Oct. 28, 2004

UTAH STATE AGGIES Game-Day Notes at Middle Tennessee, Oct. 30, 2004

HERE TO HELP - Athletic Media Relations Director Mike Strauss is here to assist you in your coverage of Utah State at today's game. Please do not hesitate to call on him for assistance.

POSTGAME - The Utah State lockerroom is closed to the media. After a brief cooling off period Coach Mick Dennehy will be available at a designated area. Players will then be made available as well. All player requests should be made to Strauss prior to the five minute mark of the fourth quarter.

SEASON AND GAME CAPTAINS -- The USU football team has selected season captains for the second straight year. QB Travis Cox (#4) will represent the offense, LB Robert Watts (#30) will represent the defense and CB/KOR Jerome Dennis (#20) will represent the special teams.

An USU Win Would... • Give USU its third win of the year, matching last year's season victory total (3-9). • Stop a three-game losing streak. • Stop a five-game conference road losing streak for USU. • Give USU two road wins this season for its most since posting a 2-4 road record in 2000 (won at UNLV earlier this year).

An USU Loss Would... • Give USU four straight losses for the first time since the start of the 2001 season. • Eliminate any chance USU has for a winning season. • Be its sixth straight conference road loss. • As always, be less good than a win.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN SATURDAY'S GAME • DL Ronald Tupea should make his team-best 38th consecutive start as well as his team-best 38th career start. • Other Aggies with long current consecutive start streaks include OT Donald Penn (28), LB Robert Watts (24) and QB Travis Cox (19). • QB Travis Cox enters the game with 4,132 career passing yards and needs just 51 yards to pass Ron Lopez (4,182) for seventh on the USU career passing yardage list. • USU has had at least seven different players record a reception in 12 consecutive games. • USU punters have produced at least two 50-yard punts in four consecutive games (Ben Chaet had two against UNLV and Leon Jackson III has had at least two in each of the last three games. • The opponent has scored a non-offensive touchdown in three straight games.

USU AFTER A BYE WEEK -- Here is a look at how Utah State has played after a bye week in the Mick Dennehy era. The Aggies are 5-3, including a 1-2 mark in road games the week after a week off. USU has won five of the last six times it has had a week of rest before a game, with the only loss in that time coming at Middle Tennessee in 2002.

2000 - L 20-44 at Arizona State2001 - L 21-39 OREGON (Ducks were ranked sixth in the country at the time)2001 - W 28-27 IDAHO STATE2001 - W 38-31 at Connecticut2002 - W 45-44 NEW MEXICO (2 OT)2002 - W 32-30 NEW MEXICO STATE2002 - L 28-45 at Middle Tennessee2003 - W 28-10 UL-MONROE

USU-MT CONNECTIONS -- MT safeties coach Mark Criner was a graduate assistant at Utah State in 1991 and 1992... MT Head Coach Andy McCollum was paired with USU SID Mike Strauss at the Sun Belt Conference Media Day golf tournament in July... MT head basketball coach Kermit Davis also coached at Utah State.

HOMECOMING AGAIN -- Saturday's game will mark the third straight game USU will have played that will be a homecoming game. The Aggies hosted their own homecoming game against North Texas, then served as the guest for Clemson's homecoming and this week will be a part of Middle Tennessee's homecoming.

LEADING TACKLER OUT... AGAIN -- For the second time this season, Utah State heads into a game without the services of its leading tackler. S Terrance Washington was USU's leading tackler after two games, but is out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against Idaho. He had a team-best 18 tackles through two games. Now S Antonio Taylor, who is tied for the team lead with Robert Watts with 47 tackles, will miss the Middle Tennessee game due to injuries suffered in a car accident on Sunday. Taylor is also tied for the team lead with two interceptions and one fumble recovery and is second in tackles for loss with four.

Travis Cox HAD BIG GAME AGAINST MIDDLE TENNESSEE LAST YEAR -- USU quarterback Travis Cox had one of the best games of his career statistically against Middle Tennessee last season. He completed 22 of 34 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in just three quarters of play against the Blue Raiders. The three touchdown passes matched his career best (two other times), while the 301 yards were third (322 vs. Idaho and 308 vs. Arizona State, both last year). For his efforts, Cox was named the Sun Belt Conference offensive player of the week.

USU MOST POINTS VS. SUN BELT OPPONENTS -- Here is a look at USU's best point productions and best defensive point totals allowed in the nine Sun Belt Conference games it has played:

Offensive Scoring

49 vs. Arkansas State (0), 200341 vs. Middle Tennessee (20), 200328 vs. UL-Monroe (10), 200327 at North Texas (37), 200323 vs. North Texas (31), 2004

Defensive Scoring

0 vs. Arkansas State, 20037 vs. Idaho, 200410 vs. UL-Monroe, 200320 vs. Middle Tennessee, 200320 at Idaho, 2003

AGGIES-BLUE RAIDERS STATISTICALLY -- Here is a look at some Sun Belt Conference statistical rankings for both teams (from the Sun Belt Conference Office):

USU - 1st in pass defense; 2nd in red zone defense; 1st in punt returns; 2nd in field goal percentage

MT - 1st in scoring offense; 1st in passing offense; 2nd in total offense; 1st in third-down conversion; 1st in fourth-down conversion; 1st in red zone offense; 1st in rushing defense; 1st in field goal percentage; 1st in kickoff coverage

USU-MT INDIVIDUAL NCAA LISTINGS -- Here is a look at where some USU and MT players rank nationally (from the NCAA):

USU - Kevin Robinson (1st in punt returns); Rod McNeal (38th in kickoff returns) (NOTE: McNeal is injured and will not play)

MT - Clint Marks (17th in pass efficiency; 9th in total offense); Kerry Wright (4th in receptions per game, 8th in receiving yards per game); Chris Henry (20th in receptions per game); Colby Smith (21st in field goals made)

THE LAST TIME FOR USU -- There are several "last time in Utah State football" things that happened against Middle Tennessee. Here is a look:

The Last Time...

USU recorded 400 yards passing (442 at Middle Tenn., 2002)

USU recorded 40 points (41 vs. Middle Tenn., 2003) An Aggie threw for 400 yards (Jose Fuentes threw for 426 at Middle Tenn., 2002)

Two Aggies had 100 yards receiving in a game (Kevin Curtis (13-177) and Chris Cooley (5-105) at Middle Tenn., 2002)

An Aggie returned a fumble for a touchdown (Michael Gates, four yards vs. Middle Tenn., 2003)

SOUTHEAST FLAVOR -- While Utah State does not have any players on its roster from the state of Tennessee, several Aggies are from the southeast part of the country in TB Chris Forbes (Miami, Fla.), WR Rod McNeal (Lakeland, Fla.), TB Peter Shields (Seminole, Fla.), FB Gabe London (Lakeland, Fla.), OL Chad Foote (Hattiesburg, Miss.), DT Casey Cooper (Springfield, Va.).

USU NOTE-ABLE -- Six different Aggies scored USU's six touchdowns against Middle Tennessee last year, including defensive end Michael Gates, who scored on a four yard fumble return for the opening score of the game... USU has attempted 237 passes while rushing the ball 225 times this season for the most balanced play selection since 1999 when the Aggies rushed 392 times and passed 380 times on the year... USU entered this season 12-10 in day games in the Mick Dennehy era, but is 0-3 this season (the Aggies are 6-21 in night games in the last five years).

MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE -- Utah State will hold its weekly press conference at the Copper Mill Restaurant on Monday. The press conference will feature Head Coach Mick Dennehy and two players at 11:30 a.m.