Utah State's defense has played well the past month, allowing four touchdowns in four games, but to stop Air Pacific and NCAA total-offense leader Troy Kopp today at noon in Romney Stadium, it will take more than defense. It will take offense, and that's where the suspense lies.
If the Aggies have quarterback Ron Lopez, he'll be more immobile than usual with a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. If they use sophomore Lex Stoehr, they suspect he'll be nervous, and they know the passing game will have to be short.Yet they have to find a way to retain the ball.
"The key is being able to control the ball," says Aggie offensive coordinator Pat Behrns. "Put the ball in Kopp's hands all day, and he's going to have success - I don't care if we have the Chicago Bears defense out there."
The Aggie injury problems on offense that will rob them of 100-percent effectiveness from Lopez, receivers Rod Moore (thigh bruise) and Tracey Jenkins (pulled back muscle) and offensive lineman Jaceson Maughan (ankle) will surely make ball control difficult, even if tailback Roger Grant can again gain 218 yards on the Tiger defense, like he did last year in USU's 51-45 win.
Coach Chuck Shelton harbors no false hopes. "We're gonna struggle," he declares.
The uncertainty about the offense overshadows several other considerations: 1. How will the Aggies respond to the jolt of the No. 2 quarterback quitting the team Wednesday? and 2. How will the seniors react to their final home game? 3. Will the team pay any attention to the fact that it's the last home game for the coaching staff that has guided USU for the past six seasons?
The coaches themselves say they feel no escalated emotions. "Coaching's a transient occupation. You just go get another good job," Bleil says.
Shelton says there's no time for nostalgia. "We've just gotta get with it. Everything I do needs to be concentrated on that."
Lopez, one of the 20 seniors, is emotional about today. "He wants to play so bad in this football game," says Shelton, feeling empathy for the man who's become the No. 4 passer in USU history in less than two seasons. "The call will be his - with medical supervision," Shelton says.
Behrns says the offense won't change much if Stoehr plays because USU has used a controlled-pass offense all season with most of the long pass plays coming because receivers ran with the ball after catching it.
"Our concern would be his original nervousness," says Shelton.
Defensively, the plan is to mix coverages, which the Ags do with great success near the goal, take away Benjamin's running, deny the long pass and pressure Kopp.
Utah State (3-6, 3-2) and Pacific (4-6, 3-2) are tied for third place in the Big West behind San Jose and Fresno. Should the Aggies win, they'd have a chance to finish second for the second straight year with only New Mexico State left on their schedule.