LINCOLN, Neb. — Money isn't the only reason Utah State has worked its way onto Nebraska's schedule in 2002 and 2003.
"It's the exposure. You look at 'College Gameday' and all the preview shows today and they go through the top 25 and there we are — with Nebraska and everyone else in the country," USU athletic director Rance Pugmire said before Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium. "The exposure the university gets is tremendous. It's exposure you can't pay for, you can't buy."
Though the visits to Lincoln will net the USU athletic department approximately $450,000 each year, Pugmire insists there are even greater benefits to playing a perennial powerhouse like the Cornhuskers. He notes that head coach Mick Dennehy has successfully used such scheduling as a recruiting tool.
"It's great for the institution and the kids love it. They want to go," he said. "These are the guys they watch on TV and they watch in bowl games and stuff. It's who they want to play and test themselves against."
Nebraska holds a 7-0 lead in the series, which dates back to 1966, but USU is undeterred.
"That's why you line up and play them. Who knows? You may get a chance to upset a team like this," said Pugmire. "Do we think we have a chance? Sure we do. Sooner or later their winning streak is going to come to and end."
IN THE HOUSE: Tony Adams, who quarterbacked the Aggies from 1970-72, was on the Utah State sideline when Jose Fuentes surpassed him to become the program's career passing leader. Fuentes has now thrown for a record 6,288 yards — 62 better than Adams' old mark.
"That's great. That's awesome," said Fuentes. "But I want to win."
Adams made the journey to Lincoln from his home in Kansas City, a few hours and a couple long passes down the road.
POSITIVE YARDAGE: James Samuel gained 37 yards in eight carries in his first start at tailback for USU. The Aggies finished with 70 yards on the ground — a vast improvement from a minus-9 output against Utah.
"We felt that tonight it helped our passing game," said wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who led USU with six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. "We still have a lot of work to do, but it is a step forward."
TALE OF THE TAPE: USU sports information director Mike Strauss compiled a tongue-in-cheek comparison between Nebraska and Utah State. A sampling:
Consecutive sellouts: Nebraska 250, USU 1.
Winning seasons: Nebraska 40 consecutive, USU none since 1996.
Consecutive years in AP poll: Nebraska 32, USU hasn't been ranked since 1961.
2001 NCAA individual leaders: USU 1 (Kevin Curtis, receptions), Nebraska 0.
Players from Utah: USU 24, Nebraska 1 (Ryon Bingham).
Pages in football media guide: Nebraska 448, USU 140.
Press boxes: Nebraska 42 luxury suites, USU 36 media seats
EXTRA POINTS: The temperature at kickoff was 93 degrees under clear skies . . . Former Alta High star Ryon Bingham, who is Nebraska's starting nose tackle, finished with four tackles . . . USU cornerback Mark Estelle was taken to the hospital during the game to be examined for a possible bruised liver. Results were negative, and he returned to the stadium by game's end.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com