The play of Donovan Mitchell electrified Utah Jazz fans during his rookie season. As if the Rookie of the Year runner-up needed to do anything more to endear himself to Utah’s fanbase, Mitchell has been active in the community and has shown up at events not related to the Utah Jazz or the NBA. Notably, the star guard has attended BYU and University of Utah basketball games and a couple of University of Utah football games. The Utes even created a custom jersey for Mitchell. He rarely goes alone to these events, bringing other Jazz players along, usually Royce O’Neal. But the Jazz players have not ventured north of the Wasatch Front.
That changes this weekend. Mitchell, O’Neal and Georges Niang have confirmed via their own social media accounts that they plan to visit Maverik Stadium Saturday night when the Aggies take on Air Force in both teams’ conference opener.
Aggie Nation we have @GeorgesNiang20, @BucketsONeale00, & @spidadmitchell coming thru to show the Aggies love on Saturday night. We gotta be there and be loud! #WhiteOut #PackTheMav #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/JmUCsLlAW5
— Crew Ainge (@UncleCR3W) September 20, 2018
Utah State University fans and football administrators took notice of Mitchell’s attendance at other college sporting events and made a special plea to get him and other Jazz players to Logan. It began with USU Football’s Director of Player Personnel Zach Nyborg in a tweet on Sept. 4th, offering sideline passes for Mitchell and O’Neal:
Hey @spidadmitchell how can we get you to a @USUFootball game? I've got gear & sideline passes ready for you & @BucketsONeale00!@Bwagz help me out & tell em about #UState!
Spread the word! @USUAggies @USUBasketball @usuHURD @CoachWellsUSUFB @ScottyG1280 @975Hans
— Zach Nyborg (@znyborg) September 4, 2018
The USU Hurd jumped in to confirm they had officially reached out to the Utah Jazz.
We've reached out to @utahjazz. Hopefully we can make this happen at some point!
— The USU Hurd (@usuHURD) September 4, 2018
Later that evening, Mitchell and O’Neal took notice.
?
— Royce O'Neale (@BucketsONeale00) September 5, 2018
To help make his pitch, Nyborg tagged former Aggie and current Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner to help sell Mitchell and O’Neal on why they should attend. Wagner jumped in and said he also wants to attend a Jazz game.
It def should be a move. I gotta come check out a Jazz game.
— Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz) September 5, 2018
Then the conversation on Twitter went silent. The Aggies soundly defeated New Mexico St. 60-13 on Sept. 8th. The day after USU roughed up Tennessee Tech 73-12 on Sept. 13th, Nyborg made another plea. This time he enlisted the help of USU’s student section and upping the ante on what USU would offer Mitchell and O’Neal if they attended: custom USU football jerseys and special opportunities for the Jazz members to participate with the Aggies. Nyborg offered Mitchell the opportunity to be an Honorary Captain and do the coin toss.
@spidadmitchell let the @usuHURD tell you:
???????? pic.twitter.com/dLuJR0HWhL— Zach Nyborg (@znyborg) September 14, 2018
Not to be done outdone, O’Neal would be an honorary flag bearer with the team as they take the field.
Don't think we forgot about @BucketsONeale00 !
-White jersey for the WHITEOUT ?✅
-Honorary @USUAggies Flagbearer ✅Why not? ??♂️??#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/TBl1JkOKpC
— Zach Nyborg (@znyborg) September 14, 2018
Then, on Saturday, Sept. 15th, it appeared Donovan Mitchell and Royce O’Neal couldn’t turn down USU’s offer.
Might have to be ??
— Royce O'Neale (@BucketsONeale00) September 15, 2018
Even Utah Lt. Governor Spencer Cox took notice of the back-and-forth.
(Just do it Royce!) @usuHURD @USUAggies
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 15, 2018
And confirmed that he, too, would be in attendance Saturday night in Logan.
Oh, I will.
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 15, 2018
On Wednesday, not only was it confirmed that Mitchell and O’Neal would be making the trip to Logan, but also fellow sophomore pro Georges Niang will be coming along. The video of Niang and O’Neal, imploring Aggie fans to #PackTheMav, was shared by USU basketball player Crew Ainge.
Thursday afternoon @USU_Equipment shared a brief video of equipment managers preparing official jerseys for Mitchell, O’Neal and Niang.
See you Saturday #PackTheMav @spidadmitchell @BucketsONeale00 @GeorgesNiang20 pic.twitter.com/SQRZgkDxiq
— USU Equipment (@USU_Equipment) September 20, 2018