Blake Anderson Talks ‘Verbal Attacks’ From Fans, Standing Up For Team Like Family
Sep 13, 2022, 2:33 PM
Utah State head coach Blake Anderson roams the sidelines during the Aggies game against UConn at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, August 27, 2022.
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State head coach Blake Anderson received criticism from the Aggie fanbase after his postgame comments following their loss to Weber State.
Weber State defeated Utah State 35-7 and during the game, the Aggie fans booed quarterback Logan Bonner before cheering when backup signal caller Cooper Legas entered the game.
After the game, Anderson was asked about the fans booing his quarterback:
Emotions are raw after a tough loss. Either that or Coach Anderson saw where I ranked Logan Bonner in the 60 in 60 voting. š³#AggiesAllTheWay l @KSLSports pic.twitter.com/U9W8Dk9ZK6
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) September 11, 2022
On Tuesday afternoon, Anderson expanded on those comments when he joined Hans Olsen and Scott Garrard on the KSL Sports Zone.
“We are not playing good football. We are not a good football team right now,” Anderson told the KSL Sports Zone. “That’s my responsibility. I do expect that to have the fanbase that we have, to be as passionate, loud, and crazy when things are going well – we don’t win last year’s championship without our fanbase – I know that comes with frustration when things don’t go well.”
You can listen to the full interview with Hans and Scotty G, below:
“I say all of that to say this, I responded to a question about booing a player,” stated Anderson. “I have never in my 30 years of coaching and in my time as a player at the collegiate level, never seen or been a part of players being booed. Not only did I have a player being booed, but there were grown men hanging over the rail that was verbally attacking players on the sideline during the second half of the game.”
Anderson went on to say that he had players asking him what to do in that situation and if they should respond to the fans heckling them. The Utah State head coach told them to keep their eyes and ears forward.
“I responded in that question as a father does for his kids,” said Anderson. “These are my kids, they are my family. They have been sent here under my care. I will take all the boos and criticism. If they are not happy with the playcalling or the job that I am doing, I will take all that. I understand that is part of my job. I responded to defend the players that deserve to not be booed or verbally attacked on the sideline. They are kids, they are imperfect, and they make mistakes.”
Anderson wanted to make it clear that it wasn’t the entire fanbase that he was calling out.
“It’s not the entire fanbase,” stated Anderson. “I said the other day that it was some. It was a handful. I will always stand between them and the people that come after them. If I don’t, then I am not worthy of my job.”
Utah State is on a bye this week. They will begin Mountain West play on Saturday, September 24 at home against UNLV. Kickoff is at 5:00 p.m. MT on the KSL Sports Zone and televised on CBS Sports Network.
