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

USU Soccer Wins 2 on the Road

USU won two games over the weekend in the Gem State. Natalie Norris sealed the deal against Boise State, and Erin Salmon's golden overtime goal in Moscow put away the Idaho Vandals. USU is now 2-1 in WAC play and comes home this week to host two Californian foes. Fresno State will suit up against our Aggies on Friday, and San Jose State will take to Bell Field on Sunday.

Here's the story on the Boise game, and here's the Idaho recap.

This is the post game interview with Coach Heather Cairns and USU defensive midfielder Chandra Salmon.

Heather Cairns and Chandra Salmon talk about the Boise win

What a turn of events....

LaGarrete Blount may be off the hot seat. Oregon Coach Chip Kelley said today he has provided a way for Senior RB Blount to earn his way back, but the way won't be easy.

You can find ESPN's breaking coverage of it here

I think Blount should be given an opportunity to return. The guy was being taunted by the idiots that live in Boise. Man, I hate Boise State.

Part 4 of 4 - The Stretch - USU football

And so it comes to this...

USU football's fourth quarter of action in the 2009 season. To this point we stand with 3 wins and 6 losses. Close losses, but still... losses. If USU wants to get to a bowl game, they must win the final three games of the season. Likely? No... You'll see why in a moment.

But anything is possible - even miracles.

Opponent #10: San Jose State University Spartans

Prediction: USU 14-10 SJSU

This game, more than anything, will be a defensive battle. SJSU's defense is pretty efficient against the pass. Last season, they were a top-10 defense against the pass and 21st overall in total defense. USU will bring a new, revamped defense coached by the defensive wizard, Gary Andersen, to bear against a mediocre passing game with an offensive line that allowed 2 sacks a game on average last year and had a hard time coming back.

If USU manages to get a two touchdown lead in this game at anytime in the second half, put it in your book as a win for the Aggies.

That, however, I don't believe will happen. USU by this point could be overlooking SJSU and have their eyes on a somewhat bigger prize, Boise State. They will play Boise the week after in the first nationally televised game in Romney Stadium in years (if at all). But I digress...

SJSU is a team that did very very well in 2006. They had a bowl game win and won nine games in the second year of their head coach's tenure. Since then, they've wallowed in mediocrity. If USU is able to come in to this game with four wins on their sheet, they have a very good chance of winning this one, especially since it's in Logan.

Watch the lines in this game. If USU can penetrate and run the ball well on offense, they'll do well. USU's defense needs to focus on the run as SJSU doesn't have a solid quarterback and finds itself embroiled in the middle of a in-house competition for QB. We all know what that means - both suck.

Opponent #11: The Boise State Broncos.... uggghhh...

Prediction: USU 10-49 BSU

Given my deep-seeded hatred for Bull **** University (BSU, people, come on. I think Idaho houses more cows than people, anyway. I've been there before.) it is awfully painful to have to say that the enemy from up north is going to come in to our house and humiliate us once again, but I have to.

Even Gary Andersen knows that we're way, way behind the broncos - this quote pretty much sums it all up.

"We're probably not even nipping at their heels. We're a puppy running 10 yards behind them."

Coach Andersen said the preceding at the WAC media day in SLC about the Broncos.

The question here is this: How do you stop a team which has only two conference losses in the last seven years, one of them to a BCS team, in your own house on national television?

When we find the answer to that question, I drive to Boise and burn a big block A into the smurf-turf! Who's with me?!

Shoot. I hate Boise State almost as much as I hate the University of Utah.

Opponent #12: The Vandals of the University of Idaho

Prediction: USU 49-10 Idaho

After getting beat up by one Idaho team, it will be a fresh relief to pound on the red-headed step child of the Idaho System of Higher Education. I mean, they play their basketball games at the same place they play their football games, and the stadium is indoors! Hilarious, much? Yes. Yes, it is.

This game should be a cake walk for the Aggies. They beat Idaho in each of the last two seasons, last year by about 30 points. They can't pass, they can't run, their lines stink, their defense is worse, and their return teams are much less than worthy. USU should be able to run their socks off with the dual-threat quarterback Borel, unless (Heaven Forbid) Borel and Turin get injured... But let's not worry about such things until they happen.

Epilogue

So, what have we learned here?

USU is going to have a record year this year! 5 wins! Something to celebrate?! Absolutely! Especially after having the abysmal years of 1- and 2-win seasons behind us.

I have spoken with several sources around the football team. There's a new energy here that hasn't been seen in the program for a long time and a new sense of optimism that will stay. This team understands that the winning process takes time, and the team's goals are clearly outlined in stone. This team wants to hunt down Boise State and eventually win a WAC title. I believe that Gary Andersen has the stuff to do it in five years. He can be the man to bring this team out from the doldrums and back into the national spotlight that it was in 50 years ago. It is very difficult, but it is possible.

I think, when all is said and done, we must try to retain, always retain, a positive vibe about the possibilities of this season. Remember, only a fool would hope for more than six wins, but six is possible, even if it is unlikely.

By the way, if we do get six wins this year, I vote we rename 1000 North in Logan, Andersen Avenue. That's just me, though.

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