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Show Views&Opinion Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 Page 11 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com OurView AboutUs Editor in Chief Patrick Oden Pessimism vs. Optimism After a 1-5 start, the rumblings around campus about yet another year of inadequacy for the USU football team have turned into a dull roar. Despite all the talk of new head coach Gary Andersen turning the program around, it’s the same old Aggies on the field. To those who have already decided that is the case: you’re wrong. Yes the football team has a 15 record with its only win coming against an FCS opponent in Southern Utah – if you don’t know what FCS means, then you probably shouldn’t be making conclusions about the talent of the Utah State football team – but this is not the same old Aggie team. Take a look at the offense. Out of 120 FBS teams, Aggies currently ranks 17th in total offense. Averaging more than 440 yards per game – 110 more than they averaged per game last season – the offense is balanced too. Currently, the Aggies sit at No. 29 in the nation in rushing with an average of 185 yards a game and No. 31 in passing with an average of 256 yards a game. Leading that offensive charge are explosive junior quarterback Diondre Borel and sophomore running back Robert Turbin. Borel is currently No. 12 in the nation in total offense, 15 spots ahead of Nevada quarterback Collin Kapaernick, who is the reigning and preseason WAC-offensive player of the year. Turbin sits in the top 25 nationally in his category as well, coming in No. 14 in rushing yards per game with 107. Needless to say, USU’s offense is good and greatly improved from anything the home team has displayed at Romney Stadium since the mid’90s. It will only get better too and with the majority of the playmakers being underclassmen, that is a scary thought for USU opponents. Now let’s looks at the reason, USU is 1-5. The Aggies started the season 1-3 and with road games at top-25 teams Utah and BYU, as well as Big 12 foe Texas A&M, that’s where everyone expected them to be heading into conference play. The loss at New Mexico State was a surprise, but it was penalties and special-teams miscues that beat USU in that game, despite the fact that it out gained NMSU by 200 yards. The home loss to Nevada was another heartbreaker but not unexpected as the Wolf Pack boast the No. 1 rushing team in the country and a top-10 offense. Had a wrongfully called offsides penalty on the Aggies onside kick recovery not been called, the Aggies would have had the ball in good field position with more than 2:30 on the clock and two timeouts – this after driving down in 1:30 to pull within three points. USU has lost its last two games by six points … combined. This is a team that will be competitive throughout the remainder of its conference schedule and will compete in the upper tier of the WAC very soon. The Aggies’ problem to this point has been defense. USU ranks near the bottom of every statistical category on the defensive side of the ball. Despite marked signs of improvement since the season opener, the unit is still a liability. What needs to be realized is that Andersen implemented a whole new system when he arrived at USU. He was lucky to inherit the offensive talent he needed to run the new spread attack, especially an experienced unit that returned 10 of 11 starters from 2008. On the defensive side of the ball, he was not so lucky. The defense has many talented players on it, and it has shown flashes of greatness this season, but Andersen just doesn’t have the personnel he needs to run his system effectively – most notably on the defensive line. This unit has gotten and will continue to get better, but it’s not going to be a quick process. Coaches sign four- or five-year contracts for a reason. It takes time to recruit and bring in the specific players needed for a coach’s system, and it takes time to rebuild a down program. A great example can be found in the Aggies conference foe Idaho. The Vandals have been perennial WACbottom dwellers – even worse than the Aggies – but in coach Robb Akey’s third season, Idaho is a surprising 6-1. The Aggie football team may not have taken the giant steps forward that everyone was hoping this season, but they are well on their way. The rumblings on and off campus need to die down, and the excitement and support that was shown at the start of the season needs to continue. It may not manifest itself in wins and losses this season, but USU football is on the rise … don’t get left behind when it takes off. News Editor Rachel A. Christensen Assistant News Editor Catherine Meidell Features Editor Courtnie Packer Assistant Features Editor Greg Boyles Sports Editor Tim Olsen Assistant Sports Editor Graham Terry Copy Editor Mark Vuong Photo Editors Pete Smithsuth Tyler Larson Ask Miss Jones Dear Miss Jones, I have been curious about something for quite some time, and I was wondering if you could help me, as well as all females that might find themselves in this situation. Here is the scenario. I started dating a boy in the summer. He was quite charming, and I couldn’t help but notice his amazing looks. He was fresh off of his LDS mission when we started dating. It was only a week or so since he had been home when we were first introduced, and I couldn’t help but feel this amazing connection as his incredibly rich brown eyes stared into mine. Although we were in a group setting we had no problem in showing our interest for each other. The night ended with a hug and number exchange. From there things went really fast and seemed quite perfect. We met on a Wednesday, and on our first date, which was Friday, he said goodbye with a kiss. Needless to say, I wasn’t going to pull away – I’m not stupid – but the fact that he could kiss me so soon was a bit of a shocker. Things went well for the next three weeks. We made sure to hang out every weekend and had a continuous texting conversation throughout this space of time. And then ... nothing. He disappeared off the face of the earth. Although I would text him the occasional, “How are you?” I didn’t continually call him or try to text him because I am not one of those girls. I was nervous that I had done something wrong. Two months later we regained contact at school and it was like nothing happened. I thought maybe this was just me, a special situation, but I found out that the same thing happened to my friend with a different guy. He gave the classic, “I’m going to BYU, long-distance relationships just don’t work out,” breakup line. My friend and I both felt extremely used like we were the drink quenching the thirst from their two-yeargirl drought. Please offer us some insightful advice on how to prevent this hit and run from happening in the future. only a few causes of bruised lips: blunt force, bacterial septicemia, lip injury and jaw fracture. I’ll eliminate jaw fracture simply because you’re not writing me in regards on how to make a tastier chicken smoothie. I’ll also take out lip injury because that’s just too obvious, which means we’re left with blunt force or bacterial septicemia (just a long word for blood infection). I see pretty substantial problems in both of these diagnostics, either the young man you’re speaking about is a biter or he carries some kind of mouth fungus that transferred to you during one of your necking sessions. Before you worry about making sure this doesn’t happen again you really should go get your bruised lips checked out by a doctor or dermatologist. Now onto the other issue. From personal experience I’ve learned that you never want to be a return missionary’s first date or make-out session. Almost 68 percent males who are return missionaries marry within one year of returning home. If you don’t want to be one of the 19-year-old married girls when all your friends are still dating, don’t date a missionary directly after he gets home. For me, I always allow a return missionary at least one or two dates with other girls before I move in. You’d be quite surprised at how many return missionaries are into “mature” women like me. From what you describe you were no doubt that delicious first sip of creamy whole milk after two years of nothing but the blue water skim milk. I wouldn’t harp on it. We all know guys are dirty scoundrels and, truthfully, you should have expected something like this to happen. Whenever I go on dates with a guy they are always all over me, their hormones seeping from every pore, with a freshly returned missionary that’s two years of hormones ... someones going to get used. Go get that lip problem checked out ASAP and next time you consider dating a return missionary ask how long he’s been back and find out how many girls he’s hooked up with. I’ve learned from personal experience you never want to be a return missionary’s first date or make-out session. Broken Heart and Bruised Lips Good luck and remember: “With as many times as Miss Jones has been around the block, her directions must be good.” Dear Broken Heart and Bruised Lips, Thanks for your letter. I really look forward to tackling this problem for you. But before we get into that I think we need to address something else, your bruised lips. There are E-mail your questions to be answered by Miss Jones to statesman.miss.jones@ gmail.com Web Editor Karlie Brand About letters • Letters should be limited to 400 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be directed toward individuals. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be edited or not printed. • No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or email address as well as a student identification number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. • Letters representing groups – or more than one individual – must have a singular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters – no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be e-mailed to statesman@aggiemail. usu.edu, or click on www.aggietownsquare.com for more letter guidelines and a box to submit letters. (Link: About Us.) Online poll If you were on a blind date and it was going really badly, how would you handle the situation? • Excuse yourself to the bathroom during dinner and never return. • Have a friend call with a fake emergency. • Go into graphic detail about your flatulence issues. • Tough it out and don’t go on a second date. Visit us on the Web at www.aggietownsquare. com to cast your vote. |