1998 Utah State Aggies football team

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 football
ConferenceBig West Conference
1998 record3-8 (2-3 Big West)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRich Ericson (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorPaul Arslanian (1st season)
Home stadiumRomney Stadium (Capacity: 30,257)
1998 Big West Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team 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

Previous season

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]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 5Utah*
L 12-2030,218
September 12at New Mexico*
L 36-3931,267
September 19at No. 15 Colorado*
L 6-2545,298
September 26Sam Houston State*
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
W 47-1714,498
October 3Oregon State*
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
L 16-2011,682
October 10at Washington*
L 12-5370,210
October 17Idaho
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
L 14-2614,206
October 24at Boise State
L 16-3019,561
October 31at New Mexico State
W 29-2613,312
November 7Nevada
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
L 21-267,500
November 14North Texas
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
W 28-277,376
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

[2] [3]

Season summary

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 honors

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

References
  1. "Arslanian Leaves Weber to Coach at Utah State". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  2. "1998 Utah State Aggies Schedule and Results". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  3. "2019 Utah State Aggies Football Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  4. "Until a late stall, Aggies followed their game plan". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  5. "USU edges New Mexico State in 2 OTs". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
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