Linebacker MJ Tafisi prefers French fries.
Quarterback Levi Williams thinks potato skins “get a bad rap.”
But all of the Utah State Aggies can agree a trip to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl tastes good after a season of uncertainty.
“This has been a really, really good week,” USU head coach Blake Andersen said Friday. “We’ve had a great time. As you talk to the guys, you’ll find out real quickly that we try to make the most of the week, enjoy the bowl events.”
How to watch
Utah State vs. Georgia State
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Kickoff: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MT
TV: ESPN
With as much roster turnover as the Aggies experienced before the start of the season, a bowl game was anything but a guarantee.
“Yeah, it was just hard work for us,” Tafisi said. “The biggest thing was putting trust in each other. It means so much for us to be in a bowl. I really feel like we worked hard. I felt like we deserved it more.”
The Aggies, meanwhile, wouldn’t be bowling if not for Williams. The Wyoming transfer — who previously got a taste of Potato Bowl victory with the Cowboys — stepped up for the injured Cooper Legas to help get USU to bowl eligibility in the final week of the season.
Williams will forgo his final season of eligibility to begin Navy SEAL training but said he did not consider skipping this game.
“I would say I just owed it to the team to come back and play. They’ve been busting their butts all season. They’ve been working so hard. For me to do that, I feel like it would be a little bit selfish for me to just kind of ride out on that last thing,” William said. “I’m super proud of this team. I’m so excited for tomorrow, what we’re going to produce tomorrow. Man, I’m just excited. One last ride with all these guys, MJ and everybody.”
A victory over Georgia State on Saturday would give the Aggies (6-6) a winning season, though Andersen said the outcome won’t define his team’s season.
“I think I keep it in perspective. It’s still one game,” Andersen said. “To me, it’s the big picture of what this team has been through. Those that have followed our program know where we were this time a year ago with the portal really attacking our team at a heavy rate. A year later, a ton of guys stepping up and saying we’re staying put and fighting together.
“To go through the injuries we have had, to have gone through the schedule we’ve had to get to that point, which I think our league is the best Group of Five league in the country at this point, to be able to manage some close wins in tough situations with a beat-up roster.”
The coach did admit that a win would be preferable.
“I’d love to get to 7-6,” he said. “It sounds and tastes better than 6-7.”
Speaking of taste …
Andersen found himself siding with his linebacker when asked Friday’s most pressing question.
“I’m a fries guy, too,” he said. “Burgers and fries, pretty cool.”
