INSIDE SLANT

It’s a chance, which is all Utah State wants. It gets one, but whether that excitement holds up Nov. 20 is a big question as Utah State prepares to play host to the most publicized game this year.

The 3-7 Aggies will get Romney Stadium packed for a Friday night, nationally televised showdown against Boise State.

“We are all excited, especially the seniors. We haven’t really thought about it being senior night. It is just another game we have to prepare for,” USU senior linebacker (and the team’s only Idaho native) Adrian Bybee said. “It is our last home game and we want to keep our home record strong. We want to finish up with a 4-1 record at home. That is something, as seniors, that we can be proud of. That is what we are preparing for.”

Boise State will be a huge favorite, playing with much more on the line of course. Gary Andersen, Utah State’s first-year head coach, is no stranger to BCS bids. He was the defensive coordinator at Utah last year when his team ousted Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Andersen has referred to this Boise State unit as even better.

He sees this, a conference game on ESPN2, as a moment to see where the Aggies stand—and perhaps how far they have to go.

“I think it is big for us regardless of the outcome of the game. We are on national television. I remember going through this at Utah where our helmet wasn’t known. Now it is,” Andersen said. “Boise State was the same way at one point. It is not that way anymore. That is where we are at. We will take that national stage anyway we can.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• Utah State’s sharp media relations department points out that USU is 6-1 in its history for games played on Nov. 20. That’s about all which is working in favor of the Aggies. The Aggies have lost 25 games in a row against Top 25 foes dating back to 1991, and eight straight to Boise State. In the last three games against BSU, the Aggies have been outscored 150-24, including a 52-0 outcome two years ago at Romney Stadium. USU also has lost its last 15 non-Saturday games.

“We have to believe we can make it competitive. We can go out and compete with anybody. We have played some dang good football teams this year pretty well,” head coach Gary Andersen said of facing Utah, BYU and Texas A&M—all on the road. “We have also played well at home. That is a big step to be able to walk out there and be consistent. The other thing is our kids have to buy into the scheme and prepare better than they have all year. They have a short week and our playing a team that is very good scheme wise. They have to spend more time in that facility on their own than they ever have before. When you play a team like this you have to have some weather on your side. We have to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.”

• Andersen played then-No. 2 Alabama last year in the Sugar Bowl, when he was Utah’s defensive coordinator. He alluded to this Boise State team being even better. “Let’s just say they’re well deserving of their ranking. They are as good an opponent as I have prepared for in a number of years.”

Scouting The Offense:   One spot where USU can actually compare to Boise State is each has a quarterback who knows how to take care of the ball. USU junior Diondre Borel and BSU sophomore Kellen Moore each have only thrown three interceptions, the fewest in the WAC. Borel at one point had the third-longest streak in the country with 228 pass attempts. He must make good decisions, and not leave BSU’s offense in any better position than necessary.

Scouting The Defense:   San Jose State isn’t in the same stratosphere as the Broncos, but USU was pleased that it held the Spartans to few big plays a week ago. “You didn’t see the big runs that broke out for 15, 20, 30 yards down the field, you didn’t see the big pass plays that broke out in those situations,” Andersen said. “And then you also saw the defense being able to go through the whole football game and stop the run consistently the whole game. That was big for us.”

The longest past play SJSU had was a 29-yarder and that came courtesy of a halfback pass by Brandon Rutley. If that’s all BSU can get, the Aggies are probably in much better shape than they ever anticipated. Andersen says pressure on Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore will be crucial. But can it be done by a team the USU head coach estimates has only had two successful games getting it?

Quote To Note:   “It is exciting to be on national TV with ESPN coming in. We can show what we are about at Utah State. All of our games this year have been a battle from the first quarter to the fourth. That is what we are looking to do once more. We want to give this home crowd what they deserve for all the support they have given us this season.”—USU senior linebacker Adrian Bybee, a native of Idaho.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Utah State vs. Boise State, Nov. 20—It’s a nationally televised game. Will the Aggies be happy with that come the fourth quarter, or even halftime? Right now they’re thrilled for the opportunity to shock the college football world.

Series History:   Boise State leads series 11-4. The Broncos have also won the last eight meetings, including a 52-0 decision two seasons ago in Logan, Utah.

Players To Watch:  

QB Diondre Borel has thrown just three interceptions this year. Anything he can do to hang onto the ball, keep it from Boise State, would really help the Aggies have at least some hope of hanging tough. Borel will have to make good decisions all night, says head coach Gary Andersen.

The USU defense, Andersen’s calling card and the reason Aggie fans were so excited about him getting the job last winter, is on full display for the first time since he helped produce a plan that stunned then-No. 2 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl with a lethal game plan. Andersen doesn’t have the same caliber of athletes, but it’s 10 games into the season so he needs to concoct some schemes that can cause problems. The secondary has been the best group all season, which bodes well against a passing offense.

RB Robert Turbin, combined with Borel, must excel at moving the chains. Utah State must not only run clock effectively, but also force field position. The team’s 1,000-yard rusher (first time in seven years at USU) has kept attitude and poise, which Andersen has praised, and this is a chance to showcase his mostly anonymous talent to the country.

Roster Report:  

• USU players are hopeful the crowd is bigger for their team than the well-traveling Broncos. The 25,000-seat Romney Stadium has been a little above half full this season on average, meaning there are seats available for the visiting teams’ raucous fans. Said USU senior linebacker Adrian Bybee: “We have by far the best student body when they come out and support. We have seen it in basketball. It is near impossible to play in the Spectrum because of the student body. We want to make sure the whole area knows our win loss record does not reflect the type of team that we are. This game is a big game for the seniors. It is a big game for this program. Filling that stadium with more blue than orange will help us. It will give us the home field advantage that we need. Going 4-1 at home would be a great thing for this program. That is something that comes from crowd support. We have to make it hard for that offense to get rolling. If we get the type of crowd we can get here at Utah State, it will help the defense keep their offense off the field.”

• Utah State punter Peter Caldwell was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2009 Ray Guy Award Nov. 13, which honors the nation’s top collegiate punter. He is one of two punters from non-BCS schools, and is joined by two other juniors. He is currently third in the WAC and 47th in the NCAA with a 41.7 yard average, down this week after previously leading the WAC and ranking 24th in the country with a 42.9 ypp average.