BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen calls it a rivalry, perhaps because a lot of his family members are former Aggies. Coach Bronco Medendhall says it is, too, and he points to a couple of symbols -- the Beehive Boot and a wagon wheel -- to prove it.
Cougar quarterback Max Hall, receiver Austin Collie and tight end Dennis Pitta aren't really sure, mostly because they have never stood on the alleged rival's field and experienced the animosity firsthand.
That all changes tonight.
Struggling Utah State (1-3) and No. 8 BYU (4-0) rekindle the hatred at 6 p.m. (KJZZ, BYUTV) at Romney Stadium, their first meeting in Logan since that memorable 35-34 BYU win in 2002 in which the Cougars trailed 34-7 at halftime.
"Utah State, from what I hear, is a fun place to play, especially when BYU comes into town, and so I think it is going to be a fun atmosphere," Hall said. "I think it is going to be a full stadium. Friday night lights again, almost, and it is going to be fun to play a night game. And so I am lookng forward to it."
The Cougars are 28-point favorites, but they haven't defeated the Aggies by that kind of margin in Logan since 1996, a 45-17 conquest. In 1999, BYU eked out a 34-31 overtime win in the Cache Valley.
"They are definitely going to be throwing some challenges out there," said Jorgensen,
whose father, Jeff, played for Utah State. "They are not going to lay down for us. They are going to give us a game, and we have to be prepared for that."
The question is, will the Aggies put up enough of a challenge to make it a rivalry again?
The series has faded in recent years, both teams acknowledge, and not just because the Cougars have won the last eight matchups. They went from 2003-05 without playing each other, the longest stretch (not counting the war years of 1943-45, when BYU didn't field a team) since the Cougars started playing football in 1922.
They got together in 2006, a 38-0 BYU win, but tonight's game begins a stretch in which the teams will play every year through at least 2012. Mendenhall said earlier this week he wants to play USU indefinitely, and athletic director Tom Holmoe confirmed Thursday that he would like to see that happen as well.
"I like the idea of the Beehive Boot [awarded annually to BYU, Utah or Utah State], I like the idea of the interest it generates in the state," Mendenhall said. "I like the idea of how it brings different parts of the state together for a common event. And I just think it is good in general....So our hope is that Utah State will agree to it on a longterm basis." The current two-for-one deal expires after next year's game in Provo. However, Holmoe said he and former USU athletic director Randy Spetman signed another two-for-one deal (two games in Provo, one in Logan) before Spetman left for Florida State that carries the series through 2012.
"I like playing them," Holmoe said. "Our games against them go way back [to 1922] and they should continue."
Holmoe said "the reasons why there was a [three-year] hiatus of not playing each no longest exist," but declined to elaborate on what those reasons were.
Utah State is an attractive opponent for BYU, in part because it agrees to play the Cougars on Friday nights in early October to avoid conflicts with LDS general conference, which is held on Saturdays and Sunday.
"It seems to work out for both schools," Holmoe said.
That is why this year's game is being played tonight. Making the situation even more unique is that both teams had byes last weekend. Utah State beat Idaho 42-17 on Sept. 20, while BYU shut out Wyoming 44-0.
The Cougars will be looking for their third-straight shutout, actually, seeing as how they whitewashed UCLA 59-0 on Sept. 13, but USU's offensive has "improved a lot," Mendenhall said, and earlier this week USU coach Brent Guy said sophomore Diondre Borel will get the start at quarterback for the second-straight game.
Cougar quarterback Max Hall, receiver Austin Collie and tight end Dennis Pitta aren't really sure, mostly because they have never stood on the alleged rival's field and experienced the animosity firsthand.
That all changes tonight.
Struggling Utah State (1-3) and No. 8 BYU (4-0) rekindle the hatred at 6 p.m. (KJZZ, BYUTV) at Romney Stadium, their first meeting in Logan since that memorable 35-34 BYU win in 2002 in which the Cougars trailed 34-7 at halftime.
"Utah State, from what I hear, is a fun place to play, especially when BYU comes into town, and so I think it is going to be a fun atmosphere," Hall said. "I think it is going to be a full stadium. Friday night lights again, almost, and it is going to be fun to play a night game. And so I am lookng forward to it."
The Cougars are 28-point favorites, but they haven't defeated the Aggies by that kind of margin in Logan since 1996, a 45-17 conquest. In 1999, BYU eked out a 34-31 overtime win in the Cache Valley.
"They are definitely going to be throwing some challenges out there," said Jorgensen,
whose father, Jeff, played for Utah State. "They are not going to lay down for us. They are going to give us a game, and we have to be prepared for that."
The question is, will the Aggies put up enough of a challenge to make it a rivalry again?
The series has faded in recent years, both teams acknowledge, and not just because the Cougars have won the last eight matchups. They went from 2003-05 without playing each other, the longest stretch (not counting the war years of 1943-45, when BYU didn't field a team) since the Cougars started playing football in 1922.
They got together in 2006, a 38-0 BYU win, but tonight's game begins a stretch in which the teams will play every year through at least 2012. Mendenhall said earlier this week he wants to play USU indefinitely, and athletic director Tom Holmoe confirmed Thursday that he would like to see that happen as well.
"I like the idea of the Beehive Boot [awarded annually to BYU, Utah or Utah State], I like the idea of the interest it generates in the state," Mendenhall said. "I like the idea of how it brings different parts of the state together for a common event. And I just think it is good in general....So our hope is that Utah State will agree to it on a longterm basis." The current two-for-one deal expires after next year's game in Provo. However, Holmoe said he and former USU athletic director Randy Spetman signed another two-for-one deal (two games in Provo, one in Logan) before Spetman left for Florida State that carries the series through 2012.
"I like playing them," Holmoe said. "Our games against them go way back [to 1922] and they should continue."
Holmoe said "the reasons why there was a [three-year] hiatus of not playing each no longest exist," but declined to elaborate on what those reasons were.
Utah State is an attractive opponent for BYU, in part because it agrees to play the Cougars on Friday nights in early October to avoid conflicts with LDS general conference, which is held on Saturdays and Sunday.
"It seems to work out for both schools," Holmoe said.
That is why this year's game is being played tonight. Making the situation even more unique is that both teams had byes last weekend. Utah State beat Idaho 42-17 on Sept. 20, while BYU shut out Wyoming 44-0.
The Cougars will be looking for their third-straight shutout, actually, seeing as how they whitewashed UCLA 59-0 on Sept. 13, but USU's offensive has "improved a lot," Mendenhall said, and earlier this week USU coach Brent Guy said sophomore Diondre Borel will get the start at quarterback for the second-straight game.
