Comments about ‘Brad Rock: Coach Gary Andersen and Utah State ace the season’

I think too many Aggie faithful are under the impression that Gary Andersen is another Stew Morrill. The biggest detriment to him staying in Logan remains the financial state of athletics at Utah State University where they lack the resources and numbers that both larger on state rivals have. I predict if Colorado opens up, Andersen would jump at that one just as quickly as he would at going back down to SLC. The perpetual revolving door will hit Logan yet again.

Nice job Aggies.

Congratulations! Gary Andersen is definitely the best coach in the State!

@SLC
I don't think, and I'd image most Aggie fans don't think that Andersen will be a Stew Morrill, but he has shown all the signs that he is staying a few years more. And it's not just Aggie fans saying it. Its Andersen himself.
Read the article again its there. Andersen said just yesterday that he doesn't plan on leaving and that he isn't entertaining offers from either California or Kentucky, and if he isn't going to Cal, he definitely won't be going to Colorado.
The financial state of the Aggies has improved dramatically in the facilities, and continues to do so. This year they double the salaries of Andersen and his Assistants. Not to mention that #20 ranking they got in the AP's this week.
I doubt he will be the next Stew Morrill, but I bet he stays through his contract to 2018. Besides he has sons at Logan High who he can coach for the next four years. Coaching your family (he has one son already on the team) and being in a great place like Logan trumps being a doormat to the PAC12.

@TallNSkinny43
I wish I could share your optimism, but Andersen staying through 2018 is just as dilusional as thinking he will be like Stew. Just not gonna happen. Gary coould stay for 2013, but I only give it 50/50 at best and clearly unfavorable odds for it going beyond.

SLC BYU Fan,

Your reasoning is nothing but hilarious. "I wish I could share your optimism." Okay, so share it. Probably best for you to read the article before you voice your opinion. Gary has said multiple times he is not leaving. In fact, he said he is staying for a "long, long time." That doesn't mean forever. It means what he said: a long time. You honestly think USU fans believe Gary will stay the rest of his career? Not hardly. But it makes perfect sense for fans to want Gary to stay for as long as possible. When Gary says he's leaving, then you can talk. Until then, keep dreaming about BYU going to a national championship. With 7 wins, I'm pretty sure it could happen. It's pretty common for unranked teams to magically appear at the championship game. Look, I'm pretty good at offering illogical reasoning too!

SLC BYU Fan is just jealous that we stole the WAC Championship from the mighty Cougars. And he's jealous that we have a coach who actually knows what he's doing. Enjoy your 7 wins this year, because if next year's schedule is half what I'm hearing it is from you Cougar fans, you'll be lucky to get to a bowl game. We'll be happy to oblige you for your first loss of the year in Logan. Until then, just remember that 3-6 gift the Aggies gave you this year and thank your lucky stars.

@Aggie238, The Aggies stole the WAC Championship from the Cougars?? You need to know what you are writing about before posting.

@SLC byu fan, Your response is just as far off as Aggie238. Andersen is staying and the Aggies will continue their climb upward. GO AGGIES.......

Way to go Aggies! What a season! Time to finish it off in Boise!!!

@SLC BYU Fan:
Gary's son just committed to USU. It does not mean he is staying, but is another strong indicator he will be here... He has 1 more son in High School that looks to be playing or his dad as well. Time will tell and Gary won't be here forever, but we have him for now!

@stang08:
Hey pal... you have been silent about your Aggie hate as of late?(crickets)

Sports Nutz,

I'm pretty sure the WAC thing was a joke. BYU likes to play WAC teams while claiming they're one of the best teams in the nation.

Just in case Gary does leave, it's a good idea to have a contingency plan. This is my list of potential candidates to replace Coach A:

Ron McBride: Rumor has it that he still wants to coach, Utah State would be a great place for Ron to finish his career.

Robb Akey: Former Idaho coach. Would fit in well at USU and is very familiar with with the MWC teams that USU will soon be playing.

Bronco Mendenhall: Rumors that he will be looking for work after the BYU Bowl Game. Coach B knows Utah recruiting and has proven to be a good coach.

This is my list of the top three candidates to replace Gary.

@SLC BYU Fan

Actually, it is you who are delusional.

Anderson has one of his sons (a freshman) on the team at U State. His other boy (junior at Logan High) has already committed.

Anderson will not leave USU until he has the opportunity to coach his boys (i.e., another 5-6 years). He has stated his desire to coach his sons at USU. U State agreed to double Anderson's salary AND the salaries of his staff. With the recent funding wave at USU, this will increase. It was Gary who asked to sign through 2018 early just to silence the naysayers.

Five to six years is a long time in college football. It took TCU and Boise just one year in the MWC before getting BCS invites. Moreover, over 75% of the Aggie starters are returning for next year's season; all signs are pointing to the Aggies having a BETTER team next year.

If U State has another 10-2 record next year and a MWC title, it will not be long before a BCS conference comes knocking. At that point, USU would not be expected to just live and die with whatever Gary decides to do.

Along with many others, such as our SLC BYU Fan, that he'd jump to a bigger pond as soon as he had the opportunity. But my opinion has started to shift after the last interview Gary gave after the Idaho game. In the interview Coach A. gave thanks for the fans, the Logan community, and support of the USU administration. Andersen metioned lessons he learened from his Mother that there are more important things in life than money and fame. He pushed harder for more money for his assistance than he asked for himself which tells me money isn't his #1.

Stew Morrill has many times been rumored for certain jobs. Washington State, and the UofU just to name the most recent, but he turned down the higher paying-higher profile jobs. I'll admit I'm not a 100% convinced Coach Andersen will be an Aggie for life but believe he has more of Stew Morrill's loyalty to the USU program than he's given credit for.

It is conceivable that Gary could leave USU for greener pastures, but I know there is only a hand full of places Gary would go to. He truly loves Logan and it shows. Sure he may not be the next Stew Morrill, but we'll have Gary around for a while, that you can count on. If he was going to chase the money, he could have easily been gone. I know for a fact that he told Cal and Colorado that he was not interested in talking with them. Sony Dykes? Lets just say that wasn't Cal's first choice.