Logan » A little more than two weeks after the end of his first season at Utah State, Gary Andersen sounded much more confident about the future. He sounded like a man who knew exactly what to expect in the coming months, like a head coach who is heading into the second year of building a football program.

Andersen never said as much, but what he accomplished in his initial year at USU says it all. On the field, the results were noticeable.

The Aggies won four games for the first time since 2002. They were an exciting team offensively. They played the top tier of the Western Athletic Conference -- Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State -- tough. They even made Utah and BYU sweat for a half. How long since anyone said that about USU?

Off the field, Andersen has built depth within the program. He's gotten his players to buy into his system, he's made it clear what he expects in the weight room and in the classroom, and he's eager to implement the building blocks that he has established and take the Aggies to the next level.

"I've learned a lot this year," Andersen said. "I had good days and I had some bad days. I think the second go-around I will be a lot more effective. I will be better. I think the kids will be better. My expectation level for this team will grow and we want to get out there and win games."

In that respect, the seeds have been planted. For starters, Robert Turbin might be the best running back returning in the conference, depending on whether Fresno State's Ryan Matthews goes pro. The second team All-WAC performer had a breakout sophomore season, rushing for more than 1,200 yards.

Diondre Borel has grown into a mature, dual-threat quarterback, capable of putting up 300 yards through the air, as he did against Idaho, and 100 yards on the ground. Defensively, Bobby Wagner was one of the best linebackers in the conference, a first-team All-WAC selection who led the league in tackles and came up with two interceptions.

And Andersen has fortified that foundation with a great start to the recruiting season, which includes Jordan quarterback Alex Hart, and Bryce Walker, Pleasant Grove's 6-foot-9, 300 pound offensive lineman.

"Gary has brought leadership and passion to the program," said USU Athletics Director Scott Barnes. "He's raised the bar and the standards around the program. Because of that, the student athletes have really bought into the program. We were very competitive, and we were in every game. There's no question, though, that everyone hoped for more wins, so now it's about going out on the field and doing it."

The unquestioned highlight this year was the season-ending win over Idaho. It was the first road win of the year for the Aggies -- and it came against a bowl-bound team.

However, there could have been more victories. Utah State had lots of chances to beat Nevada at home. The ugly loss at Hawaii was a head-scratcher. The narrow defeat at New Mexico State was rock-bottom.

The problem? The Aggies didn't know how to finish teams off.

USU's other weakness was up front, where the Aggies were woefully undermanned and undersized on both sides of the ball.

Andersen is attempting to solve one of those issues through recruiting. The other? Well, learning how to win can only come through experience.

"Looking back, I don't think we ended up where we wanted to be," Turbin said. "We wanted to play in a bowl game and we didn't accomplish that. That was disappointing.

"On the positive side," he added, "we had a winning record at home, we protected home field and we won our last game so we go into the offseason with some momentum. We just have to improve this offseason. That means guys need to be working out when nobody is watching. The other day, I saw the wide receivers catching 50 balls apiece and that's what it's going to take. Guys wanting to work hard."

Next season, Utah State's offense has the potential to be one of the WAC's best under offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin. The Aggies return most of their key players, and also get Matt Austin coming off a redshirt season.

Andersen expects Austin -- who will be a junior -- to be the game-breaking threat at wideout that the offense lacked this season. They also expect wide receiver Stanley Morrison to have a breakout junior year.

tjones@sltrib.com