Utah State football: Aggies open camp with a new goal — bowl berth

LOGAN — With more than 100 players on the field and an entirely new coaching staff barking orders, there was a noticeable difference as Utah State opened its football camp in Romney Stadium.

Those differences weren't limited to attitude and personnel, however.

The changes include a goal few Aggies have seriously considered over the past several seasons — a bowl game.

"I've never been there," USU senior safety Kejon Murphy said. "I want to know what that feels like."

Murphy has been a stalwart on the Aggies' defense for the past three seasons and didn't back off his somewhat-surprising declaration that a bowl berth was an individual, and team, goal.

Getting there, though, will take more than just a change in attitude. Utah State finished the 2008 season with a 3-9 record — only half way to the six-win total needed to be considered eligible.

Gary Andersen, who had a hard time not grinning through much of his first fall practice as a Division I head coach, saw potential in his new team. He also saw the tell-tale signs of a struggling team trying to learn a new system.

"It was a lot of what we really expected," Andersen, the former defensive coordinator at Utah, said. "Rusty, not as crisp as you want."

The Aggies, if nothing else, are excited to start the new season.

"Ever since coach Andersen came in," USU senior receiver Nnamdi Gwacham (cq) said, "there's been a whole different attitude. This is the most excited the town, the community and the team has been for a football season."

Thursday morning in Romney Stadium, Andersen split his team into two units. Instead of having first-teamers against second-teamers and so on, the Aggies mixed things up with first-team players split amongst both the A and B units. The idea, Andersen said, was to give as many players quality reps as possible instead of paying too much attention to just those at the top of what is a very-early depth chart.

Junior quarterback Diondre Borel is the clear frontrunner to start behind center after earning the job halfway through his sophomore season. Practicing with the first group, Borel said he saw some rough edges but a lot of energy.

"There's a lot of new guys and new faces here," Borel said, "So some guys are making mistakes. It's just the first day and people are getting back into it."

Still, the fresh attitude at camp is a change.

Murphy said the last year or two he wasn't terribly excited to report to the team and start the season. That has changed this year.

And with that change, the expectations and goals are raised a little higher.

"It's hard not to think about it, especially for the seniors," Gwachem said. "We would love to get there."

The Aggies will practice daily in the mornings, leading to the first scrimmage of the preseason next Thursday at 9 a.m.

Utah State's fall camp will continue until Aug. 22 when the Aggies will hold a final scrimmage and family fun day at Romney Stadium.

After that, USU will tighten things up and prepare for the season opener at Utah on Sept. 3.

e-mail: jeborn@desnews.com