OCR Text |
Show i Oct. 24, 2008 HOMECOMING PREVIEW: USU VS. FRESNO STATE, SATURDAY, 1 P.M. ToucfeBase Schedules Football SATURDAY OCT. 25 USU vs. Fresno State, 1 p.m. Hockey SATURDAY OCT. 25 USU vs. Long Beach State, 7 p.m. Men's rugby SATURDAY OCT. 25 USU @ UVU, 1 p.m. Women's soccer FRIDAY OCT. 24 USU @ Hawaii, 9 p.m. SUNDAY OCT. 26 USU @ San Jose State, 2 p.m. Women's volleyball SATURDAY OCT. 25 USU @ Nevada, 8 p.m. Guy part of Coach to Cure MD BY USU ATHLETICS T H E U S U OFFENSIVE LINE takes a break for a photo after practice Wednesday. USU's offensive line coach is Vance Vice, far left. "We don't get any of the glory, but we don't want any of the glory," Vice said. "This is a very good group, the work ethic is tremendous." TYLER LARSON photo illustration USU O-line enjoys buffets and increased '08 offensive production ByTIMOLSEN assistant sports editor The flash of the running back position is absent, the pizzazz of the quarterback isn't found here and you'd be hard-pressed tofindthe speed of a wide receiver. But the success of nearly every play hinges on the execution of the offensive line. Known as the most unified group on the team, the offensive linemen at Utah State do many things to promote unity together. One of their favorite pastimes, however, is putting all-you-can-eat buffets out of commission. "We have a thing every Thursday where we go out and try to find an all-you-can eat buffet," said senior center Ryan Tonnemacher. "We've actually shut two places down and they quit doing that because of us." The players enjoy many other activities together besides eating. From movies and half-court pick-up basketball games to growing camp beards, this group of lineman uses a myriad of activities to build their team unity. "As an offensive line we all have to be on the same page all the time," said sophomore tackle Spencer Johnson. "That means that you have • to know the person you're working with inside and out, so that helps out a lot just doing everything together." Fun activities aside, the linemen know the importance they play in the offensive success of the Aggies. Offensive line coach Vance Vice said he tells his players they're going to work the hardest on thefield,but they're also going to have the most fun. Whether opening holes for the backs to run through or allowing the quarterback time to throw, it's never an easy job - especially when D See O-line, page 12 Ags looking to force FSU turnovers By SAMMY HISLOP sports editor The preseason coaches' poll picked the Fresno State Bulldogs to win the Western Athletic Conference. Some thought they might be this season's BCS buster. However, coming into Saturday's 1 p.m. Homecoming match-up with the USU football team (1-6 overall, 1-2 in WAC play), the 4-2 Bulldogs aren't looking so tough. USU fourth-year head coach Brent Guy said the key for his team to beat them is to look at Fresno State's 39-32 overtime loss at home to Hawaii, where the Bulldogs turned the ball over six times. "They had six turnovers II See FSU, page 11 Men's Basketball Preview, Part 2 of 4: JC transfers JUCO transfers set to make immediate impact ByMATTSONNENBERG staff writer Junior college transfers have been the backbone of recruiting for the majority of head coach Stew Morrill's tenure at USU. The ability of junior college players to step in and immediately contribute to Morrill's Aggie teams has been a crucial aspect of the team's success year-in and year-out. This year is no different as the team must replace last season's starting backcourt of Kris Clark and Jaycee Carroll. Clark finished the 2007-2008 season with a USU single-season record for assists, while Carroll finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer. The graduation of that backcourt duo leaves a lot of expectations for this year's group of junior college transfers in Jared Quayle, Stavon Williams, Richard Sirju and Clint Lee. "We want production from all those guys," assistant coach Tim Duryea said. "Coach Morrill tells them this from day one. We're going to be on them, we're going to push them hard, we're going to coach them hard because we count on our junior college guys to help us right away." Jared Quayle Quayle enters USU following his sophomore season at Western Wyoming Community College, where he scored 24.4 points per game to rank fifth in the nation in that category. On top of the elite scoring numbers, he averaged 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting over 50 percent from both the field and from behind the 3-point line en route to being named second-team allAmerica by the National Junior College Athletic Association last season. Quayle, having played the shooting guard position for his basketball career, is faced with the challenge of learning a new system as well as the point guard position, both of which are unfamiliar to him. "We're asking a lot of him because he's playing a new position that he really hasn't played before," Duryea said. "He's a smart kid, and he's tough, and he's competitive and we have a lot of confidence in him." Duryea also praised Quayle's ability to score the basketball in a variety of ways, whether it be from behind the 3-point line, pulling up from mid-range or finishing around the rim. When asked what he felt his would be the biggest asset he'd bring to the team this year, Quayle's answer was his H SeeJUCO, page 12 On Saturday USU head coach Brent Guy will join with college football coaches across the country to fight one opponent: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. By wearing an arm band with the Coach to Cure MD insignia during Saturday's game with Fresno State, Guy and coaches will show their support for Coach to Cure MD, the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) newest charitable project. Fresno State head coach Pat Hill will also be wearing an arm band during Saturday's game, which is USU's Homecoming and kicks off at 1p.m. at USU's Romney Stadium. "We are blessed to watch 120 young men run and jump and play football on the field each Saturday, and this is only a small sign of our support for the young men who are affected by this terrible disease," Guy said. Wilkinson named an ail-American BY USU ATHLETICS F R O N T R O W , LEFT T O R I G H T : Stavon Williams and Richard Sirju. BACK R O W , LEFT T O R I G H T : jared Quayle and Clint Lee.All four are new junior college transfers for the USU men's basketball team this year. CAMERON PETERSON photo USU's Gary Wilkinson has been named a preseason high-major ailAmerican by CollegeHoops. net it was announced on Thursday. Wilkinson, who was named to the honorablemention team, is one of 33 players recognized. Wilkinson, a 6-foot9-inch senior forward from South Jordan, Utah (Bingham HS/Salt Lake CC), is one of just two players from the Western Athletic Conference to be named preseason AilAmerican by CollegeHoops. net along with NevadaDs Armon Johnson. Wilkinson is also one of four players from the state of Utah to be honored joining BYU's Lee Cummard and Jonathan Tavernari, and Utah's Luke Nevill. Wilkinson was named the WAC's Preseason Player of the Year by the media this fall. |