Utah State football: Aggies show clear improvement in coach Andersen's first season

LOGAN — Progress on the football field is typically measured in one all-important way — wins.

Utah State had won just nine games over a four-year span when Brent Guy was fired at the end of the 2008 season. In 2008, the Aggies were (for them) a respectable 3-9 overall and had three wins in the Western Athletic Conference.

By beating an Idaho team that is likely headed to a bowl game to end the season, the Aggies equaled their conference record but improved to 4-8 overall — the team's best mark since 2002.

"For where we're at in this program," first-year coach Gary Andersen said, "this is important ... I felt like a lot of young players grew up in that game."

Andersen said the players were not the only ones to grow during the season. He said his first season as head coach in Logan opened a few eyes on the coaching staff — most importantly his own.

"The second go-around I'll be better," Andersen said. "I had a plan and that plan will have some tweaks. I'll be a better coach than I was in year one."

Utah State's offense was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for Andersen and USU's fans. A year after being among the least imposing teams in the country, the Aggies moved the ball at will and finished the season with the 16th-best offense in the country — USU was 85th a year ago.

Robert Turbin emerged from his role as a part-time starter in 2008 to one of the nation's best. His 1,296 rushing yards as a sophomore left him with the 21st best per-game average in the country at 108 yards per game. He also finished the year as the 13th-most prolific point scorer in the country at nine points per game, thanks to his 18 touchdowns.

Quarterback Diondre Borel, also in his first year as full-time starter, had a breakthrough season. Andersen, while acknowledging Borel's athleticism and talent, admitted he had doubts about Borel's ability to lead the team. Those doubts are long gone.

"Now, Diondre is a quarterback that is an athlete," Andersen said. "He did a wonderful job of making that transition."

Borel threw for 2,885 yards with 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also ran for 458 yards and another six trips into the end zone.

At year's end, Borel ranked No. 17 in the nation in total offense.

Utah State's overall offense improved from 334 yards per game to 439.

Defensively, though, the Aggies showed little improvement, and that is particularly embarrassing for Andersen — a defensive coach by nature.

"We need to be better on defense," Andersen said. "There's a whole bunch of words that you use to describe how we played defense and not any of them are very positive."