Nov. 2, 2007

Complete Utah State at Fresno State Supplemental Notes in PDF Format

HERE TO HELP ON GAME DAY -- USU media relations assistant director Zach Fisher (C: 435-213-0318) is on hand to assist you in your coverage of Utah State at today's game. Please do not hesitate to call on him for any assistance you may need.

POSTGAME -- The Utah State locker room is closed to the media. After a brief cooling off period, head coach Brent Guy and selected players will be available at a designated area. All player requests should be made to Fisher prior to the five minute mark of the fourth quarter.

GAME CAPTAINS -- Each week Utah State will select game captains. Those selected for the Fresno State game will be announced prior to the game.

ON THE TUBE -- Saturday's game will not be televised, USU's only non-televised game this season.

TRAVEL PLANS -- Utah State will fly from Salt Lake City to Fresno on Friday afternoon and return on Saturday night. Zach Fisher (C: 435-213-0318) of the athletic media relations staff will travel to the game.

A USU Win Would...
• Be the Aggies' first win of the season, snapping their 14-game losing streak, dating back to last year's 13-12 win against Fresno State on Oct. 7 at Logan.
• Be USU's first back-to-back wins vs. Fresno State since 1980-81.
• Even the all-time series with Fresno State at 11-11-1.
• Break an 11-game road losing skid, last winning on the road in the 2005 season finale at New Mexico State (24-21).
• Stop USU's seven-game winless streak at Fresno, losing five and tying one, last winning at Fresno in 1980.
• Turn the "A" Blue.

A USU Loss Would...
• Be USU's 15th straight loss overall, 20th in the last 21 games and 26th loss in last 28 games.
• As always, be less good than a win.

ROBINSON IN ELITE COMPANY -- Utah State's Kevin Robinson is one of three players in the country with two kick returns for a touchdown this season joining Felix Jones of Arkansas and Marcus Herford of Kansas... With three combined punt (one) and kick returns (two) for TD's, Robinson joins Leodis McKelvin of Troy (three punt returns) as the only two players in the nation with three returns for scores.

LOOK OUT FOR NO. 1 -- With 5,799 career all-purpose yards, Robinson is currently sitting at No. 2 on the USU career all-purpose list... The No. 1 spot is held by Emmett White (1998-2001) with 5,872 yards, meaning that Robinson needs just 73 yards to take over the No. 1 spot.

USU IN THE 11th MONTH -- Utah State has a four-game losing streak in November and has lost 10 of its last 15 games in the American Thanksgiving month... USU has lost its first game of November in each of the last three seasons... Saturday is the Aggies' first game on Nov. 3 since 1990, when USU beat New Mexico State, 55-10... Overall, USU is 3-2 on Nov. 3, including 0-2 on the road but Saturday is the Aggies' first game played on the road outside of the state of Arizona on Nov. 3... Here's a look at how USU has fared on Nov. 3:

1962 - L 15-34 at Arizona State1973 - W 31-20 vs. Wyoming1979 - W, 35-7 vs. Cal State Fullerton1984 - L 10-45 at Arizona1990 - W 55-10 vs. New Mexico State

USU IN CALIFORNIA -- Utah State has a 50-57-2 (.468) record against teams from the state of California, including 18-32-1 in California... The Aggies' last win in the Golden State was a 26-7 win on Oct. 31, 1992 against Cal State Fullerton, who discontinued football following that season.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN SATURDAY'S GAME --

HENDRICKS AWARD -- The contest features the only two WAC players on the Hendricks Award Watch List for college's best defensive lineman in Utah State junior Ben Calderwood and Fresno State senior Tyler Clutts

RIMINGTON AWARD -- Saturday's game also features two members of the Rimington Trophy Watch List awarded to the nation's most outstanding center in college football: Utah State junior Ryan Tonnemacher and Fresno State senior Ryan Wendell.

BIG RETURNS -- Saturday will feature two of not only the conference's but the country's best kick returners in Fresno State's A. J. Jefferson, ranked second in the NCAA (32.9 ypr) and Utah State's Kevin Robinson, ranked 12th in the NCAA (30.5 ypr).

TD's ON THE ROAD AND AT HOME -- Utah State has scored six road touchdowns while Fresno State gave up its first TD at home last week against Boise State.

KICK AND PUNT RETURNS LONGER THAN 50 YARDS (As of Oct. 28th, 2007)

Name    Punt Ret.   Kick Ret.   Total ReturnsBrandon James, Florida  1   4   5Kevin Robinson, UTAH STATE  2   2   4Javier Arenas, Alabama  3   1   4Andre Jones, Akron  1   3   4Perrish Cox, Oklahoma St.   1   2   3Kevin Marion, Wake Forest           0   3   3Jeremy Maclin, Missouri 2   1   3Deon Murphy, Kansas State   3   0   3Dontayo Gage, Eastern Mich. 0   3   3Dorien Bryant, Purdue   0   3   3Bryan Williams, Akron   0   3   3Michael Grandberry, Memphis 0   3   3A.J. Jefferson, Fresno State    0   3   3

GOIN' BACK TO CALI - Utah State has 38 players on its roster from the state of California, the most from any state on the roster

NO  NAME    POS HT  WT  CL  EXP HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/LAST SCHOOL)    29  Sidney Allen  CB  6-1 173 FR  RS  Merced, Calif. (Merced HS)    80  Doug Barbour  TE  6-4 235 FR  RS  La Mirada, Calif. (La Mirada HS)    88  Jimmy Bohm  FB/TE   6-2 286 SR  3L  Palm Desert, Calif. (Palm Desert HS)    12  Diondre Borel    QB  6-1 175 FR  HS  Oakley, Calif. (Freedom HS)    26  James Brindley  S   5-10    191 SO  1L  Grass Valley, Calif. (Nevada Union HS)     3  Marquise Charles  CB  5-8 171 JR  2L  Los Angeles, Calif. (Dorsey HS)    66  Gregg Clark    OL  6-4 278 JR  JC  Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Pacific                                     Palisades HS/Coll. of Sequoias)    98  Steven Clark *    DE  6-4 245 FR  HS  Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos HS)    84  Will Fausel    TE  6-3 268 SR  3L  Shingle Springs, Calif. (Ponderosa HS)    47  Daryl Fields  LB  5-7 209 JR  2L  Reseda, Calif. (Crespi Carmelite HS)    43  Kyle Gallagher  LB  6-0 200 FR  HS  Woodland, Calif. (Woodland HS)    68  Phillip Gapelu *    OL  6-2 285 FR  HS  Lynwood, Calif. (Lynwood HS)    41  Jordan Glass  LB  6-2 220 FR  HS  Elk Grove, Calif. (Elk Grove HS)    46  Darby Golden  DE  6-1 246 SO  1L  Lakewood, Calif. (Lakewood HS)    81  Nnamdi Gwacham  WR  6-3 209 SO  1L  Chino Hills, Calif. (Ayala HS)    45  De'von Hall LB  6-3 220 JR  2L  Reseda, Calif. (Cleveland HS)    83  Tony Harkey    WR  6-1 197 FR  RS  Chino Hills, Calif. (Chino Hills HS)    2   Roy Hurst    SS  5-9 187 JR  JC  Oakland, Calif. (Castlemont HS/Santa Rosa JC)    7   Leon Jackson III   QB/P    6-1 206 SR  3L  Long Beach, Calif. (Poly HS)    52  Spencer Johnson    OT  6-5 283 FR  RS  Lancaster, Calif. (Antelope Valley HS)    27  Curtis Marsh  TB  6-0 190 FR  HS  Simi Valley, Calif. (Royal HS/Naval                                      Academy Prep)    91  Brian Mason    DL  5-10    242 FR  RS  West Covina, Calif. (West Covina HS)    61  Brennan McFadden  OT  6-2 294 SO  1L  Grass Valley, Calif. (Nevada Union HS)    51  Jason Moore    LB  6-4 214 FR  RS  Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS)    9   Kejon Murphy  CB  5-8 160 SO  1L  Fresno, Calif. (Edison HS)    8   Drew Pearson  CB  6-0 170 SR  1L  Pasadena, Calif. (John Muir HS/Mt.                                     San Antonio JC)    24  Chris Randle  CB  5-10    170 FR  HS  Merced, Calif. (Golden Valley HS)    99  Cedric Reeves *  DT  6-2 250 FR  HS  Granada Hills, Calif. (Kennedy HS)    6   Kevin Robinson  WR  6-0 199 SR  3L  Fresno, Calif. (Hoover HS)    94  Nathan Royster  DE  6-0 246 FR  RS  San Leandro, Calif. (San Leandro HS)    39  Caleb Taylor  S   6-3 197 JR  2L  Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS)    23  Joshua Taylor    CB  6-0 179 JR  2L  Corona, Calif. (Santiago HS)    30  Robert Turbin ^  TB  5-11    195 FR  HS  Fremont, Calif. (Irvington HS)    16  Chris Ulinski    P/PK    6-2 207 SO  HS  Grass Valley, Calif. (Nevada Union HS)    70  Zac Zimmerman    OL  6-5 265 SO  SQ  Newhall, Calif. (Hart HS)        Brown, Arlando * DL  6-1 243 FR  HS  Perris, Calif. (Rancho Verde HS)        Longshore, Ben * QB  6-2 213 FR  HS  Santa Clarita, Calif. (Canyon HS)        Pree, Angelo * CB  5-7 158 FR  HS  Bay Point, Calif. (Mt. Diablo HS)
* = Not on travel roster  /  ^ = Injured

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ON WAC LIST -- Robinson's 5,799 career all-purpose yards are a mark that would rank him fifth on the WAC career all-purpose yards, recently passing Marshall Faulk of San Diego State (1991-93) at No. 6... However, since USU was not in the WAC during Robinson's freshman season of 2004, those stats cannot be applied toward that mark... Robinson's 4,489 all-purpose yards in his three years that the Aggies have been in the WAC ranks Robinson 12th on the league's all-purpose yards list, passing Jamal Willis of BYU (1991-94) with 4,435, Monty Gilbreath of San Diego State (1986-89) with 4,409, Ron Rivers of Fresno State (1991-93) with 4,388 and Ryan Yarborough of Wyoming (1990-93) with 4,357 yards... With Robinson's current pace of 204.6 all-purpose ypg, he will have 6,617 career all-purpose yards, a mark that would put him at No. 2, topping LaDainian Tomlinson of TCU (1997-2000) with 6,337 yards and just behind the No. 1 spot of Terance Mathis of New Mexico (1985-87, 89) with 6,691 yards... As it is, Robinson's current average would give him 5,308 career all-purpose yards in his three years in the WAC, putting him at No. 10.

MARSH AND SPEIGHT FAB FRESHMEN -- Freshmen running backs Curtis Marsh and Derrvin Speight are having successful first seasons as Aggies... Marsh's 50 yards in his USU debut Aug. 30 were the most for a USU freshman in their first game in school history, and he topped that mark with 61 in the loss at Wyoming... Speight has 286 yards on the season and Marsh has 182 yards, which are closing in on the top three of USU's freshman season list... Current senior teammate Chris Forbes holds the No. 3 spot with 396 yards his freshman season of 2004... Speight's 99 yards in the San Jose State game were the single-game most for a freshman since Jerod Walker's 102 yards against New Mexico State in 2005... With a 100-yard game, either Marsh or Speight would become just the seventh freshman in school history to record that milestone and would be the 10th time overall for a freshman.

Freshman 100-Yard Rushing Games(Since 1957 in yardage total order)Att-Yds Player  Opponent    Year21-166  Demario Brown   Boise St.   199625-165  Demario Brown   No. Texas   199626-164  Rick Parros Weber St.   197627-131  Demario Brown   Idaho   199625-131  Chris Forbes  N.M. State  200422-157  Abu Wilson  N.M. State  199226-106  Abu Wilson  Pacific 199222-104  Travis Clark    N. Mexico   198625-102  Jerod Walker  N.M. State  2005

ROAD WOE-IORS -- Life on the road has been tough for the Aggies, who are currently on an 11-game road losing skid, last winning on the road in the 2005 season finale at New Mexico State, 24-21.

USU-FS SERIES -- Last year's 13-12 Utah State win snapped a three-game losing skid to Fresno State, as the Bulldogs lead the all-time series by a 11-10-1 count and had claimed the previous three meetings since Utah State posted a 20-19 win against then 25th-ranked Fresno State in 1991... That victory is USU's only win against an AP ranked team in school history... After meeting four straight seasons from 1952-55, the teams played every year from 1978-91 and 1993 when both programs were members of the Big West Conference... The teams met in a non-conference game in 2001, before meeting in 2005 and last year as members of the WAC... The 2001 meeting was scheduled for Sept. 15, but the 9-11 tragedy happened on the Tuesday of that week so the Bulldogs and Aggies agreed to postpone the game until Dec. 1, where FS won 70-21, USU's 15th-largest losing margin (49 points) in school history... The Aggies are 2-9-1 vs. the Bulldogs at Fresno, last winning there on Oct. 25, 1980... Overall, USU has been outscored 33.1-17.5 at Fresno.

AGGIE-BULLDOG NOTE-ABLE -- USU has 38 players on its roster from the state of California, the most from any state on the roster... Two of those players' hometown is Fresno, in senior WR/KR Kevin Robinson (Hoover HS) and sophomore CB Kejon Murphy (Edison HS)... Robinson was high school teammates with Fresno State senior LB Ahijah Land while Murphy was high school teammates with the Bulldogs' senior RB Clifton Smith and redshirt freshman DT Cornell Banks... The Utah State sophomore trio of S James Brindley, OT Brennan McFadden and K Chris Ulinski were high school teammates with Fresno State's redshirt freshman OT Andrew Jackson at Nevada Union HS in Grass Valley, Calif... Other California high school teammates and fellow hometown natives are: Aggie freshman LB Jordan Glass and FS redshirt freshman OT Kenny Wiggins of Elk Grove (Elk Grove HS), USU redshirt freshman DE Nathan Royster and FS redshirt freshman LB Nico Herron and freshman WR Jamel Hamler of San Leandro (San Leandro HS), USU freshman TB Curtis Marsh (Royal HS) and FS redshirt frosh SS Lorne Bell (Simi Valley HS) of Simi Valley, Aggie freshman LB Kyle Gallagher (Douglass HS) and FS sophomore NT Wilson Ramos (Woodland HS) of Woodland and USU freshman DE Steven Clark and FS redshirt frosh PK Dustin Abrams of Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos HS)... Fresno State senior PK/P Kyle Zimmerman and redshirt freshman QB Ryan Colburn are natives of Visalia, Calif., the same hometown as USU Senior Assoc. Athletic Director Jana Doggett and USU Academic Advisor/ Life Skills Coord. Amy Crosbie, wife of former USU QB and current USU Asst. AD/Business Manager Jeff Crosbie... USU offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey was 0-1-1 vs. Fresno State while an assistant coach at UTEP (1994-96)... In the last 12 meetings, Utah State is 3-8-1 vs. Fresno State... The three wins have been by a combined six points (13-12 in 2006, 20-19 in 1991 and 17-13 in 1987) and all three have been at home... Seven of those losses were at Fresno with the Aggies getting outscored by a total of 285-115, an average of 40.7-16.4.

UP NEXT -- Utah State's home finale is on Saturday, Nov. 10 when the Aggies host Boise State in a 1:05 p.m. match-up.

-USU-