COLUMN: Idaho game has huge implications for Guy
College football aficionados aren’t going to title this Saturday’s USU-Idaho match-up as a “big game.”
For the college football world as a whole, it isn’t. The highlights (if there are any) won’t be seen on ESPN or ABC. They probably won’t even be given much of a glimpse by any of the big three Salt Lake stations.
This is understandable for the obvious reasons.
It’s a game between two of the worst teams in Division I football (Idaho was 1-11 last year, USU 2-10).
In disgust, some have called it the “Toilet Bowl.”
However, for Aggie football fans — and Brent Guy advocates in particular — Saturday’s game is huge. Now at 6-32 in just over three seasons as USU head coach, Guy’s future probably hinges on whether his team beats Idaho.
Think about it: If the Aggies don’t beat Idaho, there are very strong indications the team will finish 1-11 or (gasp!) 0-12, fulfilling Sports Illustrated’s preseason prediction to finish as No. 119 out of 119.
Is it reasonable to keep a coach that has been consistent in the wrong way for four years? It’s a tough call — especially with the $200,000-plus USU would owe Guy for the final year on his contract.
After Idaho, the schedule is not win-friendly for USU. There is BYU, San Jose State, Nevada, Fresno State, Hawaii, Boise State, Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State. New Mexico State was the only team the Aggies were able to humiliate a year ago.
In certain ways the Vandals are a lot like USU — porous on defense, stagnant on offense and not too familiar with the win column. Of all the games in which the Aggies actually have a decent chance of winning this year, it is against the Idaho Vandals. Don’t forget: this is one of the two teams the Aggies beat to end last season.
This season, however, the Vandals have a victory (though it came against Pocatello’s Idaho State Bengals). For a team that struggles with losing, the value of a victory must not be underestimated.
The question is: can a victory against the Vandals turn this season around?
It’s highly unlikely to help the Aggies do anything against ferocious teams like BYU, Fresno State or Boise State, but for the remainder of Western Athletic Conference games it will be key.
Just listen to these powerful words from senior Aggie wide receiver Otis Nelson after the loss to Utah.
“We don’t know how to win,” he said. “We need to come out in practice this week and play as hard as we can and get a win. Hopefully it will turn the demeanor of the team around.”
Guy reiterated Nelson’s comments on the value of a victory at this stage of the season.
“Idaho has won a game. We have not,” Guy said. “We have to figure out a way to win a football game.”
Guy knows better than anybody his circumstances and what will happen if wins don’t start coming more frequently. He realizes as clearly as the most disgruntled fan (or player) where he is falling short.
“Obviously they’re not listening or I’m not communicating what we need to get done to win a football game,” Guy said Saturday. “[Saturday’s game] was one of the worst performances I have coached and I take total responsibility for it.”
We all should have known the Idaho game was the one that really mattered. For those who paid $30 to watch the loss to the Utes, I feel for you. But, then again, you should have known better and watched it on KJZZ.
Sammy Hislop is a senior majoring in public relations. Comments can be sent to him at samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu