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Show j Saturday Marks Opening Of 1977 U.S.U. Football Season to isegin 1976 "Everything we can gather trnm San Jose State indicates tlu 'll he a strong defensive team. Lnn Stiles is regarded as a defensive coach, so that may give us problems. "We feel our offensive potential is greater than our defensive potential .. but, it's still potential," Snyder added. "Were making progress on offense and if we can become a more consistent offensive team well be able to tap some resources we haven't used y t. I know we're better off this year than last. I said right before this club could beat last year's by two touchdowns. It doesn't happen often, but this Utah State University football season is going to open at home. The Aggies of second-yea- r coach Bruce Snyder kick off 1977 Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Romney Stadium 20,000; against San Jose Slate's Spartans. The Aggies and Spartans, repeating last year's opener won by SJS, will be the featured attraction during a Satur1 day doubleheader which will also include local high schools Sky View and Logan immediately afterwards. Utah State football teams have started their seasons at home only five of the past 20 years, and they were school transfer: nose guard Dennis McCollins from UCLA. four-yea- r SHOWING NOTICEABLE concern with his team's play in Friday's closed doors scrimmage, Snyder made some sweeping changes along the offensive line aimed at improving what he has regarded as less than effective pass blocking. "We don't like to make such changes so close to the game, but we had no choice, he said. The only positions unaffected by the changes were at strong guard and center where Jim and Curt Hough remain the starters. JC transfer Dan Jackovich was moved from starting weakside tackle to the first unit job on the strong side; JC transfer Kevin Fowell took Jackovichs job on the weakside; starting strongside tackle Earnest Aalona was moved to starting weakside guard and letterman James Shorty was moved back to a second unit spot behind Axlona. two-a-ua- winners each time. But "BUT EVERYTHING IS relative and the first five games this year, unfortunately, won't be like playing our team of last year." Snyder revealed the starting offensive and defensive units for Saturdays opener, with one notable exception. "I'm not ready to decide yet who'll be the quarterback, he said. "Eric Hippie) and Keith (Myers) are too close right now. We need more time to consider it. Hippie, a junior from Downey, Calif., was the starter the first five games of 1976 before giving way to Myers, now a senior and a Granada Hills, Calif., native. Otherwise, the Ags will have 11 letterman among the two starting lineups with six junior college trans- MATTER of record, for what its worth, that USU's last loss in a season home opener came at the hands of San Jose State. That was back in 1955, Ev Faunce's first year as the Aggie Head Coach, and the Spartans Bob Bronzan's team went won it, 13-on to a record; the Aggies finished ITS A 0. 4-- USU's football archives show 37 of the school's 79 football seasons have started at home. And the Ags are in those games; but San Jose State is the only club to have pulled off two wins (1955 and 1940). So, the trend favors the Aggies in a series San Jose State leads, I don't know what good thats going to do us Saturday, said Snyder, whose club absorbed a 0 loss at San Jose 29-7- -1 wfipFi': 6-- 4. fers. three 45-1- m, I 1976 BROTHERS ON TEAM Playing with Curt Hough, senior center and 1977 this year ia Jim Hough (71), aenior oft guard. Tehy are broth era from LaMirada, Cal. ' Rich Matheney and quarterbacks Hippie and Myers. There's little question we have mure threats this year than we did last season. EIGHT ATHLETES who were on the scene in 1976 form the hub of the 1977 Aggie defense; five of them lettered and all were starters at one time or another. "A look at our defensive personnel would indicate we're average in just about all the measureable standards like size, speed, strength. Yet we believe we're going to be a group of people that will turn in performances better than those measurable standards indicate. Were going to have to." Trainer Dale Mildenbergers early-wee- k injury report indicated four athletes have definitely been penciled out for the opener. They include defensive linemen Jim Woodward (shoulder injury) and Paul Krepinski (knee surgery), linebacker Mark "THE STRONGEST thing we have Cranston (ankle injury) and offensive going for us right now, said Snyder, center Fred Zweifel, who will miss is our strength at the skilled positions approximately four weeks recuperaton offense. Our two tailbacks, the wide ing from surgery to correct a nerve receivers and the quarterbacks are all blockage in his knee. Two athletes who arrived on the talented athletes. In this case, Snyder is reflecting Aggie scene simultaneously in 1973 the 1977 positively on sophomore runner Rick have been chosen to Parros and junior Kurt Hollmer at Ags. Senior outside linebacker Claude tailback, wide receivers Ron Robinson, Ron Cassidy, Jimmy Bryant and Nelson (Layton, Ut.) and senior offensive center Curt Hough (LaMirada, Calif.) were selected in a vote of the Aggie team. Nelson is the third in his family to play at USU (brothers Kenny and Orlando preceded him) and Hough has a brother on the current USU team( offensive guard Jim. For the first time in many, many years Aggie football fans will be able to purchase pennants, hats, pom poms and other novelty items at all USU squadmen and a 77-m- Ibson I - . home football games. Four boots have been donated to be used for the novelties by Cantwell, Cache Valley, Anderson and Fullmers Lumber Companies. Additional items will be furry footballs, Big Blue Rugs, coasters, wall organizers, money clips, cow bells, golf tee and markers, 13 ounce tumblers, candy dishes and rain hoods all with USU emblems printed on the novelty. The new game program will be the largest in Aggie history with 68 pages. A lucky number ad from Needham's Jewelry of Logan will be good for a new watch which will be dropped into the stadium from an airplane. Programs and novelties will be on sale as fans enter the stadium. A ? iAw- ' Regular 369 frig1) Now Only i fa? r !: I i We are so confident of this strong ciaffn of that we support it with the following guarantee of satisfaction, printed below. In every way we want you to be glad you got a Gibson gSy, t Model FH20M2 20.3 cu. ft. A traditional design approach to the challenge of keeping large quantities of frozen food in the most economical way. Counter balanced lid makes fj easy to handle, water drain makes it easy to defrost, and lock with pop-osafety key helps protect your footf investment. I Gibson Guarantee The w ' ' CM. w,lw. W. .1 A..a ut s fall trif.w s bM ouW .n ...... StKIcn .fat-- rr v J. ",J ,. . !., v. l n inf n hn4 vi U IPO W.iC Oiice SKSltt? Ihv, 4PII a4M4, (I4H .Ml 21.2 Cu. Ft. Upright - Only $339.50 Vf. 199 of the Aggie football team is Claude Nelson, senior outside linebacker. .... ..1. .. ... iw . " ... , ,.,rtWr ru'tomat usm j. .... twin. -- q lu!nrr IP" &&.LFURNITURE CO. yflKiitAWt!1 t ;Vr FT" 'Xi YOUR VOLUME DEALER 65 NORTH STATE ii PRESTON, IDAHO KEITH MYERS Quarterback ERIC lilPPLEQuarterback |