Deseret News | USU football: Aggies pressured for progress

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USU football: Aggies pressured for progress

Aggie in Colo | 7:28 a.m. July 25, 2008

I watched the Aggies a few times last year, and there is no doubt that they improved in several fundamental areas, and I suspect they will again this year with many of these freshman recruits now gaining experience. However, a real problem last year was in the area of play calling and adjusting to changing conditions on the field. This can be laid directly at the feet of Guy and his coaching staff. They were way too obvious in their play calling, and seemed to refuse to pass down field. Even though, they had Kevin Robinson who they almost never threw too. Opposing teams would stack the line with an 8 or 9 man front knowing this, and stifle any running attempt. Likewise, we never seemed to adjust our game plan. These are two areas that the coaching staff must correct this year if Guy wants to keep his job.

Tom | 7:34 a.m. July 25, 2008

Looks like another 2 win season for the Aggies.

Anonymous | 8:46 a.m. July 25, 2008

Everybody likes to say the Aggies improved in 2007 over 2006, which is true, but in reality, all 2007 did was get the Aggies back to their 2005 level. So Brent Guy really hasn't improved the Aggies one little bit since he took over. They are the same team.

In fact, Brent Guy had his best season with MD's recruits.

Brent Guy is clueless, and needs to be fired. He has no idea what it takes to move the ball, and instead of hiring someone that does know how to move the ball, he hired Darrell Dicky, who is equally clueless.

I can't take any more seasons of QB draws on 3rd and 10.

Comments continue below

agree | 9:53 a.m. July 25, 2008

sorry guy, i agree with 8:46.....bye bye to guy....logan is not a recruiting hotbed, but your offense schemes stink....usu should be able to get 5 or 6 wins every year, then have an occassional 8-4 year...but it cannot and will not happen on coach guys watch

In Guy's defense | 11:01 a.m. July 25, 2008

The reason Guy didn't pass downfield is because his O-line couldn't protect the quarterback that long, and the quarterback (Leon Johnson) threw an interception every time he tried throwing downfield the previous season, many of which were returned for touchdowns. When you have a quarterback with not much talent and even less confidence, you don't have much of a choice.

The Aggies will continue to struggle no matter who is coach until they are able to recruit a good quarterback and better offensive line. Unfortunately, that is much easier said than done, especially when you have a perrenial 1-2 win team.

The reason they couldn't hold leads last year is that their defense stinks, but I see that, again, as a product of diffulty in recruiting kids to a perrenial loser in cold Cache valley.

Also, I'm tired of hearing the team play the Independant card as the reason for their struggles. Playing for the Sun Belt conference, as opposed to going independent, wouldn't have changed how bad the Aggies are right now.

The only hope the Aggies have is a diamond in the rough at the quarterback position and the head coaching position. Good luck Aggies!

Tim | 11:49 a.m. July 25, 2008

Utah State has a football team?

Jason | 12:06 p.m. July 25, 2008

Man listening to you guys you know so much. You guys are football mavens. I am of the belief that we are still building the foundation for a competitive program. Good things will come if we stay the course and support what we have. Look at the big programs like Notre Dame they have given Weiss time to get the program where he wants it and they have unlimited resources. USU should give Coach Guy some latitude and cut him some slack because we are very limited on our resources. Go Aggies!!!

I'm an Aggie | 12:11 p.m. July 25, 2008

I went to EVERY Aggie home game last year, and I will this year, as long as I don't hear about any USU football players getting arrested.

Anyway, while we're speculating, I offer this theory: Maybe it's not such a good idea to have your quarterback also be the punter, especially if he has more potential for advancement as a punter than as a quarterback. Hmmmmm. Makes one think.

Yeah, I remember watching USU run three consecutive plays, straight up the middle, for a total of just a few yards (that's generous), and then punt away. After that, one of my roomates and I made a song. It's called, "Up the Middle." Hopefully that song will no longer be relevant, but in case things on offense don't change, and in case you'd like to sing along at the next game, the words are,

Up the middle we go, HEY,
Up the middle we go.

Just repeat over and over.

That said, I hope they keep Guy for at least a few more seasons. I think he has at least had a good influence on his players, and maybe taught them a thing or two about good behavior off the field.

John L. Smith | 1:04 p.m. July 25, 2008

It ain't nothing but money. Look what Boise St. has morphed in to thanks to huge cash infusions from Simplot Potatoes.

re jason | 1:40 p.m. July 25, 2008

sorry jason, i have been a supporter/booster for over 20 years and coach guy is not getting it done...you don't stay the course with a product that is below mediocre....this is, or is supposed to be major college football, meaning you better have a more than 5or6 wins over a 3 year period of time!!!!...we need new coaches, new schemes and new enthusiasm, and i know it sucks but we need wins and that is the bottom line in this line of work!... and please don't ever mention notre dame football in the same paragraph as usu football!

uni | 5:14 p.m. July 25, 2008

The aggies should give up football! Embarrassing to be picked last in the WeACk.

AGs | 5:14 p.m. July 25, 2008

AD has no bench mark for the coach and that is a problem. The AD wants to raise money, How about win Football games

USU2005 | 5:44 p.m. July 25, 2008

Maybe Stew should coach football.

Another Aggie first down | 7:15 p.m. July 25, 2008

The Aggies need to drop out as BCS school and enter the FCS. Maybe they could go to the Big Sky and wind up in last in that congeference. Look out Northern Colorado. They never try to recruit good local kids and this keeps them in the toilet bowl.

Alex Trebek | 7:24 p.m. July 25, 2008

RE: jason:

Yeah, that's a valid comparison--Guy and Charlie Weiss are totally on the same level when it comes to coaching! I mean, they're both at D-1 schools, so that means that they both must be able to coach at a high level, right? Let's just hire Charlie Weiss to turn our fortunes around! Yeah, that's the ticket!!

Anonymous | 7:25 p.m. July 25, 2008

stop the bull. who is going to be the QB ? hope this QB have speed and the arm and if he doesn't have that, good luck!

Vegas Ag | 7:39 p.m. July 25, 2008

As bad as the Aggies were last year you'd think they'd have a quarterback coming back that gained some experience backing up Jackson III last year. Not! Guy continued to stick with Jackson III and now this year's probable starting QB has a college career record of one pass and one completion. Coach Guy hasn't a clue as to what it takes to win in the present or in the future. The only positive coming from another losing season is that Guy will be gone.

BamaRoss | 9:37 a.m. July 28, 2008

Utah State football has gone downhill for over 30 years, it is right to turn things around and go the other way. Don't agree with all of the things they've done but they are now at the point of needing to finish games as well as they play them and they can get back to being a .500 team, which is a big step from where they've been in their WAC tenure. Utah State has a proud football tradition and Guy is working to get them back as a contender in the conference. The only way Utah State football can gain respect from the cynical Utah and BYU fans is to beat them when they play, and to win games on a consistent basis. A WAC team with a great record is Just as good as a MWC team with a winning record, the two conferences are equal, on parity, the same level, non-BCS. Go Aggie football and have a great season in 2008

Aggie Fan | 1:18 p.m. July 28, 2008

I am 24 yrs old and since I was 4 I have missed only 17 games since this time. And 11 of them I was on a mission. I have seen things go horrible for the aggies in the last 3 coaches. The last real coach we had was John L. Smith. After that it is all down hill.

But Brent Guy is the stupidest coach I have ever seen. It can 3rd and 10 and he will continue do the quarterback draw. All the problems that are hurting the football team is not Brent Guy. I know that Independence hurt the program, and Dave drove the team in the ground to begin with. But when a team needs help now and doesn't have experience that coach needs to get JC kids like John L. Smith did. The Aggies lost 2 great players from last year. If the coaching habits don't change this will be a no win season. WHich is sad because New Mexico State and Idaho are coming to Logan this year. All Guy talks about is get to the 4th quarter, but he has no clue what to do when they get into the 4th quarter.

Pooped | 2:49 p.m. July 30, 2008

Here we go again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scratching Head? | 11:03 p.m. Aug. 6, 2008

I can't get over the fact that we keep hearing how bad the talent level was when Guy arrived on campus. That low talent has still given Guy his best year of football. It's sad to think half his wins came that year and if I recall there were only three. Obviously the program is moving in a direction. Is it the right one? This will be the judgement year. Good Luck with the schedule they have, it could be ugly in Logan fast.

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