Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Week of September 21, 2026
Page 2 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 202
Changes to NCAA eligibility rules cause chaos By Essence Barnes STATESMAN EDITOR
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ecent changes to NCAA eligibility and conference policies have left Utah State University defensive back Bryson Taylor, and other players hoping for a fifth year of eligibility, in a state of uncertainty. On June 23, the NCAA transitioned to an age-based eligibility model that allows athletes up to five years of eligibility. At the end of August, the Power Four conferences adopted restrictions preventing athletes with certain professional ties from returning to college football. These changes have created unusual situations for athletes, some of them having just exhausted their fourseason five-year eligibility, others having gone pro and hoping to return and play for college teams. Taylor is one of them. He graduated from USU last year after playing four seasons of college football, attended a rookie minicamp for the Atlanta Falcons over the summer and was later asked back to play for USU. “Really an interesting challenge and unique for everyone,” said Bronco Mendenhall, USU’s head football coach, during a pregame presser on Aug. 31. “Bryson is eligible to practice, but currently not eligible to compete.” Taylor’s return to USU was allowed in part because of recent legal pushback over the NCAA’s new eligibility model, which resulted in a court order temporarily allowing some members of the 2022 high school class to receive a fifth season. This court order came from the U.S. District Court in Colorado in the case of Wisne v. NCAA. A few weeks later,
the NCAA appealed and the Tenth Circuit halted the order, reversing the decision for now. The results of battles like these vary state by state. Some players are fighting for temporary restraining orders that would grant them temporary eligibility, others are suing the NCAA and the rest wait in limbo for an official legal precedent to be set in place. Taylor may be among them. The Utah Statesman attempted to interview Taylor about how he plans to move forward, but he could not be reached. “Bryson is eligible to practice, and so he’s with us,” Mendenhall said. “We’re all hopeful that we can get him on the field as soon as possible.” When it looked like a lawsuit from the Southeastern Conference against Louisiana State University could have shifted the tides for these athletes, more stagnancy followed. Two former NFL players were attempting to return to LSU to play their fifth years. The SEC filed a federal lawsuit against the university in response, seeking to expel them from the conference. A meeting on Sept. 11 was meant to decide whether or not to terminate LSU, but when LSU didn’t add the former pros to their 2026-27 roster, the situation became moot. In a statement released after the meeting, the SEC said that “discussions will continue as the conference and member universities work toward an appropriate resolution.” The lawsuit remains ongoing, and a conclusion to the eligibility disagreements has yet to be reached.
USUSA Update
Academic Senate 9/14 - VP Watts announced that applications for at-large student representatives for the Logan campus Student Fee Board are still open. - VP Watts discussed the new dean of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Valentina Salotti, who will be joining on Jan. 1, 2027. - Senator Packer shared that the College of Art & Sciences representative applications are still open. Executive Council 9/15 - President Alder announced that they’ve wrapped up the public forums on the proposed changes to the USUSA Constitution. - Executive Director Jones discussed homecoming plans and the upcoming Mr. USU Pageant on Sept. 23. - VP Hastings announced early voting for Cache County elections will take place on Oct. 26-29 in the Aspen Room at the TSC. Academic Senate: Mondays 4-5 p.m. Executive Council: Tuesdays 4-5 p.m. All meetings are held in the TSC Senate Chambers and are open for the public to attend.
Hundreds of these legal battles are currently taking place across the nation, and the NCAA and SEC continue to fight dozens of individual situations. “I think as a conference, and certainly here at Utah State, we’re trying to analyze them individually and see what aligns with our values and what doesn’t,” said Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker. “Right now, supporting a former student-athlete who was here that didn’t get opportunities coming back, I think we’re generally in support of him as long as that’s what is dictated by the courts.”
Essence Barnes is a fourth-year student majoring in journalism who enjoys reading, writing and storytelling. — essence.barnes@usu.edu
Student-run newspaper for Utah State University since 1902. Reporting online 24/7. Printed weekly during the school year.
By Jayke Martin STATESMAN EDITOR
B
efore Utah State University football players take the field, members of the USU Rodeo Club are already on horseback. Carrying Utah State flags around the field before home football games, the riders have become part of the pregame tradition while representing the university’s agricultural and Western roots. For head rodeo coach Colton Bair, bringing horses onto the football field connects the rodeo program with the larger Utah State community. “Utah State is a land-grant university, so it just fits so well PHOTO BY Dane Johnson that we are all ag and that the Raeder Mendenhall is seen carrying the Utah flag onto Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on horseback before the Utah State versus Idaho State football game on Sept. 5. USU rodeo team can be able to represent Utah State as that land“We do hand-select those that are coming to run flags,” grant university,” Bair said. “You know, we are all about Bair said. “It’s a high stress — lots of people around.” our Western heritage and the Western way of life and Bair said rodeo horses are accustomed to large crowds, agriculture.” yelling and other distractions, but running on football turf Bair had previously attempted to initiate the rides but is different from competing on the dirt at a rodeo. The was unsuccessful. After Utah State football coach Bronco club has equipment and protocols in place to protect both Mendenhall was hired, Bair presented the idea to him. the horses and the riders. “I had a meeting with him and I kind of pitched the idea. The tradition also has a personal connection to I’m like, ‘Hey, what do you think of, you know, us running Mendenhall. He is an avid team roper, and two of his flags out,’” Bair said. sons, Raeder and Breaker, are members of the USU Rodeo Mendenhall supported the idea, helping the USU Rodeo Club. Club to work with Utah State University Athletics and “Seeing my kids bomb around the stadium with Utah facilities staff to make the rides possible. State flags before the game — as a college football coach, Bair said the first appearance was intended to be a oneI don’t know if that happens in the world of college time surprise. football,” Mendenhall said, “so pretty cool that it can be “Last year it was a surprise, because that was one thing a family affair, which are my beliefs: family first, last, that we wanted to lead up to it, and it was only supposed always.” to happen just for the first game,” Bair said. While Mendenhall was at the University of Washington Instead, the community response encouraged the club to game earlier this season, his wife and sons were in Cedar continue the tradition. City for a rodeo. “The community just embraced it like it was a huge hit,” Bair said. “It just kind of blew up like people just love it with the horses on the field and Utah State, and you know, making sure that we stay true to our roots.” Now, the club plans to continue the rides as an annual tradition during home football games. The tradition requires preparation long before kickoff. Bair said the horses are fed around 6 a.m. and riders leave home around 6:30 or 7 a.m. and saddle up before Jayke Martin is studying journalism warming up their horses. with a communications minor. She “We are on the turf at 8 a.m. to do our run-through,” loves reading and meeting new Bair said. people. The club then coordinates with athletics and stadium staff and the band and spirit squads to make sure — jayke.martin@usu.edu everyone is prepared. Not every horse or rider is selected to participate.
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THE BOARD Hazel Harris-Staples managing editor editor@usustatesman.com
—————— Essence Barnes news editor
Jayke Martin lifestyles editor
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Utah State Rodeo Club makes its mark on game day
life@usustatesman.com
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news@usustatesman.com
copyeditor@usustatesman.com
sports@usustatesman.com
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—————— Mark Greenwood sports editor
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Page 4 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 202
Cam Walker approaches 1-year as Utah State By Mark Greenwood
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STATESMAN EDITOR tah State University Athletics has had three different directors in the last four years, from John Hartwell to Diana Sabau and now current Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker. The past year has been one of several transformations for USU athletics, primarily overseen by Walker, who is approaching one year in the role. Walker was formally announced as Sabau’s replacement by the university on Sept. 21, 2025, before officially settling into the position in early October. Walker, a Rexburg, Idaho native, came to Logan after previous stops at Utah Valley University, the University of Central Florida and, most recently, the University of Tennessee. Walker’s first year was full of ambition and change, starting just a couple of months after his arrival.
Coaching Changes After joining the Aggies in October, Walker’s first major test came in late December following the departure of former USU volleyball head coach Rob Neilson. With Neilson’s departure, Walker jumped into the task
of replacing the three-time Mountain West Coach of the Year, the first of several replacements Walker has made over the past year. “I learned it’s different, being on a coaching search and being the guy who has to make the decision,” Walker said in an interview with The Utah Statesman. “The good news for me is the process was able to just go, and I was able to just follow the process that I’m fortunate to be part of and ran for years, and so that experience of having been involved with all the coaching hires that we made at Tennessee and even some previous like that — that was incredibly valuable to me.” Walker made the decision quickly, hiring new head coach Keith Smith on Jan. 3, just weeks after Neilson’s departure. The hiring involved a lot more than just Walker and his team with the hiring of Smith and also with the hiring of men’s basketball head coach Ben Jacobson and head softball coach Kristen Zaleski just months later. “You have to get it right for the student-athletes, and so you start and you end with the student-athletes. … I don’t ask them for names — I ask them for qualities. Who do they — what are the qualities that they want to see in their next head coach,” Walker said. “We want to win right away, but the key is how do we build this program and create a sustainable one, and how do we have someone that will mesh with kind of what they’re wanting?” While Walker has now hired three coaches, all three have been voluntary departures, meaning Walker hasn’t run into the task of letting a coach go up to this point.
Show Me Initiative Shortly after the new year in early January, Walker announced the launch of the Show Me initiative, aimed at preparing USU athletics to enter the Pac-12 later in the summer. The initiative targeted everyone from corporations to local businesses and fans. The Show Me campaign had a six-month target of 90 Utah State Athletics sponsors (an increase of 10), 135 Blue A Society members (an increase of 35), 1,800 Big Blue Club members (an increase of 400), 8,000 football season ticket holders (an increase of 1,200), back-to-back men’s basketball season-ticket sellouts and $20 million in cash and pledges. The campaign also had more aggressive 18-month goals along the same lines. “I felt like we needed something that we could act on quicker, that we could get started on immediately, and that we could PHOTO BY Mark Greenwood have something that we could chase and Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker looks to the video board kind of have a report card of where we’re during the Mountain West Tournament Championship game between Utah State and San Diego at in six months,” Walker said. “That was State on Mar. 14 in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
really important to get, internally, to get everybody kind of pulling in the same direction — everybody to know what we’re doing.” As of the six-month Aug. 1 goal, the initiative eclipsed all of its goals, with 100 total partners (97 local partners), 147 Blue A Society members and 2,193 Big Blue Club members while selling out men’s basketball for the second straight year, selling nearly 8,500 football season tickets and raising over $22 million in philanthropic giving. Walker has talked frequently over the last year about not wanting to just be in the Pac-12, but to compete within it. Part of that equation includes a department funded at the level of its peers, something that Utah State typically falls below. For Walker and the department, the Show Me campaign’s six-month goals weren’t meant to be a long-term trajectory but merely give the department a boost as they enter the new conference. “To me, that was like a jump-start. Like, we have to at least hit this, and so we’ve got big plans, but I think it is an indicator. If we did that in six months, what can we do in this next year, and what can we do in year two and three and four,” Walker said. “We have to not be comfortable and say we’re going to really stretch ourselves and go to work on achieving this, but I think it was an indicator that that ceiling’s higher than we thought, and I hope that it continues.”
Gameday Changes One of the more controversial decisions that Walker has made over his first year was the changes to the gameday experience within the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and Maverik Stadium. The most notable, and one that produced the most backlash, was the decision to change the seating in the spectrum to allow for more premium courtside seating, which came at the cost of moving the students. The decision sparked some outrage from students and fans but was one that Walker felt was necessary. “I had to make a tough call on changing some things, but it’s hard for me to go out and ask people for hardearned money, it’s hard for me to go to the university and ask for help when there’s things within our power that we could do that had seven-figure consequences, and we weren’t willing to take those because I might get flak,” Walker said. “Sometimes in leadership you have to make hard choices, and I think as we weighed the things, this was going to allow us to remain a competitive basketball team, and I think that also is part of the environment.” The change was made after deliberation with student and university leadership, with numerous different plans presented before the final decision was made. “I also, though, was incredibly appreciative of the HURD. We went to them with several plans. I know word got out about two of the plans about, ‘Oh, it’s this or that,’ but we went to them with several plans, and they were heavily involved in doing that,” Walker said.
“Our student section, as we all know, is unbelievable. Best student section in the country, in my opinion. They’re incredible, and the way they turn out — I don’t think moving them closer to the opponent’s bench is going to be a negative thing.” Utah State has also now made several changes to the gameday experience for Aggie football, including reducing ticket prices, discounting concessions prior to kickoff, creating a fan zone area and prioritizing kids and families. Some of these changes were identified by Walker as early as his introductory press conference as areas he wanted to improve.
Mountain West to Pac-12 After nearly two years of planning and anticipation, Utah State formally joined the Pac-12 on July 1. While Walker was not part of the original move in 2024, the July change was one he and his team put a lot of work into. “Getting in the Pac-12 was well earned. There’s a lot of people on this campus that worked a lot longer, a lot harder than I did. … I kind of got to swoop in in the 24th hour and be a part of it,” Walker said. “For me it was an exciting thing — another testament to what the future can be, and removing sort of limitations. I think it’ll be brand building, and the increased exposure and brand affinity with that brand, I think, will be incredibly valuable to the university.” Utah State left the Mountain West on a high note, winning a conference-leading nine conference championships across various sports on its way out the door. Walker is happy with the success of last season but doesn’t want that to diminish in this new conference. “I want to win championships, to be frank. That task has gotten harder. That just makes them even better when you win them. Everybody wants to win them, and that’s one of the great things about sports that makes it so compelling and so rewarding when you get there,” Walker said. “It’ll be exciting to see as we get into conference play with all of our sports where we grow and how we attack that, but yeah, I want to lead the Pac-12. It’s just — I think it’s who we should want
PHOTO BY Dane Johnson Utah State interim athletic director Sandy Barbour shakes hands and presents a signed soccer ball to recently named Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker during halftime of the USU versus CSU soccer game at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field on Sept. 25, 2025.
to be as Aggies, and it’s certainly who I am.” For Walker, this spirit extends to more than just athletic accomplishments on the field. “I don’t want to be second in anything. I don’t want to be second in GPA. I don’t want to be second in service hours. I think that we can continue to develop complete student athletes. I think complete student athletes are complete because all aspects of their life build on each other,” Walker said. “I think we can develop champions that are champions in the classroom, in the community and in Pac-12 competition at an incredibly high level.” As Walker tries to execute his vision for the department and university, it’s not without the support of those around him. “I think he’s exceptional. I think he’s clear on his vision, I think he’s competent and capable in really every area of leadership and the business required to do this job,” head football coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “I think he’s got a strong moral compass, and I
think he’s a rising star, and I think we’re really lucky that he’s here at Utah State.” While it’s already been a year since Walker was announced as the next athletic director, his official one-year mark will be hit on Oct. 6, just over a week after Utah State’s inaugural Pac-12 conference game.
Mark Greenwood is a senior studying finance at Utah State. When not covering Aggie sports, he loves playing golf, tennis, skiing and following the Los Angeles Dodgers. — mark.greenwood@usu.edu
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Vice President and Director of Athletics
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Bronson Olevao Jr.: Consistency, By Rory McNeill STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
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ince 2022, Utah State Football has had three head coaches, each bringing their own systems and coaching styles. Through all the changes, graduate linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr. has stayed with the team through each one. Throughout his time at Utah State University, moving through all of the ups and downs of the program in recent history, Olevao has learned what the true identity of the USU football program is, and he has attempted to carry that identity to each new era of the program. Olevao comes from a family of athletes. Olevao’s father played football at the University of Utah and his sister played basketball at Utah Tech University. Olevao himself was a multi-sport athlete in high school, playing both football and basketball for Highland High School in Salt Lake City. In high school, Olevao was rated as the 47th best recruit in the state of Utah. He received two offers to play football, coming from USU and Weber State University, ultimately committing to the Aggies. Before beginning his career with the Aggies, Olevao served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in No.14 for USU Bronson Olevao Jr. celebrates in a game against UTEP in Maverik Stadium on Aug 30, 2025.
PHOTOS BY Dane Johnson No.14 for Utah State Bronson Olevao Jr. lines up for a play during the Utah State versus Idaho State football game at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Sept 5.
Tahiti and New Jersey. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Olevao played under former head coach Blake Anderson, where he appeared in three games before he was sidelined for the season with an injury. That offseason, Blake Anderson was fired and Nate Dreiling was named the interim head coach and defensive coordinator. The following season for the Aggies under Dreiling was a struggle, as they finished only 4-8 on the season. Despite the shakeup and struggles with the team, Olevao knew he wanted to stay with the program. “I’ve gone through this refiner’s fire here. I’ve been here in Cache Valley and Logan, and I know the community, and I love it here. I’m a true-blooded Aggie,” Olevao said. “I’ve taken my own experience and my journey and made it my own and helped other people come along and buy into the program. I’ve learned to love and grow in the process, and that’s something I really teach — and that’s the Aggie way, being true-blooded and staying loyal to this place.” For Olevao, the hiring of head coach Bronco Mendenhall was an important factor in his decision to stay with the Aggies following the 2024 season. “When I heard coach Mendenhall was going to be our coach, my linebackers coach, coach Shane Hunter, reached out to me, and we had a really good talk about the direction of the program. I
realized they’re aligned with goals, as well as my values and my beliefs. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it felt like it was an answer to my prayer,” Olevao said. “When coach Mendenhall came in, it was like it was unlike anything that I’d ever experienced in college. When it came to workouts, when it came to the culture, when it came to how he runs his program, we learned the expectation, the standard, and we’re to uphold it.” The 2025 season would be the best season on record for Olevao, as he would finish third on the team in tackles, with 90, as well as four sacks, two interceptions, and 7.5 tackles for loss. As the team prepared for the 2026 season, Olevaos’s experience would become vital for the team. “It’s good to have guys with experience like [Olevao]. He has a ton of knowledge and experience,” senior linebacker Harrison Taggart said. “When we have guys like him who have a lot of experience, experience creates depth, and depth makes our room competitive.” Olevao has recognized the value of his experience on the team and strives to help share that experience with players within the program. “I think I’ve learned personally through my own experience, so when players, especially young players or new players, come in, I’m able to share from my own experience and what I’ve learned from
my own experience and what I’ve learned from being here for four to five years,” Olevao said. “I want them to think, ‘I can rely on this guy, can trust this guy and what he tells me because he’s been here the longest. He stayed loyal to the program.” One of the most important lessons Olevao has applied to his own life, as well as taught others, is one his family taught him growing up. “My parents always taught me the saying that ‘the grass is greener where you water it.’ That’s something they’ve instilled in me and in everything that I do. It’s not running away from any problems or challenges,” Olevao said. “That’s really helped me stay focused and stay stuck in my process of being here at Utah State and going through the refinery process. That’s something I really try to teach.” As well as taking on his own personal responsibilities of teaching younger players, Olevao was named as part of the team’s leadership council, helping to instill the culture of the program within the team. “In my experience, the best teams have been player-led. I love empowering young people,” head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “We have excellent leadership in this program. When the players are aligned in principle, those teams are hard to beat,
Apple Gratin
and that’s the direction we’re headed.” With the 2026 season already underway, Olevao feels like this team has the talent to compete with anyone in the Pac-12. “We are a team that can compete. We’ve shown that we can execute at a high level, and we can build upon last year’s defense. We need to be detailed in our execution to put ourselves in a position to compete in the conference and go win it,” Olevao said. “We need to focus on our process and doing, and making sure that we know our assignments, we know the techniques, we know what to do and how to do it. We need to make plays to win games.” With this season likely to be Olevao’s final season of college football, he is using his experience and leadership to help lead the Aggies to a successful season by ensuring the expectations of the program are met. “It’s the principle of ‘greater than, not equal to’ in our program,” Olevao said. When it comes to even the players that come into our program, we expect them to be better than last year’s group. That will really help us as we go into the year with that confidence — knowing we have experienced players out there on the field that know what to do, how to do it, and make plays and win games.”
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Throughout the many changes the Aggie’s have faced as a program over the past five years, Olevao has a been a source of consistency within the program, helping set the tone through the changes.
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loyalty in an era of change
Rory McNeill is a sophomore from Rocklin, California studying mechanical engineering. He loves Aggie sports, skiing, golf and writing music. — rory.mcneill@usu.edu
SNAChampion- Fairway Bagels & Donuts This week’s SNAChampion is Fairway Bagels & Donuts! Recently opened in March of this year, Fairway has been donating their delicious bagels and donuts to SNAC weekly. We appreciate all they do to help us prevent food waste in Cache Valley! Be sure to check them out in town and at SNAC!
SNAC is excited to welcome a new employee to the team- Clarissa Richins. Starting this fall, Clarissa has been working as SNAC’s Graduate Research Assistant. Clarissa is working towards completing her Master’s of Science in Nutrition & Food Sciences, with an emphasis in Public Health Nutrition. Clarissa’s research with SNAC will focus on using AI models as an intervention for food security. Be sure to to her when you stop by SNAC! For more information about SNAC visit our website snac.usu.edu or @ususnac on Facebook and Instagram
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From BYU to home: Mia Lopez finds her By Dylan Moore STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
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year ago, Mia Lopez was starting every soccer match for Brigham Young University in a Big 12 Tournament. Now she’s back in her hometown, and Utah State University head coach Manny Martins is trying to figure out how to get the most out of her. “She’s an incredible player — so fun to watch,” Martins said. “Some of the stuff she did in the box today, at times it looks like Leo Messi out there, and then an incredible human being — someone that’s really added so much to our team, making us better, adding different layers.”
No. 8 Ava Talaeai, No. 22 Channing Wuest and Mia Lopez at the USU versus Utah Tech soccer game on Sept. 3.
PHOTOS BY Owen Clarke Mia Lopez on the field during the USU versus Utah Tech soccer game on Sept. 3.
Lopez, a sophomore midfielder, grew up in Logan playing club soccer with La Roca Futbol Club and starring at Logan High School, where she was a threeyear letterwinner. She earned Utah 4A Second-Team All-State honors as a freshman before back-to-back first-team selections, totaling 43 goals and 15 assists in three prep seasons before an injury cost her senior year. Soccer runs in the family — two of her older sisters played college soccer, including her sister Whitney, who played for Utah State from 2020 to 2024. “I’ve grown up around it,” Lopez said. “I was easily influenced by my older sisters, so I just kept playing, and it’s fun, and I get to make new friends with it.” Lopez began her college career at BYU in 2025, starting all 24 games as a freshman and finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer with six goals. She played nearly 1,300 minutes, tallying 33 shots with 14 on goal and scoring two game-winning goals. She earned Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors and was twice named the conference Freshman of the Week as the Cougars won a Big 12 Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Despite that success, Lopez decided to transfer home to Utah State for her sophomore season. “Obviously, Logan’s home,” Lopez said. “The team environment here is super good, and I love being around a good team, and that just really made me want to come home.” The move also came with a shift on the field. Lopez played forward for much of her freshman season at
BYU but has settled into midfield with the Aggies, a position she said suits her best. “I played a little bit of everything in club,” Lopez said. “I played center forward, the nine, a little bit my first year at BYU, but I love midfield. I get the most action in it, so I like being in that area of the field.” Martins said Lopez’s talent creates a challenge for him as a coach, figuring out how to position her to make the most of her ability. “It’s my task, or my challenge, to figure out how to get the most of her,” Martins said. “Because she’s an incredible player, we’ve got to make sure that we’re putting her in positions where she can affect the game the way that we know she can.” With Lopez only in her second college season, Martins said he sees years of growth ahead for her and several other young Aggies. “She’s only starting her sophomore year, right?” Martins said. “In a perfect world, we have this year and three more years with her. The ceiling is unreal. I think the sky’s the limit, and we just have to keep working hard and not get complacent.” Lopez’s rise has extended beyond the college game. In February, she was selected to train with the U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team, joining a camp in Portugal that included matches against Czechia, Wales and Portugal. All players in that camp, including Lopez, are age-eligible for the 2026 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland. Lopez, who wears No. 12 for the Aggies, was one
of six midfielders named to the U-19 roster alongside players from programs such as Stanford University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of California, Los Angeles. Lopez is majoring in kinesiology and said she hopes to keep playing soccer beyond her time at Utah State if the opportunity arises. “Hopefully finish up here, finish my schooling, and also playing, obviously,” Lopez said. “We’ll see if I want to continue playing. If the opportunity’s there, I’ll take it. If it’s not, then that’s what it’s meant to be.” For this season, Lopez said her focus is on making an impact in every way she can, both on the field and off it.
“Honestly, just make a big impact with this team,” Lopez said. “I think whether that’s on and off the field, I hope I can play a part and do my role, and I think on the field especially, contributing to goals, assisting, scoring, and then off the field — just bringing good energy to the team.” Martins said that two-way contribution is part of what makes Lopez, and several of Utah State’s other young players, difficult to project as they continue to develop. “We have so many really young players. They’re just finding their rhythm. They’re just really starting to figure out the pace and the physicality and everything of the college game, and they’re so young,” Martins
said. “So yeah, the ceiling is unreal.” For now, Lopez said she’s simply glad to be back on a roster close to home, playing alongside teammates in a program she said embraces the identity Martins has built.
Mia Lopez at the USU versus Utah Tech soccer game on Sept. 3.
Dylan is a senior majoring in political science. You can usually find him on some sort of outdoor adventure. No. 15 Lexi Nelson and Mia Lopez at the USU versus Utah Tech soccer game on Sept. 3.
— dylan.moore@usu.edu
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rhythm as Utah State’s new midfielder
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Utah State Volleyball players celebrate after winning a point during their home opener against the University of California, Los Angeles in the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 9. The Aggies went on to lose to UCLA 3-0 in front of a crowd of 1,320. The matc
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ch was also the first home match for new volleyball head coach Keith Smith, pictured on the right.
PHOTO BY Owen Clarke
Page 12 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 202
Aggie middle blocker Ava Napierski carries Her senior year, she transferred to Orem High School, where her team won another state championship. She played alongside Sami Blackett, who now plays at Utah State as an outside hitter. “I just had a great high school volleyball experience,” Ava said. “I was fortunate to obviously win state championships with friends, but at the end of the day, even if we didn’t, I just had such a good experience playing with the teammates and coaches that I loved.”
PHOTOS BY Owen Clarke No. 3 Ava Napierski, right, celebrates with teammates No. 5 Silina Damuni, middle, and No. 13 Sami Blackett, left, after winning a point against UCLA in the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 9. By Jillian Peterson
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STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER rom winning three high school state championships to playing Division I volleyball at Utah State University, junior middle blocker Ava Napierski’s mindset has driven her to success on the court. Her father, Ryan Napierski, said this determination began at a young age. “Ava’s always had this mindset that she can do anything, and I think it might be because she’s the youngest child,” Ryan said. “I don’t know if this is because she feels like she has something to prove or that she just believes she can do anything she puts her mind to.” Ava was born in Germany but spent most of her childhood living in Japan, where she watched her older sister Savannah play high school volleyball.
When Ava’s family moved to Utah when she was in fifth grade, she decided to join club volleyball. “I tried a couple other sports, but I was always drawn back to volleyball,” Ava said. She began to play at about 11 years old, which, according to her father, was a late start. “She didn’t get to start playing as young as some of the other girls,” Ryan said. “She came in not knowing how to play, but having watched her sister, she just kind of took it in and never let her doubts overshadow her desire to play.” As she got older, Ava balanced club volleyball with playing for Timpview High School in Provo, Utah. “She got maybe two months off out of 12, usually one in December and one in the summer,” Ryan said. “She sacrificed a lot to play high school and club.” Ava spent three years playing at Timpview, winning two state championships with her current Utah State Ava Napierski spikes the ball during a match against UCLA in the Wayne Estes teammate Silina Damuni. Center on Sept. 9.
During her junior year of high school, Ava committed to Utah State. “I was really hoping to get out of Utah just for a fun and different experience, but after talking with the coaching staff, I knew that I would love it here,” Ava said. “It’s just two hours away from home, so I love that my parents can come to games.” Moving from club and high school volleyball to Division I brought a new level of challenge. “At club, you paid to play. At a Division I school, they pay you to play,” Ryan said. “Now it becomes a job and a responsibility, and she took that heavy.” Ava appeared in 11 matches and started five as a freshman in 2024, finishing the season with 31 kills and 27 blocks. After sustaining a back injury five matches into her sophomore year, Ava had to cheer on her team from the sidelines as they won the 2025 Mountain West regular season and tournament championship. “It was really hard because we kind of thought I would be able to play at the end of the season, but that wasn’t the case,” Ava said. After months of physical therapy, Ava is back this season as a starter. “It almost feels like I didn’t miss a beat in a way, and I am really proud of how I handled that hard situation,” she said. Her team looks different this season, with new head coach Keith Smith and only a handful of players returning from last season. “I thought it would take some time to build our team
culture,” Smith said, “but a lot of the girls have come up to me and talked about how they haven’t been on a team closer than this, which is really cool to hear.” Part of that culture, Smith said, is thanks to Ava. “She epitomizes joy,” Smith said. “On my first week here, she came into my office and stayed there for like two hours, just talking and being silly and having a good time, so it was really easy to connect with her right away.” This outgoing personality extends beyond volleyball. Off the court, Ava is studying communications with hopes of pursuing sports media and broadcasting. “My dad said I should try to become the next Erin Andrews,” Ava said. On the court, Ava plays middle blocker for the team, a position she has played throughout her club and high school careers. Standing at 6’1”, Ava originally played middle blocker because of her height. However, on her team at Utah State, she is one of the shorter middle blockers on the roster. “She’s not the tallest middle by any chance, but she’s definitely the fiercest,” Ryan said. Ava has carried that fierceness with her throughout her career. “I just try to bring the best out of myself and my teammates, not only at games, but practice too,” Ava said. “I try not to live too hard into the stats and just kind of try to be more present and work hard, and give my all, no matter what the situation is.”
Jillian Peterson is a junior studying journalism. She is a big fan of concerts, snowboarding and the Taco Bell drive-thru. — jillian.peterson@usu.edu
Ava Napierski attempts to block a spike attempt from UCLA during a match against the Bruins in the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 9.
Ava Napierski serves the ball during a match against UCLA in the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 9.
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high school success into Division I career
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Journalists discuss rise of sports gambling
By Quinton Papa STATESMAN REPORTER
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ccording to the Consumer News and Business Channel, 52% of Generation Z investors have redirected investment funds into sports betting. According to Fortune, 2 in 5 members of Gen Z consider sports betting an investment. The effects of this trend were recently discussed at a panel in the Eccles Conference Center at Utah State University. McKay Coppins, a staff writer at The Atlantic, presented alongside the panel about online gambling and what it’s doing to sports, culture and politics. Alongside him were USU staff and faculty, including deputy director of athletics/chief operating officer Ike Ukaegbu, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science Francisco Javier Lopez Frias and professor in the Combined Clinical/Counseling Ph.D specialization in the Department of Psychology Michael Twohig. Coppins spoke about his time spent over the course of a year gambling on sports to better understand sports gambling and its effects. PHOTOS BY Dane Johnson “I had assumed that the sportsbook was asking me a Utah State’s Karson Templin is seen on the floor after a fight for possession lead to a jump ball during the Utah State versus UNLV basketball game in the Dee Glen question: ‘How well do you know football?’” Coppins Smith Spectrum in Logan on Jan. 20. Utah State entered the matchup as 17.5 point favorites over the Runnin’ Rebels, but eventually lost by 10 points. Templin, among other Aggie basketball players, has discussed being harrassed online by sports gamblers after losses. said about his experience. “That’s not the real question. The real question is, ‘Are you enough of a sucker to think without naming which one, where one team was The recent rise extends to much more than collegiate you know more about football than the people who set expected to win a game. I think they were favorites by — athletics, as numerous professional leagues and these betting odds?’” I forgot how many points, and they just got blasted that teams in the United States and abroad have embraced He went on to talk about a conversation with Nate evening,” Ukaegbu said. “They got blasted from the start. partnerships with various betting and prediction market Silver, a statistician and professional gambler. You know, the opposing crowd was loud from the start. platforms since the 2018 decision. “If you make one penny, that would make you better They were intimidating, and we just couldn’t figure it out Coppins closed his remarks by reminding everyone than 98% of people over a season,” Coppins said, quoting that entire night.” thinking about betting on sports that they are not just Silver. He then shared the impact of fans’ responses to the betting against the University of Georgia, the University To say why people participated in online gambling, team. of Alabama, or Brigham Young University, they are Coppins also shared some preliminary, unweighted data “Our sports information director was sending me betting against companies with thousands of statisticians from a new study by the Wheatley Institute. According quite a few screenshots from betters — essentially working for them. to that data, half of the people surveyed have a gambling those involved in sports with wagering because of them Coppins concluded by talking about the bet the sports app on their phone. 40% of people say they gamble with basically losing their bets that night, so you can just industry makes on its consumers. the intent to make money, despite the extreme statistical imagine in the sports book in Vegas, you have these “It has bet that if it can put a casino in your pocket and improbability of winning, Coppins pointed out. guys and gals who are sitting in front of the sportsbook, surround you with advertising, you’ll keep playing even The survey also reported 85% of people who have a probably a few beers in, watching the game, expecting as you lose money.” Coppins said. “It has bet that you’re gambling app have deleted it at some point, with fourto win money that night based on the team that suckers. Only you can prove you’re right.” fifths downloading the app again after they delete it. was expected to win that night by a large amount,” Coppins pointed out this indicates a relationship between Ukaegbu went on. “Next thing you know, they’re [direct user and app where the user knows the app is bad and messaging] these student athletes, they’re DMing tries to stop but cannot. these team accounts racial slurs, death threats for their Twohig talked more about why people are drawn to families, calling them names that I haven’t even heard of, gambling apps and related it to pornography use. quite frankly.” “When you started having it, it was fun. It was According to Coppins, this was not an isolated incident. useful, interesting, and now it’s your way of regulating He said more than one out of every three Division I emotion,” Twohig said about both sports betting and basketball players have received threats from gamblers. pornography. “You would think pornography viewing is Sports betting at this scale is only a recent really about interest in these sexual objects, but it’s not Quinton is a senior studying communication phenomenon. According to The Associated Press, the really. It’s really about people feeling distressed, and they 2018 decision by the Supreme Court to strike down the studies from Springfield, Missouri. He loves feel uncomfortable. They feel anxious and overwhelmed, writing music, off-roading and being an Aggie. Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which and these activities regulate that emotion for them.” barred sports gambling in most states, has spurred on Ukaegbu shared his perspective on how sports — quinton.papa@usu.edu the extreme rise in sports gambling in recent years. gambling affects college athletes. He shared stories of According to Coppins, in 2017, the year before the players receiving threats because they didn’t perform Supreme Court ruling, sports gambling as an industry how they should and lost someone a bet. brought in $4.9 billion, and in 2025 it brought in $160 “There’s been times just at a previous institution, billion.
By Dylan Moore STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
is phenomenal,” Mendenhall said. “We need others to emulate that and catch up as fast as we can, so li Wood, from Lynchburg, Virginia, has been we have more options.” catching passes since he was six years old. Eli’s teammates elected him a captain this season, Now a graduate student, he’s hoping his a distinction Ridley said reflects the respect he has final college season, this time in an Aggie uniform, earned in the locker room. builds toward a shot at the NFL. “I think it says a lot that his teammates voted him “I’ve just been playing since I was six, and since a captain, just from the amount of respect that he’s then, my passion for the game has grown,” Wood earned through his work ethic and his attitude,” said. Ridley said. “He is a joy to be around. He’s got a Wood spent four seasons at the University of great personality, makes it fun, loves to compete. Virginia from 2022 to 2025, appearing in 35 games He’s an ultra-competitor, which, as a coach, that’s with two starts, catching 19 passes for 220 yards the type of guys that you want to have in your and two touchdowns over his career. He was part room. He’s got great relationships, not just in the of a Cavaliers program that, under head coach Tony receiver room, but throughout the team, and that’s Elliott, won a school-record 11 games in 2025. The something that he’s earned through the work that season was the most successful in program history, he’s put in from the time he got here in January.” capped by a victory over the University of Missouri Eli said he was drawn to Utah State’s culture in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. under Mendenhall and wanted a role he had to Wood’s biggest moment came in the Atlantic earn rather than one handed to him. Coast Championship Game against Duke University, “I know that I’m only on the field if I deserve it when he caught an 18-yard touchdown with 22 and I’m not if I don’t,” Eli said seconds left in regulation to force overtime, a game Mendenhall echoed Eli. “Just the way he’s wired is Virginia ultimately lost. He also had a career-high a perfect fit for me and our program,” Mendenhall four receptions for 71 yards against Missouri in the said. TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and scored on a 3-yard run Ridley said he trusts Eli in any moment the at the University of California, Berkeley, part of a offense needs a big play, pointing to a play Eli had senior season in which he caught 16 passes for 205 already made for the Aggies through the season’s yards and two touchdowns while appearing in 14 first two weeks. games. “I trust him in any situation,” Ridley said. “He’ll “I’m grateful for my name at Virginia and being make a big play like he did.” able to play for coach Tony,” Wood said Eli said he plans to pursue a shot at the NFL once Wood was a standout at E.C. Glass High School his time at Utah State is finished. When asked what PHOTO BY Dane Johnson his favorite team was, Eli said the Washington in Lynchburg, where he caught 50 passes for 1,020 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior season, earning Utah State University wide receiver Eli Wood during the Utah State versus Idaho Commanders. State football game at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Sept. 5. Seminole District Player of the Year honors and a The Aggie coaching staff has also enjoyed working spot on the Virginia High School League Class 4 First with Eli as he’s been on the team. experience has been valuable for a receiver room Team All-State. He was also recognized twice for his “He’s a really good player. He’s tough. He’s that includes several younger players. classroom work, receiving ACC Academic Honor Roll physical. He makes contested catches. He’ll run. “He’s a huge impact on our room from a leadership honors in 2022 and 2023. He’ll walk. He’ll tackle on special teams, and so he’s standpoint, from experience,” Ridley said. “We have Football for Wood has stayed a family affair — his carrying disproportionately the load, I would say, some younger players, and the moments that he’s older brother, Sackett Wood Jr., played tight end at production-wise offensively,” Mendenhall said. been in already this season, throughout his career, Virginia from 2020 to 2024. Sackett graduated from has helped elevate the younger guys, both in their Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in media studies process, their preparation, their knowledge of the this spring and is now pursuing a master’s degree in game.” sports management at Utah State. Ridley said Eli’s experience and the demands that After four years in Charlottesville, Virginia, Eli come with being one of the older players in the room chose to spend his final season of eligibility at Utah have shaped how he approaches each practice. State, a decision he said came down to the coaching “The maturity has been one of the things that has staff he found in Logan. really impacted our team and our room because of “I was really excited to come here and play for the experiences he’s had throughout his career. The — dylan.moore@usu.edu coach Bronco,” Eli said amount of banked reps, the situations he’s been Utah State head football coach Bronco Mendenhall, in, it’s all helped prepare him and our team for the who coached at Virginia himself from 2016 to moments we’ve had and the moments to come this 2021, guided the Cavaliers to their first Orange season.” Bowl appearance before departing and joining the Mendenhall agreed with the sentiment. University of New Mexico and eventually Utah “It’s great to have that example because, man, his State. Wide receivers coach Skyler Ridley said Eli’s daily work habits and practice, and just his mindset
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From Charlottesville to Logan: Eli Wood chases one more shot at the next level
Page 16 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 202
USU faces off against Utah Tech
Page 17 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 2026
On Thursday, Sept. 3, the Utah State Soccer team faced off against Utah Tech University. Play between the two teams was physical with 11 fouls throughout the game. USU won 8-1 with seven players scoring — forward Samantha Sellers scored twice and forward Ellie Hendrix contributed three assists.
Owen Clarke is a senior from Downingtown, Pennsylvania studying information systems. He loves playing the cello, climbing and motorsports. — owen.clarke@usu.edu
Page 18 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 202
What Once Was Her’s
Luv(sic) Pt2 Nujabes Last week’s solution:
Sudoku puzzles are provided by www.sudokuoftheday.com.
Pride (In the Name of Love) U2
SHOULDERS F.N.
Heaven Up There Palace
Page 19 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 2026
Listen to Lissa: the radio show where a wide variety of music is played to expand music taste and build a sense of community! Listen on Mondays at 1 p.m. on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM. <3
Cover by Dane Johnson
Page 20 - The Utah Statesman, September 21, 202