‘All Hands On Deck’ As Utah State Prepares For First Responders Bowl
Dec 21, 2022, 1:10 PM | Updated: 1:11 pm
BOISE, ID - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Blake Anderson of the Utah State Aggies coaches up his team during second half action against the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 42-23.
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State began their bowl week preparations on Tuesday, setting their site on the Memphis Tigers and the First Responders Bowl.
Utah State (6-6, 5-3) will face the Memphis Tigers (6-6, 3-5) of the American Conference on Tuesday, December 27 in Dallas, TX.
“We have a big challenge,” USU head coach Blake Anderson said of the Tigers. “Memphis is a very big, physical, run the ball right at you football team.”
1️⃣ more week‼️
🔜 @FRBowl
🏟️ Gerald J. Ford Stadium🎟️➡️ https://t.co/2mpwx0cxOu pic.twitter.com/Q6nIydtiVo
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 20, 2022
After recruiting took the coaches focus over the past few weeks, the Aggies were happy to get back on the field and begin bowl preparations.
“Our practice yesterday was the first practice for Memphis. Watching the guys fly around. We look light on our feet and fresh,” Anderson said. “The time off has been helpful for guys just to feel better.”
For an Aggie team that has battled injuries across the board all season long, health has been a huge question make.
Anderson said he expects defensive backs AJ Carter & Michael Anyanwu to play after they were forced to miss time near the end of the season. Defensive lineman John Ward is also expected to return. Ike Larsen is currently day-to-day.
USU will be without cornerback Andre Grayson, who has left the team to pursue life beyond football.
The Aggies plan to travel to Dallas on Friday, December 23 in order to settle in ahead of the holiday.
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The First Responders Bowl will be the first meeting between these two programs since 1977 when Utah State fell 31-26 in Memphis. The Aggies are 3-4 all-time against the Tigers. Gerald R. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX will serve as the backdrop for the second neutral-site game between the two teams. Utah State defeated Memphis 28-14 in a game played in Salt Lake City, UT in 1967.
Blake Anderson faced Memphis once as the coach at Arkansas State. The Red Wolves opened the 2020 season with a 37-24 loss at Memphis.
See 𝘆𝗮𝗹𝗹 in Dallas!
🔜 December 27
🏟️ Gerald J. Ford Stadium🎟️➡️ https://t.co/iOy74ay7LO pic.twitter.com/h1nPQisS5M
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 19, 2022
Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. (MST) on Tuesday, December 27. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Every Utah State football game can be heard on the KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call.
Coverage of Utah State University Athletics from KSL Sports can be found here.
