Approximately 100 Aggie fans and Big Blue Club members met
at Layton City Park on Wednesday night to hear from football coach Mick Dennehy
and Athletic Director Rance Pugmire regarding the state of Aggie Athletics, the
football team in particular. Even the most pessimistic Aggie fan had to
leave Wednesday's meeting with some semblance of optimism, as Pugmire made it
known that there was a plan for Utah State athletics, and that progress was
being made in many facets of the department.
Dennehy went into detail on many of the new recruits who
will be entering the football program for the 2002 season as well as introduced
a quartet of Aggie seniors who expect to get a great deal of playing time on the
2002 squad: Returning Quarterback Jose Fuentes, Linebacker Jesse Busta, Punter
Steve Mullins and All-American candidate Wide Receiver Kevin Curtis.
A question from a fan to the coach regarding junior
college transfers struck a sore spot with Dennehy. Dennehy discussed his
tendency to shy away from late J.C. players, and how he is still waiting to
receive the results of some of his transfers AA tests. The coach commented
that if many of his J.C. recruits don't show up in the next few weeks, some of
the assistant coaches are going to have "some red butts."
The highlight of the meeting came when Rance Pugmire spoke
to the crowd. Pugmire started off by recognizing the academic and social
achievements of Dennehy's football squads. He said that in the two years
Dennehy has been under control there have been "no hiccups" with the athletes
downtown (no player troubles) and that the team has had a 79% graduation rate,
more than double the rate before Dennehy arrived. Pugmire thanked Dennehy
for his work with the players off the field as much as on.
The Athletic Director then announced that the television
contract the university had with Sportswest was not renewed and a new contract
was created with KJZZ. Pugmire announced that KJZZ would broadcast the USU/Utah
game, but Sportswest held the rights to the USU/BYU game. Pugmire also
mentioned that KJZZ would broadcast various other football and basketball
contests throughout the year. He talked about how KJZZ was very aggressive
in their desire to broadcast Utah State athletics, as they were in contact with
the university months before the previous television contract expired.
Also included in the partnership with KJZZ is a deal where USU merchandise will
be sold at various locations throughout Salt Lake City, with the revenue being
split between the university and KJZZ.
Pugmire continued on by telling that a new radio agreement
with KVNU was on the way, as well as a chance that the Aggies may soon be
broadcast on FM radio across the state. He briefly mentioned that
negotiations were ongoing with "two major sports stations" (presumably 1280 KZN
and 1320 KFAN).
The next topic which Pugmire touched on was conference
affiliation. He assured the crowd that a wave of changes was coming in the
next 18-24 months that that USU would be on the wave. Pugmire also assured
the group that the fact that Utah State is an independent in football is not the
result of anything that USU did or did not do. He pointed to Pacific, Long
Beach and Fullerton dropping football as well as Boise State and Louisiana Tech
being selected to the WAC by virtue of location and a bowl game. "When we
look at academics and all the other criteria we were light-years ahead of them.
I saw the criteria, I saw how they were ranked, it was us and there wasn't
really a second," Pugmire said regarding the alleged criteria the WAC had in
their selection process.
The topic of dropping to 1-AA was brought up and Pugmire
shot that idea down quickly. "We've been 1-A for 100 years, we will be 1-A
for the next 100," Pugmire said. Pugmire assured that Utah State will have
no problem meeting the new criteria for maintaining Division 1 status. The
only criteria which the university hasn't met as of yet is five Division 1 home
games each year. Pugmire did say that they only need one game each in
2004, '05 and '06. "1-AA doesn't have any identity in this state."
Pugmire then talked about facilities, mentioning the new
facilities for soccer, softball and track that are being constructed. He
then touched on the ever popular topic of Romney Stadium renovations.
Pugmire talked about a "three phase plan" that is in place, but said it is all a
matter of funding. "A few of you have been in the press box, a few of you
have sat under it...you're very brave!" Pugmire said about Romney Stadium's
current condition. He said that elevators, restrooms and concessions were
the top priorities now. The Athletics Director mentioned that he has a set
of plans in his office showing everything from five to fifty million dollars in
improvements to Romney Stadium, some that could make it "look like Tampa Bay's
stadium." As for improvements to the football stadium this year, two new
sets of aluminum bleachers will be installed in the student section.
Money was the next topic discussed, and it was noted that
this coming season will be a very good revenue year, but the money earned this
year will need to be saved to fund the year after which will be a tight revenue
year with no Utah or BYU at home, and a home schedule featuring Idaho State,
North Texas, Idaho, Connecticut, Troy State and Wyoming. Pugmire addressed
the 1-AA opponents and said there will never be more than one from now on, and
none unless they have five 1-A home games.
Pugmire wrapped up the meeting by fielding questions from
the crowd. The meeting concluding with socializing and the children
receiving autographs from the Aggie athletes.