Sept. 13, 2010
LOGAN, Utah -
Complete Fresno State at Utah State Football Notes in PDF Format 
FRESNO STATE at UTAH STATESaturday, Sept. 18 - 6 p.m. (MT)Merlin Olsen Field atRomney Stadium (25,513)Logan, Utah
QUICKLY -- Utah State (1-1, 0-0 WAC) will continue its two-game homestand by hosting Fresno State (1-0, 0-0 WAC) in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 18... Kickoff from Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium (25,513) is slated for 6 p.m. (MT)... Saturday's battle between the Aggies and Bulldogs is the debut game for the WAC Sports Network... It will be aired on CW30 (Comcast Ch. 15 in Cache Valley).
SATURDAY'S STORYLINES -- Things to watch for in Saturday's battle between the Aggies and Bulldogs:
-- USU seeking first 2-1 start to season since 1997.
-- Aggies looking to snap three-game losing skid to Bulldogs.
-- The last four meetings between USU and FS have been by a total of 18 points, with USU's 13-12 win in 2006, FS's 38-27 win in 2007, the Bulldogs' 30-28 last-second victory in 2008 and Fresno State's come-from-behind 31-27 win last year.
-- Utah State is 8-3 vs. Fresno State in Logan, with the last three meetings differential by a total of four points (USU 20-19 in 1991, USU 13-12 in 2006, FS 30-28 in 2008)... Saturday is Fresno State's first visit to Romney Stadium since then-freshman, now junior placekicker Kevin Goessling's game-winning 58-yard field goal as time expired.
-- Aggies are 9-6 in last 15 conference openers, including 1-4 in WAC openers.
-- USU is 9-6 in its last 15 conference home openers, including 2-3 in WAC home openers.
-- Utah State is 51-63-2 (.449) overall against schools from the state of California, going 10-14-1 against Fresno State.
-- USU's percentage is much higher in games at Logan against California teams, entering Saturday with a 34-19 (.642) ledger, including 8-3 vs. Fresno State.
-- Utah State is second in the WAC and 18th in the nation in total offense (481.5 ypg), while Fresno State's defense leads the WAC and is 14th in country in total defense (234.0 ypg).
-- Aggie senior QB Diondre Borel had a career-best 105 rushing yards at Fresno State last season, in his lone 100-yard rushing outing of his career and was 16 yards shy of USU's single-game rushing mark by a QB.
-- Borel needs:
-- 199 yards to move up to No. 6 on USU's career passing list.
-- 287 yards of total offense to reach No. 2 spot on USU's career total offense list.
-- 182 yards of total offense to crack top 35 on WAC's career total offense list.
-- USU senior P/PK Peter Caldwell needs three PAT's to move up to No. 4 on USU's career PAT made list and just one PAT attempt to move up to No. 5 on career PAT attempted list.
FOLLOWING THE GAME AND THE AGGIES
ON TV -- Saturday's battle between the Aggies and Bulldogs is the debut of the WAC Sports Network... The debut game will feature Dave Harbison handling play-by-play, former San Jose State head coach Dick Tomey will provide analysis and while Lauren Mickler will be the sideline reporter... It will be aired on CW30 (Comcast Ch. 15 in Cache Valley).
ON THE AIR -- All Utah State football games are carried live on KVNU 610 AM, KVNU 102.1 FM (Cache Valley) and KLZX 95.9 FM in Logan; 1230 or 1320 AM in Salt Lake City; on KLZX 105.3 FM in Montpelier, Idaho... All Aggie football games are also on the Internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com by clicking on "Listen Live"... Al Lewis handles the play-by-play duties, while Craig Hislop provides analysis.
ON THE INTERNET -- USU home football games are also streamed on the Internet through "Aggies All Access," by clicking on the "Live Aggies Video" link on the home page of www.UtahStateAggies.com... Fans can register and purchase single-game or season packages to watch.
GAMETRACKER -- Fans can follow all USU Aggie home games through the USU web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com via GameTracker, a free service, which updates play-by-play and statistics throughout the game.
COACHES SHOW ON THE ROAD -- The Gary Andersen radio show will rotate between Bajio Mexican Grill and Firehouse Pizza on Thursday nights (6:05-6:45 p.m. on 610 AM KVNU) when the Aggies play on Saturday... The show gives USU fans an opportunity to ask questions and interact with Coach Andersen and players.
Upcoming Coaches Show: Sept. 23 Firehouse Pizza / Sept. 16, 30 Bajio Mexican Grill
UP NEXT -- Utah State heads to San Diego, Calif,. to take on San Diego State on Saturday, Sept. 25... It is the Aggies' first match-up with the Aztecs since 1975.
UTAH STATE NOTE-ABLES
NEW HOME UNIFORMS/NEW LOOK HELMETS/HELMET STICKERS -- When the Utah State football team took to the turf of newly named Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium on Sept. 11 for its home opener against Idaho State, the Aggies were donning new home uniforms.
Head coach Gary Andersen and selected players helped choose the design for the jerseys. The jerseys and pants are made by Nike and feature a navy blue base with white letters and numbers with black piping around the numbers along with white and black trim on the sides of the jerseys and pants. USU will be able to wear the navy blue jersey with either navy blue or white pants for home games and the white jersey with either white or navy blue pants for road games.
Utah State's helmets got an new look this summer, as the white helmet with larger navy blue metallic paint flakes is an upgrade from the white helmet with small black metallic flakes last year, while the navy blue facemasks replace white masks that have adorned the white helmet with U-State logo since the mid-90's.
Additionally, helmet stickers will be awarded to players, with a "Block A" for academic achievement and community service and a bull head for athletic recognition. All helmets will also have a "71" sticker on the back, honoring USU legend Merlin Olsen, who passed away March 11, 2010.
UTAH STATE NAMES FIELD AT ROMNEY STADIUM 'MERLIN OLSEN FIELD' -- To honor one of its greatest alumnus and the most decorated football player in school history, Utah State University is naming the playing field inside Romney Stadium `Merlin Olsen Field.'
An official dedication ceremony will take place during the end of the 2010 football season in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Utah State's 1960 Sun Bowl Team, led by Olsen. During the official dedication of Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium, a larger-than-life-size bronze statue of Olsen, which will be sculpted by nationally renowned artist Blair Buswell, will be unveiled in the southeast corner of the stadium.
Olsen was a three-year lettermen on the offensive and defensive lines for Utah State's football team from 1959-61, earning All-American honors during both his junior and senior seasons. During his senior season in 1961, he won the Outland Trophy as the nation's outstanding interior defensive lineman. Olsen also was a three-time academic All-American at Utah State and graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Kappa Phi in 1962 with a degree in finance. NFL Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, the greatest athlete in Utah State University history, passed away at City of Hope Hospital near Los Angeles on March 11, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer.
USU IN CONFERENCE OPENERS -- Utah State has started conference play with a victory five out of the last nine years, but have lost four of its last five... USU broke a three-game losing skid in conference openers by winning the 2008 WAC opener, part of USU's 1-4 record in WAC openers... Utah State is starting league action at home for the fourth time in a last five years, as last year's game at New Mexico State was the lone road game in that stretch... Here's a closer look at USU's last 15 overall conference openers, in which USU is 9-6:
1993 - L 44-48 vs. Nevada Big West1993 - W 34-13 at Southwest Louisiana Big West1994 - L 21-23 vs. UNLV Big West1995 - W 42-7 vs. Northern Illinois Big West1996 - W 53-21 at New Mexico State Big West1997 - W 38-7 vs. New Mexico State Big West1998 - L 14-26 vs. Idaho Big West1999 - W 20-14 vs. Arkansas State Big West2000 - W 17-12 at North Texas Big West2003 - W 28-10 vs. UL-Monroe Sun Belt2004 - W 14-7 vs. Idaho Sun Belt2005 - L 7-13 at Idaho WAC2006 - L 21-41 vs. Idaho WAC2007 - L 20-23 vs. San Jose State WAC2008 - W 42-17 vs. Idaho WAC2009 - L 17-20 at New Mexico State WAC** USU was an independent in 2001 and 2002
CONFERENCE HOME OPENERS -- Saturday is Utah State's first Western Athletic Conference home game... USU has won six of its last nine and nine of its last 13 conference home openers... This is the first time that Fresno State has been Utah State's league home opener during USU's six seasons in the WAC, as San Jose State and Idaho have each filled that role twice and Nevada once... Here's a closer look at the Aggies' last 15 overall conference home openers in which they are 9-6:
1993 - L 44-48 vs. Nevada Big West1994 - L 21-23 vs. UNLV Big West1995 - W 42-7 vs. Northern Illinois Big West1996 - W 35-25 vs. Idaho Big West1997 - W 38-7 vs. New Mexico State Big West1998 - L 14-26 vs. Idaho Big West1999 - W 20-14 vs. Arkansas State Big West2000 - W 31-14 vs. Idaho Big West2003 - W 28-10 vs. UL-Monroe Sun Belt2004 - W 14-7 vs. Idaho Sun Belt2005 - W 24-17 vs. San Jose State WAC2006 - L 21-41 vs. Idaho WAC2007 - L 20-23 vs. San Jose State WAC2008 - W 42-17 vs. Idaho WAC2009 - L 32-35 vs. Nevada WAC** USU was an independent in 2001 and 2002
AGGIES VS. BULLDOGS IN CONFERENCE OPENERS -- While this is the first time that USU has opened WAC action with Fresno State, the Aggies and Bulldogs were also in the Big West Conference together from 1978-93, but in their 15 years as conference foes, USU only opened Big West play against Fresno State in 1978, winning 45-22... However, the Bulldogs were the second game on USU's Big West slate five times, in 1982 (L, 6-31), 1983 (W, 20-12), 1989 (L, 7-34), 1990 (T 24-24) and 1993 (L 14-30).
USU IN SEPTEMBER / ON SEPT. 18 -- Utah State has lost 15 of its last 18 games in the calendar's ninth month... USU is 9-29 during September in the 2000's... This is the third-straight season that the Aggies have three games in September, going 1-2 in the ninth month the last two seasons, after dropping all four of its September games in 2007 and all five games in September in 2006... Saturday is USU's first game on Sept. 18 since losing to 15th-ranked Utah, 48-6, in 2004... Utah State is 2-5 on Sept. 18, losing three in a row and four of the last five... The Aggies are 2-3 at home on Sept. 18... Here's a closer look at how USU has fared on Sept. 18:
1954 - L 0-20 at San Jose State1971 - W, 34-0 vs New Mexico State1976 - L 10-32 vs Long Beach State1982 - W 31-10 vs Weber State1993 - L 24-28 vs Baylor1999 - L 18-38 at Utah2004 - L 6-48 vs #15 Utah
USU VS. GOLDEN STATE TEAMS -- Utah State is 51-63-2 (.449) overall against schools from the state of California, going 10-14-1 vs. Fresno State, 11-20-1 vs. San Jose State, 8-6 against Cal State Fullerton, 1-0 vs. Cal State Northridge, 21-7 against Pacific, 1-9 vs. San Diego State, 0-4 vs. USC, 0-1 vs. St. Vincent's, 0-1 against Stanford and 0-1 vs. UCLA... Utah State's percentage is much higher in games at Logan against California teams, entering Saturday with a 34-19 (.642) ledger, including 8-3 vs. Fresno State, 8-8 against San Jose State, 4-3 vs. Cal State Fullerton, 1-0 against Cal State Northridge, 13-2 vs. Pacific and 0-3 against San Diego State.
TRIO OF CALI OPPONENTS -- Saturday marks the first of three California opponents on the USU 2010 ledger, as after Fresno State, USU will play at San Diego State on Sept. 25 and at San Jose State on Nov. 13... It is the first time that the Aggies have faced three teams from California since 1992 when USU faced San Jose State, Cal State Fullerton and Pacific... Utah State will be making two trips to California this season to play at San Diego State on Sept. 25 and at San Jose State on Nov. 13... It is the first time that the Aggies have traveled to the Golden State twice in the same season since 1992 when USU played at Cal State Fullerton and at Pacific... It also marks the first time that USU has played in the same state outside of Utah twice in the same season since 2008 when the Aggies played at UNLV and at Nevada.
UTAH STATE-FRESNO STATE SERIES -- Fresno State has won six of the last seven meetings with Utah State as USU's 13-12 win in 2006 snapped a three-game losing skid to Fresno State and the Bulldogs lead the all-time series by a 14-10-1 count... Prior to the 2006 win, FS 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 first meeting in 2005 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 last four meetings have been by a total of 18 points, with USU's 13-12 win in 2006, FS's 38-27 win in 2007, the Bulldogs' 30-28 last-second victory in 2008 and Fresno State's come-from-behind 31-27 win last year... Utah State is 8-3 in Logan, with the last three meetings' differential by a total of four points (USU 20-19 in 1991, USU 13-12 in 2006, FS 30-28 in 2008).
Fresno StateOverall: 10-14-1 / Home: 8-3-0 / Away: 2-10-110-18-52 L 21-27 A11-7-53 W 46-6 H10-9-54 L 13-23 A10-29-55 W 39-14 H9-23-78 W 45-22 H11-24-79 W 41-31 A10-25-80 W 14-0 A10-31-81 W 20-0 H10-2-82 L 6-31 A10-1-83 W 20-12 H10-20-84 L 18-43 A10-26-85 L 19-38 H11-22-86 L 7-14 A11-14-87 W 17-13 H10-15-88 L 10-51 A10-14-89 L 7-34 H10-13-90 T 24-24 A11-2-91 W 20-19 H9-25-93 L 14-30 A12-1-01 L 21-70 A10-15-05 L 21-53 A10-7-06 W 13-12 H11-3-07 L 27-38 A10-28-08 L 28-30 H10-31-09 L 27-31 A
AGGIE-BULLDOG NOTE-ABLE -- USU has 28 players on its roster from the state of California, the second-most from any state behind the 41 from Utah... One of those players' hometown is near Fresno, in senior CB Chris Randle, who is from Merced, Calif. (Golden Valley HS), 58 miles from Fresno... There are several California high school teammates and fellow hometown natives on opposite sides Saturday: USU senior DE Nathan Royster and FS junior WR Jamel Hamler of San Leandro (San Leandro HS); USU senior CB Curtis Marsh (Royal HS) and FS senior SS Lorne Bell (Simi Valley HS) of Simi Valley; Aggie senior DT Sean Enesi and Bulldog sophomore OL Matt Hunt of Carson (Carson HS); USU sophomore WR Emmanual Ojeriakhi and FS sophomore DB Phillip Thomas are both from Bakersfield and went to Bakersfield HS, while FS junior TE Ryan Skidmore (East HS) and Patrick Su'a (Highland HS) are also from Bakersfield, but went to different high schools... The high school teammate match-ups are limited to California, as USU freshman LB Chris Fox and FS freshman OL Andrew Gustafson are both from Scottsdale, Ariz. and played together at Chaparral HS... Fresno State redshirt-freshman DB Erik Brown (Saguaro HS) is also from Scottsdale, Ariz., but went to a different high school... There are several match-ups of players from the same hometown but different high schools: Aggie senior OL Spencer Johnson (Antelope Valley HS) and Bulldog redshirt-freshman RB Jerry Kelly (Paraclete HS) are both from Lancaster, while USU senior QB Jeff Fischer (Lakewood HS) and FS junior DB Isaiah Green (Long Beach Poly) are both from Long Beach, but went to different high schools... The same hometown, different high school match-ups aren't limited to California, while Aggie sophomore RB/KR Kerwynn Williams (Valley HS) and Bulldog senior LB Ben Jacobs (Silverado HS) are both from Las Vegas, Nev... Fresno State senior QB Ryan Colburn is a native of Visalia, Calif., the same hometown as USU Senior Assoc. Athletic Director Jana Doggett and former USU Academic Advisor/ Life Skills Coord. Amy Crosbie, wife of former USU QB and current USU Asst. AD/Business Manager Jeff Crosbie... In the last 15 meetings, Utah State is 3-11-1 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 Logan.
USU BESTS VS. FRESNO STATE -- Here is a look at some of the top USU statistical individual performances against the Bulldogs over the years: Rick Parros had the fifth-highest single-game rushing outing in USU history with 252 yards against Fresno State in 1978... In 1980, Marvin Jackson had an 88-yard rush, tied for the fourth-longest rushing play in school history... Richard Gwynn holds the 10th-longest rush mark with an 80-yard run against FS in 1984... Jack Hill had a 90-yard kick return against Fresno State in 1955, tied for the 12th-longest kick return... Utah State's 70-21 loss at Fresno State in 2001 is the 15th-largest losing margin (49 points)... In addition to the 252 outing Parros had another one of his 14 career 100-yard rushing outings with 168 yards against Fresno State in 1979... Gwynn had the first of two career 100-yard games with 144 yards in 1984... Roger Grant logged one of his 11 100-yard games with 197 yards in 1990... In 1993, James Dye recorded his only 100-yard outing with 112 yards against FS... David Fiefia had the first of four 100-yard games with 116 yards in the Fresno State game in 2001... Brett Stevens had his only 300-yard passing game with 326 yards against the Bulldogs in 1984... The next year, Brent Snyder had the first of his school-record 10 300-yard outings with 335 yards against FS... In 1978, Jimmy Bryant had 125 receiving yards against the Bulldogs... Kendal Smith had 142 receiving yards against Fresno State in 1987, the single-game receiving mark for a USU freshman and the first of the 15 century-yard receiving games he would have, adding another one in 1988 with 101 against the Bulldogs... Kevin Curtis tallied one of his school-record 16 100-yard receiving games with 110 against Fresno State in 2001... Aggie senior QB Diondre Borel had a career-best 105 rushing yards at Fresno State last season, is his lone 100-yard rushing outing of his career and was 16 yards shy of USU's single-game rushing mark by a QB.
CURRENT AGGIE COACHES VS. FRESNO STATE -- Six members of Utah State's coaching staff have faced Fresno State, either as a coach or a player or both, as is the case for USU defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a who coached against Fresno State as an assistant at Weber State and played against the Bulldogs during his playing days at Utah... Overall, those six members were a combined 7-10 vs. Fresno State in their other positions.
Name Utah State Position Other Position Years-ResultsGary Andersen Head Coach Utah Def. Coord. 1997-L, 13-27(2-1 vs. FS) 1998-W, 24-16 1999-W,17-16Dave Baldwin Offensive Coord./WR's San Jose St. WR Coach 1981-W,65-33(3-5 vs. FS) 1982-L, 27-39 1983-W, 41-23 1984-W, 18-17 San Jose St. Head Coach 1997-L, 12-53 1998-L, 21-24 1999-L, 12-63 2000-L, 6-37Kevin Clune Linebackers Weber State Def. Coord. 2005-L, 17-55(0-1 vs. FS)Alex Gerke Offensive Line Hawai'i RB's/O-Line 2008-W, 32-29 (OT)(1-0 vs. FS)Chad Kauha'aha'a Defensive Line Weber State Def. Line 2005-L, 17-55(0-3 vs. FS) Utah Player-LB 1995-L, 21-25 1996-L, 17-45Corey Raymond Cornerbacks LSU Cornerbacks 2006-W, 28-6(1-0 vs. FS)
UTAH STATE-FRESNO STATE BY THE NUMB3R5 -- A closer look at notables about Saturday's match-up between the Aggies and the Bulldogs:
0 Players from the state of Utah on Fresno State's roster.00 Number of seconds on clock when FS's Kevin Goessling booted a 58-yard field goal to beat USU 30-28 in 2008, Fresno State's last visit to Logan.1 Tie in the series, a 24-all draw in 1990.1 Wins by the Aggies over a top 25 team, a 20-19 win over then No. 25 Fresno State in 1991.1 Wyoming alums on each of USU and FS Media Relations staffs in Doug Hoffman and Steve Weakland, who are the directors of their respective staffs.2 Different conferences that Utah State and Fresno State have been in together (Big West 1988-1991, WAC, 2005-present).3 Wins in a row by Fresno State in the series.3 Times that USU head coach Gary Andersen faced Fresno State while an assistant at Utah, going 2-1 (1997-L, 27-13; 1998-W, 24-16; 1999-W, 17-16).10 Overall wins by Utah State in the series.14 Overall wins by Fresno State in the series.18 Total points difference of last four meetings (USU's 13-12 win in 2006, FS's 38-27 win in 2007, the Bulldogs' 30-28 last-second victory in 2008 and Fresno State's come-from-behind 31-27 win last year).18 USU wins on California soil.28 Players from the state of California on Utah State's roster.50 Number of wins by USU over a school from California.58 Yards of FS's Kevin Goessling's field goal as time expired to beat USU, 30-28 in 2008 at Logan.64.2 USU's percentage is much higher in home games against California teams, entering Saturday with a 34-19 ledger, including 8-3 vs. Fresno State.98 Players from the state of California on Fresno State's roster.110 Receiving yards by Aggie Kevin Curtis vs. Fresno State in 2001.142 Receiving yards by USU's Kendal Smith vs. FS in 1987, the single-game receiving mark for a USU freshman and the first of Smith's 15 century-yard receiving games, adding another one in 1988 with 101 against the Bulldogs.900 Miles from USU's Romney Stadium to FS's Bulldog Stadium.1980 Year of Utah State's last win over Fresno State at Fresno.1992 Year of the Aggies' last win on California soil.
BOREL 7TH AGGIE QB TO 5K PASSING -- USU senior QB Diondre Borel topped the 5,000 career passing yard plateau on Saturday... Borel became just the seventh Aggie QB to reach the 5,000-yard passing milestone and the first since Jose Fuentes reached it in the 2001 season, finishing his career in 2002 with 9,168 yards, the No. 1 spot on USU's career passing list... Now with 5,186 yards, Borel is just 199 yards from Matt Sauk (1996-97) at No. 6 on USU's career passing list with 5,385 yards, and 456 from Anthony Calvillo (1992-93) with 5,642 yards at No. 5.
Career PassingNo. Name Years Yds.1. Jose Fuentes 1999-2002 9,1682. Tony Adams 1970-72 6,2263. Brent Snyder 1987-88 6,1054. Eric Hipple 1976-79 6,0735. Anthony Calvillo 1992-93 5,6426. Matt Sauk 1996-97 5,3857. Diondre Borel 2007-pres. 5,1868. Travis Cox 2001-04 4,7229. Leon Jackson III 2004-07 4,22110. Ron Lopez 1990-91 4,182
BOREL SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER -- Quarterback Diondre Borel takes four school records into his senior season, as he is the USU record holder for single-season total offense (3,343 yards, 2009), single-season rushing yards by a QB (632 in 2008) and career rushing yards for a QB (1,098 yards, 2007-pres.), as well as fewest INT thrown (four in 2009)... Borel's 105 rushing yards in 2009 vs. Fresno State (Oct. 31),was just shy of the single-game rushing record by a QB of 121 yards held by Tony Adams vs. Colorado State in 1972.
Rushing Yards by a QuarterbackGame: 121, Tony Adams (12 attempts) vs. Colorado State, 1972 105, Diondre Borel (12 attempts) vs. Idaho, 2008Season: 632, Diondre Borel (179 att.), 2008Career: 1,086, Diondre Borel (351 att.), 2007-pres.
BOREL RECORD WATCH -- Now with 6,300 career total offense yards, Borel leapt to No. 3 on USU's career total offense list, needing just 287 to reach Tony Adams (1970-72) with 6,587 at No. 2 ... Borel needs 2,491 yards to reach USU's career total offense record holder Jose Fuentes (1999-2002) at No. 1 with 8,791 yards... Borel has also cracked the WAC's Career Top 40 list, climbing to No. 39, passing Danny White of Arizona State (1971-73).
Career Total OffenseNo. Name Years Yds.1. Jose Fuentes 1999-2002 8,7912. Tony Adams 1970-72 6,5873. Diondre Borel 2007-pres. 6,3004. Eric Hipple 1976-79 6,1215. Brent Snyder 1987-88 5,9286. Anthony Calvillo 1992-93 5,8387. Matt Sauk 1996-97 5,4668. Leon Jackson III 2004-07 5,0359. Travis Cox 2001-04 4,84410. Abu Wilson 1992, 94-96 3,933
Career RushingNo. Name Years Yds.1. Demario Brown 1996-1999 4,0532. Abu Wilson 1992, 94-96 3,9333. Rick Parros 1976-79 3,5374. Louie Giammona 1973-75 3,4995. Emmett White 1998-01 2,7916. Roger Grant 1990-91 2,3877. Tom Larscheid 1959-61 2,2068. Altie Taylor 1966-68 1,9599. Jay Van Noy 1946-49 1,92310. Jack Hill 1952,55-56 1,82011. Robert Turbin 2008-pres. 1,798----15. Demetrius Brown 1986-89 1,25216. Archie Gibson 1972-73 1,23517. David Fiefia 2000-03 1,19318. Mac Lane 1966-67 1,18219. Jerry Hughes 1971-72 1,14420. Diondre Borel 2007-pres. 1,11421. Buddy Allen 1958-59 1,062
WAC Career Total OffenseNo. Yards Name, School, Years1. 16,916 Timmy Chang, UH, 2000-042. 14,740 Colt Brennan, UH, 2005-073. 14,665 Ty Detmer, BYU, 1988-914. 11,570 Chase Holbrook, NMSU, 2006-085. 10,750 Colin Kaepernick, NEV, 2007-pres.6. 10,651 Stoney Case, UNM, 1991-947. 10,513 Todd Santos, SDSU, 1984-878. 10,216 Luke McCown, LTU, 2001-039. 10,145 Paul Pinegar, FS, 2002-0510. 9,786 Ryan Dinwiddie, BSU, 2001-03------31. 6,753 Josh Wallwork, UW, 1995-9632. 6,680 Kelly Stouffer, CSU, 1983-8633. 6,627 Beau Morgan, AFA, 1994-9634. 6,604 Trent Dilfer, FS, 1992-9335. 6,482 Dee Dowis, AFA, 1986-8936. 6,443 Moses Moreno, CSU, 1994-9737. 6,354 Virgil Carter, BYU, 1964-6638. 6,350 Terry Nugent, CSU, 1980-8339. 6,300 Diondre Borel, USU, 2007-pres.40. 6,273 Danny White, ASU, 1971-73
Italics = active
BOREL EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OKLAHOMA PERFORMANCE -- Utah State senior quarterback Diondre Borel earned national recognition for his performance on Sept. 4 in the Aggies' near-upset of No. 7 Oklahoma before falling, 31-24, by receiving a helmet sticker from ESPN.com. He was the lone Western Athletic Conference player to earn a helmet sticker among the non-BCS conferences list.
Borel was 17-of-36 for 341 yards (20.1 yards per completion) with two touchdowns. It was Borel's sixth career 300-yard passing outing, his 17th career game with at least one TD pass and ninth career game with multi-TDs and Borel now has 30 career TD passes.
Borel was joined on the list by Troy kicker Michael Taylor, the TCU rushing offense, Houston quarterback Case Keenum and Utah safety Brian Blechen.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE -- The Bulldogs are 1-0 on the young season, beating Cincinnati, 28-14, on Sept. 4 and having a bye last week... The Bulldogs bounced back from a 14-0 deficit with a pair of TD passes in the last 2:25 of the first half to tie it up... The second half was all Fresno State, scoring two TD's to double-up Cincinnati.
Senior QB Ryan Colburn threw four TD's as part of his 247 yards on 18-of-24 passing, but was sacked twice and picked off once... All four TD passes were to different receivers, as sophomore WR Rashad Evans had a team-leading 71 yards on four catches with a score while junior WR Jamel Hamler added a FS-high five receptions for 53 yards and a TD... Sophomore RB Robbie Rouse rushed for a game-high 40 yards... Defensively, senior CB Desia Dunn notched 11 stops, while junior DT Logan Harrell posted four sacks and added another half tackle for loss for 4.5 TFL's as part of his five total tackles.
The Fresno State defense leads the WAC and is second in the country in rushing defense, yielding just 15 yards to Cincinnati, and also lead the league in scoring defense at 14.0 ppg... The Bulldogs also lead the WAC and are 14th in the NCAA for total defense (234.0 ypg) and are fifth in passing offense (247.0 ypg)... Offensively, FS is eighth in total offense (296.0 ypg), ranking fifth in passing offense (247.0 ypg) and ninth in rushing offense (49.0 ypg).
Colburn leads the WAC and is second in the country in pass efficiency (208.1), ranking fourth in the league in passing avg/game (247.0 ypg) and fifth in total offense (255.0 ypg)... Evans is ninth in the conference in receiving yards/game (71.0 ypg).
ABOUT UTAH STATE -- The Aggies are 1-1 for the first time since 2005 after beating Idaho State, 38-17, on Saturday in USU's home opener... After ISU scored a field goal, Utah State reeled up 38 unanswered points, opening a 38-3 lead early in the fourth quarter before the Bengals tacked on a pair of TD's in the last three minutes of the game.
Individually, senior QB Diondre Borel ended the night 21-of-26 passing for 255 yards, putting him over the 5,000 career yard plateau, becoming the seventh Aggie QB to reach that milestone and the first since Jose Fuentes in 2001.
Four different USU RB's had over 30 yards rushing, led by senior Michael Smith's 86 yards on 12 carries, while fellow senior Derrvin Speight also had 12 rushes, finishing with 75 yards... The sophomore duo of Joey DeMartino and Kerwynn Williams added 38 and 32 yards, respectively... Speight, DeMartino and Williams all joined Borel with a rushing TD each, just the second time since 1993 that USU has had four different players had at least one rushing TD, and the first time since 2008.
Junior WR Eric Moats had a team-high 65 yards, including a 15-yard TD catch, while sophomore WR Dontel Watkins had a game-best six catches for 48 yards... Junior WR Xavier Martin added 54 yards on three catches with a game-long of 39 yards.
Defensively, junior LB Bobby Wagner had a team-high 10 tackles, while junior S Walter McClenton added eight stops.
USU is tied for fourth in scoring offense (31.0 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (24.0 ppg)... The Aggies also are second in the league and 18th in the nation in total offense (481.5 ypg), also ranking second in the conference in rushing (177.5 ypg) and third in the league and 16th in the nation in passing offense (304.0 ypg).
Individually, Borel is third in the WAC and 15th in the NCAA in total offense (305.0 ypg), as well as second in the league in passing average (298.0 ypg) while ranking fourth in the conference and 35th in the country in pass efficiency (148.3 ypg).
Smith is fifth in the league and 80th in the nation in rushing (67.0 ypg) while Watkins in 10th in the conference and 74th in the country in receiving yards/game (69.5 ypg).. Williams is also third in the league and 53rd in the nation in all purpose yards (133.0 ypg).
Wagner is tied for seventh in the conference and tied for 63rd in the country in tackles (9.0 pg) while McClenton is tied for 21st in the league (6.5 pg).... Senior DT Daniel Gurrola is tied for seventh in the WAC in sacks (1.0 pg) and tied for ninth in tackles for loss (1.0 pg).
Senior P Peter Caldwell leads the WAC and is ninth in the NCAA in punting (46.3 ypp), and is one of six placekickers in the league with a perfect PAT percentage.
UTAH STATE POST-GAME NOTES FROM IDAHO STATE GAME --
-- Utah State is 1-1 for the first time since 2005.
-- USU played its first game on the newly named Merlin Olsen Field... Official naming ceremony will happen later in the season.
-- The Aggies made the debut of their new home navy blue Nike uniforms.
-- Senior QB Diondre Borel surpassed the 5,000-yard career passing milestone with a 13-yard pass to Dontel Watkins in the second quarter... Borel becomes just the seventh USU QB to reach the 5,000-yard plateau and the first since Jose Fuentes reached it in 2001.
-- Borel now has 5,198 yards for his career, needing 187 yards for No. 6 on the USU career passing list of 5,385 by Matt Sauk in 1996-97.
-- Borel also moves up to No. 3 on the USU career total offense list with 6,212 yards, passing Eric Hipple (1976-79) with 6,121... The No. 2 position is held by Tony Adams (1970-72) with 6,587 yards... Borel needs 375 yards to catch Adams.
-- USU had four different players with a rushing TD for just the second time since 1993 against BYU when Toney Jenkins, Mike Lee, Cotie McMahon and Aubery Thompson did it... USU most recently did it in 2008 against New Mexico State when five different players did it: Diondre Borel, Marquis Butler, Curtis Marsh, Ronald Scott and Robert Turbin.
-- Senior QB Diondre Borel started for the 23rd-consecutive game, which leads USU, as well as Borel's 23rdd career start... Junior LB Bobby Wagner made his 17th-straight start, which is second on the team.
-- Senior OL Spencer Johnson made his 33rd career start, which leads the team, and his 14th-straight start... Joining Johnson for third on the team-best list in making their 14th-consecutive starts was senior CB duo of Chris Randle and Rajric Coleman.
-- Sophomore WR Mikhail Morgan and redshirt-freshman CB Cameron Sanders made their first career start.
-- Borel capped that same drive with a rushing TD, his first of the season and 12th of his career.
-- Junior WR Austin Alder's 28-yard reception in the first quarter was his career long.
-- Sophomore RB Kerwynn Williams' 27-yard rush was not only the first TD of his USU career, but his career long as well.
-- Junior WR Eric Moats now has at least one reception in 14-straight games.
-- Borel's 15-yard TD pass to Moats give Borel 18 career games with at least one TD pass, and Borel now has 31 for his career (one tonight).
-- It was Borel's 17th career game with at least one TD pass, and it was Borel's 31st career TD toss (two tonight).
-- USU has now made at least one FG in 13 of the last 14 games... The Aggies did not have a field goal against Boise State on Nov. 20, 2009.
-- After not kicking any FG's last year, Caldwell is now 25-of-36 for his career, making 13 in 2007 as a freshman and 10 as a sophomore in 2008, and now two in 2010.
-- Freshman QB Jeremy Higgins made his USU debut, starting the Aggies' first series of the fourth quarter.
-- USU's 542 yards of total offense is the second time in three games that the Aggie had over 500 yards (539 at Idaho/11-28-09)... The second game of the season is lucky for the Aggie 500, as they went over 500 yards in the second game last season as well with 521 at Texas A&M.
-- Sophomore RB Joey DeMartino's 17-yard TD rush was his first TD as an Aggie.
-- Sophomore CB Quinton Byrd snared his first career INT.
-- Junior LB Bobby Wagner's team-high 10 tackles give him eight double-digit tackle outings for his career.
UTAH STATE-FRESNO STATE LAST TIMEFRESNO STATE 31, UTAH STATE 27October 31, 2009 • Fresno, Calif. • Bulldog Stadium
FRESNO, Calif. - For the fourth game in a row, Utah State's final score was a difference of four points after the Aggies were edged 31-27 by Fresno State on Halloween, Oct. 31, at a sunny Bulldog Stadium. Junior QB Diondre Borel became the first Aggie signal-caller to rush for 100 yards since 2005 with a career-best 105 and a TD while throwing for 240 yards and another TD on 20-of-31 passing. It was the fourth time this season that Borel ran and threw for a TD in the same game. Sophomore RB
Robert Turbin rushed for 138 yards and a TD, as he and Borel became the second Aggie duo this season to both run for 100 yards. Borel completed a pass to a season-high nine different receivers, led by senior WR Xavier Bowman's career-best seven catches for 65 yards and a TD while junior WR
Eric Moats had 59 yards on four catches. The Aggies had 503 yards of total offense, while the Bulldogs had 466. Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews, the nation's leading rusher amassed 185 yards with two TD's. Ryan Colburn was 17-of-27 passing for 256 yards and a TD. Colburn was picked off once by the Aggies, as USU junior CB Rajric Coleman snared the oskie late in the second quarter, setting up senior K Chris Ulinski's 23-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to send USU into the locker room with a 27-17 halftime lead. However, Fresno State stormed back with 14 second half points while the Aggies didn't score. USU got on the board first with a 26-yard Ulinski field goal on the Aggies opening possession of the game, a drive that included 43 and 16-yard rushes by Turbin. Fresno State countered with a fast scoring drive of its own, capped by a 9-yard run by Mathews. The Aggies bounced back on their next drive, started by a 54-yard pass play from Borel to sophomore WR
Stanley Morrison and finished by a 5-yard TD toss from Borel to Bowman for a 10-7 USU lead. That advantage would be short-lived as the Bulldogs bounced back and Seyi Ajirotutu snagged an 18-yard pass from Colburn for a 14-10 FS lead. The Bulldogs took a 17-10 lead with a 50-yard field goal from Fresno State's Kevin Goessling, the same Bulldog kicker who booted a 58-yarder as time expired to beat Utah State 30-28 last season. A 1-yard Turbin plunge knotted the score at 17-all, and Fresno State's A.J. Jefferson fumbled while returning the ensuing kickoff and Aggie junior LB Maxim Dinka Mba recovered, setting up USU at the FS 40-yard line. Seven plays later, Borel darted in from a yard out. Coleman logged his second INT of the season to end Fresno State's ensuing drive, setting up Ulinski's field goal to end the first half. A 2-yard scoring rush from FS's Lonyae Miller at the 8:10 mark of the third quarter pulled the Bulldogs within 27-24 and Mathews put Fresno State ahead with a 10-yard scoring dash with 4:53 to play in the fourth quarter. USU went three-and-out on its ensuing drive, and the Bulldogs ran out the clock.
Score By QuartersUtah State 10 17 0 0 - 27Fresno State 14 3 7 7 - 31
Scoring Summary1st 03:48 NMSU - Walls, Trevor 1 yd run (Hughes, Kyle kick)1st 11:14 USU - Chris Ulinski 26 yd field goal 09:47 FS - Mathews, Ryan 9 yd run (Goessling, K. kick) 08:20 USU - Xavier Bowman 5 yd pass from Diondre Borel (Ulinski kick) 04:21 FS - Ajirotutu, Seyi 18 yd pass from Colburn, Ryan (Goessling kick)2nd 09:48 FS - Goessling 50 yd field goal 05:02 USU - Robert Turbin 1 yd run (Ulinski kick) 01:57 USU - Borel 1 yd run (Ulinski kick) 00:00 USU - Ulinski 23 yd field goal3rd 08:10 FS - Miller, Lonyae 2 yd run (Goessling kick)4th 04:53 FS - Mathews 10 yd run (Goessling kick)
Attn: 27,721
Team Statistics USU FSFirst Downs 25 20Rushing 263 210Passing 240 256Total Offense 503 466Fumbles: Number-Lost 1-0 1-1Penalties: Number-Yards 6-53 7-59Punts-Yards/Avg. 5-214/42.8 4-199/49.8Kickoff Returns: No-Yds-TD/Avg. 6-155-0/25.8 4-84-0/21.8Interceptions: No-Yds-TD 1-0-0 0-0-0Fumble Returns: No-Yds-TD 0-0-0 0-0-0Possession Time 35:39 24:21Third-Down Conversions 11-of-19 6-of-11
Individual RushingUSU: Turbin 19-138 TD, Borel 22-105 TD, Speight 9-20FS: Mathews 23-185 2 TDs
Individual Passing (A-C-I, Yds, TD)USU: Borel 20-31-0, 240, 1FS: Colburn 17-27-1, 256, 1
Individual ReceivingUSU: Bowman 7-65 TD, Moats 4-59, Bartlett 2-28, Turbin 2-13, Morrison 1-54, Alder 1-10, Sawyer 1-6, Gwacham 1-6, Speight 1-(-1)FS: Ajirotutu 7-124 TD
USU Punt Returns: NoneUSU KO Returns: K.Williams 6-155USU Interception Returns: Coleman 1-0USU Tackle Leaders: Coleman 8, McClenton 6, Marsh 5, Gallagher 5
USU-FS LAST TIME AT LOGANFRESNO STATE 30, UTAH STATE 28October 28, 2008 • Logan, Utah • Romney Stadium
LOGAN, Utah - Fresno State's Kevin Goessling booted a 58-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bulldogs a 30-28 victory over Utah State on Oct. 25, spoiling USU's Homecoming. The Aggies rallied from a 24-13 early fourth-quarter deficit with 15 points, taking a 28-27 lead with 38 seconds left after freshman RB Marquis Butler's one-yard plunge. Sophomore PK/P Peter Caldwell split the uprights with the go ahead PAT. Fresno State's Rashad Evans returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards and three pass completions by Tom Brandstater put the Bulldogs into Goessling's range, and he drilled the kick to stun the spirted Aggie Homecoming crowd. It was the Bulldog's first win on the Aggies' home field since 1989, as USU is now 8-3 vs. FS in Logan, but Fresno State leads the all-time series, 13-10-1, winning five of the last six meetings overall. USU nearly re-created the magic from 2006, when the Aggies scored in the waning seconds to beat the Bulldogs, 13-12, also on USU's Homecoming, but Goessling's boot gave Fresno State the victory. The Aggies amassed 399 yards of total offense on the day, with 206 on the ground and 193 through the air. Fresno State had 411 total offense yards with 257 passing and 154 rushing, the Bulldogs' second-lowest rushing output of the season. Borel led USU with 15-of-24 passing for 193 yards and one TD while adding 74 rushing yards and a TD, as well as a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter after tossing a 20-yard scoring pass to junior WR Xavier Bowman to pull the Aggies to 24-21. Butler had a season-high 55 rushing yards, while junior WR Nnamdi Gwacham had 72 yards on two catches, including a career-long 52-yard reception to set up Bowman's TD catch. Defensively, senior LB Jake Hutton had a game-high 13 tackles while junior S James Brindley added 10 stops. Brandstater was 25-of-36 passing for 257 yards with a TD, hitting Seyi Ajirotutu with six of those passes for 58 yards while Devon Wylie also had six receptions for 54 yards. Ben Jacobs led Fresno State with 10 tackles while three others added nine stops. USU took the opening kickoff and marched down the field, scoring on its opening possession for the first time this season and the first time since last year, taking a 7-0 lead on a three-yard scoring scamper by Borel. Fresno State countered with a 19-yard run by Lonyae Miller to tie it at 7-all. Caldwell gave USU a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter on a 35-yard field goal but Fresno State scored on a seven-yard Brandstater to Wylie pass to put the Bulldogs up 14-10. Caldwell pulled the Aggies to 13-10 at the half on a 20-yard upright split as the second-quarter clock expired, at the same end as Goessling's second half ending field goal to win the game. The Bulldogs opened a 24-13 lead on a four-yard TD run by Ryan Matthews followed by a 43-yard Goessling field goal. After Bowman's TD drew USU to 24-21, Goessling booted a 44-yarder to put FS ahead, 27-21, setting up the final drama.
Score By QuartersFresno State 7 7 7 9 - 30Utah State 7 6 0 15 - 28
Scoring SummaryUSU - 1st 08:57 - Borel, Diondre 3 yd run (Caldwell, Peter kick)FS - 1st 06:43 - Miller,Lonyae 19 yd run (Goessling,K. kick)USU - 2nd 10:39 - Caldwell 35 yd field goalFS - 2nd 04:10 - Wylie,Devon 7 yd pass from Brandstater,T. (Goessling kick)USU - 2nd 00:00 - Caldwell 20 yd field goalFS - 3rd 07:22 - Mathews,Ryan 4 yd run (Goessling kick)FS - 4th 07:15 - Goessling 43 yd field goalUSU - 4th 06:16 - Bowman, Xavier 20 yd pass from Borel (Borel rush)FS - 4th 03:25 - Goessling 44 yd field goalUSU - 4th 00:38 - Butler, Marquis 1 yd run (Caldwell kick)FS - 4th 00:00 - Goessling 58 yd field goalAttn: 14,071
Team Statistics FS USUFirst Downs 25 21Rushing 154 206Passing 257 193Total Offense Yards 411 399Fumbles: Number-Lost 0-0 3-0Penalties: Number-Yards 7-53 5-63Punts-Yards 2-91 4-203Punt returns: No-Yds-TD/Avg. 3-49-0/16.3 0-0-0/0.0Kickoff Returns: No-Yds-TD/Avg. 1-27-0/27.0 6-123-0/20.5Interceptions: No-Yds-TD 0-0-0 0-0-0Fumble Returns: No-Yds-TD 0-0-0 0-0-0Possession Time 33:17 26:43Third-Down Conversions 9-of-14 3-of-12
Individual RushingFS: Miller 12-67 TDUSU: Borel 12-74 TD, Butler 13-55 TD, Scott 4-32, Marsh 4-17, Morrison 1-15, Turbin 5-13
Individual Passing (A-C-I, Yds, TDFS: Brandstater 25-36-0, 257, 1USU: Borel 15-24-0, 193, 1
Individual ReceivingFS: Ajirotutu 6-58USU: Nelson 4-39, Morrison 3-33, Gwacham 2-72, Bowman 2-35 TD, Butler 2-2, Marsh 1-10, Scott 1-2
USU Punt Returns: NoneUSU KO Returns: Harris 4-93, Murphy 1-20, Bartlett 1-10USU Interception Returns: NoneUSU Tackle Leaders: Hutton 13, Brindley 10, Hall 9, Hurst 7
UTAH STATE 2010 PRESEASON AWARD COLLECTION
#17 JR WR Matt Austin• Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook Preseason WAC Newcomer of the Year
#12 SR QB Diondre Borel• Manning Award Preseason Watch List• USA Today Preseason WAC Players To Watch List• Sporting News College Football Preview Preseason Best Athlete in WAC• Third-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#8 SR P/PK Peter Caldwell• Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List• Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook Preseason All-WAC• First-Team Lindy's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC• Second-Team Athlon College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC• Second-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#68 SR OG Philip Gapelu• Yahoo! Sports College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#52 SR OT SPENCER JOHNSON• Second-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#11 JR WR Stanley Morrison• Second-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#7 SR CB Chris Randle• Third-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#34 SR RB Michael Smith• Second-Team Athlon College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#6 JR RB Robert Turbin• Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook Preseason All-WAC• USA Today Preseason WAC Players To Watch List• First-Team Lindy's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC• Yahoo! Sports College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC• Second-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
#9 JR LB Bobby Wagner• Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook Preseason All-WAC• First-Team Lindy's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC• Yahoo! Sports College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC• First-Team Athlon College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC• First-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC
PERSONNEL BREAKDOWN -- FROM NEAR AND FAR -- USU's roster consists of players from 15 different states and from two countries in the United States and Canada. The states represented on the Aggies' roster are Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington.
VETERAN EXPERIENCE -- The Aggies have 22 seniors in 2010. Of the 22, 11 are at least two-year letterwinners, including seven who are three-year lettermen, in QB Diondre Borel, OL Spencer Johnson, CB Curtis Marsh, CB Chris Randle, DT Nathan Royster, P/PK Peter Caldwell and LS Patrick Scales.
THE TALL OF IT -- USU has six players who are 6'5" or taller, 6'8" freshman OL Bryce Walker, 6'7" senior OL Spencer Johnson, 6'7" junior TE Tarren Lloyd, 6'6" junior OL Tanner Richins, 6'5" sophomore OL Brooks Abel and 6'5" sophomore OL Oscar Molina-Sanchez.
THE SHORT OF IT -- Junior running back Josh Flores is the shortest player on Utah State's 2010 roster at 5'5"... Overall, Flores is one of 15 players on the Aggies' roster under 5'10" tall.
SMART AGGIES -- Utah State had 15 academic all-WAC selections for football, part of USU's 41 fall academic all-conference honors, which was second in the WAC... Overall, USU had 194 student-athletes recognized by the league office for academic achievements during the 2009-10 academic year, as Utah State has led the WAC in academic all-conference honors all five years that it has been in the league.
ROAD BOOK-ENDS -- Utah State will open and close the regular-season on the road for the second-straight season, kicking off the season at Oklahoma on Sept. 4 and playing its regular-season finale at Boise State on Dec. 4... Last year USU opened at Utah and closed at Idaho... The last time that the Aggies book-ended the season's schedule with home games was 1998 when they hosted Utah in the season-opener and hosted North Texas in the finale.
NO WILLIE -- USU will not hear Willie Nelson's "On The Road Again" this season as the Aggies do not have consecutive road games on the 2010 schedule, marking only the third time that has happened in the last 100 years, joining the 1920 and 2005 ledgers.
NAME GAME -- USU could form its own legal company of `Johnson, Johnson and Johnson' for the medical company of Johnson & Johnson, as the Aggies have three players with the last name of Johnson on their 2010 roster and even though all three are from California, none of them are related: senior OL Spencer Johnson (Lancaster), senior DL Devin Johnson (Glendora) and freshman WR Shaan Johnson (Cerritos).
UTAH STATE'S Diondre Borel TABBED TO MANNING AWARD WATCH LIST -- Utah State senior quarterback Diondre Borel was announced as a member of the Manning Award Watch List on Saturday, as he is the fifth player named by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in its daily release of honorees.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates' bowl performances. Ten finalists will be selected in late-November and the winner will be announced after the bowls in January and will be honored at a ceremony in New Orleans.
The award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, will release one name each day from mid-July through early August, on its website, allstatesugarbowl.org/ManningAward and via facebook and twitter. Votes will be tabulated following the completion of every bowl game in January.
Borel, a native of Oakley, Calif. (Freedom HS), enters his senior season with hopes of continuing last season's breakout and record-setting year and continue his ascent up the USU record books. He also enters his senior season with six school records in his pocket, as he is the USU record holder for single-season total offense (3,343 yards, 2009), single-season rushing yards by a QB (632 in 2008), career rushing yards for a QB (1,098 yards, 2007-pres.), single-season fewest interceptions thrown (four in 2009), consecutive passes without an interception (228 in 2009) and single-game passing yards per completion (21.1 on 316 yards on 15 completions vs. Southern Utah, 2009).
Last season, Borel led the WAC and ranked 15th in the FBS in total offense at 278.6 ypg, setting the USU record for single-season total offense with 3,343 yards. Borel was also third in the conference in passing average per game (204.4 ypg) as well as fifth in the league and 35th in the nation in passing efficiency (137.83). Additionally, Borel set the school record for fewest interceptions thrown with four, a mark that tied for second-fewest in FBS. Last season, he threw for 2,885 yards on 214-of-366 passing and threw 17 TD passes on the year.
Borel's 3,343 yards of total offense last year is a USU single-season record, topping the previous mark of 3,260 yards by Anthony Calvillo in 1993. Entering this season with 21 consecutive starts, Borel is ranked sixth in school history for career total offense (5,690 yards), needing 3,101 to reach the No. 1 mark of 8.791 yards by Jose Fuentes from 1999-2002.
The preseason Watch List recognizes some of the top quarterbacks in the nation based on previous collegiate performance, however, every quarterback in the nation remains eligible for the honor. Additional quarterbacks may be added to the Watch List after the start of the season. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Monday, Nov. 29. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 19.
The winner is selected by a panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. Past winners of the award include Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, Matt Ryan, JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young and Matt Leinart.
USU's Peter Caldwell NAMED TO PRESEASON RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST -- Utah State senior punter Peter Caldwell was named to the Preseason Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation's top collegiate punter, announced Wednesday by the Augusta Sports Council.
Caldwell, a Kaysville, Utah (Davis HS), native, is one of seven players on the preseason list, joining Drew Butler from Georgia, Ryan Donahue from Iowa, Johnny Hekker from Oregon State, Chas Henry from Florida, Jeff Locke from UCLA and Rob Long from Syracuse. All seven are returning Ray Guy Award semi-finalists from 2009.
In 2009, Caldwell led the WAC and ranked 37th in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in punting with a 42.2 yards per punt average with 69 punts for 2,914 yards. Caldwell had 17 punts of 50+ yards, highlighted by a season and career long 62-yarder. He tallied 27 punts inside the 20-yard line and forced the opposition's returner to call for a fair catch on 16 punts.
HEAD COACH COACHING POSITION -- In addition to his head coaching duties, USU head coach Gary Andersen is also the position coach for the defensive tackles... Andersen is one of 12 Division I (FBS) coaches doing so, and one of nine non-special teams related position:
Arkansas State Steve Roberts Special TeamsBall State Stan Parrish QuarterbacksBYU Bronco Mendenhall Defensive TacklesUConn Randy Edsall SafetiesKent State Doug Martin QuarterbacksLouisiana Rickey Bustle PK, LS and PRLouisiana-Monroe Todd Berry Quarterbacks Nevada Chris Ault QuarterbacksSan Diego State Brady Hoke Defensive LineTulsa Todd Graham SafetiesUTAH STATE Gary Andersen Defensive TacklesVirginia Tech Frank Beamer Kickers
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN -- Utah State football head coach Gary Andersen announced the six Aggie captains for the 2010 season, after a vote by the team.
Five of the six are seniors, as offensive captains will be senior quarterback Diondre Borel, senior offensive lineman Spencer Johnson and senior running back Michael Smith. Captaining the defense will be senior defensive lineman Sean Enesi, senior cornerback Chris Randle and junior linebacker Bobby Wagner.
FOOTBALL ISN'T JUST AMERICA'S GAME -- USU has four players who were born internationally... Senior LB Jerome Barbour (Germany), senior OL Tariq Polley (England), sophomore WR Emmanual Ojeriakhi (Nigeria) and freshman LB Connor Williams (Canada) all were born outside of the United States.
TRANSFER-MERS -- USU has 21 junior college transfers, as well as nine players who transferred from another four-year school on the 2010 roster... Three players on the roster came to USU from Snow College: senior DT Casey Davis, senior LB Joey Schrader, junior LB Gavin Jones... Three were teammates at El Camino JC: senior DT's Sean Enesi and Kamaloni Vainikola and junior LB Reuben Willis... Two were teammates at Grossmont JC: junior WR Xavier Martin and sophomore RB Joey DeMartino.
112 / 118 -- USU is taking the field for the 112th season of football in 118 years... The Aggies beat Utah, 12-0, in 1892, but then did not field a team until 1896, when they again only played one game but then played every year since with the exceptions of 1918 when to World War I and influenza cancelled the season and 1943 due to World War II.
-USU-
