Tonight’s football game should be more interesting than your usual season-opener for a couple of reasons. In addition to the Utes coming from an undefeated season, looking to get to 14-0 and fans finally getting to see who that starting quarterback is, Gary Andersen will make his way back to Rice-Eccles Stadium.
But this time, he’s not going to be standing on the Ute sideline.
Andersen took the head coaching job at Utah State in December after spending five years with the Utes as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Andersen was part of the coaching staff in both 2004 and 2008 when the Utes had undefeated seasons. He’s bringing a wealth of experience to Utah State, having worked with Urban Meyer and head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Tonight will be Andersen’s first game as head coach with the Aggies, and he’ll be taking on his alma mater and former co-workers on their turf. He’ll likely be returning to the Ute field prepared for the players on Utah’s defensive team. He’s coached Utah’s returning players and knows their strengths and weaknesses. His knowledge of Utah’s players and defensive strategy poses a big threat to Utah, and it’s not likely he has forgotten much of it since December.
Senior offensive lineman and co-captain Zane Beadles said he’s sure Andersen and his defense will be coming with some pressure.
“I’m expecting him to throw everything he has at us,” Beadles said. “He’s going to come with a few wrinkles we’ve never seen before. As long as we’re assignment-sound and we’re dialed in with our rules, we should be fine.”
Whittingham said he and his coaching staff have changed enough so as not to give Andersen a big advantage, but will be switching things up if he feels as though some of their signals have been compromised.
Whittingham said Andersen was a valuable asset to the U’s program and said he was happy to have had him as part of the coaching staff for as long as he did.
“Gary Andersen was instrumental in our success,”Whittingham said. “He did a great job for me. When I took over the head coaching job, that was the first decision I made8212;to give him the reins to the defense. I have no doubt that he’ll do a great job up there, just not this Thursday night.”
While at the U, Andersen coached 14 first-team all-conference athletes, including John Frank and Eric Weddle, who were named Mountain West Conference
defensive players of the year. Frank earned the title in 1999, and Weddle earned it in 2005 and 2006, in addition to being a consensus All-American in 2006. Andersen also coached both Paul Kruger and Sean Smith, who will be making their NFL debuts this season.
Although Andersen will be on the opposite side of the field than Ute fans and players are used to, Whittingham said he doesn’t think it will make much of a difference after the kick-off.
“Once the game begins, it’s about the players,” Whittingham said. “When you get into game mode and coaching, it won’t really matter who is on the sideline.”
Tyler Cobb/The Daily Utah ChronicleAfter coordinating Utah?s stellar defense under coach Whittingham, Gary Andersen has taken the head coaching job at Utah State. With his expertise and knowledge of Utah?s defense, the matchup tonight at Rice-Eccles Stadium should be an interesting one.