Transfer, retire, Italy, hiatus, quit: the top USU sports stories from the summer of 2008
1. Riley Nelson transfers to the Cougars
In May, while serving an LDS mission in Barcelona, Spain, Riley Nelson decided his quarterbacking efforts would be better suited for BYU.
In a May 27 KFAN radio interview, Nelson’s father, Keith, said BYU recruiters had “casual conversations about Riley” at the beginning of 2008 with Mike Favero, Riley’s high school football coach.
An official recruiting call came from BYU coaches. Keith sent a regular weekly e-mail to Riley to ask if he was interested, and Riley said he was.
About a month later Riley let his family know he felt he should transfer to BYU, Keith said.
Nelson is scheduled to return from his mission in March 2009.
In 2006 as a true freshman, Riley was inserted as the starting quarterback for Game 6-Homecoming versus Fresno State. Nelson threw the game-winning touchdown to current Kansas City Chiefs return man Kevin Robinson.
In the next game at San Jose State, Nelson set the school single-game completion percentage record by completing 21-of-24 passes (84 percent). He threw for 874 yards on the season.
2. Corn retires from USU gymnastics after 31 years
Citing health reasons, Ray Corn announced his retirement from his head-coaching spot of the USU gymnastics squad in late May.
“It’s been an incredible 31-year ride,” Corn said in a statement. “This is a tremendous institution and it has been my pleasure and honor to be the Aggies’ gymnastics coach. Unfortunately the physical demands of college gymnastics have become too much. I look forward to cheering from the stands and I wish the team and the girls nothing but the best.”
Jeff Richards was named as Corn’s replacement July 31.
In his 31 years at USU, Corn led the Aggies to the postseason 26 times-including five trips to the national championships. In his first season the team finished 30-4; the next year they made the first of four consecutive trips to the AIAW National Championships.
Corn coached three All-Americans, three Olympians, two World Championship competitors and had nine gymnasts qualify for the NCAA National Championships. His gymnasts have received 92 academic all-conference awards.
3. Carroll to play for Italian team
Though he is USU’s all-time leading scorer and had impressive NBA Summer League performances, Jaycee Carroll was not guaranteed a spot in the NBA.
During the first week of August Carroll signed on to play professional basketball in Italy for Siviglia Wear Teramo.
He reports to the team Monday for a physical.
The NBA’s Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns invited the former Aggie great to participate in their fall camps, but no offer came with a guarantee that he would make the roster.
In the Orlando Pro Summer League Carroll put in 13.6 points per game-third best on the team. In the Rocky Mountain Revue he had a 22-point outing against the Utah Jazz.
4. Ags, Utes take two-year hiatus from rivalry
For two consecutive seasons-beginning in 2010-the USU and University of Utah football teams will not play each other.
The purposes of the hiatus is to help the Aggies win more games and have six home games each year; it allowed the Utes to schedule Notre Dame in 2010.
“We are committed to continue our series with Utah long term,” USU first-year Director of Athletics Scott Barnes said. “Short term, we needed some open dates … to execute our plan for a more balanced schedule.”
This season the Aggies host the Utes Sept. 13. In 2009 USU will travel to Rice-Eccles Stadium. The schools have a contract to play each other each year between 2012-2015; agreements are being made to play in 2016 and 2017.
“I’m glad our rivalry with Utah is just suspended and not discontinued,” USU head football coach Brent Guy said. “This allows us the ability to schedule six home games, which is important to our fans and to the continued development of our program.”
The series is the 12th longest in the nation at 107 games. The Aggies have not beat the Utes since 1997.
5. McCormick quits Aggie football team
Jase McCormick failed to show up to Day 1 of USU’s fall football camp; the next day he informed head coach Brent Guy he was leaving the team.
Guy cited the fact that McCormick “has had some major life changes” and that “his focus is different” as reasons for an abrupt departure.
McCormick would have been the most experienced returning quarterback for the Aggies. In four games in 2007, he completed 25-of-40 passes for 258 yards, threw two touchdowns and five interceptions.
USU senior Sean Setzer-who threw and completed one pass in 2007-is left as the next in line with game experience and will be the team’s starter for Game 1 at UNLV. He took one live snap in 2007 against Boise State-a 2-yard pass completion.
6. Calvillo climbing CFL charts
On June 26 Anthony Calvillo-former USU quarterback and current signal caller for the Montreal Alouettes-became the second-leading passer in Canadian Football History.
His team won the game, 33-10.
Calvillo’s time at USU included a standout year (1993) for the football program. The Aggies finished 7-5, including what would be termed today an instant classic: a 58-56 victory over BYU.
USU ended the year on a six-game winning streak-including a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Ball State. That was the last bowl victory for USU.
Though it was 15 years ago, Calvillo still holds the Aggies’ single-season total offense school record of 3,260 yards in 1993, as well as a school record 469 passing attempts that season.
7. Current, former Aggies play in Women’s Premier Soccer League
Former USU women’s soccer star Charity Weston earned all-Pacific Conference first team honors in the Women’s Premier Soccer League.
Nine others with USU ties also participated in the league.
Current Aggie seniors Candice Clark and Alyssa Lowry, as well as sophomore Sefani Shiozaki, each played for Salt Lake City Sparta.
Aggie juniors Sydney Porter, Lindsey Smart, Erin Salmon and incoming freshmen Shantel Flanary played for the Utah Spiders.
USU sophomores Lauren Hansen and Heather Pond competed for the U-19 Celtic Storm.
8. Two new assistants in basketball
Tarvish Felton replaced James Ware as new assistant coach of the men’s basketball team. Ware took a job at Santa Clara.
Felton brings seven years of coaching experience to USU.
The women’s team hired Astou Ndiaye-Diatta as a new assistant.
Ndiaye-Diatta played in the WNBA for seven seasons and the Senegal National Team in 1998.
-samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu