This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Thanks to Gary Andersen's continuing raid on programs in which he has past coaching ties, the Aggies have joined the Utah Utes in the search for new replacements, following Sunday's announcement that USU offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven has joined Andersen at Oregon State as quarterbacks coach.
The move wasn't too much of a surprise since McGiven knew Andersen from his 2009 stint as the Aggies' quarterbacks and assistant head coach.
So what does it mean for the Aggies and how much of an impact will it have on the future?
Luckily, the offense is a product of head coach Matt Wells as much, if not more, than it was of McGiven, so the impact of losing McGiven should be minimal on the offensive philosophy as a whole.
However, you have to give the guy credit for the way he was able to adjust this year to four different quarterbacks. Sure, the offense was never a real thing of beauty, but it was sufficient enough for the Aggies to enjoy a 10-win season.
To me, that is where the loss of McGiven will matter the most, the work he has put into these young quarterbacks. He knew their game, not only from practice and studying film, but working with them under fire in the heat of the moment. He knew their strengths, their weaknesses and mental processes. Those are all nuances that can be hard to replace.