Chuck McMillian is angry, and he has good reason to be.
McMillian is a senior on a Utah State football team that hit bottom with its first loss to a I-AA team in 12 years, 49-31 to Eastern Washington. He's a cornerback on what was the NCAA's 14th-best secondary until Saturday in Romney Stadium, when a quarterback who lost his job three weeks ago destroyed USU with four TDs. He's part of a defense that gave up more than twice its average in points, a defense doubly shell-shocked as the Eagles twice recovered their own fumbles for TDs.But to his credit - and typical of this Aggie team that could now finish with USU's most-pathetic record since 1957 - McMillian's mad at McMillian. "I am very angry with myself," he says. "I gave up two touchdowns."
Despite Utah State's loss to a Big Sky patsy (now 3-5, 2-4), the 2-7, 1-3 Ags admit personal mistakes and don't blame refs or weather or mascots or coaches or teammates.
There was no finger-pointing in the locker room, said Shawn Turner, who had the best day of 1994 by a USU receiver (eight catches, 197 yards). "Everybody's a pretty close family. We keep each other up," he said.
Senior Dave Balls refused to aim at teammates. Balls (seven tackles, two for loss) was ferocious on the scrimmage line. Said Eastern Washington coach Mike Kramer, "Our line was able to knock them off the ball, other than Balls; nobody knocks him off the ball."
Asked if it was frustrating to play so hard but be unable to inspire others to the same level, Balls said, "I play the best I can and hope people follow. Sometimes it happens; sometimes it doesn't. It doesn't matter how good you do. It hurts to lose."
For EWU, it's the best win of the 1990s, said Kramer. "It's the most complete game we've played in a while."
For USU, it's a new low. "It's embarrassing to let a I-AA team come in and beat us like that," said coach Charlie Weatherbie. "I'm feeling sick and very embarrassed for the staff, the team, for Utah State.
USU started well, scoring on a 43-yard Matt Wells-to-Kevin Alexander TD pass on the game's fourth play. EWU answered with a 44-yard TD pass from Todd Bernett to Jason Anderson on its third offensive play. On the Eagles' next possession, David Lewis fumbled at the Aggie 5, but the ball went into the end zone where flanker Jerrold Jackson fell on it for a TD and 14-7 EWU lead.
Two Micah Knorr field goals and Kevin Alexander's 57-yard scoring punt return put USU up 20-14.
Anderson caught a 27-yard pass for the second of his three TDs four minutes into the second quarter, but Knorr's third field goal gave the Ags a 23-21 halftime lead.
Then the Eagles did what nearly all Ag opponents do: They hammered USU in the third period. Twenty-one points, Anderson caught a 6-yard scoring pass, Jackson easily went 58 yards to score on a pass when Terrence Gaines fell and Lavon Major returned his intercepted Wells pass 85 yards for a 42-23 lead.
"He never should have thrown the ball. A sophomore mistake," said Weatherbie, who put in freshman Aaron Flowers for a series to let Wells think it over. Wells returned for the first drive of the fourth, but by then the Eagles were up 49-23.
Wells was later knocked out on a hit by Lee Brown. Wells left and is questionable for next week at Nevada. USU also lost o-lineman Brandon Dyson to a knee and ankle sprain and receivers Shaun Johnson and Russell to shoulder separations.