2009 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE PREVIEW
The Horned Frogs will feature a suffocating defense and could soar with the nation’s top half-dozen teams if the offense can gain power. Defensive end Jerry Hughes is one of the nation’s elite players. He looked even stronger and quicker in spring drills, which should frighten TCU opponents. Cornerbacks Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders are one of the nation’s best tandems. Expect TCU’s defense to pitch a few shutouts. Quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver Jimmy Young lead an attack that’s both dangerous and reliable. Young makes few mistakes. If the Horned Frogs can win at BYU in October, they could have a chance at an unbeaten regular season. |
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2009 SAN DIEGO STATE PREVIEW
New coach Brady Hoke wants to establish balance in the Aztecs' attack, which might have been the most unbalanced in the country last season. SDSU rushed for a total of 878 yards. |
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2009 NEW MEXICO PREVIEW
The Lobos problems in 2008 can be easily explained: they couldn’t score. In five of eight losses, New Mexico scored 10 or fewer points and scored a total of 36 in a season-ending four-game losing streak. In his final season, Rocky Long’s grind-it-out offensive style lost its bite. |
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2009 WYOMING PREVIEW
Anemic: that’s a kind word for Wyoming’s offense in 2008. The Cowboys scored seven or fewer points a whopping five times. The team’s inability to move the ball, score points, and keep fans awake led to Coach Joe Glenn’s departure from Laramie. |
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2009 UNLV PREVIEW
The Rebels don’t lack for depth at quarterback. Omar Clayton has traveled from fifth-string walk-on to dependable starter, and Mike Clausen has shown he can win if given the chance. Prize freshman Caleb Herring will push Clayton and Clausen. |
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2009 COLORADO STATE PREVIEW
Quarterback Billy Farris and running back Gartrell Johnson led the Rams mini-revival last season, pushing Colorado State to its best record in five seasons. That’s the good news. |
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2009 AIR FORCE PREVIEW
Coach Troy Calhoun is pushing sophomore quarterback Tim Jefferson to deliver more. That’s a major challenge. Jefferson was named the Mountain West’s offensive freshman of the year, and he enjoyed an often-spectacular debut. |
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2009 UTAH PREVIEW
If Utah can replace superstar quarterback Brian Johnson, the Utes could again be mighty. Unfortunately for Utah fans, that remains a big if. |
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2009 BRIGHAM YOUNG PREVIEW
This isn’t the team’s problem. Quarterback Max Hall leads a Cougar attack that could rank as the most powerful in the Mountain West and among the most powerful in the nation. Hall was sensational last season while collecting 3,957 yards and 35 touchdowns, and completing 69 percent of his passes. |
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2009 TCU PREVIEW
Quarterback Andy Dalton has been a rock for the Horned Frogs. He’s a wise, accurate passer who stays away from mistakes. Last season, he threw only five interceptions and went 105 passes without throwing one to the other team, and he’s a tough runner. |
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MWC reveals playoff proposal to BCS
NEW YORK -- The Mountain West Conference wants to lead the fight for a major college football playoff.
The MWC presented the BCS with a proposal Wednesday to create an eight-team playoff system that would allow greater access to the national championship game to teams outside the six most powerful leagues. |
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Schools not expecting change
Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson was the only commissioner from a non-automatic qualifying conference on Craig Thompson's conference call last Friday.
And he hung up early. |
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Commish fans D.C. with BCS message
by Graham Watson
Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson on Friday concludes a two-day trip to Washington designed to raise awareness of what he considers inadequacies in the Bowl Championship Series system. |
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Sooners, Horned Frogs provide interesting matchup
National rankings. Fascinating matchups on the field and on the sidelines. Two tough-minded teams from states that border one another.
No, the AT&T Red River Rivalry doesn't arrive until Oct. 11.
Oklahoma and TCU will provide a different kind of showdown Saturday: BCS royalty against BCS buster with more than its share of interesting subplots. |
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