Utah State eager to shed its losing ways in WAC

This is the sixth in a series on UH opponents

Utah State won five games in 2000, and it's been all downhill since -- four, four, three, three, three and one victories, in that order.

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The Aggies are 4-19 since joining the Western Athletic Conference two years ago. Even their biggest WAC win (and only one for 2006), over Fresno State, gets an asterisk since the Bulldogs went an uncharacteristic 4-8.

Coach Brent Guy knows this could be the make-or-break year for him. He may need the Aggies to be the surprise of the league to keep his job.

"We have to be the San Jose State. Every year you see a team jump up. We have to have a winning season and play in a bowl game," Guy said. "Before you talk about winning seasons and championships, you have to talk about winning the first game. Have to win and start with positive momentum."

Utah State opens with a winnable game, home against UNLV, but things get tougher fast with four of the next five on the road, including at Oklahoma and Hawaii.

Hometown freshman quarterback Riley Nelson gave the Aggies some hope last year, but he's riding a bike in Spain on a church mission. That puts the offense back into the hands of Leon Jackson III, who was a great high school player at Long Beach Poly but has been slowed by injuries.

Kevin Robinson (6-0, 192) is one of the best two or three receivers in the WAC, but doesn't have the numbers to show for it because of how bad the team has been.

Guy hopes new offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, the former North Texas head coach, can fire up the offense.

All 11 starters are back on defense, including WAC Freshman of the Year Paul Igboeli (6-0, 206) at linebacker. He had 8 1/2 tackles for loss.

Utah State Aggies 2006 results (1-11) at Wyoming L 38-7 at Arkansas L 20-0 Utah L 48-0 at Brigham Young L 38-0 Idaho L 41-21 Fresno State W 13-12 at San Jose State L 21-14 at Louisiana Tech L 48-35 Hawaii L 63-10 at Nevada L 42-0 at Boise State L 49-10 New Mexico State L 42-20 2007 schedule Aug. 30 UNLV Sept. 8 at Wyoming Sept. 15 at Oklahoma Sept. 22 San Jose State Sept. 29 at Utah Oct. 6 at Hawaii Oct. 20 Nevada Oct. 27 Louisiana Tech Nov. 3 at Fresno State Nov. 10 Boise State Nov. 17 at New Mexico St. Nov. 24 At Idaho