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The news that Gary Andersen would be the next Wisconsin coach stunned not only Wisconsin fans, but those that cover and follow Utah State as well.

To get more information on Andersen, I reached out to a couple of their beat guys and graciously Wade Denniston of the Logan Herald Journal and Kevin Graham, the program director of KFAN in Salt Lake City,agreed to answer some questions. Both of these guys were doling out information all night on Twitter. (By the way, you can follow Denniston on Twitter @wdbowler and Graham @KevinGrahamKFAN).

Anyway, despite the long night, they were kind enough to answer a few questions via email:

Q. How surprised are you by this from Andersen? Especially after he put out a release saying he was staying and apparently telling the team he was staying.

Denniston: Shocked, to tell you the truth. I knew Coach A would eventually leave, but to have it happen this soon caught me totally off guard, especially after announcing he was staying. He's a very hot commodity and Wisconsin got a good one.

Graham: This was surprising considering he issued the press release saying he was staying at Utah State after turning down offers at Kentucky, Cal and Colorado. However, I believe he was sincere when he made that decision. It's just the Wisconsin job hadn't opened up by that time.

Q. How would you describe him as a coach?

Denniston: Energetic, passionate, dedicated. He's definitely a players' coach and the Badgers should love him. He'll do things the right way and his teams will be tough-minded and physical. Coach A will definitely put an exciting product on the field.

Graham: Everything you want in a head coach - attention to detail, motivator, disciplinarian yet players respect and love playing for him. He's direct and honest. What you see is what you get.

Q. What is the general reaction you are getting from Utah State people and fans? Beyond shock, that is.

Denniston: It's a mixture of surprise and well wishes, but this is all based on my Twitter feed. A few fans are angry with Coach A, but in his mind he has probably accomplished everything he could at USU. Most of the players are just talking about moving on and remaining positive for the future.

Graham: Some are angry but most are just disappointed yet understanding. Wisconsin is one of the best jobs in the country so I believe most fans realize he had to take it. The Utah State program was so bad for so long fans are just appreciative that he turned the program around.

Q. What do you remember about Andersen's reaction to playing at Utah State? We know he was complimentary of LB Chris Borland ("the best linebacker I've ever seen play on a football field,"), but did he mention the atmosphere, etc.?

Denniston: Coach A before the game: "You have a team with a tremendous tradition, a team that expects to win. It will be a hostile environment, I'm sure. I look for that to hopefully not phase a young team. A lot of these kids have been in situations like that, in big stadiums. A lot of them haven't, so how we react to that I think will be key and we are excited about the opportunity to line up and play."

After the game: " We played at a high level. That defense for Wisconsin wasn't good, but a great defense. They are very well coached. They play football the right way. I was even more impressed after watching the tape twice yesterday. The kids reacted to the road very well. They handled the situation well. We came up a play short at the end. There's no way, shape or form one play wins or loses a game like that. If the kick goes in, yeah it's a game-winning kick, but it didn't win the game alone. I feel the same way about it not going in. There are a lot of young men that you look at who could have made a game-winning play. That's my big thing is to tell the team to do your job and worry about yourself."

Graham: Outside of the disappointment of barely losing that game he was very impressed with the atmosphere there. I know he was frustrated with the fan support at Utah State. Despite producing a winner they barely got 17,000 fans to attend the games.

Q. Utah State ran a spread, which won't fly at Wisconsin. I know Andersen is more defensive-minded, but what are his theories on offense?

Denniston: He loves having a dual-threat quarterback, which is all he's had at USU. While the Aggies are a spread offense, they are pretty balanced. They like to take shots down the field with their speedy receivers, then grind it out on teams, as well.

Graham: He implemented the spread based on the personnel he felt he could recruit at Utah State giving the program the best opportunity to be successful. He has a sharp football mind and will adapt to an offense that will best fit his players at Wisconsin.

Q. How is Andersen regarded as a recruiter? He doesn't seem to have much - if any - experience in the East or Midwest.

Denniston: He's a very good recruiter. He started winning battles against BYU and Utah, which is normally unheard of for the Aggies. While at USU, his emphasis on recruiting focused on three areas: in-state kids, LDS Church missionary kids and Polynesian players. USU also had a pretty good Florida pipeline. He will definitely recruit well at Wisconsin.

Graham: Arguably the best recruiter in the state. He took over a program that was in ruins in the middle of nowhere and found a way to bring great athletes to the school. While his coaching career has been spent on the West Coast it shouldn't take him long to adapt to recruiting the Midwest. He has that innate ability to connect with high school coaches, players and parents.

Q. Wisconsin has three coaches which didn't leave - RB coach Thomas Hammock; OL coach Bart Miller and DB coach Ben Strickland. Could you see Andersen keeping any of these guys, or just bringing in an entire new staff?

Denniston: Not sure to tell you the truth. What I've been hearing is that he's bringing his entire staff with him, which makes sense since DC Dave Aranda turned down a job at Texas Tech and OC Matt Wells turned down a job at NC State. However, Wells could be considered for the USU coaching vacancy.

Graham: Sources have told me he plans on bringing most of his staff but not all of them. That tells me there is a chance he can keep one if not all three of those coaches. Since it's a completely new environment I'm guessing he would want some coaches that know the in's and out's of the program.

Q. Speaking of coming with him, do you think any Utah State players will follow Andersen? On Twitter, both his son Keegan and QB Chuckie Keeton appeared to say they would stay with the Aggies.

Denniston: I think Chuckie and Keegan will stay. I'm sure a few players, perhaps some verbals, will follow him to Madison. He has twin boys who will be freshmen in college next season. One plays linebacker and verbally committed to USU. The other plays wide receiver.

Graham: That's a good question. The players were very loyal to him yet I know some are shocked he's leaving after he originally said he would stay. Time will tell.

Q. What kind of defense does Andersen run? Aggressive? Blitz a lot? Press corners?

Graham: Andersen prefers an aggressive style of defense. He wants corners with speed and the ability to play man press coverage. He likes to confuse offenses with a variety of looks and pressure packages.

Other thoughts:



Denniston: Gary is a great guy. He was easy to work with. Wisconsin is getting a winner and it'll be fun to see him and Urban Meyer battle it out now.