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Tuesday, October 3
Utah State comes together under Dennehy
By Mike Sorensen
Special to ESPN.com

So far, the success hasn't shown up on the field where Utah State has just a 1-3 record. But first-year coach Mick Dennehy is starting to turn things around in Logan and getting the community excited about football again.

Dennehy came to Utah from Montana where he compiled an impressive 39-12 mark over four years to replace Dave Arslanian, who in two years went 3-8 and 4-7. It wasn't so much Arslanian's record that forced him out, as it was a lack of enthusiasm for the program. Late season crowds of 12,214 and 8,129 convinced USU officials a change had to be made.

Before the season even started, Dennehy helped the USU athletic department beat the bushes to sell more season tickets than ever as the season ticket base nearly tripled from 3,400 to 9,600. In two games this year, the Aggies have already drawn 26,715 against Southern Utah and 29,814 against Utah. The Aggies are almost certain to break the all-time average attendance mark of 21,534 set in 1996.

“ "We can't let what is behind us affect our focus and our motivation so we can make a run for the league championship." ”
— Utah State's Mick Dennehy

Dennehy is a proponent of a wide-open passing game, of using multiple offensive sets than can range from five receivers and no backs to three tight (one set up as fullback), a tailback and one receiver. In a game at Arizona State earlier this year, the Aggies had the Sun Devils thoroughly confused for a half.

The problem is, it will take some time for Dennehy's system to reap success. When he came in as the new coach, Dennehy more or less cleaned house, letting as many as 20 players from the previous program go because of lack of talent, poor academics or off-the-field concerns. The Aggies are down to 66 scholarship players, which has left the team thin in several areas, particularly on the defensive line and in the secondary.

"I think we are getting better," said Dennehy. "It becomes a little bit frustrating to play well enough at times to kind of give the kids a taste and at times to be fairly close and the difference in games being a couple of plays here and a couple of plays there. It is frustrating. I think the critical thing is that the kids come to work every Monday with the idea and the intent that we get better, that we hang together, that we play together, that we improve as a football team."

The Aggies, who are coming off a 35-14 loss against Utah, a game in which they were tied midway through the third quarter, must now play another in-state rival in BYU, Friday night in Provo. After that, they start the Big West season, with a chance to contend for the championship with a clean slate.

"The reality of the matter is that the most important part of the schedule is not behind us, it is what is in front of us," said Dennehy. "We can't let what is behind us affect our focus and our motivation so we can make a run for the league championship."

Around the Big West

Arkansas State
As if things couldn't get any worse for the winless Indians, they blew a 20-point fourth quarter lead to I-AA school Richmond and lost 30-27 Saturday. After falling behind on a 74-yard run by Richmond with just under three minutes left, the Indians got down to the one-yard line, where Jonathan Adams lost a fumble. ... Before his fumble, Adams rushed for 120 yards on 22 carries. ... Coach Joe Hollis refused to blame Adams for the loss, saying, "Jonathan Adams is not a fumbler. He's never been a fumbler. It's something that happens." ... Sean Mitchell was named Big West special teams player of the week after blocking a punt that was returned for a touchdown against Richmond. It marks the third straight season that Mitchell has blocked a punt. ... After missing a game with a concussion, Robert Kilow caught seven passes for 152 yards against Richmond. ... Linebacker Charles Mabry led the Indians with 13 tackles Saturday and leads the Big West with 12.5 per game.

New Mexico State
Two 0-4 teams meet in Las Cruces this week when New Mexico State faces Army. ... The Aggies and Cadets will be meeting for the second time, with Army winning the only previous contest 35-18 last year at West Point, N.Y. ... After getting just 13 points in their first three games, the Aggies exploded for 24 in the second quarter at UTEP. ... Kenton Keith's second-quarter score was the Aggies' first rushing touchdown of the year. ... Chris Barnes (129) and Phil Branstetter (122) each rushed for 100 yards Saturday at UTEP, the first time a pair of Aggies have run for at least 100 yards since Marvin Johnson (177) and Anthony Singleton (145) did it against Kansas in 1988. ... NMSU rushed for 202 yards in the second quarter at UTEP, more than the Aggies had rushed for in any of its first three games. ... The Aggies rank ninth in the nation in pass defense, holding opponents to just 152 yards per game through the air. ... Senior tight end Marcellus McCray, who suffered a sprained right knee against New Mexico is likely to play against Army. ... Four of the Aggies' next five games are at home.

North Texas
Thursday night's game against Samford will be UNT's first game against an NCAA I-AA opponent since September 13, 1997 when the Mean Green defeated Indiana State 41-6. ... Two of Samford's head coaches during the 1990s have been former Auburn coach Terry Bowden and former Dallas Cowboys' coach Chan Gailey. ... All four of UNT's opponents rank in the top 40 in the nation in scoring defense and two of those teams rank in the top five in the nation in total defense. ... Junior linebacker Brad Kassell a second team all-Big West Conference pick in 1999, ranks second on the team in tackles with 30. ... Redshirt freshman safety Craig Jones leads UNT in tackles this year with 42. ... Senior running back Ja'Quay Wilburn is off to a slow start, but against nationally-ranked Kansas State, he ran for 87 yards on just 12 carries for an average of 7.3 yards per carry. ... Senior offensive guard Andy Lott, who started all 11 games for UNT last year and two of four this year, has left the team for personal reasons. ... Ty Jackson continues to lead the Big West in punt returns, while Brad Kassell is tied for first in interceptions.

Idaho
John Welsh passed for a record six touchdown passes in the first half in a 56-7 win over Montana State. Welsh completed just 13 of 22 passes for 385 yards, in one half as he was replaced by Ed Dean, who completed 7 of 12 passes for 52 yards in the second half. ... Welsh, who was named Big West offensive player of the week, leads the Big West in passing with 275.2 yards per game and in passing efficiency with a 151.8 average. ... Freshman Zach Gerstner led the Vandals in rushing with 110 yards on 24 carries. ... Willie Alderson picked up just 73 yards in Saturday's rout of Montana State, but he still leads the Big West in rushing with 103.8 yards per game. ... Only 13,315 showed up for the Vandals' game at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. ... The Vandals travel to Morgantown, W.V., for their first meeting against West Virginia (3-1).

Utah State
Senior linebacker Brent Passey was named Big West defensive player of the week after leading the Aggies with 13 tackles and causing a fumble. ... The Aggies already-thin secondary got even thinner Saturday when starting free safety Jamar Glasper went down with a knee sprain in the first quarter. Sophomore Maurice Caraway took over and played the rest of the game. ... Brad Bohn is 6-for-8 in both field goals and PATs this year. ... Aaron Jones went over the 100-yard mark in receiving yards for the 10th time in his career as he caught six passes for 103 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown from Jose Fuentes. ... When the Aggies attracted the sixth largest home crowd in school history of 29,814 for the Utah game Saturday, it marked only the second time in history the Aggies have had two crowds of more than 25,000 in the same year.

Boise State
The Broncos got the week off to relish their huge 47-10 road victory over Central Michigan. But they have a tough task this week against the Pac-10's Washington State, which is coming off a 21-17 win over Cal. ... Sophomore running back Brock Forsey moved up to No. 1 in the nation in all-purpose running despite not playing a down last week. His 201.25 average slipped ahead of N.C. State's Koren Robinson, who is No. 2 at 197.5. ... Bart Hendricks continues to lead the Big West in total offense with 276.0 yards per game. ... Punter Jeff Edwards leads a strong group of punters in the Big West with a 43.6-yard average. ... When the Broncos play in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, it will be the fourth time zone they will have played in already this year.




ALSO SEE
Big East notebook

Big 12 notebook

MAC notebook

WAC notebook















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