Utah State Picked Fourth In WAC Preseason Polls
Utah State was selected 2010 Western Athletic Conference football coaches’ poll and sixth in the league’s media poll, which were both released by the conference office Monday at the opening of the conference preview, held in Salt Lake City at the Airport Hilton.
The fourth-place pick is the highest that the Aggies have ever been picked in a WAC preseason poll. USU is entering its sixth season in the league. The highest previous pick was seventh, which had happened both last year when Utah State was picked seventh in both polls and in 2006 when USU was tabbed seventh in the media poll and tied for seventh in the coaches’ poll.
“Preseason polls really don’t mean anything, but everybody looks at them and everyone talks about them. Our focus is to finish the summer the right way and get ready for a great fall camp,” second-year Aggie head coach Gary Andersen said.
The Aggies collected 37 points in the coaches poll, selected by the league’s nine coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
“Being picked fourth by the coaches is a terrific sign of respect from the coaches in the conference, which to me is important. I think that is something that our team can look at as a positive in that they’re gaining the respect of the coaches in the league, and that’s important. Hopefully, that our team will look at that and grasp as a challenge,” Andersen said.
In the media poll, USU was tabbed sixth with 196 points, as only 11 points separated fourth from sixth-places.
Defending-champion Boise State was picked atop both polls, earning 64 points with eight first-place votes in the coaches’ poll, while picking up 386 points with 42 first-place votes in the media poll. Nevada and Fresno State were second and third, in both polls with 55 and 50 points in the coaches’ poll and 333 points and 300 points in the media poll, respectively with Nevada getting one first-place vote in each poll.
“The top three teams are pretty much what I would expect to be and after that, we’re all just in the mix of beating each other and going back and forth, and we’re all lumped in there at the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh spots, and that’s where we sit,” Andersen said.
Hawai’i (36 points) and Idaho (33 points) were fifth and sixth, respectively in the coaches’ poll, followed by Louisiana Tech in seventh (26 points), New Mexico State in eighth (14 points) and San Jose State (nine points).
The media tabbed Idaho fourth (207 points), followed by Louisiana Tech in fifth (200 points) and Utah State in sixth (196 points). Hawai’i was seventh (166 points), while New Mexico State was eighth (81 points) and San Jose State in ninth (66 points).
The media also voted on preseason players of the year. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was voted the Offensive Player of the Year, while Nevada defensive end Dontay Moch was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year.
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 WAC action, matching the 2008 season for top conference record in USU’s five years in the league.
USU opens fall camp Aug. 9 in preparation for the Aggies’ season-opener 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).
Aggie football season ticket renewal applications have been mailed out. Fans can also renew online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the “buy/renew tickets” under the “tickets” drop down menu.
For more ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) or (435) 797-0305.
WAC Coaches’ Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (8) 64
2. Nevada (1) 55
3. Fresno State 50
4. UTAH STATE 37
5. Hawai‘i 36
6. Idaho 33
7. Louisiana Tech 26
8. New Mexico State 14
9. San Jose State 9
WAC Media Poll
Rank Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Boise State (42) 386
2. Nevada (1) 333
3. Fresno State 300
4. Idaho 207
5. Louisiana Tech 200
6. UTAH STATE 196
7. Hawai‘i 166
8. New Mexico State 81
9. San Jose State 66