Aug. 5, 2008

Coach Guy Quotes

LOGAN, Utah -

Click here to see photo gallery from Tuesday's media day
Photos by Meegan Reid, Logan Herald-Journal

Aggie Fact of the Day: Utah State's three returning starting offensive linemen in seniors Derek Hoke and Ryan Tonnemacher along with sophomore Spencer Johnson started every game last season. The trio in the trenches has a combined 56 games started.

Aggie Tidbit of the Day: USU has 13 of its 16 academic all-WAC honorees returning this season. The 16 football student-athletes are part of the 130 total USU student-athletes to earn academic all-WAC honors as Utah State led the WAC all three years that USU has been a member of the conference after joining the league in July, 2005.

Utah State football held its annual media day Tuesday afternoon at Romney Stadium and the USU Athletics Complex with head coach Brent Guy and other selected coaches and players addressing a gathering of statewide media.

The Aggies met with the media for a little over an hour during the event that included a team photo, followed by position photos and head shots. Coach Guy opened the press conference, followed by a trio of quarterbacks in senior Sean Setzer, sophomore Diondre Borel and freshman Exavier Johnson. A total of 20 players conducted one-on-one interviews with various media. The USU players utilized the new meeting rooms in the new USU Athletics Complex.

"I think media day is great for our players," USU head coach Brent Guy said. "You take the team picture and everyone is asking you questions, that's kind of like the kickoff to the football season. What I especially liked about this year's media day was being able to show off our new Athletics Complex. We were able to do it in the nice air conditioned rooms instead of being outside in the heat and we're doing it in the best facility in the WAC."

Media day came in the afternoon after Guy and the Aggies conducted practice in the morning, donning helmets and shoulder pads for the second time before suiting up in full pads for Wednesday's practice, which completes the NCAA-mandated five-day acclimation period. USU conducts its first two-a-day practice on Thursday.

Utah State opens the 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 30 at UNLV at 8 p.m. (MT). After playing at Oregon on Sept. 6 at 1:30 p.m. (MT), the Aggies host in-state rival Utah in their home-opener on Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. (MT). USU continues its three-game homestand by opening WAC action against Idaho on Saturday, Sept. 20 for USU Ag Day. The Aggies then host another in-state rival in BYU on Friday, Oct. 3. After road games at San Jose State and Nevada on Oct. 11 and 18, respectively, USU hosts Fresno State in its annual Homecoming game on Oct. 25. The Aggies remain at home to take on Hawai'i on Nov. 1 on USU Military Appreciation Day. USU plays at Boise State on Nov. 8 and Louisiana Tech on Nov. 15 before concluding regular-season action on Nov. 29 against New Mexico State on Aggie Appreciation Day.

The Aggies were picked ninth in the Western Athletic Conference preseason poll despite finishing seventh in last season's standings with a 2-10 overall record and 2-6 in WAC action. USU has 17 starters returning among 39 lettermen. Of those lettermen, 12 are seniors, which matches last season for the most in Guy's four-year tenure.

The first major scrimmage is slated for Saturday, Aug. 16 as part of Aggie Football Family Fun Night, sponsored by Macey's Foods with free admission. The scrimmage starts at 4 p.m., while games and activities for fans getting underway on the South Concourse of Romney Stadium at 4 p.m. as well. Following the scrimmage, from 6-7 p.m. fans can get their favorite Aggies' autographs and play catch with an Aggie on the field. Fans can also pick up their season tickets or purchase tickets at the Romney Stadium Box Office.

Aggie football tickets are available in person through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.