one season since 2001. USU IN THE 11th MONTH / ON NOV. 8 -- Utah State is on the three-game November winning streak, but has lost 12 of its last 20 games in the American Thanksgiving month... Saturday is the Aggies' first game on Nov. 8 since 1986 when USU beat Pacific, 14-10... Overall, USU is 3-7 on Nov. 8 since 1913, having won two in a row on the date, both on the road as part of the Aggies' 2-4 road ledger on Nov. 8... Here's a look at how USU has fared on Nov. 8: 1913 - L, 7-20 at Colorado State 1919 - L, 7-27 at Colorado State 1930 - L, 7-32 at Denver 1941 - L, 6-14 vs Denver 1947 - W, 35-12 vs Colorado 1958 - L, 13-41 vs Wyoming 1969 - L, 13-38 at #19 Air Force 1975 - L, 7-24 vs BYU 1980 - W,50-13 at Weber State 1986 - W, 14-10 at PacificOH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN -- Each week Utah State will select game captains. Those selected for the Boise State game will be announced later in the week. ROAD WOE-IORS -- Life on the road has been tough for the Aggies, who have lost their last four road games and are 3-22 under head coach Brent Guy... The win at New Mexico State on Nov. 17, 2007 snapped a 13-game road losing skid, as two of USU's three road wins are at NMSU, with the 35-17 victory last year plus winning on the road in the 2005 season finale at New Mexico State, 24-21, along with the 24-19 win at Idaho on Nov. 24 of last year. SWEET HOME? -- Utah State has just three home wins in its last 17 home games, but have won two of the last four home games... USU's pair of home victories this season has matched 2005 for the most home wins under head coach Brent Guy... The win over Idaho on Sept. 20 snapped a seven-game home losing skein, after USU had last won on its home turf on Oct. 7, 2006 with a 13-12 win over Fresno State... The Aggies are 5-15 at home under head coach Brent Guy. ABOUT UTAH STATE -- USU knocked off defending WAC champion Hawai'i on Saturday, 30-14, and now have a 2-7 overall and 2-3 WAC ledger, matching last year's season and conference win totals with three games to go... As a team, USU sixth in the WAC and 73rd in the NCAA in rushing offense (133.8 ypg) as well as seventh in the league and 83rd in the nation in passing offense (191.6 ypg) to rank eighth in the conference and 92nd in the country in total offense (325.3 ypg)... The Aggie defense is sixth in the WAC and 96th in the NCAA in rushing defense (182.3 ypg) and sixth in the league and 98th in the nation in pass defense (249.7 ypg) to rank eighth in the conference and 106th in the country in total defense (432.0 ypg)... Scoring 21.0 ppg, USU has the seventh-best scoring offense in the WAC and the 92nd best in the NCAA... The Aggies yield 35.6 ppg to rank eighth in the league and 110th in the nation in scoring defense... USU is third in the conference and 20th in the country in net punting... Individually, sophomore QB Diondre Borel is fifth in the WAC in both passing efficiency (127.4) and total offense (206.6 ypg), ranking 53rd and 63rd, respectively in the NCAA... Defensively, senior LB Jake Hutton's 8.4 tackles per game ranks fifth in the conference and 51st in the country... Sophomore PK/P Peter Caldwell is fifth in the league and 33rd in the nation in punting (41.9 ypp) as well as ranking tied for sixth in the WAC and tied for 70th in the NCAA in field goals (0.9 pg).... Junior K Chris Ulinski has boomed 12 touchbacks on the season and his kickoffs have kept opponents inside the 25 a total of 21 times. HOT BOREL -- Sophomore QB Diondre Borel has played in all nine games, but played just over half of the offensive plays the first three games, but has started the last six... Borel has 1,436 yards of total offense in the last six games that he started, an average of 239.3 per game, which would rank fourth in the WAC season stats... In the last three games in which he was the signal-caller for the majority of the game, he has 889 yards, an average of 296.3 per game, which would lead the WAC season stats and rank 14th in the NCAA. PERFECT PETE -- Sophomore PK/P Peter Caldwell now has 47 career PAT's, (47-of-47), remaining in a tie for first with Willie Beecher (64-of-64, 1981-84) and Russ Moody (44-of-44, 1988-89) as the only three USU kickers with a perfect career PAT percentage (1.000). AGGIE TIDBITS -- The USU defense's streak of at least one interception in a game came to an end at six in the Fresno State game, but they have a pick off in 14 of the last 20 games dating back to last season... The Nevada game was the USU defense's fourth multi-turnover game this season and seventh in the nine games and 13th time in the last 18 games dating back to last season... Also from the Nevada game, the Aggie defense had four turnovers in a game for the first time since last year's season-finale at Idaho when USU had three INT's and one fumble recovery... Six different USU defenders have an INT, compared to nine total last season... Redshirt freshman RB Robert Turbin's 40-yard rush in the BYU game was USU's fourth rushing TD of over 20 yards after having no rushing TD's of over 20 yards last season... Overall, the Aggies have nine offensive TD of 20 yards or more this season compared to six all of last year... Turbin now leads USU with four rushing TD's this season, topping last season's most by a running back (three - Derrvin Speight)... The 62-yard TD pass from sophomore QB Diondre Borel to junior WR Nnamdi Gwacham in the Hawai'i game was USU's longest offensive TD this season and was the third TD reception over 20 yards... Borel now has 11 TD passes on the season, single-handedly topping last season's total of 11, while the Aggie now have 13 TD passes on the season (two by Sean Setzer)... The 13 passing TD's are the most by USU since 14 in 2005... USU now has nine different receivers with a TD reception, compared to five last season... The nine different receivers with a TD catch is the most since nine in 2003... USU had fewer total offensive yards in a win for the second time in its last three wins and three in the last four (last year at New Mexico State and at Idaho)... In the SJSU game, USU's defense held an opponent scoreless in the opening quarter for the first time since the last time the Aggies played at San Jose State, on Oct. 14, 2006, a span of 23 games... Sophomore P Peter Caldwell punted five times in the first quarter of the SJSU game, matching his combined punts from the previous two games (four vs. BYU, one vs. Idaho)... The Aggies' 10 punts in the SJSU game were the most since 11 at Clemson on Oct. 16, 2004. STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE -- According to the NCAA, Utah State has the toughest schedule in the WAC for both games against Football Bowl Subdivision teams (ranked 43rd overall) and for all games including games against FBS and Football Championship Series teams (No. 43 overall)... Boise State is fifth in the WAC for FBS and eighth for FBS and FCS: FBS Only: WAC NCAA Rank Rank Team Cumulative Opposition Record Win Pct. 1 43 Utah State 46-40 / .535 5 90 Boise State 37-46 / .446ABOUT BOISE STATE -- The Broncos are 8-0 overall and 4-0 in WAC action, currently ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll, No. 10 in the USA Today Poll and #10 in the BCS Standings... Boise State blasted New Mexico State, 49-0, on Saturday at Las Cruces, N.M. as BSU improved to 50-2 in WAC games since 2002... The Broncos, who won five-straight WAC titles until Hawai'i de-throned them last year, were the preseason WAC favorites in the media poll and second on the coaches poll behind Fresno State... BSU is either first or second in the WAC in 12 of the 17 statistical categories, leading the conference and ranking second in the NCAA in scoring defense, yielding just 7.1 points per game while ranking second in the league and 23rd in the nation scoring offense, lighting up the scoreboard to the tune of 34.6 ppg... BSU is fourth in the WAC and 56th in the NCAA in rushing offense (152.0 ypg) while ranking second in the conference and 16th in the country in passing offense (274.9 ypg) to rank second in the league and 24th in the nation in total offense (426.9 ypg)... The Broncos have the fourth-best rushing defense in the conference and 29th in the country (110.5 ypg), as well as second in the league and 13th in the nation in pass defense (167.1 ypg) to lead the WAC and rank 12th in the NCAA in total defense (277.6 ypg)... Individually, redshirt-freshman QB Kellen Moore leads the league and is seventh in the nation in passing efficiency (166.6) while ranking second the conference and 23rd in the country in total offense (258.3 ypg)... Defensively, sophomore S Jeron Johnson leads BSU and ranks seventh in the WAC with 7.1 tackles per game while senior DE Mike Williams is tied for seventh in the league with three sackes (0.4 pg)... Sophomore PK/P Kyle Brotzman would lead the WAC with a 47.7 ypp average, but he hasn't punted enough to qualify for the rankings as he has a 2.9 punts per game average and the minimum as set by the NCAA is 3.6... Brotzman is fourth in the WAC and tied for 46th in the NCAA with 1.1 field goals per game and is fifth in the league and 63rd in the nation in scoring (7.4 ppg). USU-BSU SERIES -- Boise State has dominated the series with Utah State holding a 10-4 advantage... The Broncos have won seven straight games in the series after USU won consecutive games in 1996 (W 39-14 at Boise) and 1997 (W 24-20 at Logan)... Since those two USU victories, BSU has won the last seven games by a combined score of 338 to 150 (average of 48.3 to 21.4)... The Aggies are 2-5 at Boise, losing their last four trips there and having been outscored 208 to 102 (an average of 52.0 to 25.5)... USU's last win in the series was 1997, capping a three-win in four meetings stretch. USU vs. Boise State Overall: 4-10-0 Home: 2-5-0 Away: 2-5-0 11-15-75 W 42-19 A 10-29-77 L 16-23 H 11-13-82 L 10-30 A 10-15-83 W 10-7 H 9-9-95 L 14-38 H 10-19-96 W 39-14 A 11-1-97 W 24-20 H 10-25-98 L 16-30 A 10-30-99 L 27-33 H 11-11-00 L 38-66 A 9-28-02 L 38-63 A 10-22-05 L 21-45 H 11-18-06 L 10-49 A 11-10-07 L 0-52 HUTAH STATE-BOISE STATE LAST TIME -- #19 BOISE STATE 52, UTAH STATE 0 November 10, 2007 • Logan, Utah • Romney Stadium Boise State, ranked No. 19 in the country, nearly matched their first quarter points with its ranking in cruising to a 52-0 win over Utah State on Nov. 10 at Romney Stadium. The Broncos scored 17 first-quarter points in dealing the Aggies their first shutout loss of the season. It was Senior Day, as Utah State honored its 15 seniors with a pre-game ceremony prior to USU's final home game of the year. Boise State won its 16th-straight WAC game in improving to 50-3 all-time in the WAC. The Broncos have won the last seven in a row against the Aggies and now lead the all-time series, 10-4, including 6-2 in games played at Logan. Boise State has won those last seven games by a combined score of 338-150, an average of 48.3-21.4. The 52 points is the third-most ever scored in the series (BSU 66 in 2000 and 63 in 2002) and Saturday was the first shutout in the series by either team. Utah State had 236 total offense yards, with 82 rushing and 154 passing. It was just the third time this season that the Aggies did not reach the 100-yard rushing mark. Senior QB/P Leon Jackson III was 7-of-15 for 95 yards, while sophomore QB Jase McCormick was 4-of-8 for 57 yards, but threw three interceptions. Junior QB Sean Setzer saw his first action of the season, completing his only pass attempt for two yards. McCormick led USU with 32 rushing yards, while junior TE Rob Myers had five catches for 66 yards, as both led the team in their respective categories for the second time this season. Senior WR/KR Kevin Robinson was held to a season-low 77 all-purpose yards and did not have a reception, snapping a 16-game streak of having at least one catch, dating back to the Idaho game on Sept. 30, 2006. Defensively, sophomore S James Brindley led USU with a career-high 14 tackles, while freshman LB Kyle Gallagher also had a career-high with 11 stops. Senior DE Frank Maile tallied a career and game-high two tackles for loss. Boise State ended with 484 yards of total offense, marking the sixth time this season that the USU defense has allowed more than 400 yards of total offense. The Broncos had 294 yards passing and 190 yards rushing. Ian Johnson had 110 yards rushing in three quarters of action and Taylor Tharp was a scorching 26-of-29 passing for 283 yards and two TD's. The Broncos scored on their opening drive on a 8-yard run by Titus Young, the first of his three TD's on the day. At the end of the Aggies' first drive of the game, BSU blocked the punt and Ia Falo scooped up the ball and scampered 16 yards to the end zone to put BSU up 14-0 in just over six minutes into the game. Score By Quarters Boise State 17 14 14 7 - 52 Utah State 0 0 0 0 - 0AGGIES-BRONCOS LAST TIME AT BOISE -- #13 BOISE STATE 49, UTAH STATE 10 November 18, 2006 • Boise, Idaho • Bronco Stadium Jared Zabransky completed 21-of-23 passing attempts for 236 yards and three touchdowns to lead 13th-ranked Boise State to a 49-10 victory against Utah State. The Broncos jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and made it 21-0 just minutes into the second before Utah State's Bryan Shields kicked USU's second field goal of the season. Shields drilled a 31-yarder as the Aggies converted after USU's James Brindley forced and recovered a fumble at the BSU 46-yard line. BSU then scored 21 straight points before USU's defense put up its third score of the season. Linebacker Paul Igboeli recorded a sack and forced a fumble that Devon Hall picked up and ran 64 yards with for a score to make it 42-10. The Aggies produced just 188 yards of total offense in the game, while the Broncos, who entered the game with the 15th-ranked offense in the nation, produced 488 yards. USU quarterback Riley Nelson rushed for more yards (45) than he passed for (40) as the Aggies managed only seven first downs and were two-of-13 on third-down conversions. Leon Jackson III saw his most extensive playing time at quarterback since losing the starting job after five games. The junior hit three-of-four attempts for 58 yards, including a 43-yard toss to Kevin Robinson. Robinson finished the game with three receptions for 58 yards. Aaron Lesue added two catches for 20 yards as USU had just 98 receiving yards to go along with 90 rushing yards. Defensively the Aggies were led by Igboeli, who recorded a game-high 10 tackles, including the 13-yard sack. Daryl Fields, who made his second straight start at linebacker, had eight tackles. The Broncos scored on each of their first three possessions, while USU went three and out on each of its first three possessions. SCORING SUMMARY 1 2 3 4 FINAL Utah State 0 3 0 7 --- 10 Boise State 14 14 14 7 --- 49 AGGIE-BRONCO NOTE-ABLE -- USU head coach Brent Guy was the defensive coordinator at Boise State from 1998-2000... Safeties coach Jeff Copp was an all-conference defensive end at Boise State in 2000. He was born in Idaho Falls... Defensive coordinator Mark Johnson was the defensive line coach at BSU from 1998-99... Cornerbacks coach John Rushing was a graduate assistant at BSU in 1998 and 1999 working with the secondary... Offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey was 2-1 against Boise State while head coach at North Texas... BSU running backs coach Jeff Choate was an assistant at Utah State from 2002-04 (safeties)... Rushing and Bronco defensive line coach Pete Kwiatkowski coached at Montana State (where current USU FB SID Zach Fisher's brother Eric, is the punter and kicker for the Bobcats), from 2000-2002... Former BSU Head Athletic Trainer Gary Craner (who retired in June, 2008 after 36 years at ATC) graduated from Utah State... Aggies from the state of Idaho include senior LB Jake Hutton (Pocatello/Highland HS), junior S Adrian Bybee (Pocatello/Highland HS), sophomore DL Jake Hobbs (Preston/Preston HS), freshman WR Chase Harris (Preston/Preston HS) and freshman QB/LS Jake Poulson (Boise, Idaho/Capital HS)... Boise State freshmen DL Jarrell Root and TE Kyle Efaw were teammates with Poulson at Capital HS... The Broncos do not list anyone from Utah on their roster. USU BESTS VS. BOISE STATE -- Here is a look at some of the top USU statistical individual performances against the Broncos over the years: Aaron Jones had a school-record 297 receiving yards against Boise State on Nov. 11, 2000... Jose Fuentes had 509 yards passing against the Broncos in 2000, the second-best passing total in USU history... Demario Brown had 239 yards rushing against Boise State in 1999, the 10th-best single-game rushing output... In 1997, Matt Sauk connected with Steve Smith for a 76-yard pass play, tied for the 23rd-longest pass play in school history... Dale Money had a 75-yard punt against Boise State in 1982, tied for the fourth-longest punt... In 1998, Brad Bohn hit a 51-yard field goal, tied for No. 13 on USU's longest field goals... As a team, USU's 509 passing yards against BSU in 2000 is the second-most, while the 595 yards of total offense in that game is the ninth-most. 2008 RANKED OPPONENTS -- There are currently three USU opponents in the Top 25... This is the first time since 2001 that the Aggies face four ranked opponents in the same season...
HEAD COACH Brent Guy -- Brent Guy (Oklahoma State, 1983) is in his fourth year as head coach after coming to Utah State from Arizona State where he was the defensive coordinator for four years. Guy was an assistant coach (linebackers) at Utah State from 1992-94 under then head coach Charlie Weatherbie. During that time, USU posted its only bowl victory in school history, claiming the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl. Guy was involved in eight bowl games in 19 years as a collegiate assistant coach. Previous stops include Oklahoma State (1986-91 - graduate assistant 1986-87, recruiting coordinator 1988, linebackers 1989-91), Utah State (1992-94 - linebackers), Oklahoma State (1995-97 - linebackers), Boise State (1998-2000 - defensive coordinator) and Arizona State (2001-04 - defensive coordinator) before being named the Aggies' 25th head coach in December of 2004. In his first year at USU, the Aggies were 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the Western Athletic Conference. Utah State Head Coach All WAC 2005 3-8 2-6 2006 1-11 1-7 2007 2-10 2-6 2008 1-7 1-3 Total 7-36 6-22GUY VS. BOISE STATE -- Aggie head coach Brent Guy has coached against Boise State three times in his career and is 0-3. Here is a closer look: 2005 (Utah State Head Coach) - L 21-45 at Logan 2006 (Utah State Head Coach) - L 10-49 at Boise 2007 (Utah State Head Coach) - L 0-52 at LoganDID YOU KNOW? -- Utah State offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey was 2-1 against Boise State while head coach at North Texas, winning 21-13 in 1998 and 17-10 in 1999 before losing, 59-0, in 2000. AGGIE ASSISTANT COACHES -- Utah State had one change on its coaching staff from last year, as Thomas Dunson joined the staff.
DID YOU KNOW? -- USU head coach Brent Guy and offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey played against each other when Guy was a linebacker at Oklahoma State and Dickey was a quarterback at Kansas State... Oklahoma State won all four meetings during Guy and Dickey's tenures, winning 42-15 in 1979, 10-0 in 1980, 31-10 in '81 and 24-16 in '82... Oct. 20 marked the 25th anniversary of Guy and Dickey's last meeting of 1982 when Oklahoma State hosts Kansas State... In the 1982 Cowboy-Wildcat clash, Guy had 18 tackles, including one TFL and two pass break-ups while Dickey was 17-of-35 passing for 185 yards with two TD's and one INT. USU NOTE-ABLE -- OFFENSIVE NOTES -- The Aggie offense did not have a turnover in the Oregon game, marking the first time since Oct. 7, 2006 vs. Fresno State that USU did not have a turnover... The USU offense has had 10 different players rush the ball (five different ball-carriers at UNLV, six at Oregon, five vs. Utah, eight vs. Idaho, six vs. BYU, six at SJSU, five at Nevada, six vs. Fresno St. and seven vs. Hawai'i), as well as 15 different players with a reception (seven at UNLV, 10 at Oregon, seven vs. Utah, including OL Tariq Polley making the rare offensive lineman reception on a deflected pass, eight vs. Idaho, seven vs. BYU, eight at SJSU, seven at Nevada, seven vs. Frenso St. and eight vs. Hawai'i)... The Aggies had a season-high 580 yards of total offense against Idaho, including season-bests 356 rushing yards and 224 passing yards... Individually, USU had four of its top five rushing outputs up to that point in the Idaho game at the time, led by redshirt-freshman RB Robert Turbin's 123 yards to became USU's first 100-yard rusher since Marcus Cross had 127 at BYU on Sept. 23, 2006... USU's 580 yards of total offense was the most since 684 vs. Weber State on Nov. 17, 2001... It was the most against a Division I team since 595 at Boise State, Nov. 11, 2000... The 356 rushing yards was USU's first 300-yard rushing game since 322 vs. New Mexico State on Nov. 4, 2000... The 356 rushing yards were the most since 388 at Nevada on Nov. 20, 1999... Senior WR Otis Nelson has a team-leading four TD passes on the season and six for his career after two TD catches at Nevada... Nelson has now caught a pass in 27 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak in the WAC... In the Nevada game, Nelson also surpassed his previous career high for receptions yards with 86, passing the previous mark of 72, which he had done twice this season and three times previous in his career... After back-to-back games with a 52-yard pass, sophomore QB Diondre Borel had a new career-long with the 62-yard TD pass to junior WR Nnamdi Gwacham in the Hawai'i game, which is also Gwacham's new career long, topping the 52-yard reception thre previous week vs. Fresno State... Borel now has 11 TD passes on the season, single-handedly topping last season's total of 11, while the Aggie now have 13 TD passes on the season (two by Sean Setzer)... The 13 passing TD's are the most by USU since 14 in 2005... Borel's two-point conversion was USU's first successful two-point conversion of the season and the first since RB Derrvin Speight's two-point rush last season at Utah, a span of 15 games... After not scoring on its opening drive in the previous 14 games, USU has scored on its initial drive in back-to-back games, with a field goal in the Hawai'i game after a TD the previous week vs. Fresno State... USU's first down on its opening drive vs. Fresno State was just the second time this season that the Aggie offense did not go three-and-out in its initial offensive drive... After being shut out four opening quarters in a row, USU's field goal in the first frame of the Hawai'i game was the second game in a row with points and USU has now been out-scored in the first quarter, 82-17... The Hawai'i game was Borel's second two-TD pass outing in the last three games and fourth of the season... USU had four two-TD pass games last season, with Leon Jackson III having two on his own and combining with Jase McCormick for two others... Redshirt-freshman Robert Turbin caught his first career TD catch in the Hawai'i game... It was his fourth overall of the season, matching senior WR Otis Nelson for the most individual TD's on the team... USU now has nine different receivers with a TD reception, compared to five last season... The nine different receivers with a TD catch is the most since nine in 2003. DEFENSIVE NOTES -- After forcing three turnovers in the Utah game, two against Idaho, two against BYU, four against Nevada and two against Hawai'i, the Aggie defense has caused at least two turnovers eight times in last 10 games and 14th time in the last 19 games dating back to last season... The USU defense had its interception streak in consecutive games snapped in the Fresno State game, but the Aggies have at least one interception in 14 of the last 20 games dating back to last season... Junior LB Paul Igboeli snared his first career INT in the Utah game... USU's two interceptions in the Nevada game marked the third time in the previous four games with multiple interceptions and fifth time in last nine games going back to last season... Six different players have one interception each, compared to a total of nine players all of last season... A total of 39 different players have recorded a tackle, including 22 with double-digit stops... The Aggie defense limited Idaho to 271 yards of total offense, the lowest total since 234, which was also vs. Idaho on Sept. 11, 2004... USU's two interceptions in the BYU game was the second game in a row with multiple interceptions and fourth time in last seven games dating back to last season... USU's defense held an opponent scoreless in the opening quarter for the first time since the last time the Aggies played at San Jose State, on Oct. 14, 2006, a span of 23 games... Senior LB Jake Hutton has at least eight tackles in five of the nine games this season and double-digit tackle outputs in five games, including 13 stops in the Fresno State game, which is a USU high this season... Hutton now has 11 double-figure tackle games for his career... The seven points allowed in the first half of the Hawai'i game matches the Idaho game for fewest points allowed in a half. SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES -- Utah State's game at Oregon marked the first time since Nov. 11, 2006 at Nevada that USU did not have a kickoff return of at least 20 yards... The Utah game was the first time that USU did not have a punt return since at Idaho last season (Nov. 24, 2007)... In the Idaho game, USU only punted once, marking the first time since 2002 that the Aggies only had to punt once... USU fumbled a kickoff for the second time in three games after fumbling in the Utah and BYU games... The blocked field goal in the BYU game was the first time since Oct. 7, 2005 vs. San Jose State that the Aggies had blocked a field goal... Sophomore P Peter Caldwell punted five times in the first quarter of the SJSU game, matching his combined punts from the previous two games (four vs. BYU, one vs. Idaho)... The Aggies' 10 punts at SJSU were the most since 11 at Clemson on Oct. 16, 2004... The 57-yard kickoff return by Murphy in the Nevada game was a career-long and USU's longest kickoff return this season... Murphy also had a 15-yard punt return in the Nevada game, which also is USU's longest punt return this year... Junior K Chris Ulinski's 42-yard field goal in the Nevada game was the first of his USU career and also ties Caldwell for USU's longest FG of the season... Caldwell's two field goals in the Fresno State game was the first time since at Fresno State last season that he had a multi-FG outing... He then made three field goals in the Hawai'i game, marking the second time in his career that he had the FG hat trick matching last season at Hawai'i... Caldwell now has two multi-FG outings this season and six for his career... The 34-yard field goal by Caldwell at the end of the half marked the second game in a row the Caldwell ended the half with a field goal... It was also the third half of play that has ended on a field goal as Caldwell's two end of first-half field goals are sandwiched around last week's game-winning 58-yard field goal by Fresno State... Caldwell is now 21-of-31 for his career moves up to No. 10 on USU's career field goals made list with 21 for his career and is tied for No. 8 on the career field goals attempted list with 31... He also vaults to No. 5 on the career field goal percentage list (.677). TONNEMACHER ON RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCH LIST -- For the second year in a row, offensive center Ryan Tonnemacher has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, given annually to the nation's most outstanding center in college football. Tonnemacher (pronounced Tawn-uh-mawker), a 6-3, 292-pound senior from Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS), is one of 43 players named to the Watch List. Tonnemacher is one of four centers from the WAC to be recognized, as he's joined by John Estes from Hawai'i, Adam Korby of Idaho and Nevada's Dominic Green. Tonnemacher is the only center from the state of Utah on this season's list. As a junior last season, Tonnemacher started all 12 games at center, one of eight Aggies to start every contest. His 759 offensive plays tied him with offensive guard Shawn Murphy and offensive tackle Derek Hoke for most on the offense and were the fourth-most on the team. Tonnemacher entered his senior season with a team-leading 24 consecutive starts after starting all 12 games in both 2006 and 2007. He is a three-year letterwinner after starting three games as a freshman in 2005. A total of 17 centers were repeat selections from last year's preseason Watch List, including Tonnemacher, Korby and Green, as well as last year's winner, Jonathan Luigs from Arkansas. The Rimington Trophy has not had a repeat winner in its history. HUTTON AND IGBOELI ON BUTKUS TROPHY WATCH LIST -- Utah State linebackers Jake Hutton and Paul Igboeli were both named to the 2008 Butkus Award watch list, given annually to the top linebacker in college football, announced by the Butkus Foundation. Hutton, a senior, and Igboeli, a junior, were one of 10 sets of teammates on the 66 player list. The Aggie duo were two of four Western Athletic Conference players on the watch list, joining Adam Leonard of Hawai'i and Josh Mauga of Nevada. Hutton and Igboeli are also two of the three players from Utah schools, joining Utah's Stevenson Sylvester. Hutton, a native of Pocatello, Idaho (Highland HS), earned second-team all-WAC honors last year after he led USU and ranked eighth in the WAC as well as tied for 71st in the NCAA with 102 tackles, including 58 solo stops. The 58 solo tackles ranked tied for fifth in the league. His 58 solo tackles were also the most for an Aggie since Jesse Busta had 64 in 2002. Hutton registered a USU single-game season-best 16 stops at New Mexico State. Igboeli (pronounced Ig-bo-lee), a Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie HS) native was second on the team and 13th in the WAC with 95 tackles, including 51 solo stops, which ranked among the top 15 in league. He was tied for second on the team with eight tackles for loss and also tallied three pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. Igboeli posted two of USU's top five tackle outings on the year with 15 at New Mexico State and 12 at Fresno State. In 2006, Igboeli was the WAC Freshman of the Year. MORE USU TIDBITS -- TACKLE CHART -- Senior LB Jake Hutton entered his final season in Aggie blue and white with 218 career tackles, in need of 95 more to reach USU's top 10 list, as Blake Eagal currently holds the No. 10 spot with 313 career stops from 1997-2000... After six tackles in the Hawai'i game, Hutton currently has 294 career tackles, leaving him 19 shy of cracking the top 10. OSKIE RETURNS -- Junior S James Brindley tied for the team lead with three interceptions last season but led the Aggies with 96 return yards, a mark that ranked fourth in the WAC and was good for ninth on USU's single-season list... Brindley's 32-yard interception return in the Idaho game gives him 130 interception return yards for his career, moving him to No. 8 on USU's career INT return yardage list... He needs five more to reach No. 7, currently held by Grant Matrinsen (1964-66), while Chuck Detwiler is No. 6 with 140 yards from 1966-68. JUST KICKIN' IT -- Sophomore P/K Peter Caldwell is 47-of-47 (1.000) on PAT's, one of three Aggie kickers with a perfect career PAT percentage... The three field goals by Caldwell in the Hawai'i game was his second three field goal outing and the first time since last year at Hawai'i on Oct. 6, 2007 when he also had three field goals. Caldwell is now 21-of-31 for his career moves up to No. 10 on USU's career field goals made list with 21 for his career and is tied for No. 8 on the career field goals attempted list with 31... He also vaults to No. 5 on the career field goal percentage list (.677). A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE -- There are nine Division I schools that are located in cities with an elevation of at least 4,000 feet about sea level... Utah State's home of Logan ranks seventh on the list with an elevation of 4,534 feet... This season the Aggies will play at only one of those other locations giving USU seven games this season at 4,000 feet above sea level after playing eight in 2006 and seven last year. USU will play at Reno, Nev. (#8 at 4,505 feet) against Nevada on Oct. 18... The Aggies will face two of the other teams on the list in #6 BYU (Oct. 3) and #9 Utah (Sept. 13). School City, State Elevation 1. Wyoming Laramie, Wyo. 7,220 2. Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. 6,010 3. Colorado Boulder, Colo. 5,328 4. Colorado State Fort Collins, Colo. 5,003 5. New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. 4,957 6. Brigham Young Provo, Utah 4,550 7. UTAH STATE LOGAN, UTAH 4,534 8. Nevada Reno, Nev. 4,505 9. Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 4,262OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOUGH -- Utah State's senior twin brother tandem of cornerback Joshua (#23) and safety Caleb Taylor (#39) are a brotherly duo that are one of just eight pairs brother teammates in Division I. The Taylors are one of three tandems who are twins... Below is the most recent listing of current brothers starting for the same college team, including San Jose State's brother tandem of Carl and Duke Ihenacho... Last Saturday's Utah State-San Jose State match-up is this season's only such regular-season occasion involving two teams from this list: School Brothers (Positions) California Eddie (Jr., LB) and Sean Young (Sr., WR) Ole Miss John (Jr., OL) and Peria Jerry (Sr., DT) Rutgers Twin brothers Devin (Jr., CB) and Jason McCourty (Sr., CB)* San Jose St. Carl (Jr., DE) and Duke Ihenacho (So., LB) Temple Twin brothers Elijah (So., OLB) and Elisha Joseph (So., DT) UTAH STATE Twin brothers Caleb (Sr., FS) and Joshua Taylor (Sr., CB) Virginia Tech Cam (Jr., OLB) and Orion Martin (Sr., DE) Wyoming Marcell (So., CB) and Tashaun Gipson (Fr., CB)*Devin McCourty redshirted his freshman season at Rutgers while his twin brother Jason did not redshirt, thus their different years in school. TALL HOKE -- Senior offensive tackle Derek Hoke is the tallest player on USU's roster at 6'9" - Hoke is one of seven players on the Aggie roster listed at 6'5" or taller... He is also unofficially, the second-tallest player in NCAA Division I this season, behind 6'10" Alejandro Villanueva of Army. BIG BOOKENDS -- Utah State's bookends at offensive tackle, senior Derek Hoke on the left and sophomore Spencer Johnson on the right, are two of the combined tallest tackles in the country, with Hoke towering at 6'9" and Johnson at 6'5"... The Aggie duo's combined height of 13'2" unofficially trails the 13'5" Colorado tandem of Nate Solder (6'8") and Ryan Miller (6'7") and the 13'3" Wisconsin duo of Gabe Carimi (6'8") and Eric Vanden Heuv. NUMBER CHANGES -- Utah State had several jersey number changes prior to this season and/or from the media guide: Doug Barbour from 80 to 87 Brian Mason from 91 to 49 James Brindley from 26 to 3 Kejon Murphy from 9 to 1 Marquis Butler from 19 to 13 Emmanual Ojeriakhi from 88 to 19 Peter Caldwell from 38 to 8 Jake Poulson from 20 to 30 Marquise Charles from 3 to 26 Chris Randle from 24 to 7 Greg Clark from 93 to 91 Robert Turbin from 30 to 6 Levi Koskan from 91 to 93 Chris Williams from 10 to 9 Junior Keiaho from 92 to 59 Zac Zimmerman from 70 to 48VETERAN EXPERIENCE -- USU has 17 seniors on its roster which matches last season as the biggest senior class in head coach Brent Guy's three seasons at USU and the largest Aggie senior class since 1999's 21 seniors. THREE "A" AGGIES -- Out of the 17 seniors on the roster, 12 of them are three-year letterwinners. TIME TRAVELERS -- Utah State will play in three different time zones this season: Central (at Louisiana Tech on Nov. 15), Mountain (all home games, at Boise State on Nov. 8) and Pacific (at UNLV on Aug. 30, at Oregon on Sept. 6, at San Jose State on Oct. 11 and at Nevada on Oct. 18). While Utah State only plays in three different time zones this season, the Aggies have at least one player from five different time zones, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific and Hawaiian-Aleutian. BEEHIVE BUNCH -- Utah State has 23 players from the state of Utah on its roster. BIRTHDAY BOYS -- In all 20 Aggie players have birthdays from the time camp opened on Aug. 1 to the end of the season... Two Aggies have a birthday on a football game day: senior RB Chris Forbes (Sept. 13 vs Utah) and senior DE Gregg Clark (Oct. 11 at San Jose State). SEVEN 2008 OPPONENTS WENT BOWLING -- USU will face seven teams that went to a bowl game last year, including a stretch a four weeks in a row.
USU is one of four WAC teams to play three non-conference games against a team that was in bowl game last year, joining Boise State, Fresno State and Hawai'i. 2008 OPPONENTS IN THE POLLS -- Utah State will face three teams ranked in the top 25, though the four different polls have different teams, with the two constants in all four major polls, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and AP, with BYU and Oregon the constants, while Fresno State is ranked in both the USA Today and ESPN polls but not by Sports Illustrated and is among others receiving votes in the AP poll, while Hawai'i is only in the Sports Illustrated poll and is also among others receiving votes in the AP poll... Other USU opponents in the others receiving votes list include Utah and Boise State. Utah State and Nevada are the only two WAC teams to play more than one preseason Top 25 team in the AP poll, the "official" poll of college football... The Aggies tangle with No. 16 BYU (Oct. 3) and 21st-ranked Oregon (Sept. 6), while the Wolf Pack of Nevada plays sixth-ranked Missouri and No. 12 Texas Tech... Four other conference teams play one AP Top 25 team: Boise State (No. 21 Oregon), Fresno State (No. 13 Wisconsin), Hawai'i (No. 5 Florida) and Louisiana Tech (No. 14 Kansas).
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