Utah State Football Delays Start Of Fall Camp Following Mountain West’s Revised Schedule

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah State football program announced a delayed start to the Aggies’ fall camp after the Mountain West Conference’s decision to play a revised schedule in 2020.

On Wednesday, August 6, the Mountain West finalized a 10-game schedule for its schools. The slate includes two non-conference games.

A day later, the Aggies announced that they were pushing the start of fall camp to Monday, August 24.

Until that date, Utah State players may continue to participate in strength and conditioning, meetings and walkthroughs.

“With the start of the season being delayed, the best course of action for the well-being and protection of our student-athletes, is to push back the start of fall camp to August 24, which will allow us to continue to make up for lost time in our off-season training cycle,” Utah State head coach Gary Andersen said. “With our first game now being on Oct. 2, this schedule will give us one traditional week of camp before school starts. Although it is unconventional to be in school during fall camp, this calendar will allow for sufficient time to get ready for a season that starts in late September.”

Head Coach Gary Andersen following yesterday's announcement from the @MountainWest.

➡️ https://t.co/7BoE3uzxyI#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/LQkNoAXKGo

— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 6, 2020

Following the cancellation of Utah State’s first two games against Pac-12 opponents, the Aggies were slated to host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Saturday, September 12.

The opener will no longer take place against SUU as the Mountain West’s plan for fall sports is to begin competition no sooner than the week of September 20.

Updates regarding 2020 Football and Fall Sports have been announced. pic.twitter.com/tONFKLWlCC

— Mountain West (@MountainWest) August 5, 2020

“While we are disappointed for our student-athletes, coaches and Aggie fans that we won’t have a full regular season opportunity for our fall teams (cross country, football, soccer and volleyball), we are encouraged about playing a full Mountain West schedule in each of these sports,” said USU Vice President and Director of Athletics John Hartwell. “The health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and staff is, and always will be, our No. 1 priority. We are appreciative of the continued dedication and perseverance of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters through the challenges created by COVID-19.”

Utah State is currently projected to start its 2020 campaign at BYU on Friday, October 2.

The Aggies said that “further decisions regarding safety standards related to Aggie football, tailgating and other game day activities, including social distancing, face covering and other health measures consistent with CDC, state and local guidelines, will be announced at a later date.”