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The Coach’s Office
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A stigma was shot around the NCAA about who the worst teams in the nation were early on in the college football season. University of Idaho’s (2-8, 1-5) name was dropped along with another Western Athletic Conference team, the Utah State Aggies (2-7, 2-3).
That label seems to be fading as the Aggies have found a way to put wins in a once lonely bracket.
The Aggies’ head coach Brent Guy feels that they have taken steps in the right direction after a big win over last year’s WAC Champions, the University of Hawaii (4-5, 3-3), after a rough loss against Fresno State (5-3, 2-2) in the last seconds to lose 30-28.
“It was a big win for our program because we have not competed well at all with Hawaii,” Guy said. “They have pretty much dominated us.”
The win against Hawaii will play an important momentum shift for the Aggies. The players on the team are beginning to come together. The flavor of wins at Utah State might be settling in.
“They’ve figured out now that it’s about practicing and preparing and knowing what’s going to happen in a game that gives them the best chance of winning,” Guy said.
There record has not blinded Boise State head coach Chris Petersen to the fact that they have found some level of competitive spirit. Petersen believes that there program is now better than their record shows.
“I have a tremendous respect for how those guys are playing,” Petersen said.
One of the “guys” Petersen is talking about is Diondre Borel, the Aggies’ quarterback.
“Their quarterback, he’s the best runner that we have seen thus far,” Petersen said. “I think that he’s the main spark who got it going… He’s definitely their spark plug.”
This spark leads the team in rushing yards with 511 this season and is averaging 149.8 yards per game passing. Borel, a sophomore, is possibly the future anchor for the struggling Aggies.
“He continues to show toughness at that position, as we know in this league, you are going to get hit a lot,” Guy said. “And Boise. Those guys aren’t giving up much points and are playing great defense right now.”
Boise State (8-0, 4-0) will have his number this week as they have with multiple quarterbacks this season.
The Aggies are looking for a win, if not a quality loss, against the Broncos. Critics of Utah State have called for Guy’s resignation after four consecutive seasons with poor results, 8-37 to be exact. But win and close games may bring those critics to give Guy one more season.
“I think that being able to compete and play with Fresno like we did two weeks ago,” Guy said, “and to beat Hawaii with the number of injuries that we’ve had and the number of young guys that are having to play probably says more about where we are in the program and if we are making strides that beating a team that won the WAC last year… I think that the talent level has improved each year.”
The Aggies will get their opportunity when they face the Broncos in Boise at noon Saturday, Nov. 8 at Bronco Stadium.
KIRK BELL
Sports Coordinator
