Aug. 13, 2008

LOGAN, Utah -

Aggie Fact of the Day:
USU returns eight of its top 10 scorers from last season, including the team's leading scorer in sophomore kicker Peter Caldwell (64 points). Also returning are sophomore running back Derrvin Speight (20 points), senior tight end Rob Myers (18 points), sophomore running backs Curtis Marsh and Jacob Actkinson (12 points apiece), senior safety De'von Hall, senior wide receiver Otis Nelson and junior wide receiver Xavier Bowman (six points each).

Aggie Tidbit of the Day:
The Aggies have a total of 15 players whose last name starts with the letter "M," the most of any letter.

Wednesday's Utah State football practice was another two-a-day, the second of the three of the week, and USU head coach Brent Guy and his staff put the Aggies through game-like situations and Guy was pleased with USU's continued progress.

"I was real pleased with our work today," Guy said. "We finished practice this morning with the four-minute drill, which we went through different situations to simulate the end of the half and the game, especially working on things with the new rule change with the game clock running. This afternoon we finished up with live work in the two-minute situations for a field goal, with trying to get a long pass to set up the field goal to win the game or end the half. We also simulated situations to have the defense bat the ball down. All-in-all, I'm really pleased with our effort."

The Aggies will have a single practice Thursday before the third and final two-a-day of the week on Friday and then scrimmage on Saturday.

Saturday's scrimmage is 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.

Guy also noted that while the Aggies have had some minor injuries, there aren't any that have severely limited players' action or that will keep them from missing the season-opener.

Utah State opens the 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 30 at UNLV at 8 p.m. (MT). After playing at 20th-ranked 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.

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.