Utah State

In 1888, the Territory of Utah passed a bill to start the Agricultural College of Utah, which opened in Logan in 1890. A few years later, the Agricultural College narrowly survived an effort to merge its operations with the University of Utah. Instead, pursuant to a 1907 agreement, the activities at the Agricultural College were strictly limited to agriculture, domestic science, and the mechanical arts. Over the next two decades, these restrictions were generally lifted -- although the University of Utah still has the only law school and medical school. By 1950, Utah Agricultural College granted its first doctoral degrees, and in 1957 it became Utah State University.

USU's most prominent alumni include Sen. Harry Reid, the current Senate Majority Leader, and Merlin Olsen, who you will remember as Father Murphy from the old TV show.

The USU Aggies started playing football in 1892, and in their early years they were a great power in their part of the country. They also had some good years in the 1960s and 1970s. The 1961 Aggies finished number 10 in the country. The 1972 Aggies finished number 19.

But in 1962, six teams formed the Western Athletic Conference: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Utah State and New Mexico State applied to become charter members -- but they were turned down.

Frozen out by BYU and Utah, the Aggies football team -- which had traditionally been a great power in the state -- went into decline. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen them play a game. And Utah State has never played for the UCFC. But they can win tomorrow at Auburn, they will be taking the trophy back to Logan.