Utah State players say they're opting out of Saturday night's scheduled game at Colorado State because of comments allegedly made by Utah State president Noelle Crockett about interim coach Frank Maile.
Stadium reported on Friday that during a videoconference with Crockett and Aggies athletics director John Hartwell, Utah State's football leadership council lobbied for Maile to replace former coach Gary Andersen, who was fired after the team's 0-3 start.
During that videoconference on Tuesday, according to the Stadium report, Crockett purportedly voiced concerns about Maile's cultural and religious background. Maile, a Utah State graduate, is Polynesian and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.