Friday, November 20, 2009

USU Lays It All Out but Offers No Serious Challenge to No. 6 Boise St.

Coach A postgame

Diondre Borel postgame

Bobby Wagner Postgame

Michael Smith Postgame

Today in the Football segment of the Bull Horn, we three amigos identified a few keys to the BSU-USU football game.
  1. Win the turnover battle
  2. Control the lines
  3. Limit the BSU big plays
  4. Score on every opportunity
For 25 minutes, Utah State did almost all of those and looked every bit as good as the Boise State Broncos they and every other WAC team seeks to emulate. Although USU turned the ball over twice, the Aggies matched the Broncos score for score through 25 minutes of football. Then reality set in and it all came crashing down when Boise State took a three TD lead on three scores in roughly six minutes.

The first score of that three TD lead came after Moore finally connected on one his many longball attempts. Moore launched a 52-yard bomb to Titus Young, who caught the ball on the USU 2-yard line even though Rajric Coleman was guilty of pass interference. Doug Martin walked in the score on the next play. The score, while unfortunate, was not demoralizing to the Aggies, as USU had equalized the score of the game twice to that point. Demoralization came on the next USU series.

Diondre Borel and the Ags started their drive on their own 20. On 1st and 10, Borel was sacked for a 9-yard loss by BSU's Shea McClellin. On 2nd and 18, Borel and Robert Turbin miscommunicated on the handoff, the ball came out, and Boise recovered on the USU 9. One play later, USU found itself down by two TDs.

Desperate to score and bring the margin down to seven, the Aggies started their drive, but got to midfield and stalled. Peter Caldwell kept the Broncos honest, putting the ball on the BSU 17-yard line. Caldwell's efforts were in vain, however. Boise marched 85 yards in 1:28 and took a 35-14 lead.

Boise wasted no time in the third. They marched and scored on their first drive, widening the lead to 28. USU managed to drive and score one later in the quarter, but a 52-yarder from Kyle Brotzman again widened the margin to four scores.

Going into the fourth, USU had one option - produce the same type of quarter BSU produced in the 2nd or roll over like a dead rag doll. The first possession by the Aggies was not encouraging. USU moved the ball about 40 yards and was forced to punt. BSU scored on the next possession. I would write more from here, but I don't want to rub any more salt into the senior-night wound.

The first 25 minutes were encouraging. USU showed a lot of spunk, character, fire, desire, and will to win. After the fumble on the USU nine, USU folded like a house of cards in a poker tournament. The final result was 52-21 for the Broncos.

On a more positive note, Michael Smith converted two 4th down plays on fake punts, and Turbin scored on a TD run. Borel didn't do too bad, but would have done better if he knew how to throw the ball away once in a while.

Well, that's football. USU is on the road next week to wind up the season against a team the Aggies steamrolled last year. The Idaho Vandals definitely appear to be on the right track this year though. They are a bowl team, after all. If USU wins next week, we will have won four games this year, which is one more than the Aggies managed last year.

Best of luck on the road and on the recruiting trail. I guess there's always next year...
-LMH

Aggie Bull Horn #88 - November 20, 2009 - Our Predictions


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #88 - November 20, 2009 - Our Predictions

Aggie Bull Horn #87 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Women's Ball & Cougar Kill Countdown


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #87 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Women's Ball & Cougar Kill Countdown

Aggie Bull Horn #86 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Hockey


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #86 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Hockey

Aggie Bull Horn #85 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Basketball


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #85 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Basketball

Aggie Bull Horn #84 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Football


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #84 - November 20, 2009 - Aggie Football

Aggie Bull Horn #83 - November 20, 2009 - Utah Jazz


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #83 - November 20, 2009 - Utah Jazz

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Utes Prevail Over the Aggies in a Close One, 68-67

Stew Morrill Postgame

Tai Wesley Postgame

Jared Quayle Postgame

The last time Utah State played Utah in Salt Lake City, the Utes punished the Aggies by double digits. The game wasn't even close. Last year in Logan, USU beat the Utes on a last-second Tai Wesley bank shot off the glass. The play had to be reviewed, but the points were confirmed and the Aggies came away with the victory. This year, the Aggies looked to stretch the win streak against the Utes to two, and for 28 minutes, it looked like the Ags would pull it off. The Aggies had a seven point lead about eight minutes into the second half, forcing Boylen to take a time out.

USU then went about 5 minutes without scoring, and Utah put up 11 straight. Utah State took a one or two point lead a couple times during the last twelve minutes, but Utah was able to make the shots when it counted.

Stew was not pleased at all with his team's effort after the game, and I don't blame him. The Ags gave the ball away way too many times. USU finished with 17 turnovers and shot under the 49% hallmark shooting percentage. The Aggies did play very good defense. Indeed, the defense was what kept the Ags in the game for the most part. When the game came right down to it, however, USU couldn't make the shot when it counted, and that's why the Utes came away from the win.

Jared Quayle played like a mad man in the second half. Quayle was the reason the team even was relevant. He went 5-7 from 3-point land in the game, scored 27 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. When Quayle took a rest for because of foul troubles, USU didn't manage to score. Bendall and Wesley played decently, but Quayle was the real shining star from the Aggie Side.

On the other side of the ball, the real standout was Carlon Brown. He was Utah's leading scorer and gave USU plenty of troubling looks defensively.

The 2-guard spot was an absolute black hole for the Ags in SLC. Tyler Newbold went 0-5 from 3-point land, including a wide open three that would have tied the game with nine seconds left. He scored his first bucket of the game in the final minute, and it was a lay-up. Stew mentioned in his interview that he knew Tyler didn't play well. He'll bounce back.

USU now hits the road for Boston and Northwestern. The Aggies will face off in the Eastern Time Zone against a very imposing foe. If USU plays like it did tonight, we'll be looking at a 1-2 Aggie team next week when it returns home.

And since this is also a personal blog, I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate HATE the U. They make my entire existence miserable.

Aggie Bull Horn #81 - USU-Utah 2nd half play-by-play


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #81 - USU-Utah 2nd half play-by-play

Aggie Bull Horn #77 - USU-Utah 1st Half Play-by-Play


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #77 - USU-Utah 1st Half Play-by-Play

Saturday, November 14, 2009

USU defeats San Jose State Spartans in Football

Gary Andersen Postgame

Rajric Coleman Postgame

Robert Turbin Postgame
Utah State football broke through this week for a third time. The Aggies checkmated the Spartans from San Jose, 24-9, in front of a very slim home crowd.

The big story in this game was Robert Turbin. The man is a beast. He ran for nearly 200 yards, passing the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Turbin's father was also in attendance at today's game. The signature play of Turbin's game today was a 37-yard TD run that began slow. Turbin drifted toward the left side of the field, and San Jose's entire defense shifted and gained momentum. Turbin saw it and came back the other way. Two cutbacks later, Turbin was in the endzone, celebrating a two TD lead.

On the downside, the defense still needs a lot of work, especially heading into the Boise game. One small bright spot shines in that USU allowed only 56 yards of rushing this week after being lit up by the Warriors last week on the islands. The downside? USU allowed 245 yards passing.

My thoughts on this game are scattered. Firstly, a winning record at home is awesome for this team. The completion of one of the teams major goals coming into this season should bring much excitement to the boosters and to the students. However, the Aggies played San Jose today. The Spartans only have one win this season, and that win came at the expense of Cal Poly. I know, right? A real college football Mecca... Next week, the Aggies can ruin everything for Boise State... and the WAC in general by beating the #5 team in the country. I am not sure this is something they can do, and even if they can, I don't know that winning is something USU should do. If Boise goes undefeated (and if TCU loses) the WAC will have its third BCS representative in five years. That means $$$ for the Aggies.

So you can see my dilemma heading into next week. Obviously, I want the Ags to pull it out. But watching Boise win again in the BCS will also make me happy.

All in all though, this win wraps up a great, great, great 24 hours for USU Athletics. The Ladies' Basketball team has beaten Utah, the men beat Weber on the road, and USU football finally got itself back to winning ways.

Go Aggies.
-lmh

Friday, November 13, 2009

Post Weber St Basketball Interviews

Stew Postgame

Jared Quayle

Tyler Newbold

Well, the Ags did it. Check off win number one on the road. Next week the Ags face Utah and Northeastern.

The big story in tonight's game was Tai Wesley's inability to stay in the game. The officials gave Tai 4 fouls in the first half, and he didn't come back into the game until only around 5 minutes remain.

Highlight of the game - Tyler Newbold calling out to the Spectrum on Wheels shortly before the end of the first half - Pure Spectrum road magic.

This is a team that has a lot of ground to gain and not a lot of time to do it, but they are only two wins away from a perfect road trip to start the season. With Idaho's huge upset in the Huntsman Center, I believe that USU chances to put the beat down on the Utes just went up quite a bit. Also, Idaho's win tells me at least that Don Verlin knows what he's doing up there in Moscow. There's another standout former Stew Morrill assistant coach making life a lot more interesting for the Aggies.

It was a good game. Let's go Aggies!

Aggie Bull Horn #70 - Game 1 - USUvWSU - Ogden - 2nd half


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #70 - Game 1 - USUvWSU - Ogden - 2nd half

Aggie Bull Horn #69 - Game 1 - USUvWSU - Ogden Utah - First Half

Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #69 - Game 1 - USUvWSU - Ogden Utah - First Half


In the first half, the Fusion HD3 plays of the game can be found at the following times in this file -
16:40
22:40
33:06
35:00
36:00

Keep it here for the second half.

Aggie Bull Horn #68 - November 13, 2009 - Basketball Segment


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #68 - November 13, 2009 - Basketball Segment

Aggie Bull Horn #67 - November 13, 2009 - Everything Else


Gabcast! Aggie Bull Horn #67 - November 13, 2009 - Everything Else

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Aggie Bull Horn #66 - 3rd Period Aggie Hockey at BYU

The Aggies went and put the beat down on Aggie Hockey Friday night in Provo - This is my play-by-play of the third period, which was by far the best of the game.

I have about half of the second period as well, but I chose not to post it because my recording is not very good, first of all, and second of all, the batteries in my recorder died. I arrived at the game with two minutes remaining in the first period.

If it ever seems like I'm somewhat distracted, please bear with me. There was this little kid named Ryan who shadowed me the whole time. He looked like a kid in a candy store watching me do my play-by-play behind the USU goal, and I didn't have it in me to tell him to buzz off. In any case, he watched me the whole time, often marveling and how fast I was speaking. So, I let him stick around and even asked for a contribution every now and again. I really liked it when the boy said it was over halfway through the period. It made me feel good to hear a BYU fan say the game was over halfway through! Eat that, Cougs!

USU Hockey takes on SJSU in the Eccles Ice arena tonight. Enjoy, everybody!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Women's Soccer Cat Fight - HOLY CRAP

This is absolutely nuts

Aggie Bull Horn - Exclusive Interview with Stew Morrill

Aggie Bull Horn - Exclusive Interview with Stew Morrill

Hilarious D-Will commercial

This is one funny commercial TNT put on in preparation for this season of NBA basketball. It's great. It's got Mr. Rainn Wilson, better known as Dwight Schrute, in it. Check it

Monday, November 2, 2009

Aggie Bull Horn October 30, 2009

Aggie Bull Horn October 30, 2009

USU Soccer clinches the 2nd seed in the WAC tournament!!!!

There were two games over the weekend on Chuck and Gloria Bell Field.

Shantel Flanary had two goals, Lauren Hansen had one, Heather Pond also scored and little Jamee Dyches scored her first collegiate goal on a screamer from about 20 yards out on the left side to the far post. It was a brilliant goal. Hats off to Dyches for her first collegiate goal - in fact it was the goal that clinched the WAC tournament berth for the Aggies.

We've got you hooked up with the best stories about our Lady Ags.

LATECH - Utah Statesman

NMSU - UtahStateAggies.com

The Aggies are now sitting solidly in second place after these two critical home wins. Here are the seeds in this weekend's tournament:

1. San Jose State
2. Utah State
3. Boise State
4. Nevada
5. New Mexico State
6. Fresno State

Hawai'i, Louisiana Tech, and Idaho did not qualify for the conference tournament.

The format for this tournament is similar to the NFL playoffs. The #1 and #2 seeds earn a bye. No. 3 will play no. 6 and no. 4 will play no. 5 in the first round. After the first round, No. 2 will play against the winner of the 3/6 matchup (Boise/Fresno) and no. 1 will face the winner of the 4/5 matchup. The winner of those two matches will advance to the final match, and then a winner will be decided.

Bracket to Print

So, gear up ladies and gentlemen!!! It's fall tournament time, and the Aggies are looking to get it done this year after falling in double overtime last year.

The only team that is in this tournament that USU has lost to is the fourth seed, Nevada. USU beat Boise on the road this year and Fresno at home, both by a margin of 1-0. USU is definitely capable of executing and getting it done. The only item that remains in this year's mission to greatness is three straight wins. No more ties, ladies and gents... Wins and Losses only.

Go get 'em Ags!