Utah State looks to upset No. 23 Cornhuskers
It’s déjà vu all over again.
Last season Utah State opened the year with a loss at the University of Utah before heading east to take on the University of Nebraska.
The Aggies began this year in similar fashion, losing to the Utes and now preparing to take on the Cornhuskers again.
While the scene looks familiar to Aggie fans, last year’s Nebraska team found itself in uncharted territory.
When the Aggies went to Lincoln last September, Nebraska was ranked ninth in the AP poll. The Cornhuskers rolled over USU by a margin of 44-13, but by the end of the month had dropped out of the Top 25 for the first time in 348 consecutive weeks. They finished the season with seven losses, their most defeats since 1961.
Though the 2002 Nebraska team didn’t live up to expectations, Utah State Head Coach Mick Dennehy thinks this year’s Cornhuskers are back on track.
With a 17-7 win last Saturday over No. 24 Oklahoma State, Nebraska moved back in to the Top 25 at No. 23 and bumped the Cowboys from the poll.
Dennehy had nothing but praise for the Cornhuskers’ victory over the Cowboys.
“What we saw against a very good Oklahoma State football team was about as dominating a performance as we probably could have imagined,” Dennehy said. “It looked like Nebraska made a decision to go back and play football the way Nebraska has always played football.”
The Cornhuskers rushed for 268 yards against the Cowboy defense, led by Josh Davis’ 95 yards and quarterback Jamaal Lord’s 90 yards on the ground. Lord completed eight for 16 passing for 78 yards through the air.
The Cornhuskers also got help from their defense when linebacker Barrett Ruud returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
The Aggies were less fortunate against Utah, scoring only half as many points as the Utes.
Even though the Aggies lost the game, Dennehy said his team has made some progress, but should have scored another seven to 10 points against the Utes with a little more discipline.
“I think that we can play better,” Dennehy said. “Often times you work so hard moving the ball into scoring position, into the red zone, that when you get down there, you have got to fight like hell to make sure that you come away with points.”
The Aggies had some costly penalties, most notably one that brought back a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by Mark Estelle.
USU’s offense gained 357 total yards and was good enough to lead the Sun Belt Conference after one week. Travis Cox passed for 280 yards, also best in the conference.
Even though the Aggies have never beaten Nebraska in seven tries, Cornhuskers’ Head Coach Frank Solich said he isn’t about to let his players overlook Utah State.
“You need to prepare the same way regardless of who is coming to town,” Solich said. “There are enough athletes on every team in the country, if you aren’t playing your best game and you aren’t getting ready to play your best game, you could lose a ball game when you are favored.”
Solich said Nebraska would prepare for USU with the same intensity it prepared for Oklahoma State.
“We expect Utah State to play very hard,” Solich said.
An Aggie win would mark only the second time USU has beaten a ranked opponent. Utah State beat 25th ranked Fresno State in 1991.
The game will be televised on the Fox Sports Net at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
-royburton@cc.usu.edu
UTAH STATE TIGHT END Chris Cooley is brought down by Utes Arnold Parker (17) and Bo Nagahi (22) last Thursday. Cooley was voted to the Sun Belt Conference’s preseason all-conference team and is on the Mackey Award watch list for the nation’s best tight end. (Photo by Ryan Talbot)