A look at Aggie opponents
By Julie Ann Grosshans
Sports Editor
In its second year as an Independent program, the Utah State University football team is looking to improve on its 4-7 finish last year.
“Camp has gone very well,” USU Head Coach Mick Dennehy said. “We are about as healthy and full-roster as we can possibly hopt to be at this time.”
Here is a glance at the Aggies 2002 and their opponents:
UTAH STATE
2001 Record…………………4-7
Conference……………………Independent
Head Coach…………………..Mick Dennehy
Record at USU……………….9-13, third year
Surface…………………………Bent Bluegrass
Lettermen Returning………38
Key player lost: Emmett White who led the NCAA in all-purpose yardage with 1,322 yards rushing and brought in 47 receptions last season. White was injured in the final game against Fresno State where he came away with just five yards.
Key offensive players returning: Kevin Curtis (senior, receiver); David Fiefia (junior, tailback); Jose Fuentes (senior, quarterback); Steve Mullins (senior, punter); Casey Poppinga (junior, tight end); Roger (Fernandez) Robinson (sophomore, tailback); Jim Newton (senior, left guard); Gary Coleman (senior, receiver); Chris Stallworth (junior, receiver).
Key defensive players returning: Jesse Busta (senior, linebacker); Ade Jimoh (senior, cornerback); Nate Putnam (junior, left end); Jamar Glasper (senior, safety); Derrek Shank (junior, safety); Jorge Tapia (junior, tackle).
Did you know: The Aggies are 9-7 against unranked teams under Dennehy.
UTAH
2001 Record………………..8-4
Conference…………………..Mountain West
Head Coach………………….Ron McBride
Record at Utah……………..83-57, 13th year
Surface………………………..Field Turf
Lettermen Returning……..44
Last Meeting………………..Sept. 1, 2001
(23-19 Utah)
About the Utes: Facing possibly their hardest schedule to date, the Utes take on Indiana, Arizona and Michigan on consecutive weekends. The team will look to match its success of last season’s win over USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Did you know: Six of the last 11 meetings between the Aggies and the Utes have been decided by one score or less.
NEBRASKA
2001 Record…………………11-2
Conference……………………Big 12
Head Coach…………………..Frank Solich
Record at Nebraska………..42-9, fifth year
Surface…………………………Field Turf
Lettermen Returning………57
Last Meeting…………………Sept. 7, 1991
(59-28 Nebraska)
About the Cornhuskers: Having a 21-game winning streak at Memorial Stadium, Nebraska has eight of its 13 regular season games there, including the Sept. 7 matchup against Utah State. The Cornhuskers will likely have big holes to fill with the absence of Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Eric Crouch, offensive guard Toniu Fonoti and cornerback Keyuo Craver.
Did you know: The Cornhuskers hold a 6-0 all-time advantage over the Aggies.
IDAHO STATE
2001 Record…………………4-7
Conference……………………Big Sky
Head Coach…………………..Larry Lewis
Record at Idaho State…….14-19, fourth year
Surface…………………………Turf
Lettermen Returning………39
Last Meeting………………….Oct. 20, 2001 (28-27 Utah State)
About the Bengals: ISU will return quarterback Doug Baughman, linebacker Bart Brooks, defensive lineman Jare Allen, punter Eddie Johnson and wide receiver Brett Fowler. The Bengals hoped to put together back-to-back winning seasons last year, but failed to do so falling in four close games.
Did you know: The Aggies rallied from a 27-0 deficit to win 28-27 against ISU last year.
IOWA
2001 Record………………..7-5
Conference……………..Big 10
Head Coach…..Kirk Ferentz
Record at UI: 11-24, fourth year
Surface………Natural Grass
Lettermen Returning……44
Last Meeting…..Sept. 28 1957 (70-14 Iowa)
About the Hawkeyes: Iowa led the Big 10 in scoring last season (32.6 points per game). The season before, the Hawkeyes averaged 16.9 points per game. Iowa won three of its final four games last year.
Did you know: Iowa won the 2002 Alamo Bowl.
BOISE STATE
2001 Record……………….8-4
Conference………..WAC
Head Coach…Dan Hawkins
Record at BSU…….
8-4, second year
Surface……….Astro Turf
Lettermen Returning……40
Last Meeting…
Nov. 11, 2000 (66-38 Boise State)
About the Broncos: After Boise State was not invited to a bowl game for the first time in three years last season, the Broncos have luck on their side this year as the top four teams they played at last year have to go into Bronco Stadium in 2002.
Did you know: While both teams were members of the Big West Conference from 1996-2000, the teams played each other five times.
BYU
2001 Record………12-2
Conference…Mountain West
Head Coach..Gary Crowton
Record at BYU……12-2,
second year
Surface………………….Grass
Lettermen Returning……40
Last Meeting…..Oct. 5,
2001 (54-34 BYU)
About the Cougars: BYU lost junior Luke Staley to the NFL draft and are forced to look for a replacement for quarterback Brandon Doman. The Cougars hope to repeat the school’s first-ever outright Mountain West Conference championship.
Did you know: There are two brother combinations on the teams, including the Poppingas (Casey with USU and Brady with BYU) and the Stephens (Jake with USU and Brandon with BYU).
NEW MEXICO
2001 Record………………6-5
Conference…Mountain West
Head Coach……Rocky Long
Record at New Mexico…….
18-28, fifth year
Surface……..Natural Grass
Lettermen Returning…..40
Last Meeting…….Sept. 12,
1998 (39-36 UNM, 3ot)
About the Lobos: New Mexico lists a run at a bowl game and a conference title as goals for the upcoming season and will look to do so behind junior quarterback Casey Kelly.
Did you know: The last two meetings between the Aggies and the Lobos have been decided by three points.
LA MONROE
2001 Record…………….2-9
Conference………Sun Belt
Head Coach..Bobby Keasler
Record at LA Monroe……..
8-25, fourth year
Surface…….Natural Grass
Lettermen Returning……54
Last Meeting……………N/A
About the Indians: Concerned about offensive consistency, there has only been one time in 22 games where the Indians have scored more than 21 points. LA Monroe has a new offensive coordinator and two assistants who have given the program new enthusiasm.
Did you know: The Indians receiver coach Mike Trevathan spent two years as an assistant at Utah State (2000-01).
NEW MEXICO STATE
2001 Record…………….5-7
Conference……..Sun Belt
Head Coach….Tony Samuel
Record at NMS…….19-37, sixth year
Surface…….Bermuda Grass
Lettermen Returning……41
Last Meeting………….Nov. 2, 2000 (44-37 USU)
About the Aggies: A 4-2 league record last season was the best in the Sun Belt Conference since 1993. Changing defensive schemes last season, the Aggies improved from 102nd in pass efficiency defense to 66th.
Did you know: The Utah State Aggies won 19 straight games against the New Mexico Aggies dating from 1968-1998.
TROY STATE
2001 Record……………7-4
Conference……Independent
Head Coach..Larry Blakeney
Record at TS….98-34-1,
12th year
Surface…….Natural Grass
Lettermen Returning……48
Last Meeting…………..N/A
About the Tr
ojans: The most challenging schedule in school history, the Trojans will face Arkansas, Iowa State, Marshall, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska and UAB. The biggest challenge for Troy State looks to be who will replace quarterback Brock Nutter, who graduated last year.
Did you know: This will be Utah State’s first trip to the state of Alabama.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
2001 Record…………….8-3
Conference………..Sun Belt
Head Coach…Andy McCollum
Record at MT……….17-16, fourth year
Surface……Artificial Turf
Lettermen Returning……46
Last Meeting………..N/A
About the Blue Raiders: Losing quarterback Wes Counts and receiver Kendall Newson, both of which held practically every school record, will pose a challenge for Middle Tennessee. The team does have its entire starting offensive line returning and a trio of running backs.
Did you know: The Nov. 30 game is the third deepest into the calendar year USU will play a regular season game.
-JUAG@cc.usu.edu