Aggie Seniors Will Take More than Memories When They Leave Utah State
LOGAN, Utah — It's been an interesting career for the 15 seniors on the Aggies roster, who will play their final home game Saturday (Nov. 10). They've battled through coaching changes, tough losing stretches and injuries. If you talk to any of them though, these are not the things they remember. Memories of favorite coaches, teammates and games are what come to mind.
“My first tackle in 2001 at LSU, it was in front of 80,000 people,” said defensive tackle Ben Childs, recalling his favorite memory. “I had been playing in high school the year before, so I was a true freshman. You get in the game and you are totally jazzed, and making your first play is something else.”
Running back Josh Anderson's most memorable experience was similar to Childs’.
“My first game ever, it was at Alabama, and I was a backup on the kickoff team,” Anderson said. “I actually got in for one play and it was in front of 86,000 people and I made the play.”
These seniors have come a long ways since their first appearance on the field and are glad that they chose Utah State for their college football experience.
Wide receiver/kick return Kevin Robinson said he came here because his brother got offered a coaching job here and he wanted a chance to play at a Division I program.
“I had a choice to either attend Montana State or Utah State,” Robinson said. “I was going to Montana State because he was there, but my brother said it's a Division I program at Utah State and we could start something new and both start something fresh. I decided to come with him here.”
Quarterback/punter Leon Jackson III claims that it was fate that brought him to Utah State.
“Just fate, it's kind of the way things worked out,” Jackson said about his choice to come to Utah State. “Washington State offered me a scholarship first, but their starting quarterback Alex (Brink) committed before I did, and I just ended up here, so I believe its fate.”
While they all had different reasons for coming, once they committed they have worked hard to improve each day.
“We believe that we can do it and that's a big thing is to keep believing we can do it. We have been getting better every week and it's nice to see that. When you see that it helps you stay positive,” tight end Jimmy Bohm said.
“It’s showed on our off-season workouts that we put so much work into what we're doing that we don't know anything else but to work hard. Whatever the result that comes out of the game it’s not a lack of effort,” defensive end Frank Maile said.
Often time those that you work with you also build friendships with as well and the USU football team has been no exception. With many struggles and triumphs, they have definitely built lasting memories and friendships.
“The games, just being out there playing football with my teammates and lining up next to my brothers,” Childs said in reference to what he'll miss the most.
“A lot of teamwork principles and leadership skills,” are what Anderson says he will take with him when he leaves Utah State. “As a team you all have to work together, it’s the only way to get things done and it’s going to help me with my family, career and getting along with people.”
Jackson has really enjoyed the friendships he has built over his years here.
“Just being out there with my teammates every day,” Jackson said. “A lot of these guys I spend so much time with on and off the field, but I’ve also enjoyed getting to know people that are not just football players, but friends and meeting all of the coaches and getting to play a game that I love!”
Each of the individual players brings a different aspect to the team. Whether it is their humor, relaxed personality, or ability to block an opponent, they have all contributed to the atmosphere of the team.
“Confidence, I've been through ups and downs,” Jackson said about what he brings to the team. “I signed up to play this game not just for the good times, for the glory, but bad times and hard times come with it. I want guys to look at me and know that I have the confidence and dedication to come back from anything.”
“Well, we’re both pretty decent blockers,” Bohm and fellow senior tight end Will Fausel say as their contributions.
“I kind of relax a lot of the guys,” Bohm added. “I’m rocking the handle bars mustache, so I kind of keep the tension down.”
Kevin Robinson brings his relaxed personality to the dynamics of the team.
“I’m laid back and I’m always trying to have somebody laughing and having a good time, because people don’t practice well when they are mad,” Robinson said.
The seniors are coming to the end of their college football career, however they are definitely making plans for the coming future.
“If football works out then I'd like to continue on to the NFL, but if not I've set myself up GPA and leadership wise off of the football field and I’d like to be lawyer,” Jackson said.
“I’m getting my MBA (Master of Business Administration), but I haven’t really figured it out yet,” Bohm said, who might have the most interesting plans of all the seniors. “So I keep telling my dad I'm going to be a lifeguard.”
Maile already has a lot of responsibility and will be graduating in December with his degree in interdisciplinary studies. Teammate Anderson will be finishing up his MBA by the end of the season.
The coaches of the seniors have really enjoyed working with the players over the last several years.
“I’m very tickled I’ve got a good group of young men to work with and it motivates me to work extremely hard to help these guys to have some success and see some improvement,” said offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, who is in his first and only year working with this group of seniors.
“I feel like this has been my strongest senior class since I've been head coach here and for a couple of reasons,” said third-year head coach Brent Guy, who inherited this group when he arrived here. “They were the young guys when I got here, so they have kind of grown up with me and we kind of adopted each other. I think they have done a really good job of keeping the team together and working during tough times and coming to me with suggestions and ideas. That is what leaders do, they help initiate change.”
Though these Aggie seniors have not had a lot of success in terms of wins and losses, they would tell you they wouldn't trade the experiences and life lessons they learned. Through hard work and trials, friendships have been built between players and coaches that will last a lifetime, and skills have been learned that will help them not only with continued athletic careers, but with school, family and their careers. When we look back and think about this senior group, let’s not linger on their struggle for wins, rather let’s focus on the lessons they’ve learned and the good memories they’ve had and learn a little ourselves.
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