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Show Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010 Page 8 WednesdayS110 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com . "=■=■■=%1 •■•TPIPPIlm =.1i 1= 4x;:::=4: 4P4•1r1.77.711/P AWAV.IP ••••••..• •■■••••IA , 'r Excitment, drama in NFL week four ••• MPIPPIP47 _ • IMF", By JAKE IPSON staff writer Week four in the NFL saw a lot of close games and some blow-outs and served as a learning experience for fans — the Saint Louis Rams might be better than most thought and the Chicago Bears may not be as good as their record would suggest. After week four, there is only one team that remains undefeated, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs had the fortune of having their bye week this week, allowing them to remain undefeated through four weeks. Here's what's on tap going into week five. Battle in the trenches UTAH STATE SENIORS pose with the Old Wagon Wheel trophy, which is presented annually to the winner of the BYU-USU football game. The Wheel had been in Provo since 1993, but Friday night's 31-16 Aggie win secured the program's rights to the Wheel for at least the next season. It will be displayed at the Stadium for viewing. ADAM NETTINA photo Old Wagon Wheel back in Logan By ADAM NETTINA sports editor USU defensive end Levi Koskan has lived in Cache Valley since he was a kid. At some point in his youth, when he was "10 or 12," he said he vaguely remembered hearing about something called the Old Wagon Wheel while attending a Utah State football game. But the Wheel, which serves as the trophy in the USU-BYU football rivalry, might as well have been the Lost Ark of the Covenant for Koskan, who was barely four years old the last time the trophy resided in Logan. Still, the elusive trophy captured Koskan's imagination, and 17 years after the Wheel left phy was officially presented for Provo and never returned, to coach Gary Andersen and the junior defender finally his team. For the secondgot a chance to year Utah State get up close and head coach, the "A win is great and personal with it. trophy is not "Every year you can boast about only a reward since I've been it, but to have that for his team's up here I've kept 31-16 upset over trophy, that tangible Brigham Young it in the back thing? It is so great, —the program's of my mind, wondering what and you can look at first win over it looks like," it everyday and have BYU since 1993 Koskan said. —but a fitting those feelings that "I wanted to symbol for the you had during the get that, and progress that ..." it's exciting to USU's senior game think about it Levi Koskan, players have made during his and now that it's USU defensive end tenure shown up and we got it." "It's great Koskan was among the to get the Wagon Wheel Utah State football players on back home, that's for sure," hand Tuesday when the troAndersen said. "The kids were obviously very excited about it." "It's an important piece," Andersen said. "Seventeen years is a long time, and to bring it back you just think about the number of players who've gone through this program and not had the opportunity to have that in their possession. So it's a special time for our kids, and especially the seniors." Koskan said the trophy serves as a "tangible" reminder for the game and the team's apparent turnaround this season. "A win is great and you can boast about it, but to have that trophy, that tan- I See WAGON, page 10 One of the better games in week four was between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. These were two hardnosed defenses just trying to hit something. Through week four, Pittsburgh was down to its fourth-string quarterback and was relying heavily on the play of its defense. But it was the Steelers defense that gave up the big play that eventually lost them the game, their first loss of the season. The Steelers seemed to have the game in hand when they stopped the Ravens on both third and fourth downfrom the Steelers' two-yard line with around three minutes to go, but a holding call on the Steelers punt gave the Ravens favorable field positioning. On the Ravens' drive, quarterback Joe Flacco took the offense down the field and hit wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a touchdown with 32 seconds remaining, giving the Ravens a 17-14 victory. Sunday, even if it was just for a moment. Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb was the last name announced as the Redskins were introduced before the game. He was greeted by an overwhelming majority of cheers from the Philadelphia fans. The lovefest didn't last long, however, as the cheers soon turned to boos when McNabb completed his first pass. The bigger story of the game may have been the injury to Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. Vick was crushed between two Redskin defenders on a play that didn't even count due to a holding call. Reports are saying that Vick suffered a rib cartilage injury that will probably keep him out of next week's game, meaning former starter Kevin Kolb may be back in the saddle for the team. In the end, McNabb got the upper hand in the game, with the Redskins coming out of Philadelphia with a win, 17 12. - Record setting half The New York Giants sent Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler to an early shower. The Giants were able to sack Cutler nine times in the first half. On the final blow, Cutler suffered a concussion that kept him out of the second half of the game. The Bears believe that Cutler will be fine to play next week, however. The Giants ended the game with 10 total sacks and held the Bears offense to 110 total yards. The Giants gave the Bears their first loss of the season after beating them 17-3 on Sunday night. Looking ahead City of Brotherly Love Week five will be a week of returns. Several high The City of Brotherly Love lived up to its nickname on I See NFL, page 10 A wild ride for USU wranglers By STEVE SCHWARTZMAN staff writer USU rodeo coach Jeffrey Hall said he spent a great deal of his time at livestock shows in the 1970s during what was known as the "cowboy craze." He'd travel across the United States showing off cattle for awards and cash prizes. Once at a livestock venue, he said, he noticed a man displaying a bucking machine — a prototype machine simulating riding a bucking bull. Hall helped the man set up the machine, and, in return, the man allowed Hall ride the machine for free between events. After watching Hall ride the machine clean several times the man looked at Hall and said, "You've ridden bulls before haven't you?" When Hall responded that he hadn't, the man took him to his ranch, where he had three bulls, to give riding a try. Hall rode all three bulls without much struggle and began to consider the lifestyle of competitive rodeo. Hall would go on to compete in multiple events over the next 19 years, including saddle bronco horse riding, bareback horse riding and bull riding. During that time, he won numerous awards and was even able to fund his way through college. Years later, rodeo is still an intricate part of his life. "Rodeo is very addictive, you're always looking for that next best ride. It's definitely not easy to hang up," said Hall, who has been serving as head Be our friend on coach of the Utah State rodeo club for 13 years. "People are drawn a lot toward bull riding, but every event has that adrenaline rush," said girl's team captain Paige Morgan. "You back your horse into the box, and your horse is shaking, and everything just stops." The Aggie rodeo club recently finished their fall season, and will soon be making preparation for the spring season next semester. The club features a group of 26 competitors performing in timed roping, wrestling, and stock riding events. The nonscholarship club competes on a small budget, but don't expect to hear I See RODEO, page 10 SPECIALS' STARVING STE/DENT BURGER ...$2.00 OFF .v„n rodeo team, which recently finished its fall season. While USU's men's and women's rodeo teams participate on the club level, Morgan and her fellow riders train like like varsity athletes, practicing multiple times per week. Photo courtesy of PAIGE MORGAN I student ID ALL DAY, ,oPcmulo lam facebook PAIGE MORGAN, SEEN HERE practicing her roping skills, is the captain of the USU women's WEDNESDAY for special offers! Come see the Aggies play Louisiana Tech — Sat. @ 2pm! THE PLACE TO BE. 2271 N MAIN • NORTH LOGAN • 787-AGGY |