AS OF 3:20PM THURSDAY:
-Gary Andersen joined us live from Logan.  You can listen to the entire interview here.
-He laid out his plan that we discussed...Recruit in-state...put in a missionary recruiting plan...create a Polynesian pipeline.
-He will meet with Kyle Whittingham tomorrow to discuss the bowl game and whether certain Ute assistants will join him in Logan.  On the bowl game he did confirm what I reported earlier that he doesn’t feel he can serve as defensive coordinator for that game.
-Reports are saying Ute assistants Aaron Roderick and Kilane Sitake are definitely joining Andersen at USU.  Our own Hans Olsen checked in and reported that his sources are saying those reports are false and that neither have made a decision yet.  That goes along with what I filed earlier that Andersen felt he could get Roderick but Sitake would be heavily pursued by Whittingham.  After listening to John and Hans’ interview this morning with Whitt for a second time, I am convinced he’ll offer the vacant defensive coordinator to Sitake maybe as early as tomorrow.

Keep listening to 1280 The Zone or check the blogs for the most accurate and breaking news 24/7.

AS OF 10:10AM THURSDAY:
-As mentioned below Andersen is signing the Letter of Agreement before his press conference.  Contract will be signed in about a week.  I’ve been told most items have been agreed to in principal but just need to be hashed out in detail and put to paper.  A few items that I have not reported to this point includes the ability to control scheduling.  Obviously coaches want to put themselves in the best position to win.  Any good AD wants to win as well so I’m sure the two will come to an understanding.  Other items to get worked out include a buyout in case Andersen gets offered a job at a bigger program down the line and the dollars allocated towards assistant coaches.  A source told me that Andersen wanted to be assured that his assistants pay would be in line with the upper half of the WAC.  Obviously Scott Barnes agreed to this scenario.
-More details on the contract...5 year deal with a base of 350k which includes in radio/TV. Factor in camps/cars/incentive package and the deal goes to 400k.  When it’s all said and done Andersen will make over 100k more than Brent Guy.
-As Kyle Whittingham told John and Hans this morning, discussions are continuing on whether Andersen will coach in Utah’s BCS Bowl game.  A source close to Andersen has told me that he would like to be there to coach say the defensive line and offer input but does not feel he can be the defensive coordinator for the game.  Basically he doesn’t think it’s fair to either program to not be able to give his maximum effort. 
-On the assistant coaching front as I posted last night, Andersen would like current Ute assistants Aaron Roderick and Kilani Sitake to come to Logan.  It appears Roderick is likely to go, but I have learned that Whittingham is going to make every effort to keep Sitake.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he is promoted to defensive coordinator.  Obviously the other big thing Sitake has going for him is his connections on the islands for polynesian recruits.  This would be a good thing for Utah to retain him but a blow to Andersen who was hoping Sitake would come along to help him implement his polynesian pipeline plan to Utah State.

Andersen will join us today on 1280 The Zone at 3:20pm.  Keep listening and checking the blog for further details. 

AS OF 9:10PM GARY ANDERSEN HAS OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED THE UTAH STATE FOOTBALL HEAD COACHING JOB...
-Andersen will sign the letter of agreement Thursday morning.  An official contract will be signed in about a week.
-The Press Conference is scheduled in Logan on Thursday at 1pm.  Andersen will also join our show most likely in the 4pm hour.
-Once again my source has confirmed that it’s a 5 year deal worth around the 400k per year I posted earlier.
-Andersen did meet with Kyle Whittingham tonight and also called his players to let them know he was leaving.  Still no word on whether he will coach the bowl game.
-I have also learned that Andersen is interested in taking current Ute WR’s coach Aaron Roderick (his former offensive coordinator at Southern Utah) and Utah LB’s coach Kilani Sitake (former OL/TE Coach at SUU) with him to Logan.  A source also told me he may bring back a couple of former Ute coaches to join him at USU as well.

For the latest updates keep checking the blog and listening to 1280 The Zone.

AT 3:35PM AS WE REPORTED ON THE AIR FIRST SOURCES TOLD ME GARY ANDERSEN HAS VERBALLY ACCEPTED THE UTAH STATE FOOTBALL HEAD COACHING JOB.  HERE ARE THE OTHER DETAILS...
-A letter of agreement will be signed either tonight or tomorrow (Thursday).  I have learned the deal will be for five years.  As for the dollars, sources told me he was being offered “six figures” more than Brent Guy.  If Guy was making around 300k I’m estimating Andersen will make somewhere near the 400k range.
-A press conference to officially announce Andersen as the new head coach will most likely take place early Thursday afternoon.
-Andersen will talk with Kyle Whittingham tonight and I’m sure that’s when they will determine an exit strategy and whether he will coach the defense in the BCS Bowl.

Keep listening to 1280 The Zone for all the details.