1917 Utah Agricultural Aggies football team

The 1917 Utah Agricultural Aggies football team was an American football team that represented Utah Agricultural College (later renamed Utah State University) in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1917 college football season. In their second and final season under head coach Jack Watson, the Aggies compiled a 7–0–1 record (4–0 against RMC opponents), shut out four of eight opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 267 to 26.[1][2] The team was regarded as the strongest squad fielded by the school to that time.[3]

1917 Utah Agricultural Aggies football
Conference	Rocky Mountain Conference
1917 record	7–0–1 (4–0 RMC)
Head coach	Jack Watson (2nd season)
Home stadium	Adams Field

1917 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Denver $	6	–	0	–	0			9	–	0	–	0
Utah Agricultural	4	–	0	–	0			7	–	0	–	1
Colorado	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	2	–	0
Colorado Mines	2	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	0
Colorado College	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	3	–	0
Utah	2	–	3	–	0			2	–	4	–	0
Wyoming	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	4	–	0
Montana State	0	–	1	–	2			0	–	2	–	2
Colorado Agricultural	0	–	7	–	1			0	–	7	–	1
$ – Conference champion

At the end of the season, both Denver and Utah State were undefeated against Rocky Mountain Conference opponents. A game between Denver and Utah State was proposed to determine an undisputed conference champion, but Denver's faculty ruled against the game. Denver officials claimed the title and asserted that the Utah Aggies "have a right to claim nothing more than a tie for the honors."[4][5] Despite the controversy at the time, Utah State does not claim a conference championship for 1917 and lists the seasons as a second-place finish in its media guide.[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
September 29	Granite High School*	Adams Field Logan, UT	W 77–0	[6]
October 6	Utah Light Field Artillery*	Adams Field Logan, UT	W 21–6	[7]
October 13	at Montana*	Dornblaser Field Missoula, MT	W 21–6	[8]
October 19	at Montana State*	Bozeman, MT	T 7–7	[9]
October 24	Wyoming	Adams Field Logan, UT (rivalry)	W 57–0	[10]
November 6	Colorado Agricultural	Adams Field Logan, UT	W 47–7	[11]
November 17	Colorado	Adams Field Logan, UT	W 23–0	[12]
November 29	Utah	Adams Field Logan, UT (rivalry)	W 14–0	[13]
*Non-conference game

References

1. "1917 Utah State Aggies Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
2. "2018 Utah State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Utah State University. 2018. pp. 188, 195.
3. "Utah Aggies Loom as Conference Winners: College at Logan Has Quality Team". The Salt Lake Telegram. November 11, 1917. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Denver 'U' Cancels Game with Aggies". The Salt Lake Telegram. December 1, 1917. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
5. In games against three common conference opponents (Colorado, Wyoming, and Colorado A&M) Utah State won by a total margin of 120 points; Denver defeated the same three opponents by a total margin of only 31 points.
6. "Aggie Wins From Granite, 77 to 0". The Salt Lake Telegram. September 30, 1917. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Second Victory Is Captured by Aggie Squad". The Logan Republican. October 9, 1917. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Rawness Costs Bruins First Game of Season: Utah Aggies Best Montana 21 to 6 in Opening Battle". The Daily Missoulian. October 14, 1917. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Montana and Utah Fight 7 to 7 in Bozeman Wind". Great Falls Daily Tribune. October 20, 1917. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Utah Aggies Down Wyoming by Big Score". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 25, 1917. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Utah Aggies Win from Colo. Team and Are Still in Race for Title". The Salt Lake Telegram. November 7, 1917. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Utah Aggies 'Bust' Boulders, 23 to 0". The Salt Lake Telegram. November 18, 1917. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Aggie Warriors Defeat 'U' Grid Team in Fierce Football Finale". The Salt Lake Telegram. November 30, 1917. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.