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Utah State coach Matt Wells isn't as upset as many citizens of Aggie Nation for a punch thrown by BYU linebacker Harvey Langi during the Cougars' 51-28 win Saturday at Maverik Stadium.

In the second quarter, Utah State's Devante Mays was stopped for a short gain on a run up the middle. He's being held up by other BYU defenders when, as the whistle blows to end the play, Langi hits him in the midsection.

Langi was not called for a penalty.

Asked about the play during a Monday afternoon conference call with the media, Wells said, "I did see it on the internet. My daughter showed it to me [Sunday] when I got home from the office. My reaction to it is, I honestly thought he was trying to knock the ball out.

"He's a very competitive young man and a very good football player and I didn't see anything he was doing that raised an alarm or raised an eyebrow with me. I think he was just being a competitive player trying to get the ball out."

• Wells also addressed other topics, including:

Question: What is Utah State's schedule this week, while it waits for a presumed bowl bid?

Answer: "We'll have a team meeting [Monday] and we'll lift and condition the guys a few times this week. There will be a heavy emphasis for the players on academics and a heavy emphasis for the coaches on recruiting."

Question: Was it detrimental for the Mountain West Conference not to have a dominant team this season?

Answer: "Everybody that lines up and plays wants to win every game that they're competing in. If we do that in our league, then we're going to have a higher profile [in] the Group of Five. But, every one of us is concerned with our program first and foremost and trying to win games. So that question probably needs to go to somebody else."

Question: Is it frustrating how Utah State (5-3) finished in the Mountain West Conference?

Answer: "There's definitely not frustration. You just know it's an ultra-competitive league which. right now, the Mountain Division is. … Last year, you had four teams in the Mountain Division win 10 games or more. This year, five out of the six teams in the Mountain Division are [bowl-eligible]. You're seeing ultra-competitive games, teams improving and real good competition. It's just a challenge."

Question: What is Utah State's quarterback situation right now? Would Chuckie Keeton or Kent Myers, who missed the BYU game with a shoulder injury, start a bowl game?

Answer: "It's not fair for me to answer that question right now, just because I don't know what Kent's health is going to be. We'll address that as we get closer to practicing and closer to game time."

Question: What will your practice schedule be prior to any possible bowl game?

Answer: "Once we solidify where we're going, when it is and who our opponent is, we'll set our practice schedule. It will be a mix of developmental practices with our young guys that haven't played much during the season — whether they were getting redshirted or not — and a mix of getting our veterans healthy. We also need to be physical enough in the practices to keep our edge — to be physical and aggressive going into the bowl game. It also has to be a mixture of fun with guys enjoying this as a reward to the end of a season. … You're walking the fine line [in] each of those areas [but] this is something we always want out program to be in position to do — play in bowl games. It's a symbol of success in college football but it also helps you as you're building your program, even as a springboard into spring ball."

Question: What has been the biggest disappointment for you this season?

Answer: "The biggest disappointment would be the first two weeks in November, losing two close ballgames [at New Mexico and Air Force] that ultimately decided the Mountain Division champion. That's disappointing, especially to lose them in two different ways. All three phases of our football team had hands in losing those games. Anybody that's in this business — as a player and a coach in the ultra-competitive world of Division I college football — that's what's disappointing. Losing those two games that ultimately decided who is playing this Saturday" in the Mountain West championship game.

Question: What has been the most surprising thing about this season?

Answer: "Maybe, right now, how well I feel the reception of recruiting is still going, even though we struggled a little bit in the month of November. I think the reception out there, both in-state and out-of-state, is still very high and it hasn't dampened the spirits of recruits or parents. So that's a positive for me right now."

Question: After missing three field goals against BYU — two on blocks — who will be the kicker in a possible bowl game, Jake Thompson or Brock Warren?

Answer: "We'll compete every day that we practice leading up to the bowl game for the kicking spot."

— Steve Luhm