Utah State Football Starts Fall Camp Monday

– Utah State football opens fall practice on Monday, Aug. 9, hitting the turf of Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium in two groups, the first from 9 – 10:30 a.m. and the second from 10:30 a.m. – Noon.

The Aggies will open fall camp and the second season under head coach Gary Andersen on Monday, beginning their five-day acclimation period in helmets, practice jerseys and shorts for the first two practices.  USU will don shoulder pads for the next two practices before moving up to Saturday’s first full pads practice and the first two-a-day.

“We’re excited to get going.  Our complete recruiting class is here and ready to go.  I think our kids have done a nice job of preparing through all of their hard work in summer workouts, from what I’ve been told,” Andersen said.  “We’ll get a full evaluation of how much work they did over the summer in the first couple practices, but the kids and coaches are excited to start fall camp and prepare for the upcoming season.”

All practices from Aug. 9 through Aug. 21 are tentatively open to the public, but they must remain off the field.  When USU is on the practice field, all fans must stay outside of the fence and when the Aggies are on Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium, fans must remain in the stands at all times.  All practices from Aug. 23 through Sept. 3 are closed to the public.  All open practices are subject to change.

USU’s final scrimmage of the fall will be in association with Utah State Aggie Football Family Fun Day, sponsored by Macey’s Foods, and will be held on Saturday, August 21 at Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium. The event provides fans a chance to meet USU football players and coaches, participate in games and activities as well as purchase season tickets.

Activities sponsored by Macey’s Foods will begin at 12:30 p.m., on the South Concourse of Romney Stadium. USU’s football scrimmage gets underway at 1 p.m.

Season tickets as well as two-game packages will be also available for purchase at the USU Football Family Fun Day on Saturday, Aug. 21 at the Romney Stadium Box Office, which is located on the South end of Romney Stadium.  Season tickets will also be available for pickup for fans that ordered reserved west or east side season tickets prior to July 20, as well as anyone who purchased general admission, Junior Aggie, or family plan tickets.  Fans that ordered reserved west or east side season tickets after July 20 will need to pick up their tickets from the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Ticket Office the week of the first home game beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Utah State will return 45 letterwinners (20 offense, 22 defense, three special teams), including 20 starters (eight offense, nine defense, three special teams), from last season’s 4-8 mark, the Aggies’ most wins since 2002. Utah State was 3-5 in Western Athletic Conference action, matching the 2008 season for top conference record in USU’s five years in the league.

USU opens the 2010 season at Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 4, which is tentatively slated for a 5 p.m. (MT) start, while Utah State’s home-opener is Saturday, Sept. 11 vs. border-foe Idaho State at 6 p.m. (MT).

To purchase tickets, or for more Aggie football ticket information, fans can contact the USU Ticket Office at 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305, in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or on-line 24 hours a day at www.utahstateaggies.com under the “tickets” drop down menu.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

USU Football Practice Dates, Times and Locations
Mon., Aug. 9 – 9 a.m.-Noon – Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium
Tues., Aug. 10 – 9 a.m.-Noon – Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium
Wed., Aug. 11 – 9:15-11:15 a.m. – Practice Field
Thurs., Aug. 12 – 9:15-11:15 a.m. – Practice Field
Fri., Aug. 13 – 9:15-11:15 a.m. – Practice Field
Sat., Aug. 14 – 9-10:45 a.m. / 4:55-6:25 p.m. – Practice Field  ** First two-a-day
Mon., Aug. 16 – 9-10:45 a.m. / 4:55-6:25 p.m. – Practice Field
Tues., Aug. 17 – 9-10:45 a.m. – Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium
Wed., Aug. 18 –  9-10:45 a.m. / 4:55-6:25 p.m. – Practice Field
Thurs., Aug. 19 – 9-11 a.m. – Practice Field
Fri., Aug. 20 – 9-10:45 a.m. / 4:55-6:25 p.m. – Practice Field
Sat., Aug. 21 – 1 p.m. ** Scrimmage – part of Aggie Football Family Fun Day – Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium **
Mon., Aug. 23 — Sat., Aug. 28 – Closed Practices
End of training camp
Mon., Aug. 30 — Fri., Sept. 3 – Closed Practices

*** Note: Fans coming to open practices must remain off the field.  When USU is on the practice field, all fans must stay outside of the fence and when the Aggies are on Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium, fans must remain in the stands at all times.  All practices from Aug. 23 through Sept. 3 are closed to the public.  All open practices are subject to change