By Jeff Hunter '96 Recent NCAA Tournament success may feel like the norm, but for Utah State, wins in “The Big Dance” have been historically elusive. The Aggies’ 2024 victory over TCU and this year’s 86-76 defeat of Villanova represent two of USU’s eight tournament victories since their first appearance in

By Timothy R. Olsen '09, MBA '18 She was in shock. Shuddering, as tears streamed down her face, Chari Hawkins could not comprehend what had just happened. “No, no, no,” she gasped, shaking her head in disbelief before collapsing into the barrier at the Stade de France. The then 33-year-old heptathlete had just no-heighted

By Jeff Hunter '96 At the time, Cache Valley was considered hostile territory for Ken Mitchell, and the Nelson Fieldhouse represented the enemy’s strongpoint. While serving as the assistant sports information director (SID) at Brigham Young University, Mitchell and his wife, Becky, ventured north from Provo on the night of Feb. 1,

By Jeff Hunter '96 Jaylen Brown has seen a few things during his nine-year NBA career. And after watching his Boston Celtics teammate Neemias Queta total 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a win over the Toronto Raptors on April 5, the five-time NBA All-Star guard went

By Baily Kruzan For many high school athletes, the dream of playing collegiately is just that, a dream. Less than 10% go on to play at the college level, and even fewer receive D1 scholarship offers. But what many student-athletes don’t know is their competitive careers don’t have to end when

By Lael Gilbert '01 From the opening ceremony to extinguishing the flame, the 2026 Winter Olympics showcased athletic grace, teeth-clenching grit, and blistering speeds. Fans watched the polished performances, but USU alum Jen Day saw the behind-the-scenes scramble — with a few more bumps on the ice than the audience saw

By Brad L. Mortensen A little more than 30 years ago, while pursuing my bachelor’s degree in political science, I was in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum’s student section. And on this night, I was staying up a lot later — or maybe earlier — than I should have.  While I remember

By Jeff Hunter '96 After taking the helm in October, Cameron Walker experienced a whirlwind March that saw the Utah State men’s basketball team cut down nets in Logan and Las Vegas and secure an NCAA Tournament win over Villanova. But as any athletic director knows, success can come with a cost.

By Jeff Hunter '96 Starting basically from scratch is practically the norm anymore when a new coach takes over a college basketball program. In the age of the transfer portal and NIL money, retaining standout players is virtually impossible. That’s why new Utah State head coach Ben Jacobson is a happy man. “I

By Timothy R. Olsen '09, MBA '18 Each spring the Utah State University campus transforms as snow melts, the Quad turns green, and flowers bloom. And as the semester winds down, finals are passed, and dorms are emptied, those colors begin to look just a little more vibrant in anticipation of