A Mormon freshman

Anyone familiar with college hoops has the awareness that male members of the LDS faith, including those who play basketball, generally complete a two-year evangelical mission in their late teens. But we never heard this applied in the manner of describing an 'older' LDS newcomer to D-1 as "a Mormon freshman." That is, until now.

USU: Aggies get boost from not-so-young freshmen
Martin Renzhofer
The Salt Lake Tribune
12/15/2007

Stew Morrill made a bit of Utah State history by starting two freshmen Dec. 8 during the Aggies' nonconference victory at Cal State Bakersfield. While putting two freshmen in the opening lineup may not be earth-shaking to many, consider that it was the first time for Morrill during his 10-year run at USU.

But Tai Wesley and Tyler Newbold, both in their 20s, aren't the typical freshmen, except maybe in Utah. Both returned to Utah State after serving two-year missions for the LDS Church.

"They're Mormon freshmen," Morrill said following the Aggies' 88-66 win. "They're older and have had more life experiences. They have a higher maturity level."

That is why they weren't shaken by their first start.

"It was a little different," Newbold said afterward.

The last time Utah State started two freshmen in the same year was during the 1993-94 season when Jarobi Kemp started 20 games and Tony Schumacher started one game for then-head coach Larry Eustachy.

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