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It’s been a whirlwind for interim Aggie head football coach Frank Maile the past two weeks. As Utah State prepares to take on North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl, Maile has been in charge of keeping the team together, running practices and making sure recruits have been contacted. The former Aggie defensive lineman wouldn’t have it any other way. “Our kids are awesome and if it wasn’t for the kids, it would be a lot harder than what it actually is,” Maile said Monday during a press conference. “They’ve made it pretty easy on me. Them handling their business on and off the field has allowed me to be able to prep practices and get them in a situation to be successful. It runs smoothly simply because of what the culture is like here and that’s the biggest thing.” Center Quin Ficklin and linebacker Jontrell Rocquemore were on hand Monday to talk about preparations for the bowl. Both were asked about Maile, who was appointed to be in charge of the team when Matt Wells took the Texas Tech job. Ficklin and Rocquemore both praised Maile, who is in his eighth season at USU as a coach. “I don’t think there’s anybody on this team who doesn’t look at Frank and not know for 100 percent fact that, that man loves me as an individual,” Ficklin said. “Not as a jersey. Not as a helmet. But, as an individual. That’s been great. That’s been exactly what we’ve needed here. He’s done a phenomenal job. He’s a passionate man, which I can appreciate. Frank has been exactly what we’ve needed these past few weeks. I don’t know what’s going to go on with him. I don’t make those decisions, but he’s a great coach and I’d follow him anywhere.” read more: https://www.hjnews.com/sports/usu/with-maile-at-the-helm-aggies-gear-up-for-bowl/article_6d5e8bb6-bde2-5e89-a130-f574d1d88c69.html

Utah State (10-2, 7-1 in Mountain West) The Aggies had an amazing year and were a serious New Year’s Six bowl option until they lost on the last day of the regular season to Boise State. That also kept them out of the Mountain West title game, but it shouldn’t distract from them being a quality team. They’re safely in the top 25 in both in human polls and S&P+, with a good offense and a solid defense to back it. Jordan Love, with his 28:5 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio, is one of the country’s best under-discussed players.They lost head coach Matt Wells to Texas Tech after the regular season, but his players are still here and still good. read more: https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/12/2/17563248/new-mexico-bowl-2018-north-texas-vs-utah-state-where-when-and-team-info

Sat., Dec 15, 2:00 p.m. ET in Albuquerque, NM Three things to know before betting on the New Mexico Bowl: 1. Over the last three seasons, the Mean Green are 0-7 against the spread when playing away from home against teams with a completion percentage of 58% or better. North Texas was also just 0-6 against the spread after games where it forced one or fewer turnovers this season, and covered in only one of its final eight games. Meanwhile, Utah State was an impressive 9-3 against the spread on the year. The Aggies came extremely close to playing in the Mountain West Championship Game, but were unable to earn a big road win against Boise State in the final week of the regular season. One issue this Utah State team is facing is the fact that Matt Wells will not be coaching in this one. Wells agreed to become the new head coach at Texas Tech, and he is bringing offensive coordinator David Yost with him. But Frank Maile—who will be in charge of this team until Gary Andersen comes back for his second stint with Utah State—knows that he’s best off not changing anything here. Wells’s up-tempo spread system is the reason Utah State was so good this year, and that is the team’s biggest advantage against North Texas. read more: https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/04/new-mexico-bowl-north-texas-utah-state-odds-picks-betting-preview

Re: New Mexico bowl is official Post by Aggie84025 » Today, 1:52 pm With Wells leaving and us losing to boise as well, I think this is a good spot. I am just thankful it is not the potato bowl. While the drive is short it is just not intriguing to me. North Texas is a good team and will be a real tough opponent. If we had our full staff here I would feel confident about this game, but with a depleted staff I am worried about a let down. Hopefully the players are motivated to go and perform well. Had a great time we played there a few years ago. USU Fan Forum LINK

Utah State rode a high-scoring offense and a disruptive defense to several weeks in the national polls and 10 wins during the regular season. The Aggies (10-2) will try to carry that momentum into the postseason. Utah State will face North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 15, as first reported by Stadium Network's Brett McMurphy. Game time is noon MST (ESPN) at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Utah State has played in the New Mexico Bowl once before, beating UTEP 21-6 there in 2014. "This is a tremendous opportunity for our program. It is a fantastic reward for all of the hard work and dedication that our players have put in, from all the offseason workouts, to watching film to the practice field. I am so happy for them," Utah State interim head coach Frank Maile said in a team press release. "We are excited to represent Utah State University, Cache Valley and Aggie Nation at the New Mexico Bowl." North Texas (9-3) finished second in the Conference USA West Division this season and ended the regular season winning five of its final seven games. The Mean Green are making their third straight bowl game appearance. Read more: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900044784/report-utah-state-to-face-north-texas-in-new-mexico-bowl.html

DENTON - North Texas has accepted an invitation to play in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 15 at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque against Mountain West foe Utah State. “Conference USA has had a great relationship with the New Mexico Bowl and we are honored to be representing the league, the entire UNT community and the North Texas region in a postseason bowl game,” North Texas Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “Coach Littrell, this coaching staff and these student-athletes have raised the level of expectations for this program. Playing in our third consecutive bowl game is something everyone associated with this university should take pride in.” The Mean Green continue their streak of consecutive bowl appearances under head coach Seth Littrell, posting a 9-3 regular season record. Littrell guided UNT to its second-ever back-to-back seasons with nine wins (1977-78) and the Mean Green have an opportunity to win 10 games for the third time in program history. This will be the 11th bowl game in North Texas history and third straight after playing in the 2017 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the 2016 Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl. It will be the eighth bowl game for UNT in the last 18 years, and this is the Mean Green’s first trip to the New Mexico Bowl. “We are excited to be playing in the New Mexico Bowl against a very good opponent in Utah State,” Head Coach Seth Littrell Said. “Albuquerque is an easy travel destination for our fans and alumni and I know this team is excited to play in front of a national audience on ESPN in the very first bowl game of the season. It will be a tremendous challenge but we are excited to get to work.” North Texas was the only team in the Football Bowl Subdivision to never trail by more than one possession in 2018. The Mean Green had another banner year from their quarterback, junior Mason Fine, who has thrown for 3,734 yards with 27 touchdowns to only five interceptions, while also adding two more scores on the ground. The defense took a major step forward in 2018 for North Texas, as it improved its points-per-game allowance by 13.2 ppg and ranked fifth in the country in interceptions with 17. Offensively, The Mean Green are on pace to set a program record in points-per-game, at 36.4. The current record is 36.2, set in 1951. UNT also ranks within the top-25 nationally in 20 major team statistical categories heading into its bowl game. This marks the first time since 2002-2004 that North Texas will play in a bowl game in three consecutive seasons. In those years, North Texas concluded the four-year run in the New Orleans Bowl after winning four consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships. North Texas and Utah State have met seven times, with the Aggies holding a 4-3 edge. The last meeting was in 2004, when the Mean Green knocked off Utah State 31-23 in Logan, Utah. The Aggies finished the 2018 regular season with a 10-2 record and a 7-1 mark in Mountain West play. Following head coach Matt Wells’ departure to Texas Tech last week, the Aggies have tabbed Frank Maile as their interim head coach for the bowl. Bowl tickets are now on sale. For ticket prices and to purchase tickets online from the North Texas Ticket Office, visit MeanGreenPostseason.com. https://newmexicobowl.com/