Aggies will bounce back
The Utah State football team is not giving up after losing to the Colorado State Rams, 35-34, in double overtime, last Saturday.
Head coach Gary Andersen said, in his Monday press conference, he recognizes the toll this season has taken on many involved with Utah State football.
“It is very hard for every fan, very hard for every player, very hard for every coach, very hard for every alum,” Andersen said. “I get all that stuff.”
It’s true, the Aggies have faced two difficult losses, first at Auburn University and then last weekend against Colorado State, and without a doubt Andersen realizes this.
After taking time to reflect on the game and some of the decisions made, Andersen said emphatically he is sure his players will recover from the loss.
“These kids will bounce back,” Andersen said. “We took a very, very hard defeat and fought like crazy, but this team will bounce back and do some quality things, I believe.”
As for the risky two-point conversion that ended Saturday’s game, Andersen said he has no regrets.
“Going for the two points, I would do it again in a second. Especially with what we got with the pass interference,” Andersen said. “Being on the one-and-a-half-yard line with one play, I like our chances to go win a football game.”
Andersen also pointed out the season is only three games in. At this point, the Aggies still have a chance to turn things around and win games despite their 1-2 record.
“We have made progress in many areas, but the main area that matters is wins and losses,” Andersen said.
After the loss to the Rams, Andersen gave a vague response as to when the Aggies would turn the tables, saying it would happen when it happens. Andersen did compare the quality of his team now to when he first took over as head coach.
“We are playing better football than we have since I have been here, for sure,” he said. “It is going to come. It is getting closer every single week, and I think that it is going to come on a consistent basis here real soon. It hasn’t yet, but that is me just sitting here flapping my lips about wins. It doesn’t mean anything, it doesn’t give us W’s.”
While Andersen said the overall quality and talent of the team is much improved since 2009, beyond his first year as USU head coach doesn’t mean anything unless it translates into wins. More talent means higher expectations, and Andersen recognizes this.
“This program, at this point, in my opinion, deserves to have some expectations and with expectations comes criticism,” Andersen said.
That increased criticism doesn’t bother Andersen, in fact he said he expects it.
“The criticism that comes,” Andersen said, “that is fine on me.”
With BYU waiting on the horizon, USU is only moving forward. The team has learned from Saturday’s loss and is ready for its next opponent.
“We came back last night, and we talked about the game,” Andersen said. “We evaluated the game and dissected it and moved on to the BYU game.”
The mental blow is not the only thing the Aggies are battling this week. With a Friday night game coming up, the football team has even less time to prepare for the upcoming matchup.
“We are used to these weeks and the short period has already been made up by the coaches,” Andersen said. “The short period has already been made up by the players.”
True-freshman quarterback Chuckie Keeton was on a recruiting visit the night the Aggies defeated the BYU Cougars last season, and he will get a chance to defeat the Cougars in front of a national audience in Provo, Friday.
“I think that a win can catapult you and that a loss can catapult you, and I think that a play can catapult you.” Andersen said.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu
Assistant sports editor Tyler Huskinson contributed to this report.