This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan • Chuckie Keeton's final go-round begins Thursday night, four years after his career began against Auburn — a debut so dynamic it will be remembered as long as Utah State plays football, even though the Aggies lost.
Keeton, a true freshman at the time, led Utah State into the spotlight on that September afternoon in 2011. The Aggies had not had a winning season in 14 years, but, against the defending national champions from the mighty SEC, they built a 38-28 lead with three minutes remaining.
Somehow, the Tigers rallied to win, to the delight/dismay of thousands of fans who left Jordan-Hare Stadium early. But the message Keeton sent during the spectacular showing, when he completed 21 of 30 passes and scored two touchdowns, was clear.
Suddenly, Utah State football was a different animal. The caretaker's name: Chuckie.
Four years and two knee injuries later, Keeton will start the Aggies' opener against Southern Utah at Maverik Stadium. This time, Utah State will be an Auburn-size favorite as he begins his senior season.
"Football is back," Keeton said this week. "It was a fun camp, but I'm glad everything is over with, and now I can get back into the thought process of going against an opponent [instead of] going against our defense.
"… We're in a place we want to be. We have some growth that we need to do, but we haven't been able to test ourselves against any outside competition. So it should be fun. I look forward to the opportunity of playing Southern Utah again."
The Thunderbirds know all about Keeton.
In the 2012 opener, Southern Utah visited Logan and lost, 34-3. Keeton completed 88 percent, or 22 of 25, passes, which is a school record for single-game completion percentage. He threw touchdown passes of 48 and 35 yards in the opening nine minutes.
Over the past two years, however, knee injuries have limited Keeton to nine games.
His career could have ended three games into last season, when he was reinjured against Wake Forest. But Keeton received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA, so he opens the season as Utah State's starting quarterback for the fifth straight year.
"It's incredible," Keeton said. "I don't know what everyone's specific goals are or what their story might be, but I never really thought this would happen for me coming into college. I'm extremely privileged to be able to do it.
"We've got some great fans and we've got a great team, so being able to be put in a position to lead them is a tremendous opportunity. That means I have to step my game up a little bit … and be able to lead the others."
With preseason camp behind him, Keeton is healthy. He's confident in his ability, his health and his teammates — especially an offensive line that brings back four starters.
"Very comforting," Keeton said. "I have a pretty good relationship with all of those guys, so there's a high trust factor and there's a lot of confidence. I've seen how they've all prepared, so I'm looking forward to it. I'm hoping they can give me a lot of time to keep me safe."
Coach Matt Wells believes Keeton's final chapter could be his best.
"You'll see a more determined player because he knows it's his last time around and he's been given a chance to do it again," he said. "You value playing time, you value games, you value reps a whole lot more when something is taken from you."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Southern Utah at Utah State
P At Maverik Stadium
Kickoff • 7 p.m.
Radio • 590 AM, 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9 FM, 102.1 FM
Series • Utah State, 3-0
Last meeting • Utah State, 34-3 (2012)
About the Aggies • They open the season at home for the 13th time since 1959. … They are 35-12 in their past 47 games. … They have won 18 of their past 20 home games, including nine straight. … They bring back 15 starters from last season, when they finished 10-4. … Quarterback Chuckie Keeton needs three touchdown passes to become the school's all-time leader in TD tosses.
About the Thunderbirds • They went 3-9 last season, including 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference. … Quarterback Ammon Olsen threw for 3,049 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior, despite not starting until the third game. … Senior DE James Cowser is a preseason All-American. Last year, he led them in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (28.5). … Ed Lamb is 37-43 in seven seasons as head coach.