Utah State Aggies football

History

The first intercollegiate athletic event in Utah State University's history took place on November 25, 1892, when the Agriculturalists defeated the football team from the University of Utah, 12–0. The game was played on what is now the quad, and it was the only game until 1896. The Aggies enjoyed early regional dominance, notching their first perfect season (7–0) in 1907. In 1911, under head coach Clayton Teetzel, the team again finished undefeated, even shutting out each of its five opponents by a collective score of 164 to 0. Hall of Fame. The makeshift field on the quad continued to serve the team until 1913, when football was moved to Adams Field, two blocks west of campus, where Adams Park now sits. The new field represented an improvement, but the facilities remained meager, which fact became more apparent with the success of Coach E. L. "Dick" Romney, who came to Logan in 1918. Romney, for whom the current football stadium is named, earned the team's first-ever conference championship in 1921, and compiled a 128–91–16 record in 29 seasons.

The program continued a rich legacy throughout the early- and mid-20th century, when the program produced a large number of athletes who went on to play in the NFL, including the legendary brothers and consensus All-Americans Merlin Olsen and Phil Olsen, who played for the Aggies. It was during this time that Utah State finished two seasons with year-end Top 25 rankings: No. 10 in 1961 and No. 19 in 1972.

Following the great heights of the 1960s and 70s, Aggie football fell upon hard times. Many longtime Aggie supporters attribute the decline to administrators at both Utah and BYU freezing then-superior USU out of the newly forming WAC. However, other factors cited as leading to the decline include a failure to upgrade facilities until recently, a lack of donors to athletics, complacency of past athletics directors, and instability in conferences.

1914–1937: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

1938–1961: Mountain States Conference

1962–1977: Independent

1978–2000: Pacific Coast Athletic Association / Big West Conference

2001–2002: Independent

2003–2004: Sun Belt Conference

2005–2012: Western Athletic Conference

2013–present: Mountain West Conference

After continual failed attempts to join the WAC, the program played as an independent program from 1962 to 1977 (until joining the PCAA/Big West in 1978). The program again played as an independent from 2001 to 2002 before joining the geographically distant Sun Belt Conference after the Big West Conference, which had housed the Aggies since 1978, elected to stop sponsoring football in 2001. USU's other teams remained in that conference until the school was finally invited to join the WAC in 2005. Despite having lobbied to join its in-state rivals Utah and BYU in the WAC for many decades prior to 2005, the Aggies gained membership only after the two other schools had left to form the Mountain West Conference. Later on, Utah State joined the Mountain West Conference in July 2013, again following departures by Utah and BYU.

Former head coach Gary Andersen led the team to new heights. In 2011, he led the team to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and the team's first winning season since 1997. The 2012 team found far greater success, notching the school's first double-digit win season, the first outright conference championship since 1936, a return to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl for the first bowl win in 19 years, and a national Top 25 ranking in three major ranking systems: the AP poll, the ESPN/USA Today poll, and the BCS.

Andersen left the program following the 2012 season. He was replaced by his former offensive coordinator, Matt Wells who coached the Aggies in their inaugural year as members of the Mountain West Conference. Despite multiple injuries to offensive starters, the Aggies were able to gain a berth to the first Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game, which they lost to Fresno State by a score of 17–24. Coach Wells was awarded the Mountain West Coach of the Year award and the Aggies defeated Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl by a score of 21–14.

Stadium

Utah State's home games are played on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.

The Aggies have played their home games at various spots around campus during their history with the current location housing Utah State Football since 1968. Previously named Romney Stadium for Dick Romney, Utah State's all-time winningest football coach and former athletics director, Romney Stadium was officially dedicated on September 27, 1969. The first game in Romney Stadium history came a season earlier in 1968, when Utah State defeated New Mexico State, 28–12 on September 14. Previous to the current stadium, the Aggies played at another, smaller venue also called "Romney Stadium", which was situated on the site where the HPER building now stands.

On December 5, 2009, Utah State University announced that the playing field at then Romney Stadium would be named Merlin Olsen Field, in honor of the Pro and College Football Hall of Fame member and former Aggie. A statue of Olsen in a plaza south of the stadium was dedicated to his memory in Fall 2010.

On April 11, 2015, Utah State University announced a corporate naming-rights partnership with Maverik, Inc., owners of convenience stores throughout the Intermountain West. The renaming of the stadium corresponds with a massive renovation project expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2016 football season. "Renovations to Maverik Stadium will focus on greatly improving the overall fan experience. On the west side, a new four-story premium seating and press box structure will be built to include a state-of-the-art media and game operations area, 24 luxury suites, 20 loge boxes, more than 700 covered club seats and a premium club area that will also be used to host a student-athlete training table. Major concourse work will include significantly increased restrooms, upgraded concessions and an enlarged concourse for better pedestrian traffic flow.

Renovations will also include new video boards on both the north and south ends of the stadium, along with a new public address system. The additional expansion of Maverik Stadium’s seating capacity is also planned for the future.

Utah State’s football stadium has largely gone without any upgrades to the existing structure during its 47-year existence. The seating capacity has been altered twice; once in 1980 with the addition of approximately 10,000 seats to the south bowl, and again in 1997 when roughly 4,000 chair back seats were installed to bring the present capacity to 25,513.

In 2005, the south end zone area was renovated, providing improved concessions and restroom facilities, as well as a widened concourse on the east side of the stadium. And in 2008, the three-story, 69,000-square foot Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex was completed in the north end zone, providing enhanced athletic and academic needs for all 16 of USU’s varsity sports."

Utah State's student section is known as "the HURD".

Stadium history

1892–1912 University Quad

1913–1929 Adams Field

1930–1967 Romney Stadium (original site)

1968–2015 Romney Stadium (current site).

2015–present Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium

Division championships

The Aggies are currently in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference and have been since the 2013 season, the Aggies inaugural season in the Mountain West Conference.

Conference championships

The Aggies have won twelve conference championships in their history, most recently winning the WAC championship (2012).

* indicates a shared championship

Bowl games

The Utah State Aggies have played in 10 NCAA-sanctioned bowl games with a record of 4–6.

The Grape Bowl is listed in NCAA records, but was not an NCAA-sanctioned bowl game.

The Old Wagon Wheel

The Cougars and Aggies started playing in 1922. BYU and Utah State have met for the Old Wagon Wheel 58 times, dating back to 1948. BYU had beaten Utah State ten straight times before Utah State defeated BYU 31–16 on October 1, 2010. With the victory, Utah State reclaimed the Old Wagon Wheel for the first time since 1993. The Old Wagon Wheel returned to Logan on October 3, 2014, when the Aggies defeated BYU 35–20.

Current Record: 46–35–3; BYU Leads

Most Recent Game:

Battle of the Brothers

The Battle of the Brothers refers to the rivalry between Utah State and Utah. The two teams have a long-running football series, which, at 112 games, is tied for the seventh most-played rivalry in the Division 1 FBS football. Both programs played the first game in their respective histories against each other in Logan on November 25, 1892, which game the Aggies won 12–0. The two teams played every year from 1944 to 2009, but the series took a two-year hiatus for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Utah State had lost the last 12 games and 20 of the last 22 in the rivalry. On September 7, 2012, the Aggies snapped the 12-game losing streak beating Utah 27–20 (OT) in Logan. The game was not played in 2014. The series continued in 2015 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with Utah winning 24-14.

Current Record: 79–29–4; Utah Leads

Most Recent Game:

Bridger's Battle

Utah State and Wyoming first played in 1903. The teams have played 63 times. On November 25, 2013 "Bridger's Battle" was announced as the name for the rivalry. A .50 caliber Rocky Mountain Hawken rifle was announced as the trophy for the rivalry. [3] The rifle is widely considered to be what Bridger carried.

In 2013, Utah State switched conferences to the Mountain West, putting Utah State and Wyoming not only in the same conference, but in the same division.

Current Record: 38–25–4; Utah State Leads

Most Recent Game:

Future Non-Conference Opponents

Announced schedules as of August 30, 2016
The Aggies have the following non-conference opponents contracted to play in future seasons:

Notable players

OT – Len Rohde (1957–1959) Two-time all-Skyline Eight; 15-year NFL career.

DL – Merlin Olsen (1959–1961) 2-time and Consensus All-American, Outland Trophy winner (1961); 14 Pro Bowls

DL – Lionel Aldridge (1960–1962) Hon. Men. All-American (1962); 11-year NFL career, 2 Super Bowl rings with the Green Bay Packers

QB – Anthony Calvillo (1992–1993) 17-year CFL career including 3 Grey Cup Wins; 4-time CFL All-Star; CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award 2003, 2008, 2009, and all-time record holder for most passing yards in professional football history.

QB – Bill Munson (1964–1964) Played in 16 NFL seasons from 1964 to 1979 for five different teams, starting for the Detroit Lions through the late 1960s and early 1970s.

PK – Jim Turner (1961–1963) A QB in college, he kicked a then record 145 points in the 1968 regular NFL season, with a pro football record 34 field goals. Has one Super Bowl ring with the New York Jets, who defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Played 9 seasons with the Denver Broncos, including Super Bowl XII against the Dallas Cowboys. Was 304 of 488 (62%) on field goals and 521 of 534 extra points, giving him 1,439 total points over his career. Inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1988, and is all-time second team, American Football League.

RB – Altie Taylor (1966–1968) NCAA statistical champion for kickoff return average (1967); 8-year NFL career with Detroit and Houston.

DL – Phil Olsen (1967–1969) Consensus All-American (1969); 9-year NFL career.

OG – Dave Manning (1972–73) Two year starter at USU, Manning was All-American, 2nd Team his Senior year and was one of the main blockers for Aggie Running Back Louie Giammona.

QB – Bob Gagliano (1980) Played for 14 years in the NFL with eight teams, and one season with the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL).

DE/R – Alan "Madpup" McMurray (1971–1973) Sophomore All-American – small's DE in nation 178 lbs, holds QB sack record (19.5), played outstanding game against 1971 National Champs Nebraska Cornhuskers (ESPN & Sports Illustrated's "team of the century") 13 tackles/9 assists/1 QB sack – Original designer of Aggie mascot

RB – Louie Giammona (1973–1975) 6-year NFL career.

PK – Alfred Knapp (1973–1974) Set several kicking records-2nd in nation, signed w/ Green Bay Packers

DB – Johndale Carty (1995–1998) played for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL

TE – Chris Cooley (2000–2003) Led NCAA in TE receptions as a senior; NFL Pro Bowl (2007–2009) with the Washington Redskins

WR – Kevin Curtis (2001–2002)... 3rd team AP All-American (2001) Finished career as USU receptions leader. Has played for the St. Louis Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. Currently with the Kansas City Chiefs

LB – LaVell Edwards (1949–1951) All-Mountain States (1950); Hall of Fame coach at Brigham Young University

QB – Eric Hipple (1976–1979) All-Pacific Coast; 10-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions

OG – Jim Hough (1974–1977) 2nd team AP All-American (1977), 9 years in NFL, all with Minnesota.

DL – Rulon Jones (1976–1979) 1st team AP All-American (1979); AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1986).

DL – Greg Kragen (1980–1983) 13-year NFL career; Pro Bowl, 3 Super Bowl rings

QB – Ron Lopez Arena Football League player

RB – Rick Parros (1976–1979) 6-year NFL career.

WR – Kevin Robinson (2003–2007) NCAA all-time leader in all-purpose yards per play (16.16; 6,479 yds in 401 career plays).

LB – Al Smith (1984–1986) Big West Defensive Player of the Year (1986), 2-time Honorable Mention All-American

OG – Rich Tylski (1990–1993) A 3-year starter at Utah State, Tylski signed a free agent contract upon graduation from USU with the New England Patriots in 1994 that led to a 10-year NFL career with New England (1994 & 2002), Jacksonville (1995–99), Pittsburgh (2000–2001) and Carolina (2003–2004).

RB – Emmett White (1996–2000) 3-year starter at USU, White was a two-time All Big West (1999–2000), All Independent (2001) and All American 3rd Team (2001). He also set an NCAA record for most all purpose yards in a game against New Mexico State in 2001 in which he rushed 34 times for 322 yards, caught seven passes for 134 yards and had return yardage of 122 yards for a fantastic 578 yards, beating the old NCAA record by 143 yards. He finished the year leading the NCAA with an average of 238.9 yards per game in all purpose yards.

OT – Donald Penn (2002–2006) Currently the starting left tackle for the Oakland Raiders. He was named to the 2011 Pro Bowl.

DB – Jarrett Bush (2004–2005) Currently a nickelback with the Green Bay Packers. In Super Bowl XLV, he had one interception, one hit on quarterback, one pass defended, and four solo tackles.

RB - Robert Turbin (2007–2011) Currently a running back for the Indianapolis Colts.

LB – Bobby Wagner (2008–2011) Currently the starting middle linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. He set the club record for tackles by a rookie with 140 and ranked second among all rookies in 2012.

WR – Kendal Smith NFL player

LS – Patrick Scales, NFL player

QB – Mike Affleck, American football player

OL – Matt Hanousek, American football player

CB – Tay Glover-Wright, American football player. He appeared in 27 games, starting 11, during his time at Utah State and recorded career totals of 69 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. He had 105 rushing yards on 20 attempts as well.