PUBLICATION ORDER:
Sections of the Pre-Season Report Card are published in the following order: (1) Schedule; (2) Coaching; (3) Momentum (4) Discipline
On The Field (i.e. penalties); (5) Turnovers; (6) Special Teams; (7)
Defense; (8) Offense; and (9) Summary.
TURNOVERS
Rationale: The past does not always predict the future,
but the past often predicts the future
Team Recovered Turnovers
(i.e. Gained Turnovers)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Recovered Fumbles]
6 total recovered fumbles (0.5 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Caught Interceptions]
14 total caught interceptions (1.1 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Recovered Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 20 total combined recovered
turnovers (1.5 pgp)(rounding difference
above)
Team Lost Turnovers
[2012 Team Statistic:
Lost Fumbles]
10 total lost fumbles (0.8 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Thrown Interceptions]
10 total thrown interceptions (0.8 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Lost Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 20 total combined lost
turnovers (1.5 pgp)(rounding difference
above)
NOTE: Chuckie Keeton (Jr.)
is a returning starter at quarterback [2012 Individual Statistic: 9
interceptions thrown in 407 passing attempts (2.2%)]
Team Combined Net
Turnovers [(Recovered Turnovers) minus (Lost Turnovers)]
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Net Turnovers] net zero combined net turnovers (net zero pgp)
GRADE (Turnovers): C
DISCIPLINE ON THE FIELD
Rationale: The past does not always predict the future,
but the past often predicts the future
Team Penalties
[2012 Team Statistic] 91 total penalties (7.0
pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic] 941 total penalty
yards (72.4 pgp)
GRADE (Discipline on
the field): C minus
MOMENTUM
Last
season, Utah State had an overall record of 11-2 and won their final 7 games, including
a 41-15 win against Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Last season, Utah State won the Western
Athletic Conference Championship and finished with national rankings of #16 (AP
Poll), #17 (Coaches Poll), and #22 (BCS).
GRADE (Momentum): A
COACHING
Head Coach
Current Tenure as
Head Coach at Utah State: Matt Wells is in his first season as the Head Coach at
Utah State
Last Coaching
Position:
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Utah State (2012)
Prior Experience as
Head Coach:
Junior Varsity Head Coach at Navy (three years)
Other Notable Facts: Wells coaching
experience is mostly as a Quarterbacks Coach and Receivers Coach. Wells has coached in 6 bowl games, including
Utah State’s last 2 bowl games (2011 & 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl). As the Quarterbacks Coach at Utah State
(2011-2012), Wells has developed Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton into one of the
top quarterbacks in the nation. As the
Offensive Coordinator at Utah State in 2012, Wells produced a Utah State
offense that was ranked #21 in the nation for total offense. Wells played Quarterback at Utah State
(1993-1996).
Commentary: Wells is only 39
years old and among the youngest head coaches at the FBS level, but has 16
years of coaching experience. Hiring a
young head coach is a huge risk, but less of a risk because Wells has a strong
connection to Utah State. If Wells has
early success, he may be offered a long-term contract and given an opportunity
to become a legendary coach at Utah State.
However, if Wells has early success, he could become the next “Hot Young
Coach” and quickly leave for a big paycheck at a big budget program (e.g. Mike
MacIntyre). Thereafter, Utah State will
be searching for another head coach and dealing with all of the problems caused
by lack of leadership stability. If
Wells does not have early success, the critics will likely be lenient due to
Wells strong connection to Utah State and simply argue that Wells should not be
offered a contract extension. Either
way, a young head coach is always exciting to watch because a young head coach
is intense and innovative.
NOTE: I give a grade of
“C” to all rookie coaches and players unless there is cogent evidence that
supports a different grade
Offensive Coordinator
Current Tenure as
Offensive Coordinator at Utah State: Kevin McGiven is in his first season as the
Offensive Coordinator at Utah State.
McGiven is also the Quarterbacks Coach at Utah State. McGiven has the good fortune of inheriting a
Utah State offense that was ranked #21 in the nation for total offense last
season.
Last Coaching
Position:
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Montana State (FCS) (2012)
Prior Experience as
Offensive Coordinator: Montana State (FCS) (2012), Weber State (FCS)
(2006-2008), and Southern Utah (FCS) (2005)
Other Notable Facts: As the Offensive
Coordinator at Montana State (FCS) in 2012, McGiven produced a Montana State
offense that was ranked #20 in FCS for scoring offense and #29 in FCS for total
offense that helped Montana State win the Big Sky Conference Championship. McGiven previously coached at Utah State
(2009).
Defensive Coordinator
Current Tenure as Defensive
Coordinator at Utah State: Todd Orlando is in his first season as the Defensive
Coordinator at Utah State. Orlando is
also the Safeties Coach at Utah State. Orlando
has the good fortune of inheriting a Utah State defense that was ranked #14 in
the nation for total defense last season.
Last Coaching
Position:
Defensive Coordinator at Florida International (2011-2012)
Prior Experience as
Defensive Coordinator: Florida International (2011-2012) and Connecticut
(2005-2010)
Other Notable Facts: Orlando has coached
in 6 bowl games, including one BCS bowl game (2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl as
Defensive Coordinator at Connecticut).
Orlando won 2 Big East Conference Championships as Defensive Coordinator
at Connecticut (2010) (2007). Several of
the defenses that Orlando has coached have achieved high national
rankings. Orlando played linebacker at
Wisconsin (1990-1994).
Special Teams
Coordinator
Current Tenure as Special
Teams Coordinator at Utah State: Dave Ungerer is in his first season as the
Special Teams Coordinator at Utah State.
Ungerer is also the Running Backs Coach at Utah State.
Last Coaching
Position:
Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach at Washington State
(2010-2011)
Prior Experience as Special
Teams Coordinator:
Washington State (2010-2011), Elon (FCS) (2009), Oregon State (2007-2008),
Alabama (2003-2006), California (2002), Lehigh (2000-2001), Maryland
(1994-1996), and Holy Cross (FCS) (1988-1991)
Other Notable Facts: Ungerer has been
very successful at coaching kickoff and kickoff return units. Ungerer has coached several successful
returners, place kickers, and punters.
GRADE (Coaching): C
plus
SCHEDULE
Total Home Games: 6
Consecutive Home
Games:
§ Week 6 (BYU) and Week
7 (Boise State)
§ Week 13 (Colorado State)
and Week 14 (Wyoming)
Total Away Games: 6
Consecutive Away
Games:
§ Week 1 (at Utah) and
Week 2 (at Air Force)
§ Week 4 (at USC) and
Week 5 (at San Jose State)
Bye Weeks:
§ Week 9 (October 22,
2013 through October 28, 2013)
§ Week 12 (November 12,
2013 through November 18, 2013)
MWC Non-Division
Games (i.e. games against MWC West Division Teams):
§ Week 5 (Away at San
Jose State)
§ Week 10 (Home vs. Hawai’i)
§ Week 11 (Away at UNLV)
Week 1: Utah State at
Utah
Game #: 1
Game Date: Thursday, August 29, 2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm MT
Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
(Salt Lake City, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,650 feet
Elevation Change for
Utah State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Utah
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Utah
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: Temperature may be in
the 90’s at kickoff (6:00pm MT), but will cool during the game. Utah State practices in similar weather in
Logan.
Stadium Noise: extremely high
Commentary: Great rivalry game
that should have been scheduled as the second or third game of the season for
each team because every team plays below their full potential in their first game. Last season, Utah State beat Utah in Logan by
a score of 27-20 in overtime. This
should be another very close and very exciting rivalry game.
Week 2: Utah State at
Air Force (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 2
Game Date: Saturday, September
7, 2013
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm MT
Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near
Colorado Springs, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet
Elevation Change for Utah
State:
increase by 1,911 feet
Travel Distance for
Utah State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Utah
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature could
reach 90 degrees by end of game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Utah State plays
rival Utah in the prior week (Week 1)
Week 3: Weber State
(FCS) at Utah State
Game #: 3
Game Date: Saturday, September
14, 2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm MT
Stadium: Merlin Olsen Field
at Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,710 feet
Elevation Change for Weber
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Weber
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Weber
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme)
Weather: Temperature may be in
the 90’s at kickoff (6:00pm MT), but will cool during the game. Weber State practices in similar weather in
Ogden.
Stadium Noise: moderate
Week 4: Utah State at
USC
Game #: 4
Game Date: Saturday, September
21, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for
Utah State:
decrease by 4,510 feet
Travel Distance for
Utah State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Utah
State:
decrease by 1 hour
Field Surface: grass
Weather: (Kickoff time TBA)
temperature may reach the 90’s during the daytime; LA has a smog problem during
the day; high temperatures exacerbate LA’s smog problem
Stadium Noise: moderate to high (LA
Memorial Coliseum is a large multi-purpose stadium that has an open bowl design
that dissipates noise)
Commentary: This game is an
opportunity for Utah State to produce a statement win. If smog is high, which is possible, both
offenses will need to use their running game because neither quarterback will
be able to see their receivers. Fun
Fact: On hot days, you can actually taste the smog in the air J
Week 5: Utah State at
San Jose State
Game #: 5
Game Date: Friday, September 27,
2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm PT (7:00pm
MT)
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (San
Jose, CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for
Utah State:
decrease by 4,625 feet
Travel Distance for Utah
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Utah
State:
decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant (night
game in late September)
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Commentary: Utah State has an
away game at USC in the prior week (Week 4) that Utah State can win and produce
great momentum heading into this game.
This game will be a great matchup between Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton
and SJSU QB David Fales. Last season,
Utah State embarrassed SJSU in SJSU’s homecoming game at Spartan Stadium. In that game, Utah State won by a score of
49-27 and produced 13 sacks (epic SJSU coaching failure) against SJSU QB David
Fales. Despite being sacked 13 times,
SJSU QB David Fales had 38 completions on 50 attempts (76%), 467 passing yards,
and 3 passing TDs.
Week 6: BYU at Utah
State
Game #: 6
Game Date: Friday, October 4, 2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm MT
Stadium: Merlin Olsen Field
at Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,710 feet
Elevation Change for BYU: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for
BYU:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for BYU: none
Field Surface: artificial
(AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme)
Weather: insignificant (night
game in early October)
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: Both BYU and Utah
State have a full week to prepare for this game because both teams have a
Friday game in the prior week (Week 5).
Last season, BYU beat Utah State in Provo in a high-scoring shootout by
a score of 6-3.
Week 7: Boise State
at Utah State (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 7
Game Date: Saturday, October
12, 2013
Kickoff Time: 5:30pm MT
Stadium: Merlin Olsen Field
at Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,710 feet
Elevation Change for Boise
State:
increase by 2,015 feet
Travel Distance for Boise
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Boise
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial (AstroTurf
GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme)
Weather: temperature could
drop to the 40’s by the end of the game
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: My early assessment
is that these teams are likely the best teams in the MWC Mountain
Division. This game is an opportunity
for Boise State to assert their dominance over the MWC Mountain Division. This game is also an opportunity for Utah
State to get a statement win in their first year in the MWC. Boise State will have an extra week to
prepare for this game because Boise State has a bye in the prior week (Week 6). Utah State will have an extra day to prepare
for this game because Utah State has a Friday game in the prior week (Week 6).
Week 8: Utah State at
New Mexico (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 8
Game Date: Saturday, October
19, 2013
Kickoff Time: 4:00pm MT
Stadium: University Stadium
(Albuquerque, NM)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,100 feet
Elevation Change for Utah
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Utah
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Utah
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant (late
afternoon game in mid-October)
Stadium Noise: moderate
Week 9: October 22,
2013 through October 28, 2013
BYE WEEK
Week 10: Hawai’i at
Utah State
Game #: 9
Game Date: Saturday, November
2, 2013
Kickoff Time: 2:00pm MT (11:00am
HT)
Stadium: Merlin Olsen Field
at Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,710 feet
Elevation Change for Hawai’i: increase by 4,670
feet
Travel Distance for Hawai’i: 3,016 miles (flight
time is approximately 6 hours)
Time Change for Hawai’i: increase by 3 hours
(HT to MT)
Field Surface: artificial
(AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme)
Weather: insignificant
(afternoon game in early November)
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Commentary: Jet lag could be a
problem for some of the younger Hawai’i players who are not accustomed to
Hawaii’s long trips. Hawai’i has a
significant elevation increase of 4,670 feet that will likely have an adverse
effect in the 4th quarter, especially on Hawai’i linemen. Utah State has an extra week to prepare for
this game because Utah State has a bye in the prior week (Week 9).
Week 11: Utah State
at UNLV
Game #: 10
Game Date: Saturday, November
9, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium
(Las Vegas, NV)
Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet
Elevation Change for Utah
State:
decrease by 3,110 feet
Travel Distance for Utah
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Utah
State:
decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)
Field Surface: artificial
(TurfTech)
Weather: (Kickoff time TBA)
insignificant (early November)
Stadium Noise: moderate
Week 12: November 12,
2013 through November 18, 2013
BYE WEEK
Week 13: Colorado
State at Utah State (MWC Mountain
Division Game)
Game #: 11
Game Date: Saturday, November
23, 2013
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm MT
Stadium: Merlin Olsen Field
at Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,710 feet
Elevation Change for Colorado
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Colorado
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Colorado
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial (AstroTurf
GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme)
Weather: possible snow on the
ground; possible snow before and/or during game
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: Old rivalry game is
rebuilding excitement
Week 14: Wyoming at
Utah State (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 12
Game Date: Saturday, November
30, 2013
Kickoff Time: 12:00pm MT
Stadium: Merlin Olsen Field
at Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,710 feet
Elevation Change for Wyoming: decrease by 2,510
feet
Travel Distance for
Wyoming:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for
Wyoming:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme)
Weather: insignificant
(afternoon game in late November)
Stadium Noise: high
GRADE (higher grade indicates favorable schedule):
C plus
NOTE: Grading
Standards:
Grades are based on a national scale. Unlike
modern academia, my grades are not inflated.
A grade of “C” is average. A
grade of “C” is neither good nor bad; it is simply average. A grade of “A” or “F” is rare.
