Sept. 29, 2003

By Todd Johnson, Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director

Imagine the Utah State locker room full of aggressive football players psyching themselves up for the big game. All 308 pounds of Trevor Hutton is getting geared up for the action. The hard rock music of Lynyrd Skynyrd is blaring in the headphones. He jumps up and down, pumps his fists, and pounds his chest in a barbaric manner. Just short of banging his helmet against the locker, he races to the bathroom for the last of his pregame rituals...honoring the porcelain God. He leans over the toilet and vomits, knowing that he is NOW ready for game time.

Meet Trevor Hutton, Utah State's Outland Trophy candidate.

"I'm not sure if it's nervousness or what, but after I puke it's go time," said Hutton. "I can't say I'm proud of it. It's just something that happens before each game. I guess I'm just a puker."

Despite his pregame jitters and preseason accolades Hutton is strictly business when he steps onto the turf for the opening snap. It's hard to resist the desire to strap on the pads and wanting to line up next to him in the trenches when he talks about his love for the game of football.

"Everything about the game of football draws me to it," says Hutton, with a grin that spans the width of his jaw. "I don't know of another sport you can be that physical with someone without getting thrown in jail."

History often shows that success breeds laziness, but for Hutton success has brought an even greater desire to improve.

"It's an honor to be an Outland Trophy candidate (given to the nation's top interior lineman), but I try not to focus on it," he said. "I think when you start focusing on the award you let your game slip. I just want to get better every time I step on to the field."

"Trevor has a one of a kind work ethic," said Jeff Hoover, USU's offensive line coach. "He is a guy that is looked up to, even though he is only 6-1."

One of the key indicators showing Hutton hasn't rested on his laurels is his continued pursuit of excellence in the weight room: a key component to success when your job is to protect the quarterback from blood thirsty defensive linemen. He currently holds the Utah State record for squatting at 802 pounds and the offensive line record for bench press at 525 pounds.

"One thing I never thought I would do when I was growing up is bench 500 pounds," said Hutton. "I now bench 525 pounds. I'm indebted to the strength staff, they have done so much to help me prepare for the season."

His preparedness comes at a perfect time for Utah State football and Aggie fans in general. This is the first year since 2000 the Aggies have been in a conference. They will compete in the Sun Belt and have a chance to go to the New Orleans Bowl in December.

"Obviously we wanted to win our first three games," said Hutton. "But this first game against Louisiana-Monroe is where the wins and losses really start to matter. Every team in the conference has New Orleans as a goal, so its going to be a battle each week."

With all of his on and off the field talent it might seem that everything Hutton touches turns to gold, but he admitted he has at least one weakness.

"I've tried to learn fly fishing, but for the life of me I can't figure it out," explained Hutton. "The line gets tangled around anything in a 10-foot radius, and it's not a pretty sight. Let's just say you won't see me with my own ESPN show anytime soon."

With his love of the game Hutton knows it will be impossible for him to stray too far from it upon graduation.

"I'm lucky because I have a lot of options after graduation. I would like to see where my football career takes me, but if that doesn't work I'm getting a degree in history and would love to teach while coaching football."

For Hutton's sake we hope his pregame nausea doesn't follow him into the coaching arena. Or the classroom.