Dennehy getting Aggies prepared for Utah game

LOGAN — For the first two weeks of fall practice, Utah State University football coach Mick Dennehy has spent the majority of time getting his own house in order.

Now, with less than 10 days before the Aggies' season open at the University of Utah (Aug. 28), Dennehy said it's time to start preparing for the Utes.

"We'll be there. I hope we're ready," Dennehy said. "We'll have a certain portion of practice spent in preparation of the Utes. We'll be ready."

Dennehy is pleased with the way his team has progressed in the first two weeks of practice.

"I don't know that we're ever satisfied that we're at exactly where we need to be at in terms of execution and being polished and running like a well-oiled machine," Dennehy said. "We've got enough defense in and we've got enough offense in to go play. We still need to clean it up a bit."

While tying up a few of those loose ends, the Aggies will take a closer look at the Utes.

The Utes, under first-year head coach Urban Meyer, will present a different look offensively with a wide-open type offense, and the defense, Dennehy expects, will be as tough as ever.

They'll get some film from Bowling Green, Meyer's former team to see what the Utes could possibly use.

"All we can do is take a look as some of the things they have done in the past and base our preparation on that and try to plug in the personnel," Dennehy said.

The same can be said for Utah State. Dave Kotulski is the new defensive coordinator and he has implemented his new system.

"They're kind of in the same boat as we are," Dennehy said. "There's not a lot of film out there."

In the season opener last year, the Utes beat Utah State 23-3 and held the Aggies to minus—9 yards rushing and 171 yards passing.

Offensively, the Utes rushed for 282 yards and threw for 165 more.

"We're playing them early, and they're not going to be quite as multiple as they are against somebody eight or nine games into the season." Dennehy said.

"You have to go on a gut (feeling) and hope your kids are poised and are going to play football and react to what's in front of them."

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