Section Friday, ports November 13, 2009 Page 1 The Herald Journal Inside Aggies ready to begin the season Take on Weber here at Weber State if it AGGIE MEN'S BASKETBALL wasn’t for Stew Morrill.” today on road The Wildcat coach RADIO: KVNU spent 13 seasons as an By Shawn Harrison PROBABLE STARTERS assistant to Morrill, who 610 AM; KLZX State ht yr ppg rpg sports editor 95.9 FM; KFAN also admits to having a F 42 Tai Wesley 6-7 Jr. 17.0 3.0 1230 AM OR hard time going against a F 35 Nate Bendall 6-9 Jr. 10.05 6.5 When the Aggies and 1320 AM; KLZX person he considers fami- 105.3 FM G 24 Tyler Newbold 6-4 Jr. 2.5 4.5* ly. But when the ball goes Wildcats take the court G 21 Jared Quayle 6-2 Sr. 14.0 5.0 tonight to open the 2009- Utah State: 2-0 (ex.) TV: None up at 7:30 this evening, Weber State: 2-0 (ex.) G 12 Brian Green 6-1 Jr. 5.0 1.5* 10 men’s basketball sea- Weber State ht yr ppg rpg both will be trying to lead son, there is one certainty. UTA H STAT E F 3 Kyle Bullinger 6-6 So. 6.0 5.0 their respective teams to a Neither Utah State head F 23 Franklin Session 6-2 Jr. 17.5 5.5 season-opening victory. San Francisco breaks skid coach Stew Morrill or AT WEBER STAT E C 45 Steve Panos 6-8 Sr. 6.5 8.0 “I’m not sure where vs. Chicago ...... B2 Weber State head coach G 1 Damian Lillard 6-2 So. 22.0 6.0* we are at ... there are lots Randy Rahe will log any Friday — 7:30 p.m. G 12 Nick Hansen 6-4 Sr. 21.0 4.0 of concerns and a lot of minutes of playing time at At Dee Events Center *assists per game Statistics based on two exhibition games. excitement as well,” Mor- Sports briefs the Dee Events Center. The rill said. “... Every game veteran Aggie coach want- can’t play. I’m older now, so I prob- “It’s going to come down to the is important. We will play Clemens moves ed to make sure a group of ably wouldn’t be better anyway. It’s players on the court, nothing between 30-plus games, so ... you media realized that. about the kids and how they play, not him (Morrill) and I, once you tip it would like to get off to a to throw out suit “Randy and I can’t about the coaches. It’s about whose up,” Rahe said. “It’s still a little odd good start, but we’re just NEW YORK (AP) — play,” Morrill quipped. “I kids play the best.” when I play coach and all the respect Lawyers for Roger Clemens was better than him, but I Rahe agreed. that I have for him. I wouldn’t be See READY on B4 filed a motion in Brooklyn federal court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit by the pitcher’s former trainer, claiming statements that accused Brian McNamee of Third time, no charm trying to shake down Clem- ens were not serious. Joe Roden, one of the Second-half TOs attorneys representing Cle- mens, said the seven-time stop Mustangs’ Cy Young award winner, lawyer Rusty Hardin and others were not serious when championship bid they questioned McNamee’s By Jason Turner mental state and accused him sports writer of manufacturing evidence, the New York Daily News — Beating a pro- reported Thursday. gram with 14 straight postseason victories “They are part of the public and seven trips to the state semifinals in battle of words between the the last eight years requires darn near mis- two camps, and in no way take-free football. suggest to the average reader Unfortunately for the Mountain Crest that McNamee is actually Mustangs, a flawless football mentally unfit,” wrote Roden, performance was not a lawyer with Hardin’s firm. to be on a cold and wet The evidence referred Thursday night at Rice- to are used syringes and Eccles Stadium. 4A State Semifinals bloody gauze pads McNa- Athletic quarterback Thunderbirds 38, mee turned over to federal Trevor Brown rushed Mustangs 21 authorities. McNamee has for 201 yards and four said he injected Clemens touchdowns and Timpview’s defense with steroids and HGH over forced five second-half turnovers en route a period of several years, a to a 38-21 victory over Mountain Crest claim the former pitcher has in the semifinals of the 4A State Football vehemently denied. Championships. With their third straight round of four Sports scores victory over the Mustangs (10-2), the Thunderbirds (10-2) earned the right to NFL play for a fourth consecutive state title. San Francisco 10, Chicago 6 Timpview, winners of nine in a row, will NBA square off against Springville — a 29-21 Cleveland 111, Miami 104 victor over Dixie — for the 4A crown L.A. Lakers 121, Phoenix 102 next Friday. “I have to give it to Timpview,” MC NHL head coach Mark Wootton said while Florida 1, Boston 0, SO Philadelphia 5, Ottawa 1 addressing his team in the locker room. Atlanta 5, N.Y. Rangers 3 “They played a great game, and you did Tampa Bay 4, Minnesota 3, SO too. That wasn’t an easy game. We had a New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 1 lot of adversity, a lot of penalties, things Detroit 3, Vancouver 1 like that, that made it tough to really get Nashville 3, St. Louis 1 rolling and to really get momentum.” Montreal 4, Phoenix 2 Dallas 3, San Jose 2, SO As well as the Thunderbirds played, the Mustangs had their chances to seize On television momentum. Mountain Crest had it Eli Lucero/Herald Journal momentarily after putting together a 12- AUTO RACING Mountain Crest quarterback Alex Kuresa walks off the field after the Mustangs lost to play touchdown drive late in the second Noon Timpview 38-21 in the 4A state semifinal game Thursday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. To view ESPN2 — NASCAR, Sprint more photos from this event, go to www.hjnews.com. See CHARM on B4 Cup, practice for Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, at Avondale, Ariz. 3:30 p.m. ESPN2 — NASCAR, Turbin close to 1,000 USU’s ties Sprint Cup, pole qualifying for Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, at Avondale, Ariz. Will be first Ag to SJSU go 6 p.m. RB since ‘01 to ESPN2 — West Virginia at Cincinnati reach milestone GOLF way back By Wade Denniston 11 a.m. sports writer TGC — PGA Tour, Chil- By Craig Hislop dren’s Miracle Network Clas- For The Herald Journal sic, second round, at Lake Robert Turbin has the mark Buena Vista, Fla. in his sight. We have a little coaching genea- 2 p.m. Utah State’s running back logical interplay going on in advance TGC — LPGA, Lorena is just 68 of Saturday’s Romney Stadium Ochoa Invitational, second rushing match up of the round, at Guadalajara, Mexico Aggies and San 8:30 p.m. yards shy TGC — PGA Tour Austral- of reaching Jose State. asia, JBWere Masters, third the 1,000- Most obvious round, at Melbourne, Australia yard mile- is Kent Baer, 11:30 p.m. stone for a single season and Aggie team cap- TGC — European PGA he’s itching to get there. tain of 37 years Tour, Hong Kong Open, third “It would be pretty special,” ago and later a Eli Lucero/Herald Journal Hislop round (same-day tape) Turbin said. “Emmett White Utah State running back Robert Turbin carries the ball against USU assistant NBA was the last guy to do it.” Utah earlier this season in Salt Lake. Turbin is closing in on 1,000 coach, now in 5 p.m. White accomplished rushing yards for the season. year two as one of ’s San FSN — Utah at Philadelphia the feat in 2001, when the Jose State assistants. Kent has been a 6 p.m. former Ben Lomond High Turbin and White have ing me some of the tools and high-profile defensive coordinator at ESPN — Atlanta at Boston become pretty good friends. things for me to be better as I Washington, Notre Dame, Stanford, 8:30 p.m. standout rushed for 1,361 ESPN — L.A. Lakers at yards as a senior. “I’ve talked to him through- progress in my career.” Arizona State, Cal, Idaho and Utah Denver During his junior campaign out the season,” Turbin said, Turbin, a sophomore, has State. SOCCER at USU, White rushed for “and he’s really been moti- rushed for 932 yards and One of Kent’s coaching contempo- 9 p.m. 1,322 yards. He is the last vational for me and given me seven touchdowns this sea- raries at Utah State was , ESPN2 — MLS, playoffs, Aggie to rush for 1,000 yards a lot of advice about playing son. He would become who came in with Bruce Snyder’s Western Conference final, in back-to-back seasons since Division I college football and Houston at Los Angeles Roger Grant (1990 and 1991). being a running back, and giv- See TURBIN on B4 See TIES on B4 B4 - The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, November 13, 2009 never an easy thing to great job putting pres- do, especially when the sure on us with four Charm turnovers start piling people and they blitzed up. Of Mountain Crest’s well. We’ve just got to Continued from B1 six possessions after somehow find a way to halftime, five ended via get stronger and big- quarter, and then stopping fumble or interception, ger, so we can match up Timpview on a Taylor and Timpview turned that against guys like that.” Root interception to end into all 17 of its second- To Mountain Crest’s the half. half points. credit, it played substan- Down only 21-14, the “Our defense played tially better defensively Mustangs received the great,” Brown said. “I in the second half. The opening kick-off of the mean, they scored 21 Thunderbirds had 322 second half and were points? Twenty-one yards of total offense, promptly at the Timpview points, that’s half of what including 202 yards on 23-yard line following a they’ve been putting up the ground in the first 53-yard pass from Alex all year. I mean, you’ve half, but were limited Kuresa to Tyler Weese. got to give credit to our to 139 yards of total However, the Thunder- defense.” offense in the final two birds sacked Kuresa on As Wootton stated, quarters. the ensuing play and the penalties also greatly Wootton praised his ball squirted out, with hampered the Mus- kids in the locker room, Timpview recovering it tangs’ cause. Mountain particularly the 24 seniors at the 32. Crest was flagged 10 who played their final Eight plays later, times for 125 yards, game in Mustang orange Brown found the end including a painful five and blue. Eli Lucero/Herald Journal zone from 38 yards holding infractions for “I don’t think I’ve Timpview quarterback Trevor Brown (12) tries to run past Mountain Crest’s Nate Rigby out, and the Mustangs 79 yards. ever had a class of kids during the 4A state semifinal game Thursday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. were never able to fully Simply put, the Mus- that represented our and-goal. This play made a nice diving 17- always got to expect the recover. tangs, who saw their school better,” Woot- trimmed the deficit yard catch on fourth-and- best. They’re a great “It definitely would nine-game winning streak ton said to his team. to 31-21 with 1:31 nine to kept MC’s second program, they have have changed a lot of come to an end, had a “... You could feel their remaining in the third TD drive alive. great coaches, they have things, but at the same difficult time account- love for the school and quarter, but Mountain Timpview found the great kids coming out time we didn’t do it and ing for the Thunderbirds’ for their teammates, Crest never really end zone on its first three every year. ... We played all credit to them,” Weese strength and speed on and that’s an honor to threatened to get any possessions of the game, as hard as we could and said of the missed oppor- both sides of the trench- you guys.” closer. and the first two drives they played as hard as tunity. “They stopped es. The fact Kuresa was When the Mustangs Weese had a big only took a combined they could, and things us, they’re a great sacked five times for didn’t cough up the game for the Mustangs, five plays. A 55-yard run just didn’t work out for defense and you always 46 yards and Timpview pigskin in the sec- hauling in nine passes by Bryson McKenzie set the Mustangs this time.” go through life saying, racked up 298 yards on ond half, they pieced for 149 yards and two up the first score, while Spencer Schwab led ‘Would’ve, could’ve, the ground would attest together a 14-play, scores. The senior, who a 63-yard halfback pass the Mustangs with 10 should’ve,’ but we didn’t to this. 74-yard drive, which finished with nearly from Jeremiah Burr to tackles, while Weese this time.” “They’re very physi- culminated with a 4- 1,200 yards receiving Zach VanLeeuwen was and Mallin Brough Playing catch-up cal, very strong,” Woot- yard pass from Kuresa this season, beat the the difference one drive chipped in with seven against Timpview is ton said. “They did a to Weese on fourth- Timpview secondary later. apiece. Nate Rigby had on a 3-yard slant for a VanLeeuwen, younger the Region 5 champions important tonight if the butts back, to find our TD late in the second brother of Utah State lone sack. Aggies want to top the men, to pick them up.” quarter. receiver Travis VanLeeu- Kuresa completed Ready Wildcats, especially from Rahe believes his team Joseph Carly scored wen, finished with seven 27-of-42 passes for 375 beyond the 3-point line. has some good shoot- Mountain Crest’s other receptions for 147 yards. yards, three TDs and two Continued from B1 Weber State also played ers, but chalked up all touchdown, snaring a “Just playing INTs. two exhibition games the 3-pointers to the way tipped Kuresa pass and Timpview, you’ve Ofa Latu had a pair going to go try and worry and made a combined the two exhibition oppo- finding paydirt from 25 always got to be ready,” of interceptions for about Weber State and go 28-of-49 from 3-point nents played the Wildcats from there.” land in wins over Colo- defensively. yards out. This play knot- Weese said. “They’ve Timpview, including one USU plays its first rado-Colorado Springs “We ended up shoot- ted things up at 7-7 in the beat us three years in he snatched at the line of three games on the road, (110-58) and Colorado ing quite a few of them,” first quarter. Carly also a row now, so you’ve scrimmage. so getting off to a good Christian (75-65). In the Rahe said. “Both teams start is being stressed. contest against Colorado we played packed in the “They’re an incredible said. “That whole league “Hopefully, we can Springs, six different defense around the inte- program,” Pebley said. is a physical league. come out and establish Wildcats made at least rior, made us shoot the Face “Elaine’s done a lot for We’re going to have to do ourselves as a team that one trey and combined to three. I do think we have the University of Utah a good job of maximiz- can win on the road,” hit 19-of-26. some pretty good shoot- Continued from B2 and for women’s basket- ing each of our offensive Aggie forward Tai Wes- “We know they shoot ers. I also think we have ball in the state of Utah. possessions.” ley said. “... We need to the three,” USU guard a team that likes to share selection, scored 17 I think she’s to Utah Something the Aggies go and set the tone for Tyler Newbold said. “In the ball, move it around a points in that game. So women’s basketball what didn’t do against Mon- the whole entire season. the preseason games, little bit.” did sophomore guard Stew Morrill is to men’s tana Tech — 20 turnovers Really, we need to put they absolutely shot the While USU has its con- Janita Badon. Whipple is basketball (in the state). attest to that. two halves together. So heck out of the ball. It’s cerns with a quick, sharp- just one of three seniors “She’s done a phenom- “We need to execute far in our exhibition going to be huge for us shooting team, Weber on Utah’s roster, which enal job.” a little bit more clearly games, we have played perimeter guys to lock State must deal with a features six freshmen and Utah is the first of three and just continue to have one really good half and down their perimeter veteran Aggie squad that three sophomores. MWC foes the Aggies no lapses in intensity on one kind of mediocre guys and to be there won 30 games a year ago. Elaine Elliott is in will be facing at home our defensive end,” Cod- half. What we really when they catch the “They’re really good, her 27th season as head this season. USU hosts dington said. “Especially need to work on is to go ball on the 3-point line, we know that,” Rahe said coach of the Utes. She BYU on Dec. 19 and when we play a team put two halves together, and also their four man, of USU. “You look at their owns a 559-222 overall UNLV on Jan. 2. like Utah, our defense is play 40 minutes of good (Kyle) Bullinger can shot team and you see a bunch record at Utah and has “I think it’s going to be gonna be a big key and basketball.” the three too. We’ll pre- of older, more mature, big, made 15 NCAA Tourna- a physical game, they’re we just need to tighten up Morrill would like to pare as best as we can. strong, physical kids. I was ment appearances. a physical team,” Pebley offensively.” see that. “It’s obviously a step up telling my staff, this has to In two exhibition from the exhibition games be one of Stew’s favorite ing the offensive line to run game just a little bit games, the Aggies we have had. We need to teams in a while. ... They dinner, or something like more, but we couldn’t jumped out to big leads go out and show we can have a chance to have a Turbin that, because I can’t do because we were playing in the first half. The out- guard a Division I team.” very, very good basketball that without them helping from behind and that’s come was never in doubt Weber State guards team. You look at them Continued from B1 me out.” why I think the running in blowout wins over Damian Lillard and Nick from my standpoint, you The native of Fre- game was just not suc- Northwest Nazarene (85- Hansen have combined don’t see any weaknesses.” the 14th USU running mont, Calif., ranks 18th cessful,” Turbin said. 51) and Trinity Western for 20 of those 28 3- USU will count on back to rush for 1,000 on USU’s single-season The Aggies scored the (65-40), but second-half pointers in the two exhi- Wesley, Newbold and yards in a season. rushing list, but would first touchdown of the mistakes has given Mor- bition games. Jared Quayle to lead, “As far as getting 1,000 vault to No. 14 with 68 game against the War- rill some concern. “Coach Morrill is each having started last yards, it’s always been yards. riors, but found them- “We can’t stop each really worried about tran- season. Nate Bendall and a goal of mine and even Demario Brown cur- selves trailing 35-7 at other in practice,” Mor- sition defense,” Newbold Brian Green are juniors more so now,” Turbin rently occupies the 14th halftime. rill said. “We know what said. “They are going to that will get their first said. “That would be spot with 971 yards, “It’s hard to call a lot we are running in prac- be pushing the ball hard starts tonight. Another pretty special. Hopefully, which he accomplished in of run plays when you’re tice and we can’t stop it. and trying to find their 3- Aggie starter from a year I can keep the ball when it 1997. Brown is the proud behind by a lot of points,” Maybe we are just bad point shooters for transi- ago, Pooh Williams, will happens. owner of the school’s sin- Turbin said. “You get defensively.” tion threes. It’s important miss tonight’s contest “It would be nice and gle season rushing record behind fast and all of Defense will be very that if we miss, to get our with a foot injury. I’ll probably end up tak- with 1,536 yards in 1999. a sudden the run game Career-wise, Turbin has slowly just gets out of the take over from Ralston. Suddenly he found himself 7-5, rushed for 1,434 yards game plan. ... Obviously, There was much to like about his best year in San Jose, but at the and 15 touchdowns. they did a good job up Ties Baldwin’s four years at San Jose end of his contract. When he and In last Saturday’s loss front with their defensive State. For starters, his 3-1 record Athletics Director Chuck Bell (yet at Hawaii, Turbin was line. Continued from B1 against Stanford (Elway, his mentor, another Utah State tie-in) couldn’t limited to just 60 yards “Those guys were went 3-2 against the Cardinal, then agree on terms for a new deal, it on 13 carries. He did big, physical guys, so it group in 1976. Later Terry had a suc- became Stanford’s head coach.) was over. score a couple of touch- was a little tough for our cessful two years as San Jose State’s His first year, 1997, Baldwin and the Out of work but with a solid repu- downs, though. offensive line to get a head coach (1990-91), even earning Spartans earned the school’s first win tation as an offensive play caller, he “Usually they try to push, so they struggled a 1990 Big West Championship and over a ranked opponent in seven years, scored coordinator’s jobs at Cincin- give me the ball more and with that. And it starts up a California Raisin Bowl win while upsetting No. 24 Air Force, 25-22. nati, Baylor, Michigan State and get the other backs, and front. If you can’t do well ranked 20th on the final UPI poll. By year four (2000) things were New Mexico before the transition (quarterback) Diondre up front, nothing else is Shea left the San Jose State head really rolling, beginning with a this year, joining Gary Andersen’s (Borel), involved in the going to work.” job after 1991. third straight victory over Stanford, staff to coordinate the Aggie offense. One season later (1993) John a hard-fought 10-point loss to No. So nine years removed from life Windshield Sale Ralston was installed as the Spar- 9 USC, then three straight resound- in San Jose, and with the country’s tan head coach — a full 34 seasons ing wins on the road: SMU, 21st best offense in tow, life seems $139 TREMONTON after taking his first head coach- Nevada and Hawaii. good for Dave Baldwin (a few Plus Tax Installed on Most Cars & Trucks Check out the specials on ing job — at Utah State of course. Baldwin had his guys in a win- close losses notwithstanding). FREE MOBILE SERVICE Coach Ralston, beloved to this day ning frame of mind when LaDai- And it will only get better with our website! 435-227-6345 ACG Auto Glass www.murdockchevroletbuick.com in Logan, won 73 percent of his nian Tomlinson and then No. 9 three wins to wind up his first year games at Utah State. It’s still the (and undefeated) TCU rolled into in Logan, beginning with those school’s best career percentage. Spartan Stadium Nov. 4. In one familiar Spartans. It translates to 31 wins in four of the school’s greatest victories, ——— years in Logan. San Jose State beat Dennis Fran- Craig Hislop is a longtime His four years at San Jose State? chione’s Horned Frogs, 27-24, in a broadcaster, who can Get local Not quite so good: just 11 victories national television broadcast. now be heard weekday mornings headlines which forced another Spartan coach- At that point Spartan faithful were on KVNU. He is among a number sent daily ing change. To succeed Ralston, San talking bowl game with their team at of Cache Valley freelance writers to your Jose State went with one of Jack 7-3 and two games remaining. Two whose columns appear in The Her- email Elway’s assistant coaches from the weeks off between TCU and the sea- ald Journal as a part of an effort Spartans’ halcyon era, 1979-83. son enders against Tulsa and Fresno to expose readers to a variety of Dave Baldwin left the head State apparently didn’t sit well with community voices. He is not an FREE! coaching job at Cal State North- Baldwin’s bunch, and they stumbled employee of the newspaper. He can www.hjnews.com/email ridge to return to the Bay Area and to losses in both games. be reached at [email protected].