Football announces 2002 schedule
The Aggies will play 12 games a season, six of which will be at Romney Stadium for the next two seasons. This will be the first time Utah State University has had a six-game home season since 1998.
“Being an independent requires being creative, having to travel and provides less flexibility in terms of dates you want for home and away games,” USU director of Athletics Rance Pugmire said.
When scheduling, things such as conference week, Utah Educational Association meetings, deer hunt and Labor Day are considered, Pugmire said.
Former independent, the University of Central Florida, who the Aggies defeated 30-27 on Oct. 27 at Romney Stadium, entered the Mid-American Conference, making it impossible for the two teams to play.
The Golden Knights did find a replacement in Louisiana-Monroe, which was appreciated by USU.
“Hopefully things like that can be done by us in the future,” Pugmire said.
One major change between the 2001 season and the upcoming seasons is the issue of travel. The Aggies traveled more than 15,000 miles including trips to Florida, Connecticut and the lone trip to Fresno, Calif.
“We are playing teams that we are a little more familiar with geographically,” USU Head Coach Mick Dennehy said. “I think it is a little fairer schedule as far as where we are at in our program and maybe a little more accurate measuring stick as far as where we are at.”
The Aggies will open the next two seasons against the University of Utah, once at home and once on the road.
“It’s great to open the season with a rivalry,” USU quarterback Jose Fuentes said.
USU wide receiver Kevin Curtis said, “It’s always a big game. I can’t think of a better way to start the season off than with an in-state rival.”
Being Fuentes’ final season with the Aggies, he is especially excited to open the season at home against Utah.
“It’s going to be great to play them at home,” he said. “It’ll be great to have a home crowd cheering for us.”
Following the Oct. 4 match-up against BYU, the rivalry will go on hold until the 2005 season. From there, the odd-numbered years will be played in Provo while the even-numbered years will be played in Logan.
Fuentes hopes USU will play hard against the two teams and come out undefeated against in-state rivals at home next season, he said.
One of the most anticipated meetings will most likely be against Nebraska, a team Utah State will face on the road for two consecutive years.
“It’s good to be playing one of the powerhouses in the NCAA for the last 10 or 15 years,” Fuentes said. “They’ve always been good. We’re going to have to go in there and play one heck of a game.”