- 1961
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Outland Trophy Winner Merlin Olsen
Olsen attended Utah State University where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was a three-year letterman in football as a defensive tackle. He graduated from the College of Business and Social Sciences at USU with a bachelor’s degree in Finance in 1962 and a master’s degree in Economics in 1971. He later received an honorary doctorate ...
History of the Aggies
The Utah State Aggies have a long and storied history of success in NCAA sports. From their early days as an independent school to their current status as one of the top teams in the Mountain West Conference, the Aggies have consistently been one of college athletics' most successful programs. With numerous conference championships, bowl game appearances, and even a National Championship under its belt, it's easy to see why so many fans are proud to be part of this team's legacy.
For those unfamiliar with Utah State’s story: The program first began fielding varsity teams over 100 years ago, back in 1913, when they competed as an independent school before joining what is now known today as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) two decades later. During that period, they won multiple RMAC titles along with four national championships at various levels, including three NAIA Football Championships between 1936-1941 and another minor college basketball championship during the 1940-41 season, where they defeated Georgetown 44–43 for their only title at that level ever since then.
While much has changed throughout USU’s athletic history—including moving from the RMAC into Division, I played during the 1960s—the Aggie spirit continues strong today thanks mainly due to some recent successes, such men’s basketball team making it all way to Sweet 16 round 2010 tournament or football squad winning six consecutive bowl games between 2011-2016 seasons which included victories over Big Ten powerhouses like Ohio State & Wisconsin!
As we look ahead toward future endeavors for USU Athletics, there is no doubt plenty of excitement air around the Logan campus, especially after new head coach Gary Andersen took the helm last year, leading them into the 2019 campaign fresh off 11 wins 2018 record highlighted by epic 52–49 victory against North Texas Mean Green Bowl Game. Even though the road may not always be smooth sailing, this passionate fan base knows how hard work and dedication can pay off, making them more than ready to tackle whatever comes next!
College Sports Established
1892
Location
Logan, Utah
College Name
Utah State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2013 - Present / Mountain West Conference
2005 – 2013 / Western Athletic Conference
2003 - 2005 / Sun Belt Conference
1978 – 2003 / Big West Conference
1921 – 1978 / Independent
Nickname
Aggies - Regarding college sports, few teams have a more unique nickname than the Utah State Aggies. But where did this name come from? Let’s take a look at the origins of this beloved NCAA team.
The term “Aggie” is derived from agricultural education and was first used for students who attended land-grant colleges like Utah State University (USU). In 1888, USU became one of the first such institutions in America when it was founded as an agricultural school. The school quickly adopted “Aggies” as its official nickname and has used it ever since!
In addition to being associated with agriculture, there are several other theories about how USU got its name. One popular belief is that former athletes at Brigham Young University (BYU) referred to their rivals across town as “the Aggies” because they were seen as hardworking farmers or ranchers compared to BYU's more scholarly students. Another theory suggests that local newspapers began calling them "the Aggies" due to their fierce competitiveness on the football field during the early years of play against more prominent universities like Stanford and Oregon State College (now Oregon State University).
Whatever may be true about its origin story, one thing is sure: The Utah State Aggies are here to stay! With over 120 years under their belt – including six conference championships – these proud collegiate athletes continue to carry on the tradition with pride every time they step onto the field or court representing all things agriculture at USU!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.