With Utah State 2-0 in the Big West and back to .500 (4-4) for the season, today's 2 p.m. homecoming game with Idaho (1-0, 3-3) in Romney Stadium has unexpectedly become a down payment on postseason jewelry.
The Aggies took care of business last week in Boise while Idaho, in its Big West debut, upset league-favorite Nevada, so today's winner will be the new favorite for the BWC title and Dec. 19 Las Vegas Bowl berth. Idaho's winless on the road and plays in a dome at home; Romney will be a different environment.If the Aggies need inspiration, they could find it at today's halftime when ceremonies will honor the 1936 team, the only Aggies to ever go unbeaten (7-0-1). They allowed only 13 points that season (14-13 win over Colorado), shutting out the other seven opponents including a 0-0 tie at Denver. Also honored will be the 7-2-1 Raisin Bowl 1946 team.
Preparation for Idaho has been easy. Since Aggie coach John L. Smith coached Idaho for six years, leaving 22 months ago for USU, the Vandal systems are carbon copies of USU's. Practice this week has been "a lot of preparation against ourselves," says Smith. "They know what we do; we know what they do. Somebody will throw in a gimmick here or there, and if that doesn't surprise you, then it comes down to the team that executes best," he says.
The Ags are coming off their best half of the season at Boise; Smith says that second half was better emotionally than the Utah game. But Smith has warned the Aggies that their last two wins mean nothing if they lose today. "All that matters is this weekend. The two toughest opponents (Idaho, Nevada) in the league are in front of us," he said.
Smith frets that USU has been inconsistent emotionally while four quarters of fight are a Vandal hallmark. They held Nevada scoreless and to 125 yards total offense in the second half. "They just outfought Reno, outcompeted them," Smith says. "We've got to learn to play with that same attitude and effort."
Freshman Demario Brown, who got his first career start last week and was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week, could again start over senior Abu Wilson at running back.