Aggies picked toward bottom in pre-season football polls

Utah State and fellow first-year Western Athletic Conference programs, New Mexico State and Idaho, were not given much respect in the league’s preseason football polls released on Thursday.

Brent Guy’s first USU football team was picked eighth in the nine-team league by both the media and the coaches. The coaches selected New Mexico State seventh and Idaho ninth, while the media thinks NMSU can finish sixth with the Vandals ninth. The media poll listed San Jose State seventh.

Three-time defensding champion Boise State is the number one choice in the media poll while the Broncos share the top spot with Fresno State in the coaches’ poll. Both polls list Hawai’I third and then flip flop Louisiana Tech and Nevada at fourth and fifth.

At Thursday’s WAC media day here, Guy was asked about the Aggies playing in their first year in the WAC. “It is a challenge, but this is where we want to be and where our fans have waited a long time to be,” he said.

“We have a lot of questions still unanswered,” Guy said about his team. “We still have 29 practices to put this football team together.”

Guy mentioned the fact the team has not selected a starting quarterback entering fall drills. In addition, a number of players that are potential starters did not suit up this Spring due to injuries, including tight end Jason Stephens, offensive guard Pace Jorgensen, linebacker D.J. Brookter, and safety Terrance Washington among others.

Guy also pointed to a lack of depth on the team and the fact USU has only 75 scholarship players, 10 under the NCAA maximum of 85.

USU’s strengths offensively are at wide receiver according to Guy. The Aggies return both of their top wide receivers from a year ago in Kevin Robinson and Tony Pennyman. Robinson pulled in 44 balls for 602 yards and three touchdowns, while Pennyman was right behind with 43 receptions for 598 yards and two scores.

“Those are guys that can make plays and we need to get the football in their hands as much as we can,” Guy said.

Defensively USU is switching to a 4-3 front instead of the 3-4 alignment the Aggies used under the previous coaching staff. “We are putting guys in better position to make plays,” he said.

The Aggies will report to Logan on August 9 and will have their first practice on August 10.

Season tickets are available on-line through the USU athletic department website at www.UtahStateAggies.com, by calling toll free 1-888-U-STATE-1 or (435) 797-0305 or at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. USU opens its 2005 season hosting Nicholls State on Sept. 3 at `1:05 p.m. The Aggies will play six home games this year including contests agaisnt UNLV, San Jose State, Boise State, Louisiana Tech, and Nevada.

WAC MEDIA POLL1. Boise State 499 (43)2. Fresno State 470 (14)3. Hawai’I 3394. Nevada 3365. Louisiana Tech 3256. New Mexico State 1817. San Jose State 1758. UTAH STATE 1259. Idaho 115

WAC COACHES POLLS1. Boise State 60Fresno State 603. Hawai’I 504. Louisiana Tech 375. Nevada 356. San Jose State 287. New Mexico State 218. UTAH STATE 209. Idaho 13

MEDIA PRESEASON PLAYERS OF THE YEAROffense – Jared Zabranskky, Boise State, QuarterbackDefense – Garrett McIntyre, Fresno State, Lineman