A Cougar sighting in Logan
There is no question it’s a highly anticipated match up.
The proof: Friday’s Utah State football game against BYU sold out in less than two days.
Not only are the fans hyped up for the 7 p.m. kickoff at Romney Stadium, but so are the Aggies and Cougars.
“They will be excited about playing this football game,” said Utah State Head Coach Mick Dennehy. “I am glad that we have them in our house. We have been on the road three of the last four [games] and it feels like it is time to settle in here and get ready.”
The Cougars are facing a similar situation of becoming more acquainted with the road than their own stadium.
Like Boise State though, BYU had a bye week prior to playing Utah State.
“It’s hard not to play a game during a week,” said BYU Head Coach Gary Crowton at his weekly media luncheon. “I watched some of the games and it’s just hard not to play. Even though you need the break, it’s just hard to sit and watch. I would rather just be out there playing. It will be good to get out this week and go up there.”
Regarding the question of who will start at quarterback for the Cougars, Crowton said the position was never really opened up for anyone except Bret Engemann.
Although Crowton said he is willing to look at all of the athletes for playing time, he wants to find consistency with Engemann.
“He is very talented,” Crowton said of his quarterback. “If he has a consistency about him, he can be very good.”
As far as anyone to back Engemann up, the Cougars coach isn’t saying. Crowton said he tends to make decisions on the needs of the game, but he did list Matt Berry as someone who has been more aggressive as of late.
Dennehy said no matter who plays the position for BYU, the Aggies will be ready.
He said Lance Pendleton also brings the Cougars to “their whole package” offense. However, the real key to the game is Marcus Whalen.
“I think Whalen is a great football player,” Dennehy said. “I do know that he’s a very dynamic football player and he gives them some things in the running game that we are going to have to stand in strong.
“They are just so doggone big and physical up front on offense that he takes their running game to a very nice level.”
Whalen will be on the trip, but will most likely not play against the Aggies.
Crowton said his star tailback has some nagging injuries that the coach himself suffered as a player. Given one more week, Crowton said he thinks Whalen will be at 100 percent.
Curtis Brown will receive the start for BYU.
“He’s young and obviously he is going to make some mistakes, but I do believe that as the game goes on he will get better and better,” Crowton said.
Dennehy said he feels his team is getting better at the things it has been working on.
He said the offense came to life against Boise State, but the team still lacks the knowledge of knowing when to step up and make big plays.
And although the team did have some defensive stands, Dennehy said he felt the team lapsed defensively against the Broncos.
Dennehy said the defense made stops against Boise State and then the offense turned the ball over and vice versa.
“We really haven’t played together as an offensive unit and a defensive unit particularly,” he said. “We don’t make the plays we are capable of making.”
-juag@cc.usu.edu