OUR VIEW: Stew needs support before its too late

Last week, long-time Utah men’s basketball coach Rick Majerus announced he would resign at the end of the season. Almost the instant the press release was delivered to media outlets around the country, speculation about who would replace him began.

The main candidate in much of that speculation? Utah State Head Coach Stew Morrill.

During the past six years, Morrill has built a basketball program that receives national attention and respect, graduates the majority of its players and provides exciting basketball for the fans. His players do well in school, are good additions to the community and leave USU as better people for having been associated with Morrill and his coaching staff.

While it is always possible Morrill and his staff could leave for a coaching job at another school, we hope not. Students, faculty and supporters of USU should feel the same way.

Few things at USU get the school as much exposure and media coverage as the men’s basketball team. This year, the team is on the verge of breaking into the Top 25 for the first time in more than 30 years. It is riding a 14-game win streak and is playing in front of capacity crowds in the Spectrum.

Everyone needs to keep the support coming. The crowd for Saturday’s game against Long Beach State was the seventh largest in Spectrum history – the largest since 1983. This extraordinary level of support should continue for the final four home games.

Support Morrill and his team – they’ve got something pretty amazing going on.