Can Ags go from worst to first?
Come Saturday, there could be a jump from worst to first for the USU football team.
Saturday’s USU-Idaho game marks the first 2008 match-up of Western Athletic Conference teams (and the only such game during the weekend).
Therefore, a victory for the Aggies (0-0 in WAC, 0-3 overall) would propel them from last to first in the league, if only for a week.
But whatever way the game is looked at, it’s a must-win for USU.
“Every game is a must-win,” USU senior wide receiver Otis Nelson said. “It’s WAC play and of course we want to win in WAC play. Every game is a must-win. We don’t have the luxury of taking games off.”
Aggie head coach Brent Guy had similar thoughts.
“I think (this game) is important for the fact that you need to win your first game and get started off on the right foot, and this is our first WAC game,” said Guy, who is now a wobbly 6-32 in his time at USU. “The WAC standings are strictly off conference games, and getting the first one and starting 1-0 is always something we talk about as a team.”
Especially this season when two of USU’s remaining nine opponents (No. 14 BYU, No. 25 Fresno State) are in the Top 25, and another (Boise State) will most likely be in with a win at No. 17 Oregon this week.
“This adversity is something that builds us as men,” said USU redshirt freshman defensive end Junior Keiaho. “We just have to stay poised and stay mentally tough. Opening up the WAC will give us a chance to get ourselves to a bowl game. That is our focus right now.”
The game appears to be USU’s most winnable of the season for at least two reasons.
First, the Vandals are one of two teams the Aggies beat last year (USU won 24-19 in Moscow, Idaho). It should be noted, however, that the Aggies were held scoreless for the final 20-plus minutes of the game, and the Vandals were 24 yards away from taking the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Second, though the Vandals have a victory, it came against the Idaho State Bengals (a 42-27 victory over a Division I-AA team). The Vandals were crushed 70-0 in their season opener against Arizona; last week at home they flopped against Western Michigan, 51-28.
The Vandals’ passing game – though 85th in the nation at 184 yards per game – must be respected by USU’s 102-ranked passing defense.
Vandal sophomore quarterback Nathan Enderle is third in the WAC and 59th in the NCAA in passing efficiency (128.8). His primary target is senior wide receiver Eddie Williams, who is tied for fourth in the league and 89th in the nation in receptions per game (4.7).
Idaho is led on defense by junior strong safety Shiloh Keo, who is averaging just under nine tackles per game. The Vandals are 100th nationally in total defense, allowing 440 yards per game.
“I think that we had our worst offensive performance last week against a very good defense, and we will have to improve dramatically to match their numbers,” Guy said.
–samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu