The Mountain West Conference Thread

[Irish Stout]

MWC team in a BCS this year?

State of the conference: Mountain West

August 4, 2008 8:27 AM


Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

The WAC has been the conference everyone has been talking about in terms of BCS busters the last couple years, but the Mountain West has a chance to change that this season with BYU garnering attention as a potential spoiler.


BYU finished last season as the highest-ranked non-BCS team in both major polls and was pronounced the non-BCS favorite by the coaches last week.

But it's not BYU that has the Mountain West considered the non-BCS conference on the largest upswing. It's the team's few are talking about. Utah and TCU have opportunities to creep into the BCS buster picture with major games against Michigan and Oklahoma, respectively. Utah was beaten down by injuries last year, but has all of those players back. TCU had several off-field distraction last year, but both coach and players say those distractions are gone.

"I think some people might count us out, which is great," TCU center Blake Schlueter said. "I hope everybody thinks that we're not any good because then we'll get the opportunity to go show them. We've typically done well I the underdog role because we go out there hungrier, I guess."

Teams such as New Mexico, which is the only Mountain West team to gain bowl eligibility each of the last seven seasons, Wyoming and Air Force all have the potential to push for the league title.

Top to bottom, the Mountain West is the most balanced non-BCS conference. It is the only non-BCS conference to have five teams finish last season with eight or more wins. And it and the Mid-American conference were the only non-BCS conferences without a one-win team.

"Our conference is full of great teams and somebody like UNLV, who got picked (in the preseason rankings) can always come and knock the top team off," Schlueter said.

The Mountain West is also progressing off the field. The conference's television station will be part of DirecTV's standard package and the conference has the same proposal out to Dish Network.

Commissioner Craig Thompson said the conference is also in negotiations with the Humanitarian Bowl to be the league's fifth bowl partner.


Brigham Young Cougars, Utah Utes, Texas Christian Horned Frogs, Blake Schlueter, non-BCS, state of conference

[Kaylore]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/previe...ory?id=3529952

Few football rivalries around the country combine the fierceness of the gridiron with the passion of religion like BYU and Utah, and this year their rivalry could have an impact of national proportions. No Mountain West team has accomplished an undefeated, BCS bowl season since Utah in 2004, but the Cougars and Utes have the rosters and the schedules to be the conference's hope in the BCS standings.

The schools have battled on the football field for 86 years -- or 112 if you go by Utah's records -- but few outside know the depth of the rivalry and the contempt each team has for the other. That could change this season as the finale on Nov. 22 could mean the difference between an undefeated record and BCS berth.

"In the state, [the rivalry] is one of the most fierce things I've ever witnessed of any of the places that I've coached," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "There isn't a gray area here. No in-between. You're either a BYU fan or a Utah fan."

During the early part of the season, Utah has a chance to make a name for itself with games against Michigan and Oregon State, while BYU will face Pac-10 foes Washington and UCLA. Those are important stepping-stones toward gaining momentum and prestige heading into a Mountain West Conference that BYU has swept each of the last two seasons, including dramatic wins over Utah during the final games of the season.

But as great as BYU has been over the last two seasons -- 11 wins in 2006 and 2007 -- the Cougars have never generated as much buzz as they have this preseason. As luck would have it and in true rivalry fashion, Utah, which won eight of its last nine to finish 9-4 last season, returns almost all of its starters and is attempting to wrestle the spotlight away from its neighbors to the South.

It's easy to dismiss this rivalry because it doesn't have the immediate pizzazz of an Alabama-Auburn or a Florida State-Miami, but it's as rich in tradition and as heated as any rivalry in the country.

The game is often referred to as the "Holy War" because of BYU's affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and because Utah is owned by the state, the whole week leading up to the contest tends to take on a church vs. State undertone.

"I think one of the reasons that makes the rivalry so fierce is both teams are having success, No. 1, but the second thing is any time you have religion or faith into any topic, it would be similar to politics, the emotions that it brings out in people are just unreal," Mendenhall said.

During the opening contest between Utah and Brigham Young Academy in 1896 there was a full-scale brawl in the stands. BYU actually dropped football from its program for the next 26 years.

In the 1990s there were more brawls -- some between fans, some between players and some between players and fans. In 1998, BYU linebacker Derik Stevenson attacked a fan in the crowd who was harassing his father. A year later in Provo, a Cougar fan jumped out of the stands and attacked a Utah male cheerleader who was running around the field with a Utah flag after a Utah touchdown. The cheerleader proceeded to beat the fan until police separated the two.

The violence moved from the stands to the message boards and every year each campus braces for the defacing of property by the opposing school's fans. Even Utah coach Kyle Whittingham endures scrutiny because he graduated from BYU, which only adds to the intense nature of this rivalry.

"I don't think there's anything friendly about it," Mendenhall said. "[Utah] Coach Whittingham and I, I think, have a professional relationship and one of respect. But that's the extent of it.

"Both of us have to be careful how we describe [the rivalry] because no matter what we say it will end up with someone taking it out of context. You really can't make the rivalry bigger than it already is."

These teams are 9-9 in the last two decades and 10 of the last 11 games have been decided by a touchdown or less.

In last year's game, BYU quarterback Max Hall found receiver Austin Collie for a 49-yard gain on fourth and 18 with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. Harvey Unga rushed for an 11-yard touchdown with 38 seconds remaining to give BYU a 17-10 win.

BYU returns almost all of its offense from a year ago and is ranked No. 17 in the preseason coaches' poll. BYU also holds the nation's longest winning streak at 10 games.

Whittingham said this year's offense is the deepest he's had in his four seasons with the program. The Utes were decimated by injuries last season, but all of those players are back and the young players who stepped in now provide depth.

If these schools are as good as most predict, the game on Nov. 22 could be one that has fans and non-fans alike glued to their televisions, giving the Mountain West a much-needed boost in prestige both by BCS schools and within the non-BCS.

"In a perfect situation, that's the ideal scenario, to have that game come down to the championship every year," Whittingham said. "That's what college football's all about. When you have the opportunity to decide a conference championship against your No. 1 rival, I don't think it gets any better than that."

Graham Watson is a college football writer for ESPN.com.

[Kaylore]

Bronco Mendenhall > traitorous Kyle Whittingham

[24champ]

There's a lot of rumblings of the mwc expanding to 10 teams. The tenth team being boise state. However we also know Fresno state badly wants to join the mwc. So I forsee the mwc expanding to 10.

[Spider]

Wyoming gets no love

[24champ]

Originally Posted by Spider

Wyoming gets no love

Wyoming is building some nice facilities for their football program...and lots more upgrades coming for War Stadium. If they can put together a winning season, I can see more money pouring into their football budget.

[24champ]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Bronco Mendenhall > traitorous Kyle Whittingham

Actual pic of BYU players on their day off at seven peaks water park.


http://www.byucougars.com/Blog.jsp?SP=130&ID=26

[Spider]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

Wyoming is building some nice facilities for their football program...and lots more upgrades coming for War Stadium. If they can put together a winning season, I can see more money pouring into their football budget.

Powder river let er Buck bro

[fido]

the war just needs a roof....as far as utah vs byu.....i gotta say that there is zero love lost between byu and the pokes........hatred almost, really don't think it is as bad as it used to be though

[24champ]

Originally Posted by fido

the war just needs a roof....as far as utah vs byu.....i gotta say that there is zero love lost between byu and the pokes........hatred almost, really don't think it is as bad as it used to be though

What about the Utes...onside kick anyone?

[fido]

What about the Utes...onside kick anyone?

stuff happens.....turn about is fair play

[orinjkrush]

Originally Posted by Spider

Wyoming gets no love

Maybe, but USAFA gets less than no love. Being a Zoomie in Colorada is like being a Catholic in Mecca.

Of course, I still think Sundquist might have some socially redeemable qualities.

[gunns]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Bronco Mendenhall < saw the light Kyle Whittingham

Fixed it for you.

[missingnumber7]

Originally Posted by Spider

Wyoming gets no love

And will get even less after FCS North Dakota State travels to Laramie and thumps the Cowboys, which I will be there for.

[Irish Stout]

I had just about given up on this thread.

There is nothing I would rather see than the MWC get more respect and recognition. I love the addition of TCU. I think bringing in Fresno State and/or Boise State would continue to grow the conference with recognized football powers from these less loved, 'smaller' schools. Wish my lone voice had more input as to the workings of the conference... but alas.

Orinjkrush says AFA gets no love in CO and hes right, yet they've been pretty consistent in putting up a decent program year in and year out. CSU does ok for recognition, mostly cause they have more alums scattered across the state, but for some reason can't bring em back to Fort Collins for a game or two a year. Outside of CSU and AFA, people in CO don't even really realize that MWC exists... theres no way for that to change other than having good football teams in the MWC who continually challenge the BCS for bowl games.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by gunns

Fixed it for you.

Based on what? Medenhall has a better record. He has a better bowl record and he's undefeated against Utah. Only a moron homer would argue Whittingham is better.

[24champ]

Utes beat Michigan, awesome.

UNLV beats Utah State, awesome, prolly be our only win of the season.

BYU looked dominant against N. Iowa.

[theAPAOps5]

CSU loses to CU. Oh wait thats not good......... Unless you are a CU BUFF that is!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I had to do it but I won't do it again.

I watched the Utah game that was a fun one. Air Force played well too.

[24champ]

CSU is rebuilding...and nobody cares about the CU Puffs.

[missingnumber7]

Any Wyoming fans going to the game in two weeks?

[theAPAOps5]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

CSU is rebuilding...and nobody cares about the CU Puffs.

You sure did when you went into the CSU vs CU game thread to mouth off. Oh and CU is rebuilding too but just doing a better job at it.

[24champ]

I didn't go into any game thread to mouth off.

I just think CU sucks period.

[theAPAOps5]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

I didn't go into any game thread to mouth off.

I just think CU sucks period.

You are entitled to you opinion. But you said no one cares. You took the time to post about CU in that thread. So you obviously care. Lighten up Francis I am just giving you crap. Remember we have met I can't be mean now!

[24champ]

Originally Posted by ApaOps5

You are entitled to you opinion. But you said no one cares. You took the time to post about CU in that thread. So you obviously care. Lighten up Francis I am just giving you crap. Remember we have met I can't be mean now!

I meant in the context of this being a MWC thread...nobody that follows the MWC like those that have posted in this thread, really give crap about CU.

Yeah you can't be a meanie anymore...

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

BYU looked dominant against N. Iowa.

Until we got lazy in the second half and started turning the ball over. I know, it was a blow out, but that kind of mental lapsing cannot be tolerated. We're going for perfection and BCS bowl game this year and we need to be on every play of every game.