Aggie disappointment an improvement from the past

This has been a disappointing year for Utah State fans. The football team had its first losing season since 2010 and the basketball team is struggling in Tim Duryea’s first season as head coach.

However, I would rather feel disappointment than nothing at all.

USU’s football program has only produced eight seasons with six or more wins in the last 35 years but the 2015 team’s 6-7 record is widely considered a failure by Aggie fans.

Utah State’s football program was a disaster ten years ago and some fans have already forgotten. Former head coach Brent Guy led the 2006 Aggies to a 1-11 record but not too many fans were disappointed because they were too busy paying attention to the basketball team.

Aggie basketball won four-straight Western Athletic Conference championships from 2008-2011 and had eight NCAA tournament appearances from 2000 until 2011, the most recent time USU was invited to the tournament.

Aggie fans have been blessed with a wildly successful basketball tradition. USU hasn’t had a losing season since 1993. It’s so hard to watch this year’s team struggle because the program has been so successful for such a long time.

It’s okay to feel disappointment. David Collette won’t be able to leave the team two days before next season starts. Duryea will have gained experience in his first season and hopefully football won’t be as much like a roller coaster as last season.

There’s never been a more exciting time to be an Aggie fan. The future is bright. The teams are competitive and programs are competitive enough to disappoint.

Lets just hope there’s a little more celebrating next season.

— Ben Fordham is studying public relations in his third year at Utah State. Ben is a huge fan of Aggie Athletics and the Buffalo Bills. Contact him via email at bfordhamsix@gmail.com or on Twitter @bfordham6.