LOGAN — NOW IT'S official.
The USU Aggies can say, with at least some credibility, they are members of the Western Athletic Conference.
So what next, hold a parade? Set the house ablaze?
Oh, right. They already did that.
USU took a step toward revitalizing its football program with a 24-17 win over San Jose State Saturday afternoon. Belonging to a conference is one thing, competing is quite another. Thus, the Aggies held off the Spartans for their first-ever football win as a member of the WAC.
The game included sacks (3), a double reverse (7 yards), a punt return for a touchdown (87 yards) and a couple of impressive scoring passes (39 and 27 yards).
Not to mention suspense.
The uncertainty went down to the final moments, ending with the ball on the USU 34.
It is, after all, the Aggies. What did you want, a slam-dunk?
Domination isn't an option yet.
Saturday marked a historic day at USU. It was the school's first football game in a new conference. Not only is it a new conference, it's a better one. Better exposure equals better recruiting, better bowl games, better money and better teams. Admission into the WAC was not only received with gratitude in Logan, but relief. Getting into the WAC was a decades-long dream.
USU's unofficial theme from 1961 until now: "How long must we wait?"
Answer: Until everyone else relocates.
For years, USU was on pretty much equal footing with instate rivals Utah and BYU. They all played in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (1916-1937), and USU did fine. Same with the Mountain States or Skyline Conference (1938-1961). But from 1961 on, things were weird. In 1962, Utah and BYU joined the fledgling WAC, but the Aggies were left out.
Though the school made numerous overtures to join the league over the years, nothing worked. Air Force, UTEP, UNLV, Hawaii and others could get in — in fact at one time the WAC had 16 teams — but USU couldn't.
Talk about an insult. The WAC was inviting anyone with a permanent mailing address, but still the Aggies waited.
USU did join the PCAA — which morphed into the Big West — in 1978. That was OK except one problem: no real rivalries. Aggie fans simply couldn't get fired up about Saturday games against Cal-Fullerton, Pacific or Long Beach.
Then things got worse.
After two years back as an independent (2001-2002), the Aggies, out of desperation, finally gained admission into the Sun Belt Conference.
Whether that was good news is debatable. If you thought playing Pacific every year was weird, try Troy and Middle Tennessee.
But at last the Aggies got a break. When Tulsa, Rice, SMU and UTEP left the WAC for Conference USA, the WAC was suddenly amenable. USU needed a close-to-home conference, with regional rivals and the WAC needed warm bodies.
Thus, the Aggies opened conference play last week at winless Idaho, only to lose 27-13. So much for a quick strike. Saturday, though, they made up for it. Not only was it the first WAC home game, it was also homecoming. The game was preceded by the annual parade. Alumnus of the year: LaVell Edwards.
At halftime, it seemed the Aggies were on fire in more ways than one. They held a 21-7 lead. Meanwhile, a grease fire in the south concession stand required a quick visit by the Logan Fire Department.
Afterward, both the booth and the Aggies shut down. USU allowed a touchdown in the second half on a 61-yard pass. It also enabled a SJSU field goal.
The Aggies' only score in the final 30 minutes was a 33-yard field goal.
Not exactly setting the league ablaze, but good enough.
"It's huge," said defensive end John Chick. "A lot of people say USU can't compete, and to go out and win and to outplay them at the end is awesome."
But to be playing in a conference after a 43-year wait?
Awesome in its own right.
E-mail: rock@desnews.com