Nov. 20, 2006

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

QUICKLY -- Utah State (1-10 overall, 1-6 WAC) will close the 2006 season hosting New Mexico State (2-8, 0-6) on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1:05 p.m... The game is Aggie Fan Appreciation Day and tickets are available for $5... USU will recognize nine seniors prior to kickoff... USU and NMSU will play in USU's season finale for the third straight year (NMSU will host Louisiana Tech next week in its final game)... USU has won its season finale in each of the last two years... USU needs a victory to avoid its first one-win season since 1984... USU is assured of its worst season record since that 1984 team went 1-10... USU's 10 losses match the most in a season, which was set in 1984 (1-10)... The Aggies are 1-3 at home this year and have won at least two games in Romney Stadium in each of the last 11 years... USU's 12 games ties a school record (also played 12 in 1993, 1997 and 2003).

ON THE AIR -- All Utah State football games are carried on KVNU 610 AM in Logan, and either 1230 AM or 1320 AM in Salt Lake City, and at www.UtahStateAggies.com with Al Lewis calling the play-by-play and Craig Hislop providing analysis this week. Saturday's game will be televised in the state of New Mexico. All WAC games can be seen via the web at WAC.tv. Home USU games can be accessed via Game Tracker for updated play-by-play and statistics as they happen.

LAST TIME OUT -- Jared Zabransky completed 21 of 23 passing attempts for 236 yards and three touchdowns to lead 13th-ranked Boise State to a 49-10 victory against Utah State last Saturday. The Broncos jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and made it 21-0 just minutes into the second before Utah State's Bryan Shields kicked USU's second field goal of the season. Shields drilled a 31-yarder as the Aggies converted after USU's James Brindley forced and recovered a fumble at the BSU 46-yard line. BSU then scored 21 straight points before USU's defense put up its third score of the season. Linebacker Paul Igboeli recorded a sack and forced a fumble that Devon Hall picked up and ran 64 yards with for a score to make it 42-10. The Aggies produced just 188 yards of total offense in the game, while the Broncos, who entered the game with the 15th-ranked offense in the nation, produced 488 yards. USU quarterback Riley Nelson rushed for more yards (45) than he passed for (40) as the Aggies managed only seven first downs and were two of 13 on third-down conversions. Leon Jackson III saw his most extensive playing time at quarterback since losing the starting job after five games. The junior hit three of four attempts for 58 yards, including a 43-yard toss to Kevin Robinson. Robinson finished the game with three receptions for 58 yards. Aaron Lesue added two catches for 20 yards as USU had just 98 receiving yards to go along with 90 rushing yards. Defensively the Aggies were led by Igboeli, who recorded a game-high 10 tackles, including the 13-yard sack. Daryl Fields, who made his second straight start at middle linebacker, had eight tackles. The Broncos scored on each of their first three possessions, while USU went three and out on its first three.

DID YOU KNOW? -- Utah State and New Mexico State played in the 1960 Sun Bowl with NMSU prevailing 20-13. USU led 13-7 at the end of the first half before NMSU scored two second half touchdowns to win the game.

SENIOR DAY -- USU will recognize nine seniors in their final Romney Stadium appearance. That group includes QB Bryan Black, OL Malik Cin, LC Brent DeLadurantey, PK/P Justin Hamblin, WR Tarell Richards, DL Kerry Shepherd, LB Ryan Taylor, S Terrance Washington, and DS Ryan Wilson.

HEAD COACH Brent Guy -- Brent Guy (Oklahoma State, 1983) is in his second year as head coach after coming to Utah State from Arizona State where he was the defensive coordinator for four years. Guy was an assistant coach (linebackers) at Utah State from 1992-94 under then head coach Charlie Weatherbie. During that time, USU posted its only bowl victory in school history, claiming the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl. Guy was involved in eight bowl games in 19 years as a collegiate assistant coach. Previous stops include Oklahoma State (1986-91 - graduate assistant 1986-87, recruiting coordinator 1988, linebackers 1989-91), Utah State (1992-94 - linebackers), Oklahoma State (1995-97 - linebackers), Boise State (1998-2000 - defensive coordinator) and Arizona State (2001-04 - defensive coordinator) before being named the Aggies' 25th head coach in December of 2004. In his first year at USU, the Aggies were 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Utah State Head Coach   All WAC2005    3-8 2-62006    1-10    1-6Total   4-18    3-12

Assistant Totals    Record  NotesOklahoma State (1986-91, 95-97) 51-51-1 3 BowlsUtah State (1992-94)    15-19-0 1 BowlBoise State (1998-99)   26-10-0 2 Bowls, 2 10-win seasonsArizona State (2001-04) 13-19-0 2 BowlsTotals (19 years)   118-103-1   8 Bowls, 10 winning seasons

AGGIE ASSISTANT COACHES -- Utah State had three changes on its coaching staff from last year, as Shaun Johnson, Tracy Smith and Tony Flores joined the staff. Prior to the Idaho game this season offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Santiago resigned and wide receivers coach Greg Stevens was named interim offensive coordinator. Wide Receivers/Interim Offensive Coordinator - Greg Stevens (Eastern Oregon, 1992, 2nd Year)... Former offensive coordinator at S.F. Austin. Running Backs - Shaun Johnson (Utah State, 1995, 1st Year)... Former Aggie wide receiver, coached Division I-AA rushing leader at Brown in 2005. Tight Ends - Tracy Smith (LSU, 2003, 1st Year)... Worked with LSU quarterbacks last year. Is son of Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Carl Smith. Offensive Line - Vance Vice (Oklahoma State, 1990, 2nd Year)... As an Oklahoma State tight end was the key to Barry Sanders winning the Heisman in 1988. Def. Coord./LB - Mark Johnson (UC Davis, 1990, 2nd Year)... Has coached at four different WAC schools (San Jose State, Boise State, Nevada and USU). Def. Line - Danilo Robinson (Utah State, 1997, 2nd Year)... Holds USU single-game sacks record with five vs. San Jose State in 1995. Safeties - Jeff Copp (Boise State, 2001, 2nd Year)... Was an all-conference defensive end while playing at Boise State. Cornerbacks - John Rushing (Washington State, 1995, 4th Year)... Was a freshman All-America corner at Washington State. Older brother of USU WR Kevin Robinson. GA - Mike McMahon (Carroll, 2004, 2nd Year)... Helped coach Carroll College to three national championship appearances. GA - Tony Flores (Utah State, 1st Year)... Moved up from serving as a work study in the football office in 2005.

CAPTAINS -- Each week Utah State will select game captains. Those selected for the New Mexico State game will be announced on Tuesday. Those captains will be voted on by the team and will serve as permanent season captains.

USU-NMSU SERIES -- Utah State leads the all-time series by a 25-5 count, including an 11-2 margin in games played at Logan. USU ran up 19 consecutive wins from 1968-98 before the Southern Aggies posted a 14-6 win at Logan in 1999. Since then USU has won four of five games, falling only 26-21 at Las Cruces in 2003. USU has won each of the last two games, posting a 34-25 win here in 2004 and closing last season with a 24-21 victory at Las Cruces.

USU-NMSU LAST TIME -- Justin Hamblin kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:16 remaining to lift Utah State to a 24-21 win at New Mexico State in the final game of the 2005 season for both teams. Utah State led 21-14 before New Mexico State tied the game with 4:36 remaining. USU then started its final drive on its own 34-yard line. Quarterback Jerod Walker rushed for 16 yards on the final drive, while connecting on passes to TE Jimmy Bohm and WR Dionte Holloway for three and 18 yards respectively. The drive stalled on the NMSU 15-yard line and Hamblin, who had missed attempts of 22 and 37 yards earlier in the game, calmly hit a 32-yarder in the swirling winds to give the Aggies the win. NMSU gained 21 yards on its final possession before USU S Terrance Washington recorded an interception with :51 left. Walker was 14 of 20 passing for 182 yards in his second start. He also rushed for 102 yards to become the first Aggie quarterback since Tony Adams in 1972 to rush for 100 yards in a game.

USU-NMSU LAST TIME IN LOGAN -- Utah State ended its season on a positive note snapping a six-game losing streak with a 34-25 win against New Mexico State in the season finale on Nov. 20, 2004. Trailing 12-0 at halftime, Utah State exploded for 34 points in the second half, including the game's final 10 points in the final two minutes. QB Travis Cox was nearly perfect on the day, completing 23 of 27 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown, while Chris Forbes rushed for a career-high 131 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. USU scored the first 24 points of the second half to build a 24-12 advantage at the 10:02 mark of the fourth quarter. However, NMSU rallied with a pair of touchdowns to take a 25-24 lead with 5:38 left. USU then put together an 11-play, 53-yard drive that was capped with a 29-yard Jarrod Jakubiak field goal to give the Aggies a 27-25 advantage with 2:02 left. On NMSU's next possession, USU freshman Toriano Taulogo intercepted a pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to seal the game.

USU-NMSU NOTE-ABLE -- USU is 7-0 against New Mexico State when playing the Southern Aggies in the final regular season game of the year, including each of the last two seasons... USU's 25 victories in the series are its fifth most against any opponent trailing only the 34 wins vs. Wyoming, 33 vs. Brigham Young, 30 vs. Colorado State and 28 vs. Utah... USU's 83.3 winning percentage in the series is its best against any Division I opponent it has faced more than two times in history... Prior to this season, USU's last two individual 100-yard rushing games both came against New Mexico State as David Fiefia ran for 106 in 2003 and Chris Forbes had 131 in 2004. This year Marcus Cross has produced two 100-yard games.

WHITE'S NCAA RECORD BREAKING DAY CAME VS. NMSU - On Nov. 4, 2000, Utah State running back Emmett White produced one of the greatest single-game performances in NCAA history. The then Aggie junior not only broke the NCAA single-game all-purpose yardage record, he demolished it. The national record of 435 yards held by Brian Pruitt of Central Michigan vs. Toledo in 1994, was broken by an astonishing 143 yards as White accumulated 578 yards against New Mexico State. White rushed 34 times for a school-record 322 yards, added 134 yards on seven receptions (only player in USU history to have 100 yards rushing and receiving in one game), had one punt return for two yards and four kickoff returns for 120 yards. That added up to 578 yards on 46 touches of the football that November night in Las Cruces. Not only did White amass all of those yards, he scored four touchdowns, including the game-winner, a nine-yard run, with just :28 left in the game as USU won the contest 44-37.

GUY VS. NEW MEXICO STATE -- Aggie head coach Brent Guy has coached against New Mexico State seven times in his career. Here is a look:

1992 - USU Assistant - W 48-21 at Logan1993 - USU Assistant - W 20-17 at Las Cruces1994 - USU Assistant - W 47-20 at Logan1998 - BSU Assistant - W 55-51 at Las Cruces1999 - BSU Assistant - W 45-26 at Boise2000 - BSU Assistant - W 34-31 at Las Cruces2005 - USU Head Coach - W 24-21 at Las Cruces

RECORD BOOK LOOK -- Here is a look at where some Aggies rank in the USU record books:

Single-Game Completion Pct. - 1. Riley Nelson (87.5 percent - 21 of 24) vs. SJSUSeason Rushing Yards by a QB - Riley Nelson needs 52 for 1stSeason Kickoff Returns - Kevin Robinson needs 7 for 1stSeason Kickoff Return Yards - Kevin Robinson needs 134 for 1stSeason Passing Yards by a Freshman - 3. Riley Nelson (needs 238 for 2nd)Career Receptions - Kevin Robinson needs 8 for 10thCareer Receiving Yards - Kevin Robinson needs 120 for 10thCareer Receiving Touchdowns - 10. Kevin Robinson has 15

FIELD POSITION WOES -- Here are a few notes about USU's field position: USU has had a worse average starting field position than its opponent in every game except Idaho... The opponent has started more drives on USU's side of the field (31) than from inside its own 20-yard line (30)... While the opponent has started 31 drives on USU's side of the field, the Aggies have started just seven drives on the opponent's side of the 50-yard line (three touchdowns and one field goal).

OFFENSIVE NOTES -- USU had its streak of rushing for at least 100 yards stopped at seven consecutive games when the Aggies gained just 90 yards last week at Boise State. The seven straight were the most since 1997... After producing two straight 200-yard passing games (its only 200-yard passing games this year) against Louisiana Tech (249) and Hawai'i (225), USU threw for just a combined 180 yards in the last two games (82 at Nevada and 98 at Boise State)... USU has failed to score an offensive touchdown in six games this year (first four and last two)... USU had just one turnover at Boise State on Saturday after turning it over a combined nine times in the previous three games... USU has not scored an offensive touchdown in the last nine quarters... USU has produced just three "explosives" (plays 20 yards or more) in the last two games after producing nine in the prior two games... USU has scored just 14 points in the third quarter this season... USU's 10.0 points per game are its fewest since 1950 when the Aggies averaged just 9.7 per game.

DEFENSIVE NOTES -- USU's defense is facing some of the nation's top offenses in #1 Hawai'i, #4 BYU, #5 New Mexico State, #11 Boise State, #28 Arkansas and #30 Nevada... USU has allowed 40 points in four straight games for the second time in school history (1904 was the other year)... USU has recorded four sacks in the last two games after reaching the quarterback just twice in the previous four games combined... The opponents have more offensive touchdowns (50) than punts (38) against the Aggies this year... The opponents have scored on 20 of 21 trips into the Red Zone in the last four games... Six of the opponents' touchdowns this year have been scored by their defense against the Aggie offense.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES -- With a 46-yard field goal by Bryan Shields against Hawai'i in week nine, USU became the last team in the NCAA to make a field goal this year... Shields added the Aggies' second field goal of the year last week at Boise State (31-yarder).

DID YOU KNOW? -- S Antonio Taylor is bidding to become the first non-linebacker to lead USU in tackles since DT Rulon Jones accomplished that feat in 1978. Taylor has 68 stops while LB Devon Hall and LB Paul Igboeli each have 59.

DID YOU KNOW? -- In the first five games of the season WR Kevin Robinson had a combined eight receptions for 66 yards and zero touchdowns, but in the last six games he has registered 24 catches for 415 yards and four scores.

DID YOU KNOW? -- Only five Aggies have started every game this season in CB Marquis Charles, OC Brent DeLadurantey, LG Ryan Tonnemacher, S Caleb Taylor and OT Shawn Murphy.

QUARTERBACK NOTE-ABLE -- True freshman Riley Nelson saw first collegiate action against Idaho and guided the Aggies to a touchdown on the final drive of the game... His first collegiate play was a 25-yard completion to Otis Nelson... Became the first Aggie quarterback to lead USU to a win in his first start (Fresno State) since 1992... Set a school record for single-game completion percentage by hitting 21 of 24 attempts (87.5 percent) at San Jose State in his second start... His 874 passing yards this year are the third most by an Aggie freshman in school history... Did not throw an interception in his first three games (46 attempts), but has thrown six in the last four games combined... Leon Jackson threw just six interceptions in nine starts last season, but threw six in the first five games this year... Each of Jackson's first five interceptions were returned for touchdowns... Jackson has played in each of the last three games and is six of 12 for 95 yards with one interception in that time span... Bryan Black has seen action in two games and is five of seven for 57 yards... Mike Affleck threw two incompletions against Utah in his only action this season... The last time USU used at least four quarterbacks in a season was 1999 (Jeff Crosbie, Jose Fuentes, Brian Benza, Steve Mullins and Logan Galli).

RUNNING BACK NOTE-ABLE -- After rushing for at least 60 yards in five straight games, the longest such streak by an Aggie since 2003, Marcus Cross rushed for just 51 yards on 21 carries in the last three games combined... Cross produced two 100-yard rushing games, the most by an Aggie in one year since 2003... Cross' 103 yards in his second game (at Arkansas) was the quickest an Aggie reached 100 since Roger Grant ran for 202 yards in his second game at USU in 1990... Cross in the only Aggie with at least one reception in all 11 games... Antraun McDaniel rushed for a season/career best 78 yards at Nevada two weeks ago... After rushing for 15 yards in the first five games combined, he did not play against Fresno State and then rushed for 191 yards in the last five games combined.

WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END NOTE-ABLE -- After reaching the 40-yard reception mark in just one of the first five games, Kevin Robinson has had 40-plus yards in each of the last six games, including a career-best 141 at Louisiana Tech... Robinson is within reach of 10th place on the USU career receptions list (has 119 and needs five) and receiving yards list (has 1,744 and needs 62). He already ranks 10th in career touchdown receptions with 15... Robinson's 141 yards against La. Tech were the most by an Aggie since Kevin Curtis had 177 yards against Middle Tennessee in 2002 as well as his fifth career 100-yard game... Walkon Aaron Lesue has recorded five of his six catches this year in the last three games with two for 55 against Hawai'i, one for 18 at Nevada and two for 20 at Boise State... Lesue has started three games... Otis Nelson played in the last two games after missing two games due to injury. In the three games before he was injured he had 13 receptions for 132 yards... Tarell Richards has missed five straight games due to injury... Rob Myers' 28-yard reception against Louisiana Tech was the longest by an Aggie tight end since current Washington Redskin Chris Cooley had a 40-yard reception against Arkansas State in 2003... TE/FB Jimmy Bohm recorded USU's first receiving touchdown (one yarder vs. Idaho) this season. That score also marked the first touchdown reception by a non-wide receiver since TE Jason Stephens caught a 10-yarder against Boise State in game six last year... Nnamdi Gwacham, a Nigerian native, who moved to the USA in 1999, became an American citizen in August.

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTE-ABLE -- OG Pace Jorgensen had started a team-high 18 consecutive games and team-best 23 total games in his career before missing the game against Louisiana Tech due to an ankle injury. He returned to start the last three games... USU tackle Shawn Murphy is the son of former major leaguer Dale Murphy... OC Brent DeLadauranty started four games in 2004, but none last season, while OG Ryan Tonnemacher had made three starts last season... OL Malik Cin made his first appearance of the season against Utah after returning from surgery on his Achilles tendon and then started at right tackle six times and right guard one time.

DEFENSIVE LINE NOTE-ABLE -- Ben Calderwood is the Aggies' lading tackler among linemen (40) despite missing two games due to injury... He had nine tackles against Fresno State for the most by a USU lineman since 2003... After missing the first six games due to injury, JC transfer Carl Singleton has seen action in the last five games, recording a season-best four tackles at Louisiana Tech and two sacks against Nevada... Ben Childs recorded a career-best six tackles against Nevada two games ago and added three stops at Boise State on Saturday... E.J. Reid had six stops, his second most this season, on Saturday at Boise State.

LINEBACKERS NOTE-ABLE -- Paul Igboeli has started the last seven games and has moved up to number two on the USU tackle list this season with 59 stops... He recorded 17 tackles at Louisiana Tech, the most by an Aggie since 2003... He has a team-best three sacks, causing two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns on those plays... Had 10 tackles against Boise State on Saturday, including a sack and forced fumble... Igboeli has averaged 9.8 tackles in the last four games... Igboeli is the third-leading freshman tackler in the WAC... Devon Hall was the team's leading tackler until not playing against Nevada two games ago due to an injury... He made three stops in limited time at Boise State on Saturday while returning a fumble 65 yards for a score... Daryl Fields has started the last two games at middle linebacker and responded by making six tackles at Nevada and a career-best eight against Boise State on Saturday... At 5-7 Fields is the shortest linebacker in the nation... In five games as a starter, Derrick Cumbee made 39 tackles, but has just six in the last three games combined while coming off the bench, including five of those stops at Boise State on Saturday... He had 11 stops in his first collegiate start at BYU... Last year's leading tackler, Jake Hutton, was leading the team again this year before suffering a season-ending injury in the fourth game of the year.

SECONDARY NOTE-ABLE -- Antonio Taylor is the team's leading tackler with 68 stops... He has averaged 7.5 tackles in the last six games... Taylor scored USU's only touchdown in the first four games with a 45-yard interception return for a score in the opener at Wyoming... He had eight tackles against NMSU last season... Caleb Taylor had seven tackles at Nevada and followed that up with four stops at Boise State on Saturday... Against San Jose State he had a career high nine tackles, his first career interception and forced a fumble... Terrance Washington, who is normally a free safety, and has started 24 games in his career, made his first two starts at linebacker against Nevada and Boise State in the last two weeks due to an injury to Devon Hall... He responded by recording four tackles at Nevada and six at Boise State on Saturday... Marquise Charles has made 11 tackles in the last three games after recording just five in the previous five games... James Brindley recorded a season-high tying five tackles at Boise State (had five vs. Utah)... Kejon Murphy had a season-best tying five tackles as well against Boise State (five at Louisiana Tech).

SPECIALISTS NOTE-ABLE -- After recording USU's first made field goal of 2006 with a 46-yarder against Hawai'i in week nine, Bryan Shields added number two on a 31-yarder against Boise State on Saturday... Shields took over the kickoff chores against Idaho and his first kickoff was a pooch kickoff that was recovered by the Aggies on the Idaho 21-yard line... He took over place-kicking chores against San Jose State and made both his PATs... His first collegiate field goal attempt was a 26-yard miss at Louisiana Tech, but then he hit a 46-yarder against Hawai'i... Kevin Robinson ranks 11th among active players with a 12.52 career punt return average... His three punt returns for scores rank fourth among active players... Leon Jackson posted a 42.3 punting average against BSU for his best average in the last six games... Jackson also hit a season-long 64-yard punt against the Broncos (career long is 67).

USU NOTE-ABLE -- Utah State has started nine freshmen (including four true freshmen), 15 sophomores, 15 juniors and six seniors this season. The starting lineup for the last game included six freshmen, four sophomores, nine juniors and three seniors... USU has played four teams ranked in this week's AP poll this season as well as eight bowl eligible teams.