Utah State finished the 1997 season with a record of 6-6, including a trip to the inaugural Humanitarian Bowl. Following the season, Coach John L. Smith accepted a position with Louisville as the new head football coach. Dave Arslanian was announced as the new head coach of Utah State on December 6, 1997.[1]
The Aggies opened the season against their historical rivals, the Utah Utes. The game marked the 45th consecutive season in which the two teams played each other, but only the eighth time in that span the Aggies came into the game with a winning streak in the series. Replacing most of their significant contributors, as well as the vast majority of the coaching staff, proved to be the difference maker in the game. Despite two Utah State chances late in the game to tie, the Utes won 20-12 to snap a two-game losing streak (and would not lose to the Aggies again until 2012).[4]
After difficult road games at New Mexico and Colorado, the Aggies earned their first win of the Arslanian era by defeating Sam Houston State at home 47-17. More difficult results would follow, however, including a close home losses to Oregon State and eventual Big West champion Idaho. The Aggies record would sink to 1-7 before finishing with two wins in three weeks as they were able to beat New Mexico State on the road and North Texas at home in the season finale. The win against New Mexico State, a double OT thriller, was Utah State's 19th consecutive victory in the series, constituting the longest winning streak the Aggies have enjoyed over any opponent.[5]
Awards and honorsedit
The Aggies had ten players named to either the first or second all-conference team in the Big West.
Player
Position
Team
Tony D'Amato
LB
1ST
Brent Passey
LB
1ST
Craig Miller
CB
1ST
Lindsey Hassell
DL
1ST
Walter Fiefia
DL
1ST
Ken Watts
OL
1ST
Brad Bohn
PK
1ST
Robert Scott
WR
2ND
Tony Walker
KR
2ND
Johndale Carty
FS
2ND
Referencesedit
^"Arslanian Leaves Weber to Coach at Utah State". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^"1998 Utah State Aggies Schedule and Results". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^"2019 Utah State Aggies Football Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved May 28, 2020.
^"Until a late stall, Aggies followed their game plan". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^"USU edges New Mexico State in 2 OTs". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
November 15, 2023
1998, utah, state, aggies, football, team, represented, utah, state, university, 1998, ncaa, division, football, season, member, west, conference, aggies, were, first, year, head, coach, dave, arslanian, been, hired, from, weber, state, aggies, played, their, . The 1998 Utah State Aggies football team represented Utah State University in the 1998 NCAA Division I A football season as a member of the Big West Conference The Aggies were led by first year head coach Dave Arslanian who had been hired from Weber State The Aggies played their home games at Romney Stadium in Logan Utah Utah State finished with a 3 8 record in a difficult first year for Coach Arslanian 1998 Utah State Aggies footballConferenceBig West ConferenceRecord3 8 2 3 Big West Head coachDave Arslanian 1st season Offensive coordinatorRich Ericson 1st season Defensive coordinatorPaul Arslanian 1st season Home stadiumRomney Stadium Capacity 30 257 Seasons 19971999 1998 Big West Conference football standings vte Conf OverallTeam W L W L Idaho 4 1 9 3 Nevada 3 2 6 5 North Texas 3 2 3 8 Boise State 2 3 6 5 Utah State 2 3 3 8 New Mexico State 1 4 3 8 Conference champion Contents 1 Previous season 2 Schedule 3 Season summary 4 Awards and honors 5 ReferencesPrevious season editUtah State finished the 1997 season with a record of 6 6 including a trip to the inaugural Humanitarian Bowl Following the season Coach John L Smith accepted a position with Louisville as the new head football coach Dave Arslanian was announced as the new head coach of Utah State on December 6 1997 1 Schedule editDateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSeptember 5Utah Romney StadiumLogan UT Battle of the Brothers Beehive Boot L 12 2030 218September 12at New Mexico University StadiumAlbuquerque NML 36 3931 267September 19at No 15 Colorado Folsom FieldBoulder COL 6 2545 298September 26Sam Houston State Romney StadiumLogan UTW 47 1714 498October 3Oregon State Romney StadiumLogan UTL 16 2011 682October 10at Washington Husky StadiumSeattle WAL 12 5370 210October 17IdahoRomney StadiumLogan UTL 14 2614 206October 24at Boise StateBronco StadiumBoise IDL 16 3019 561October 31at New Mexico StateAggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces NMW 29 2613 312November 7NevadaRomney StadiumLogan UTL 21 267 500November 14North TexasRomney StadiumLogan UTW 28 277 376 Non conference gameRankings from Coaches Poll released prior to the game 2 3 Season summary editThe Aggies opened the season against their historical rivals the Utah Utes The game marked the 45th consecutive season in which the two teams played each other but only the eighth time in that span the Aggies came into the game with a winning streak in the series Replacing most of their significant contributors as well as the vast majority of the coaching staff proved to be the difference maker in the game Despite two Utah State chances late in the game to tie the Utes won 20 12 to snap a two game losing streak and would not lose to the Aggies again until 2012 4 After difficult road games at New Mexico and Colorado the Aggies earned their first win of the Arslanian era by defeating Sam Houston State at home 47 17 More difficult results would follow however including a close home losses to Oregon State and eventual Big West champion Idaho The Aggies record would sink to 1 7 before finishing with two wins in three weeks as they were able to beat New Mexico State on the road and North Texas at home in the season finale The win against New Mexico State a double OT thriller was Utah State s 19th consecutive victory in the series constituting the longest winning streak the Aggies have enjoyed over any opponent 5 Awards and honors editThe Aggies had ten players named to either the first or second all conference team in the Big West Player Position TeamTony D Amato LB 1STBrent Passey LB 1STCraig Miller CB 1STLindsey Hassell DL 1STWalter Fiefia DL 1STKen Watts OL 1STBrad Bohn PK 1STRobert Scott WR 2NDTony Walker KR 2NDJohndale Carty FS 2NDReferences edit Arslanian Leaves Weber to Coach at Utah State Retrieved June 1 2020 1998 Utah State Aggies Schedule and Results Retrieved June 1 2020 2019 Utah State Aggies Football Media Guide PDF Retrieved May 28 2020 Until a late stall Aggies followed their game plan Retrieved June 1 2020 USU edges New Mexico State in 2 OTs Retrieved June 1 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1998 Utah State Aggies football team amp oldid 1171290840, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
