League's TV deal could be costly for BYU

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MWC WEEK 3 INFO

Reception trouble arises again in Mountain West


Trying to become the first Bowl Championship Series outsider to reach the national title game, Brigham Young knows it can't waste opportunities to impress a national audience.

The Cougars, ranked seventh in the media poll and ninth in the coaches poll, can improve their case Saturday when they host Florida State.

But the game will be on Versus -- which recently lost distribution on DirecTV -- instead of a major network.

BYU's early success this season has stoked the ongoing debate about the Mountain West Conference's television contract. SI.com's Andy Staples wrote it's a shame a network such as ESPN won't carry the game.

Cougars coach Bronco Mendenhall said he has to focus on trying to win the game and "the daily runnings of a football program" and not issues he can't control.

Mountain West officials get jumpy when the conference's TV deal is questioned, and it was pointed out that even without DirecTV, Versus reaches between 65 million and 69 million homes. The DISH Network recently moved Versus to its basic tier, adding 5 million to 8 million homes.

Still, to many sports fans, if it's not ESPN, it's not on. ESPN reaches 97.8 million homes.

Staples argued that not being on ESPN ultimately hurt Utah last season. The Utes were the nation's only unbeaten team but did not play in the BCS title game.

Utah never would have been selected over Florida or Oklahoma for the championship game, though, even if ESPN provided weekly coverage.

And Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said Tuesday that the conference's deal hasn't hurt the program in recruiting.

"That is the real litmus test," Whittingham said. "If you're getting hurt in recruiting because of a situation, then that has to be addressed, but we had our best recruiting class ever last year."

Maybe the best way to gauge the TV deal's effect will be at the end of the season if BYU or another Mountain West team is undefeated. Will that team get an honest look at playing for the national championship, or will league commissioner Craig Thompson once again be making a trip to Capitol Hill to rail against the BCS system?

? CLAYTON INJURY -- UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton's MRI results were encouraging. He has a bruised right knee and a possible low hamstring pull but is expected to play against Hawaii.

Coach Mike Sanford said he would need to see Clayton in practice before determining whether he will start. A decision probably won't come before Thursday.

Mike Clausen, who helped the Rebels overcome a 20-7 fourth-quarter deficit in Saturday's 23-21 loss to Oregon State, will start if Clayton does not. Either way, both figure to play.

Also, Marquel Martin moved ahead of Travis Dixon on the depth chart at free safety. Dixon started the first two games.

? EAR-SPLITTING TIME -- No. 18 Utah and first-year starting quarterback Terrance Cain visit noisy Autzen Stadium on Saturday to play Oregon.

Whittingham is using blaring speakers in practice to simulate the crowd noise. He didn't sound concerned about Cain being able to handle one of the nation's toughest venues.

"Terrance is a very cool customer," Whittingham said. "I believe that he's going to handle it very well. Nothing fazes the guy. He's very even-keeled. If there's a guy that is a rookie quarterback that will be able to make that adjustment, I believe it's Terrance."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Read the latest UNLV football updates at lvrj.com/blogs/unlv_sports.

MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL

CONFERENCE STANDINGS
The Mountain West from top to bottom (last season's records in parenthesis):
No. 17 Texas Christian (11-2), off: Horned Frogs start late, but then play 12 consecutive weeks.
No. 20 Brigham Young (10-3) vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (12-2) at Arlington, Texas: First college game in new Cowboys Stadium.
No. 19 Utah (13-0) vs. Utah State (3-9), Thursday: Utes' 14-game winning streak is nation's longest.
Air Force (8-5) vs. Nicholls State (3-6): Falcons are 13-0 against Football Championship Series teams.
UNLV (5-7) vs. Sacramento State (6-6): Rebels coach Mike Sanford is 3-1 in season openers.
Colorado State (7-6) at Colorado (5-7), Sunday: Four of past five meetings decided by four points or less.
New Mexico (4-8) at Texas A&M (4-8): Lobos have had a 1,000-yard rusher each of the past seven seasons, the nation's longest current streak.
San Diego State (2-10) at UCLA (4-8): Aztecs lost all six previous games when opening season against UCLA.
Wyoming (4-8) vs. Weber State (10-4): Cowboys are trying to win their 10th consecutive home opener.

FIVE BEST PLAYERS
1. Jerry Hughes, DL, TCU: Media's preseason choice for Defensive Player of the Year.
2. Max Hall, QB, BYU: Media's preseason choice for Offensive Player of the Year.
3. Ryan Wolfe, WR, UNLV: Could leave as MWC's all-time leader in receptions and reception yards.
4. Stevenson Sylvester, LB, Utah: Las Vegan had tremendous Sugar Bowl performance.
5. Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU: Has the build of a tight end, but catches passes like a receiver.

THEY WROTE IT ...
ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel, on the chances of San Diego State's game at UCLA being postponed because of wildfires: "It would be easy to reschedule -- both teams have Dec. 5 open. But UCLA wants to play San Diego State early, not late. Early, the Aztecs will be trying to perform in the system that new coach Brady Hoke has installed. Late, they will have played in that system for a season."

THEY SAID IT ...
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, on facing former defensive coordinator Gary Andersen, now Utah State's coach: "We haven't talked for two weeks now, just out of professional respect. Ethically, it just doesn't seem right."
TCU coach Gary Patterson, on needing a clutch passing game: "Since I've been here that's the one thing we haven't been able to do. We've got to be able to do that to win ballgames. We've got to be able to throw the football when it counts."
Wyoming quarterback Robert Benjamin, on winning the starting job: "The biggest thing has just been learning the offense. It's just like, 'Am I going to be able to pick it up fast enough?' I just tried to do my best to pick it up and it's picked up nice and fine."

 

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Taumua out for revenge against Hawaii

Taumua out for revenge against Hawaii

Taumua out for revenge against Hawaii
Junior defensive end hopes to secure bragging rights for his next trip home

More than anything, UNLV junior defensive end Malo Taumua would just like a more pleasant trip home on his next voyage to the Hawaiian islands.

"It's for bragging rights," he said of the Rebels upcoming showdown with 2-0 Hawaii at 8 p.m. Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium. "The last two times we lost to them, I went back home, I got nothing but trash talk."

Taumua's heard it from Hawaii senior linebacker R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane and senior defensive lineman Rocky Svaiigaea, both of whom he went to school with at Aiea High in O'ahu. The Rebels were thumped by the Warriors during each of Taumua's first two seasons on campus, losing 42-13 on the road in 2006, then 49-14 in Vegas a year later.

Now, as a junior, he feels he'll have more to do with the Rebels fate, rather than watching from the side.

"When we played them my freshman year, I was getting picked on a lot because I was a freshman," he said. "Now I'm a junior. I'm aware of more things, I'm focused."

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Taumua has also transformed himself into the heart and soul of an improving UNLV defense.

Through two games, the vocal and animated Taumua has four tackles, a sack and an interception.

A year ago, he had a fall camp which gave every indication that he'd have a monster sophomore season. Overmatched at times and swallowed up by double teams on the interior line, he's already on pace to smash his numbers from 2008 at his new defensive end post.

Though Taumua isn't the only Rebel who sees the showdown with 8 p.m. as a game that carries added meaning. On top of the other four players who consider the Hawaiian islands home ? defensive tackle Ramsey Feagai, long snapper Kamu Kapanui, guard Sean Tesoro and offensive lineman Daniel Kaanana ? the Polynesian influence on the UNLV roster is extensive.

"You try not to put extra added incentive to it and keep it in perspective and keep it just a game," said UNLV offensive line coach Keith Uperesa, who recruits Hawaii for the Rebels. "The more you add to it, the more pressure you put on people. I like for the kids to just relax and play ball."

Clayton most likely a go

It's well known that if junior quarterback Omar Clayton is healthy enough to go, he gets the starting nod for the Rebels.

It appears as thought that will be the case on Saturday night.

A precautionary MRI on his right knee revealed no major damage, and showed that Clayton suffered just a sprained PCL during Saturday's 23-21 loss to Oregon State.

He was relieved by sophomore Mike Clausen, who went 6-for-9 and threw two touchdown passes during UNLV's second half comeback.

"He practiced today, but we're still not gonna make a decision until the week goes on as to how we're gonna do the quarterback thing," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said following Tuesday's practice. "It just depends on how he does this week or whether it swells up. But he practiced today and practiced well."

Sanford said a final decision won't be made before at least Thursday.

As for senior defensive end/linebacker Jason Beuchamp, he was back to practicing on his sprained right ankle on Tuesday, but wore a yellow vest over his uniform to avoid heavy contact.

He played roughly half of the snaps against Oregon State, and should be ready to go on Saturday.

 

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Putting the disappointment behind us and looking at Hawaii

POST FROM UNLV LINEBACKER Jason Beauchamp

Talking a little bit about last week's game, to be honest, I still think it's kind of eating at us a little bit.

It's something dear to us, being able to prove something to the world. I know Oregon State's in the Top 25 now. It's one of those games we really stepped up for, and to not finish it, it hurts a lot. But hopefully we use it for motivation and take our frustrations out on Hawaii this week. I think the team will definitely come around.

It's gonna be difficult, just as far as practices go, because it's hot and especially after a game like that, but come game time, we'll have something to prove.

There's a lot of good things and a lot of bad things, looking at that film. There were about four or five plays that stood out in my mind and that the coaches really pointed out, and for me, personally, it hurt a lot, because I know I could have affected more of the game.

I wanted to be out there, but things happen for a reason. I got out there and did what I could do with the plays I received, but for me, personally, being a senior, it was real difficult. That was one of those games that you play with your heart, everything you have, sprained ankle or no sprained ankle, you go out there and do it. So it definitely hurts.

As for the ankle, playing definitely set it back a little bit, but it's worth it. It's football. Injuries are gonna come, but you've got to learn how to play hurt some time. It's too bad it had to be now, but that's the reality of the game. I'm not gonna worry about it too much. I'm gonna do everything I possibly can as far as being in the treatment room and getting it better, and I think this week, I should be full go.

Hopefully I won't be babying it. Hopefully, mentally, I feel like it's full go. We owe ourselves, the fans and the school a win, just to be able to show the fruits of our hard work, what we've been doing and how we've improved from years past.

Looking at Hawaii, the passing game stands out to me. Their veteran quarterback, Greg Alexander, he's pretty consistent. What they do is very unique, with the shovel pass and how they disguise play-action pass pretty well. What Hawaii does doesn't change. How the offensive linemen set, what they do hasn't changed. Really, it's effective.

I think more so, this game's different than any other game.

In the past, we've been disrespected. They've run up the score on us, we've got a lot of guys from the Hawaiian islands, and it means a lot to them. This game is about pride, being physical, and who wants it more.

Hope to see you all out there on Saturday when it kicks off.

 

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Sept. 14, 2009


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- New Mexico (0-2, 0-0 MWC) begins Mountain West Conference play Saturday, entertaining Air Force (1-1, 0-0 MWC) at University Stadium. Kickoff is 5:34 p.m. The game will be televised nationally in High Definition on CBS College Sports, which is channel 274 on Comcast Cable in Albuquerque and channel 613 on DirecTV. The radio broadcast is also available on Sirius 157.

The Lobos are 0-2 on the season after losing their home opener to Tulsa 44-10. The Golden Hurricane limited UNM to six first downs and 171 yards of total offense, while forcing four turnovers. New Mexico was on the short end of total plays (55 to 80) and time of possession (24:50 to 35:10).

Air Force fell to 1-1 following a 20-13 loss at Minnesota. The Falcons led 10-3 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Last year, the Lobos finished 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the MWC, tying UNLV for 6th place. Air Force was 8-5 in all games, 5-3 in the MWC (4th place). The Falcons lost to Houston 34-28 in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. Air Force was picked to finish 4th in the MWC in the 2009 preseason poll.

NOTES TO KNOW BEFORE THE AIR FORCE GAME
? New Mexico has not started a season 0-3 since 2000

? UNM has lost 6 straight games, the longest drought since a 6-game slide in 1998-99: the last 4 games of `98 and first 2 games of `99...the Lobos have not lost 7 in a row since 10 straight in 1990-91, the final 6 games of 1990 and first 4 games of 1991...the Lobos have also dropped 5 in a row on the road

? The Lobos' offensive struggles mirror the current 6-game losing streak...UNM has not registered an offensive TD in more than 14 quarters, since Rodney Ferguson scored on a 5-yard run with 11:47 left in the 2nd quarter at UNLV on Nov. 8, 2008...since beating San Diego State 70-7 last year in Albuquerque, UNM has averaged just 9.8 points and 286.3 yards of offense the past 6 games

? The 16 points scored is the fewest by New Mexico in the first 2 games of the season since posting 14 in 1955: a 14-7 win over New Mexico State and a 25-0 loss at Colorado State
? The Lobos have a 4-game losing streak in MWC games, the longest since the league formed in 1999...it's the longest since 1998 when UNM lost its last 4 games in the Western Athletic Conference...the last 5-game skid in conference play was the final 6 games of 1990

? New Mexico is 3-7 in MWC openers, 2-4 at home and 1-3 on the road...the record is also 3-7 in MWC home openers

SERIES HISTORY / NOTES
? 27th meeting and the Falcons have a 16-10 lead
? Last year: 23-10 Air Force at the Academy
? 2007 in ABQ: UNM won 34-31 to halt a 3-game series losing streak
? Lately: Falcons have won 4 of the past 5
? Tied 5-5 in MWC competition
? Albuquerque: Tied 7-7, but Lobos have won 4 of last 5
? Team with the time of possession advantage has won 9 of the past 10
? The last 2 games b/w the 2 teams have been played on Thursday
? UNM LB Clint McPeek had a career-high 15 tackles last year


AIR FORCE HEAD COACH TROY CALHOUN - Former cadet Troy Calhoun (Air Force `89) is 18-10 in his 3rd year as a collegiate head coach. He is 1-1 against the Lobos.

LAST YEAR AT THE ACADEMY - The Air Force defense was frazzled and fatigued -- not that safety Aaron Kirchoff minded rumbling 96 yards on a fumble return that helped the Falcons beat New Mexico 23-10.

The Lobos forced three first-quarter turnovers and were about to jump out to a 17-0 lead when Kirchoff scooped up quarterback Brad Gruner's fumble at the Falcons 4 and sped down the Lobos' sideline for the second-longest fumble return in school history, cutting New Mexico's lead to 10-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.

Nobody was more relieved than Falcons freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson, who had fumbled away the ball and thrown an interception on consecutive snaps that led to 10 Lobos points and watched fullback Ryan Southworth cough it up at midfield moments before Kirchoff's game-saver on the final play of the first quarter.

Ryan Harrison's 31-yard field goal just before halftime tied it at 10, and the Falcons took the lead for good early in the third quarter following Glover Quin's fumbled kickoff. Running a play that was installed just this week, Jefferson faked a keeper, pulled up and tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass over the pile to tight end Travis Dekker.

The Lobos, who twice were stuffed on 4th-and-1 inside the Air Force 10-yard line, converted the Falcons' first two turnovers into a 2-yard TD by Ferguson and a 45-yard field goal by James Aho.

POSTGAME NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S GAME
? Air Force had 1 pass completion in 3 attempts, good for 1 yard and it went for a TD...it's the fewest passing yards by a Lobo opponent since Rice had 0 in 1997

? Entering the game, New Mexico had not allowed any points off turnovers in its previous 4 games; that changed when Air Force returned a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown at the end of the 1st quarter...the Falcons scored 17 points following 4 Lobo turnovers

? New Mexico entered the red zone 4 times and scored just once...the results were a TD, a fumble that Air Force returned 96 yards for a TD and twice failing to convert on 4th and 1, one time at the Falcons' 9, and the other at the 10

? UNM held Air Force to 228 yards of total offense - 164 yards below its average - and caused 3 turnovers...UNM scored 10 points after turnovers

? The Lobos ran 22 plays for 149 yards in the 1st quarter; the last 3 quarters, UNM only had 154 yards on 43 plays

2007 IN ALBUQUERQUE - Rodney Ferguson ran for 146 yards and John Sullivan kicked four field goals, leading New Mexico to a 34-31 victory. The Lobos capitalized on five lost fumbles by the Falcons - three in the fourth quarter.

Sullivan set a school record by hitting his 18th straight field goal, a 36-yarder that put New Mexico ahead 34-31 with 10:10 remaining.

The Falcons got a big break when Sullivan finally missed, sailing wide right on a 32-yard try with 2:18 remaining. But Air Force's Mark Root fumbled and Herbert Felder recovered for the Lobos, who ran out the clock.

Air Force standout Chad Hall had 97 yards rushing on 21 carries and had 247 total yards. Sullivan, meanwhile, connected from 43, 20, 32 and 36 yards to break the school mark of 16 consecutive field goals by Vladimir Borombozin from 2000-01.

A key swing came in the second quarter when New Mexico scored 11 points in 15 seconds. Sullivan's 20-yarder cut Air Force's lead to 21-13, and Tyson Ditmore recovered Ty Paffett's fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the 12. On the next play, Donovan Porterie threw a 12-yard TD strike to TE Chris Mark, then found Mark on the successful 2-point conversion to tie it at 21 late in the first half.

Ferguson scored on a 3-yard plunge on fourth-and-1, putting New Mexico ahead 28-24 in the third. It was set up when Air Force's Garrett Rybak had a New Mexico punt bounce off his leg and Ian Clark recovered for the Lobos. The Falcons answered with a 65-yard drive, capped by an 8-yard TD run by Jim Ollis to give Air Force a 31-28 lead late in the third.

IMPRESSIVE COACHING STAFF
Head coach Mike Locksley has assembled a coaching staff that possesses a wealth of accomplishments. A look at the numbers, including graduate assistants, entering the 2009 season:

128 - Years of collegiate and/or professional coaching experience: Darrell Dickey 24, Doug Mallory 21, Rubin Carter 20, George Barlow 18, Mike Locksley 17, Toby Neinas 14, Cheston Blackshear 6, J.B. Gerald 4, Mike Degory 2, Tee Martin 1, Mike Mendenhall 1.

25 - Bowl games coached: Mike Locksley 6, Doug Mallory 6, Darrell Dickey 5, Cheston Blackshear 3, J.B. Gerald 3, Toby Neinas 1, Mike Degory 1.

19 - Bowl games as a player: Cheston Blackshear 4 (Florida), Mike Degory 4 (Florida), Tee Martin 4 (Tennessee), Doug Mallory 4 (Michigan), Aaron Moorehead 2 (Illinois), Darrell Dickey 1 (Kansas State).

3 - Super Bowl appearances as a player: Rubin Carter 2 (Denver), Aaron Moorehead 1 (Indianapolis).

2 - National championships as a player: Cheston Blackshear 1 (Florida 1996) and Tee Martin 1 (Tennessee 1998).

2 - Former college head coaches on staff: Darrell Dickey (North Texas) and Rubin Carter (Florida A&M).

1 - BCS national championship as a coach: Doug Mallory (LSU 2007).

2009 PERSONNEL PICTURE - The Lobos return 41 lettermen, including 11 position starters, eight on offense and three on defense. UNM returns 21 lettermen on offense, 17 on defense and three specialists.

TULSA REVIEW - G.J. Kinne threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns to help Tulsa defeat New Mexico 44-10. The Golden Hurricane (2-0) took advantage of early mistakes by the Lobos, then got their offense in high gear in the second half.

Kinne threw two touchdown passes to Slick Shelley and one each to Damaris Johnson and Jamad Williams before being removed in the fourth quarter. Tulsa scored in the first following a fumble by Lobos punt returner Frankie Solomon at the 16. Four plays later, Charles Clay went over the middle from the 1-yard line five minutes into the game.

The Golden Hurricane were unable to find the end zone again until Kinne found Johnson from 2 yards out with 38 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Lobos got their first touchdown of the season in the fourth when linebacker Tray Hardaway returned a fumble 92 yards.

TULSA POSTGAME NOTES
? New Mexico had 81 yards of total offense in the 1st quarter, but just 90 the rest of the game...the Lobos (171 yards) were held under 200 yards of total offense for the first time since gaining 186 in last year's home and season-opener vs. TCU

Senior LB Tray Hardaway
? 8 tackles and he returned a fumble 92 yards for a TD in the 4th quarter
? the last Lobo to return a fumble for a score was DE Jaymar Latchison (28 yards) last year against San Diego State
? the longest fumble return in UNM history is 97 yards by Pete McDavid vs. Northern Arizona in 1936

Sophomore K James Aho
? made his only FG attempt, connecting from 48 yards, which tied a career-high for the 2nd straight game
? 21-27 FGs in 14 career games at New Mexico

Sophomore DE Jaymar Latchison
? Career-high 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble

Sophomore DE Johnathan Rainey
? 4 tackles, another sack and 2.0 tackles for loss
? 11 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss in 2 games, both off the bench

Sophomore MLB Carmen Messina
? Career-high 14 tackles, giving him 23 in the first two games...had 35 in 12 games last year

Senior DT Kendall Briscoe
? Career-high 3.0 tackles for loss (4 tackles total)...sack and forced the fumble that resulted in the Lobos only TD

Senior FS Frankie Baca
? Career-high 7 tackles - all solo - in his first career start (40 career games)

Junior WR Nick Wilhelm
? Walk-on led the team with a career-high 3 catches for 33 yards...4 grabs for 46 yards in his first season of regular gameday action

Junior OT Maurice Mears
? Made his first career start as a Lobo at right tackle in place of injured Ivan Hernandez

 

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Football around the Mountain West Conference

Football around the Mountain West Conference

Football around the Mountain West Conference

New Mexico coach Mike Locksley said Tuesday he?s been encouraged by how his players have responded this week after a difficult start to the season.

The Lobos lost their first two games, to Texas A&M and Tulsa, by a combined 85-16.

?Players typically are resilient, and they realize we?ve still got a lot of football left to play this season,? Locksley said. ?All of our goals are still ahead of us. We?re still able to attain all the goals we?ve set for ourselves going into the year. But somehow we?ve got to start by getting win one.?

The Lobos will try again for win No. 1 in the Locksley Era this Saturday when they play host to Air Force.

Locksley said his team prepared well in practice for each of its first two games and played with ?great effort? in both games.

?What we?ve done is we?ve played really sloppy football in all three phases,? Locksley said. ?To have 10 fumbles in two games and lose five of them. To give up 10 sacks in two games. Every time we?ve had a big play, we?ve had penalties to bring back big plays. We?ve had fumbles after big plays. And then on the defensive side, we?ve got to get off the field on third down and we?ve got to prevent big plays ? 251 yards of (Tulsa?s) passing attack last weekend came off of 10 plays, so it?s hard to beat any team when you do those things.?

UNLV didn?t finish

UNLV lost to Oregon State on Saturday, 23-21, when the Beavers hit a 33-yard field goal with 7 seconds left.

According to Rebels coach Mike Sanford, ?it shouldn?t have come down to that.?

?We should have executed better and not put ourselves in that position,? Sanford said.

A key penalty helped the Beavers drive for the field goal.

After a sack, Oregon State faced a third-and-26 from its 15-yard line. The Beavers threw incomplete on the ensuing play, but Deante Purvis was whistled for pass interference, leading to a first down. Oregon State picked up three more first downs to set up the game-winning field goal.

?We expected to win that game, and we were in position to win that game,? Sanford said.

Hall spreading the ball

BYU lost receiver Austin Collie to the NFL, but has that made the Cougars? passing attack even better?

Collie?s absence hasn?t seemed to slow down senior quarterback Max Hall, who has completed 50-of-70 passes (71.4 percent) for 638 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions in two games.

?From the minute that Austin chose to leave and go to the NFL draft, when asked, every chance that I?ve had a chance to answer the question, I said we won?t replace Austin, but we will distribute the ball and we will have more parity and that will make our offense improved,? BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. ?And when our offense is best is when our opponent is not certain where the ball is going to go in any situation ? especially critical situations. ? So Max has been forced to grow really in the execution of our offense without a given dominant player, which is actually making us more effective.?

More impact plays needed

Utah?s defense limited San Jose State to 22 rushing yards on 22 carries on Saturday.

But one of the problems Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has with his defense is it?s not making enough ?impact plays,? like creating turnovers and sacking the quarterback.

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has had a similar gripe through two games with his defense.

Etc.

Through two weeks, MWC teams are 3-5 against teams from the six automatic-qualifying BCS conferences. The results are below.

Week One Results:

BYU 14, Oklahoma 13

Texas A&M 41, New Mexico 6

Colorado State 23, Colorado 17

UCLA 33, San Diego State 14

Week Two Results:

TCU 30, Virginia 14

Minnesota 20, Air Force 13

Texas 41, Wyoming 10

Oregon State 23, UNLV 21

Week Three Games:

Florida State at BYU

Wyoming at Colorado

Utah at Oregon

 

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Utah football: Asiata questionable vs. Ducks

Utah football: Asiata questionable vs. Ducks

Utah football: Asiata questionable vs. Ducks

Utah running back Matt Asiata, who leads the Mountain West Conference and ranks 10th nationally in rushing with 125 yards per game, is questionable for Saturday's game at Oregon.

Head coach Kyle Whittingham said the senior "dinged his shoulder up" late in the fourth quarter of last week's 24-14 win at San Jose State last week. He was replaced by backups Eddie Wide and Sausan Shakerin, who wound up teaming for 86 yards on nine carries to help secure the win.

Whittingham praised both backs for doing a great job in Asiata's absence. And, he added, they may have to pick up the load against the Ducks if Asiata is unable to play.

Quarterback Terrance Cain's running skills will also assist the effort, as will the fly sweep series involving receivers David Reed and Jereme Brooks.

And don't count Asiata out of the mix, even if he gets limited reps in practice.

"A proven guy like that, if he's ready, it's probably a game-time decision," Whittingham said. "We'll know more as the week progresses."

The same goes for left guard Caleb Schlauderaff. The junior was pulled out of the San Jose State game early for precautionary reasons with a sore knee.

JUST FOR KICKS: Whittingham said that senior Ben Vroman and junior Joe Phillips will battle it out for Utah's starting kicking job. Vroman missed badly on attempts from 50, 53 and 36 yards out against San Jose State and was replaced by Phillips, who connected on a 25-yarder with 13 seconds remaining.

"We'll have a competition this whole week in practice," said Whittingham, who added that the Utes may adopt a two-kicker system with short-range and long-range specialists.

Vroman, who handles Utah's kickoff duties, has superior leg strength.

"Ben was just in a funk on Saturday night. He's a good kicker. He's talented," Whittingham said. "But the bottom line is when the pressure is on you've got to perform. So we've got to go with who we think is going to get that done. So, we'll see what happens."

EXTRA POINTS: Utah leads the MWC in total offense and is 12th nationally with 509 yards per game ... The Utes have now won nine straight games away from Rice-Eccles Stadium, closing in on the school record of 11 consecutive set during the Urban Meyer era ... Asiata tops the nation in rushing attempts with 56 ... Safety Joe Dale leads the Utes with 14 tackles ... Through two games, the opposition has yet to return a punt against Utah.

Utes on the air

No. 16 Utah (2-0) at Oregon (1-1)

Saturday, 1:30 p.m., MT

TV: ESPN

 

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AIR FORCE PRESS RELEASE

Air Force opens Mountain West Conference play this week by traveling to Albuquerque, N.M., to take on New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised by CBS College. This week is the MWC opener for both schools. The Falcons are 9-1 all-time in MWC openers and have won nine straight. The team is 4-0 on the road in MWC openers. Air Force and New Mexico each lost last week. The Falcons were beaten, 20-13, at Minnesota while the Lobos dropped a 44-10 decision vs. Tulsa at home. Air Force has won four of the last five games vs. New Mexico, including last year's 23-10 win in Falcon Stadium. Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun discussed the game and Air Force's season at his weekly teleconference this week at the Air Force Academy.


BYU MEDIA GUIDE

NEW MEXICO VS AIR FORCE

 

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SDSU VS IDAHO

Aztec Football Press Conference Quotes
Head coach Brady Hoke and players look forward to Idaho.



Sophomore quarterback Ryan Lindley joined other players for the weekly football press conference.



Sept. 15, 2009



Sept. 15, 2009


SDSU Weekly Football Press Conference Quotes
Aztec Athletics Center


SDSU Head Coach Brady Hoke

Opening Statement:
Obviously it's good to win. That's why you've worked so hard since January and the kids have done a great job with that and the work ethic. The ball game was probably a little off-balance to some degree. You can't turn the ball over and we don't expect to turn the ball over. We had 8 penalties in there, a couple of them aggressive penalties that we can deal with. But those procedure penalties, and those kinds of penalties, holding penalties to some degree when you're not moving your feet, are things that we've got to get corrected. Overall I thought our guys played with effort and we had better intensity. Idaho's a much better team than the one we just played. We've got our work cut out for us.

On whether he felt the played a better game at UCLA despite the loss than against Souther Utah.
I think there are some indicators that maybe we did in some respects. We missed 6 tackles against UCLA. We missed 11+ right near 14 against Southern Utah. Southern Utah had some good football players, but at the same time UCLA has some pretty good football players. We just have to have a better intensity in getting hats to the ball.

On what he see's is the difference between playing with effort and playing with intensity.
I thing there are a lot of different factors: Number 1 when you're intense about something that you do, you're going to have a real focus and a real energy towards it. I thought when you are watching at the point of attack, a couple of times we didn't finish blocks and when we had holes there, they filled too quickly. So that's a matter of either intensity or how your habits are, how you're going to focus and finish. Defensively, as we looked at it, we thought we have to get a few more guys to the football. We didn't do that as well as we'd like to. The penalties before the ball snap are things that, that's paying attention to detail. That's doing a good job of really focusing and then having that intensity.





On the lack of push in the fourth quarter as opposed to earlier in the game.
One of our team goals is to win the fourth quarter. When you don't do that you've got a higher percentage and a chance to lose. What we did on Sunday as a defense is Rocky took the drive right before the end of the 1st half and looked at the 7 or 8 plays that were in there as they moved the ball down the field and then you look at the 4 plays from the 2-yard line and there was a drastic difference in our minds of the intensity that we played with. That's all part of it, and winning the fourth quarter is a huge goal for us because when you do that, you have a good chance of winning.

On his impressions of Idaho after watching film.
They're a good football team. Robb Akey has done a tremendous job and they have a tremendous staff. A lot of those guys have been coaching a long time. They've done a good job of recruiting. You look at the New Mexico State game from an offensive perspective, and they run for 171, and then at Washington they throw for 349. You talk about a team that when you look at the quarterback, I think he is a very good football player, big strong-arm guy who does a nice job of throwing the ball down the field, getting off the launch, pointing some, and some of the boots and nakeds they do, he makes good decisions. You look at the offensive line, who is a really big physical group and you go back from last year and look at you know how they're coached, and you know how they want to own the line of scrimmage and change the line of scrimmage. They're athletic at the wide receiver and at the tight end, Hardy, Number 88, is a really productive tight end, very athletic and can get in the seams. Defensively, they've got 2 tackles that I think do a nice job of doing their job of eating up blocks and getting after it. When you look at the secondary, Number 10, he makes all the tackles and he plays and he's also a great punt returner. I think you look at them as a football team, they're well coached and they play with a real physicalness to them on both sides of the ball.

On what they can take from last year's game vs. Idaho and put into this Saturday
It's a different offense. Obviously Vince[nt Brown] had a pretty good day and he's had some pretty good days this year. We're going to be who are; we're not going to manufacturer things that were done a year ago because the style is different. We've got to be able to run the football, obviously. When you look at time of possession and the ability to run the ball and how it opens up some other things that you want to do offensively. So that'll be a big part of it.


On where the line is drawn between celebrating after a win and getting back to work on mistakes that need to be corrected.
Win or lose, that's what our Sunday's for. Obviously, you don't want a team to beat you twice when you do lose. It's always better to correct mistakes after a win. It's just nicer for everybody, but at same point you have to, as a team, improve every week. If you don't improve every week, you're gonna stay the same or go backwards and both of those aren't acceptable. We've got to improve on how we play in many areas, have to improve our kick game, we've got to improve in how our kickoff returned, you look at part of it. We've got to do a better job. You look at the defensive line, we've got to do a better job reacting to some 3-step routes, and take on blocks. You're never going to play perfect game, as much as you want to. But no one's ever done it and no one's going to do it so we just got to keep chipping away and the mentality we want to play with, the accountability we want to play with.


On whether he was happy on how the team reacted towards the game.
Sure. I think as we got in the locker room, they had a sense that we didn't play as well as we're capable of and we have to keep making improvements and I think that they really felt that and they really understood that on Sunday.


Sophomore quarterback Ryan Lindley


On whether timing will be affected by the crowd noise in a dome and how important nonverbal communication will be.
I think with the receivers it's actually a lot easier. They're in a position where they're kind of the ball out wide where they can really just look off ball and not really have to worry about timing, and getting off and they can get off at the snap of the ball. Where I think it will be tough if anywhere will be at the lines, with the tackles making sure tackle to tackle they can all hear the cadence. That's the only thing I think that we make sure we do.


On Idaho's offense.
They're a much-improved team. They've made a lot of improvements in the offseason. They're a lot better team than we faced last year. I think Corey can go in and Coach Borges definitely has some good stuff dialed up for us. We just need to execute, practice, and be ready for Saturday.





On how the defense played against Southern Utah.
It's always great to win, but we didn't feel like . . .we could have done a lot more. We're just going to take that into this week's preparation and we're just going to build on that.


SDSU GAME NOTES

Aztec Football Game Notes - Game No. 3

San Diego State (1-1; 0-0 Mountain West) at Idaho (1-1; 1-0 WAC)
-Date: Sat., Sept. 19, 2009
-Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. PT
-Location: Moscow, Idaho
-Site: Kibbie Dome (16,000)
-Series: SDSU leads, 2-1
-Televsion: SWX (Idaho) shown live in the San Diego market on Channel 4 San Diego and in the Orange County market on Cox Cable Channel 3. John Fritz (play-by-play), Dan Kleckner (analysis).
-Radio: AM-600 KOGO (San Diego) and GoAztecs.com. Ted Leitner (play-by-play), Chris Ello (analysis) and Mike Costa (sidelines). Pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
-Internet: GoAztecs.com features complete game day coverage, including real-time stats, live audio and postgame interviews. In addition, GoAztecs.com will have exclusive coverage during the week.


IDAHO GAME NOTES

http://www.govandals.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&KEY=&SPID=10352&SPSID=87195

 

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No. 15 TCU hosts Texas State Saturday at 6 p.m. in the home opener

No. 15 TCU hosts Texas State Saturday at 6 p.m. in the home opener

No. 15 TCU hosts Texas State Saturday at 6 p.m. in the home opener


Sept. 15, 2009
<!-- LINKS TO RELATED PAGES BEGIN --><!-- LINKS TO RELATED PAGES END -->NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO

</PRE>FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU football coach Gary Patterson held his weekly news conference Tuesday in the Four Sevens Team Room inside the Dutch Meyer Athletic Complex and Abe Martin Academic Enhancement Center.

The 15th-ranked Horned Frogs make their 2009 home debut when they host Texas State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Included below are excerpts from Patterson's comments to the media.
On TCU's win at Virginia ...
"There is no substitute for winning, especially on the road. There are a lot of teams that only have four road games, because they play all four on their non-conference games at home. Going on the road and earning a win against a team in the ACC is good. The positive is that we won, and we feel like we didn't play our best. That is where you want to be as a program. If we felt like that was the best game we could play all year, everything else would be downhill from there. We made some mistakes and we understand the things we need to do better. We still have a lot of growing up to do, and I think that is a positive."
On the play of the Horned Frogs' offense at Virginia...
"I thought our offense looked good. It was one of the best offensive line efforts we have ever had. Virginia is a very big and physical group upfront, and we ran for over 200 yards. We only had one turnover early, and we didn't throw any interceptions. That's a positive for us. Our whole thing is that we held the ball for 35 minutes and controlled the game. At the end of the game, they don't give you style points. You're either 1-0 or 0-1. For us, we are 1-0 and that's all we wanted to be. The shorter you can make the game, the less likely you are of having someone get hurt. We've won a lot of football games around here by doing that."
On how Virginia tried to handle TCU All-America defensive end Jerry Hughes ...
"In the second half, after he got the sack, they started to double him with the guard and tackle. That is why we had three of our sacks from the tackle position. They were trying to use two guys to block him. He had a good game. He had 11 tackles and took part in a couple of sacks, and that is with us only playing 51 snaps on defense."
On Texas State ...
"We are going to play a really good passing team. They have a senior quarterback (Bradley George) who played five years of professional baseball, is older, 6-foot-6 and can move the ball around. They are really talented at the wide receiver position. They were in the playoffs a year ago. They have a very consistent defense and they can wing it offensively. For us, it's going to be a great challenge. They've had two weeks to prepare and two of their offensive coaches (Kevin Brown and Travis Bush) were graduate assistants here. In fact, a lot of their offense has the same things that we do. They know us very well and how we prepare. When you give them two weeks to get ready for us, it will probably be a barn burner." On TCU's goals for this week ...
"You want to get better as a team. To be ranked No. 15 in the nation and be a program with a status like that, you need to come out and practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and play on Saturday, because that is where you belong. If you want to take a day off, then you won't be there. The whole thing still comes down to people's opinion and votes. We have to go play and get better as a football team." <!-- STORY AD BEGINS HERE -->

http://gofrogs.cstv.com/index-main.html#00

 

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Ute Football Faces Stiff Test At Oregon

Ute Football Faces Stiff Test At Oregon

Ute Football Faces Stiff Test At Oregon

No. 18/16 Utes have nation's longest active win streak

No. 18/16 Utah (2-0, 0-0 MWC) plays Oregon (1-1, 0-0 Pacific-10) in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 19. Game time is 12:30 p.m. PT (1:30 p.m. MT) in Autzen Stadium. The game will be televised live on ESPN. Radio is KALL 700 AM (kall700sports.com).

> In the latest rankings, Utah moved up a place in the coaches' poll to No. 16 and fell one spot to No. 18 in the Associated Press rankings. The Utes were ranked No. 17 in both polls the previous week.

> Utah owns the longest current win streak (16 games) and bowl win streak (eight games) in the nation.

> Utah's 16-game win streak is tied for the second-longest in school history and dates back to a victory over Navy in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl. The school record is 18 consecutive games from Nov. 1, 2003-Sept. 10, 2005.

> With last week's victory at San Jose State, Utah matched the second-longest road/neutral win streak in school history and now has nine straight wins away from home dating back to Dec. 20, 2007. The school record is 11 straight road/neutral wins, set from Sept. 27, 2003-Jan. 1, 2005.

> Since 2003, Utah is 6-2 against the Pac-10 with wins over California (2003), No. 19 Oregon (2003), Arizona (2004, 2005), No. 11 UCLA (2007) and Oregon State (2008). Losses were to UCLA (2006) and Oregon State (2007). Kyle Whittingham is 3-2 against the Pac-10 as Utah's head coach.

> Whittingham is 7-3 against BCS teams. Wins came against No. 4 Alabama (2009/2008 season), Michigan (2008), Oregon State (2008), UCLA (2007), Louisville (2007), No. 24 Georgia Tech (2005) and Arizona (2005). Losses were to Oregon State (2007), UCLA (2006) and North Carolina (2005).

> Utah beat Oregon the last time out in 2003, but trails the series 17-8. Utah's last win in Autzen Stadium was in 1994.


2009 utah football news

Oregon Weekly Football Release - Week 3

For the complete release with full notes, statistics, etc., please view the PDF.
GAME TIME
Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PDT at Autzen Stadium with a live telecast on ESPN. A live radio broadcast will be available across the Oregon Sports Network and on XM 194 and Sirius 217.

THE SERIES
?The Ducks lead the all-time series with Utah, 17-8, and are 5-2 against the Utes at Autzen Stadium.
?Utah won the most recent meeting, 17-13, in Salt Lake City in 2003. Prior to that, the Ducks had taken three straight, starting in former head coach http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22667Mike Bellotti?s first season in 1995.

QUICK HITS
?Last week?s win over Purdue was the first of http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=803271Chip Kelly?s head coaching career.
?Oregon will be facing a ranked opponent for the second time in three games this season.
?After his ?pick-6? last week against Purdue, the Ducks are now 4-0 in games when SR CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III scores a touchdown.
?JR MLB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149796Casey Matthews ranks second in the Pac-10 in overall tackles (22) and tackles per game.
?JR DE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149819Kenny Rowe is the conference leader in sacks through Week 2 with 2.5.
?UO?s offensive numbers are down across the board from a year ago, but when the Ducks have made it to the Red Zone, they are a perfect 5-for-5 , including four touchdowns in ?09.
?Oregon?s two defensive touchdowns last week against Purdue were the most in a game by the Ducks since they had a pair against Oregon State in last year?s Civil War.
?Week 1 of the NFL season saw 18 former Ducks on active rosters, including five from last year?s Holiday Bowl team. All told, 23 former UO players are in the league (three on injured reserve, two on practice squads).
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]BLOUNT SUSPENDED
SR RB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550406LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the remainder of the season following his involvement in a post-game incident after Oregon?s 19-8 loss at Boise State on Sept. 3. Head coach http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=803271Chip Kelly will allow Blount to remain a part of the school?s football program and remain on scholarship throughout the remainder of the year. Blount will continue to have access to all of the university?s support services provided to student-athletes. He will be allowed to take part in all team activities, including practice with the team, and will be held accountable to all team rules and regulations. Blount rushed for 1,002 yards a year ago and established a school record with 17 rushing touchdowns. He finishes his UO playing career with 997 yards and 17 TDs.

KELLY AT AUTZEN
Head coach http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=803271Chip Kelly made his sideline debut at Autzen Stadium in the home opener Sept. 12 (W 38-36) after spending the past two seasons calling plays from a booth high above the field as the team?s offensive coordinator. Since Kelly?s arrival, the Ducks are 11-3 at Autzen, averaging 40.6 points per game at home.

THE TOUGHER THE BETTER
Through Week 2 of the college football season, Oregon?s 2009 schedule is the sixth toughest in the Football Bowl Subdivision based on past and future opposition for teams that play at least nine inter-division games. Only Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin - in that order - are considered to have more difficult slates.

AMONG THE FBS LEADERS
JR DE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149819Kenny Rowe is tied for 14th nationally in sacks, averaging 1.25 per game ... JR MLB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149796Casey Matthews is tied for 18th in tackles per game at 11.0 ... SR CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III ranks 19th in kickoff returns with an average of 29.75.

PICK-6 TIMES III
SR CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III recorded the third interception return for a touchdown of his career in UO?s Sept. 12 win vs. Purdue, placing him in a three-way tie with Rashad Bauman (1997-01) and Kenny Wheaton (1994-96) for the most in school history. Thurmond is also tied with Tennessee?s Eric Berry and UCLA?s Alterraun Verner for the most Pick-6 touchdowns by active NCAA FBS players.

MORE ON WT3
With 180 career solo tackles, SR CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III ranks second among active NCAA FBS players in that category, seven behind Andrew Sendejo of Rice. He is also second - tied with Tennessee?s Eric Berry - on the interceptions list among active players with 12.

TD MACHINE
While Oregon?s potent rushing attack from a year ago has yet to materialize in 2009, JR QB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550447Jeremiah Masoli has still managed to find the endzone in the team?s first two games. The Bay Area native has rushed for at least one score in eight of his last nine games and now has 12 career TDs in 14 games as a Duck.

WELL DRE?SERVED
SR RB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=529195Andre Crenshaw earned his second career start - and first since 2007 - in Oregon?s win vs. Purdue, Sept. 12. He finished with 23 yards and scored the Ducks? first touchdown of the game, the sixth of his career.

IN THE CLASSROOM
No fewer than eight players have either already completed requirements for their undergraduate degrees or are expected to by the end of the coming season. DE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149332Will Tukuafu and DB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=175559Titus Jackson already have earned their degrees while CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=70422Willie Glasper is on track to complete graduation requirements by the end of the current summer term. TE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=175551Ed Dickson, LB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1212570Riley Showalter, CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III, DT http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=177421Simi Toeaina and DB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=529225T.J. Ward are all expected to qualify to graduate no later than the end of the 2009 fall term.

OREGON ALUMS
It speaks well of a program when former players return to their alma mater after they have graduated to fill a role within the athletics department and Oregon has benefitted from an influx of recent returnees. In addition to long-time assistant coaches http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22673Steve Greatwood and http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22689Don Pellum, who have both served on the Oregon coaching staff for over 20 years, the Ducks have added four former players in various capacities. Former standout linebacker http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=3686051Peter Sirmon (1996-99) begins his first year as one of Oregon graduate assistant coaches, In addition, former defensive backs Rashad Bauman (1997-01) and http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=529204Matthew Harper (2006-07) have returned as football interns while wide receiver http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22937Garren Strong (2004-07) is a recruiting intern.

COACHING CONTINUITY
An overlooked facet of Oregon?s success has been the continuity of its coaching staff. Although first-year head coach http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=803271Chip Kelly begins only his third season as part of the Ducks? program and only the school?s third head football coach in 33 years, the core of the staff has remained intact over the course of three different head coaches. Running backs coach http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22688Gary Campbell enters his 27th year on the Oregon staff, which equals the longest tenure of any Oregon assistant football coach in school history. In addition, offensive line coach and running game coordinator http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22673Steve Greatwood begins his 25th year on the Ducks? coaching staff, linebackers coach http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22689Don Pellum is in his 22nd season, while defensive coordinator http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22687Nick Aliotti begins his 19th season at Oregon.

WATCH OUT
As has become the norm for Oregon football, the Ducks have several players on preseason watch lists for major college football awards:

Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year)
SR DE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149332Will Tukuafu

Ted Hendricks Award (top def. lineman)
SR DE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149332Will Tukuafu

John Mackey Award (top tight end)
SR TE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=175551Ed Dickson

Manning Award (top quarterback, including bowl games)
JR QB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550447Jeremiah Masoli

Maxwell Award (player of the year)
SR RB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550406LeGarrette Blount
JR QB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550447Jeremiah Masoli

Davey O?Brien Award (top quarterback)
JR QB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550447Jeremiah Masoli

Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back)
SR CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III

Doak Walker Award (top running back)
SR RB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550406LeGarrette Blount

DICKSON EYES RECEIVING MARK
SR TE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=175551Ed Dickson, an All-America candidate and member of the watch list for the 2009 John Mackey Award recognizing the top tight end in college football, is bidding to become the top receiver at the position in Oregon history. The senior has 85 career receptions, ranking fifth among UO tight ends, and 1,057 yards to rank third.

FIRST-TIME STARTERS
Oregon had seven first-time starters among the 22 players who received opening assignments in the season opener, Sept. 3, at Boise State. On the offense, FR LG http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550510Carson York, SO TE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149812David Paulson and SR RB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550406LeGarrette Blount made their first career starts, while on defense, JR DT http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=529193Brandon Bair, SR DT http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550418Blake Ferras, JR DE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149819Kenny Rowe and SO ROV http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1212558Javes Lewis were first-time starters. In addition, specialists http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550967Rob Beard (FR KO), http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773762Michael Clay (FR LS) and http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773841Jackson Rice (FR P), made first team debuts. In Week 2, FR FS http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550409John Boyett became the eighth Duck to start his first game.

LONG WAIT
Few players have been looking forward to the start of the 2009 season more than http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=529194Nate Costa. On Sept. 12 vs. Purdue, the junior quarterback stepped onto the field for the first time since Nov. 11, 2006, when he completed both of his pass attempts for 22 yards and ran for another 25 yards at USC. Against the Boilermakers, Costa was the holder on five extra-points and two field goal attempts. In his UO career, Costa has suffered two season-ending knee injuries, the last of which occurred just over a week prior to the start of the 2008 season.

FRESH FACES
In 2007, Oregon ended the year utilizing the services of 10 true freshmen. Last season, that number dropped to five, including current squad members http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550415Garrett Embry (WR), http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550940Josh Kaddu (LB), http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550467Dewitt Stuckey (LB) and http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550474Darron Thomas (QB). This year, the Ducks have called upon only two newcomers who were preparing for their final high school seasons a year ago: P http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773841Jackson Rice, who was rated as the nation?s best by one scouting service in 2008 after averaging 47.6 yards for Oakland?s (CA) Campolindo High School, and http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773762Michael Clay, who joined the Ducks this summer as a linebacker from San Jose?s Bellarmine Prep, and started the season as the team?s long snapper.

FRONT AND CENTER
With the departure of three offensive linemen who were keys to last year?s offensive success and spent the summer in NFL camps, Oregon?s starting interior line entered the season having accumulated a total of only 20 career starting assignments. The defensive line was in a similar situation, returning 24 career starts -- all by DE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149332Will Tukuafu. What may be lacking in the number of returning headliners is accounted for in experience in the program. Eight of the 10 offensive linemen in the team?s two-deep have already been in the program for a minimum of two seasons.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
When cornerback http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=175543Jairus Byrd opted to forgo his final year of collegiate eligibility in favor of the NFL Draft following the conclusion of last season, it left him one interception shy of equalling a 54-year-old school record for career interceptions. It also positioned SR CB http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III to take up where Byrd left off. Ranking fifth on Oregon?s all-time chart for passes broken up (35 - one shy of Byrd), Thurmond is in a four-way tie for ninth on the Ducks? career interceptions chart with 12 (along with Rashad Bauman (1997-01), Eric Castle (1989-92) and Steve Donnelly (1972-74)). In addition, his 25.8-yard kickoff return average is good for tenth all-time at UO.

ROSTER EXPANSION
Following the first game, the Ducks were permitted to expand their roster from 105 to as many as 119 for the remainder of the season and added 11 players. Of the new additions, three took part in spring practices ? JR TE http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1390248Sam Doman, JR OL http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=3744247Justin Fritz and SO DL http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=3744202Nick Musgrove. Expansion also brings the return of FR RB Jordan Thompson, who began fall camp on the 105-man roster, but was sent home due to illness. Spring signee and scholarship student-athlete FR DB Avery Patterson is now formally on the squad. He is joined by fellow true freshmen WR Ben Butterfield (Sherwood, OR/Sherwood), the younger brother of UO cornerback http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149760Brian Butterfield, DB J.R. Maffie, DE Andy McIntyre and DB Tyler Rittenhour, a prep teammate of FR P http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773841Jackson Rice. Rounding out the newcomers are a pair of former junior college players, JR RB Andres Reed and JR OL Josh Sanford, both from College of the Siskiyous.

VS. THE TOP 25
It didn?t take first-year head coach http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=803271Chip Kelly long to experience his team being tested by a top 25 school as the Ducks drew No. 14 Boise State on the road to open the 2009 campaign. After falling to the Broncos, 19-8, UO is 0-1 vs. the top 25 this season. Four of Oregon?s future opponents are currently ranked in one or both of the major polls, including this week?s foe - No. 18 Utah. Oregon was 2-1 when facing ranked teams (the week they played them) in 2008.

OREGON CAPTAINS
Seniors http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=225780Walter Thurmond III and http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1149332Will Tukuafu, and juniors http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=529206Jordan Holmes and http://madjacksports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550447Jeremiah Masoli, have been elected season-long captains following a team vote.

TV APPEARANCES
Oregon has been selected for at least six national television appearances this season. Both the Sept. 3 opener at Boise State (ESPN) and Sept.. 12 home opener vs. Purdue (FSN) aired nationally, in addition to upcoming games vs. Utah (Sept. 19, ESPN), California (Sept. 26, ABC), USC (Oct. 31, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2) and Oregon State (Dec. 3, ESPN).

HOT COMMODITIES
For only the third time in school history, Oregon has sold over 43,000 football season tickets, with ticket sales topping the 43,200 mark. That total is slightly below the 43,242 figure from 2007 while the Ducks sold 44,182 season tickets a year ago. Single-game reserved seats already have been exhausted for home games vs. California (Sept. 26), USC (Oct. 31) and Oregon State (Dec. 3), while only scattered single seats remain for contests against Utah (Sept. 19), Washington State (Oct. 3) and Arizona State (Nov. 14).

HOUSE OF LOUD
With a crowd of 57,772 on the home opener vs. Purdue last Saturday, Oregon has now sold out Autzen Stadium (cap. 54,000) for 62 consecutive games, dating to 1999.
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Cowboys Travel to Boulder for First Road Trip of Season

Cowboys Travel to Boulder for First Road Trip of Season

Cowboys Travel to Boulder for First Road Trip of Season
The two teams last faced each other in 1997, with CU narrowly winning 20-19


Sept. 15, 2009
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LARAMIE, Wyo. -
Complete Weekly Game Notes in PDF Format
The Wyoming Cowboys will make their first road trip of the 2009 college football season on Saturday, Sept. 19 when they travel to Boulder, Colo., to face the Colorado Buffaloes in a game scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m.


The game will be televised by FOX College Sports. In the state of Wyoming the telecast will be available through Bresnan Cable's Sports Entertainment Package. For DIRECTV customers, it will be on Channel 617. It won't be televised on FOX Sports Rocky Mountain. As with all Wyoming Football games, the Cowboy Sports Network will broadcast the game live on radio over its 25-affiliate stations beginning one hour prior to kickoff with the pregame show. Wyoming enters Saturday's contest with a 1-1 record on the season. CU is 0-2 for the year. The Cowboys are coming off a 41-10 loss to No. 2 ranked Texas in Laramie last Saturday. That game saw Wyoming lead Texas by a score of 10-6 late in the first half. Wyoming won its season opener over Weber State on Sept. 5 by a score of 29-22.


Colorado lost at Toledo last Friday night by a 54-38 final score. In the season opener at home against Colorado State, the Buffs lost 17-23 to the Rams.
The last time the Wyoming Cowboys and Colorado Buffaloes played was 12 seasons ago. That game saw a wild finish in which Wyoming lost a heartbreaker on Sept. 27, 1997, in CU's Folsom Field. With 4:29 remaining in the game, Wyoming scored a touchdown on an 18-yard TD run by running back and Denver native Marques Brigham to put the Cowboys up 19-10. But on the ensuing kickoff, Colorado cornerback and return specialist Ben Kelly ran the kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown to pull CU to with two at 19-17 at the 4:06 mark. Wyoming still looked as if it would seal the victory as the onside kick attempt went out of bounds to the Cowboys on the Wyoming 44-yard line. The Pokes gained a first down and were on the CU 44 when Brigham carried right, but the ball was knocked loose and picked up on the bounce by the Buffs who returned it 33 yards to the Wyoming 25-yard line, with 1:06 remaining. Following a three-yard rush and a 21-yard pass, CU had the ball on Wyoming's one-yard line. UW stuffed the Buffs on back-to-back running plays, but Colorado then kicked an 18-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to capture a 20-19 victory.
The Wyoming Cowboys currently have 27 players from the state of Colorado on the roster -- far more than any other state. Of those 27, 15 have played for the Cowboys this season and eight have started this season.
A total of nine different Cowboy defenders are ranked among the nation's leaders after the first two weeks of the college football season. True freshman strong safety Shamiel Gary ranks No. 3 in the nation in interceptions and No. 4 in passes defended. Senior linebacker Weston Johnson ranks No. 9 in the nation in interceptions. Senior defensive tackle John Fletcher is 18th in both sacks and tackles for losses, and junior free safety Chris Prosinski ranks No. 18 in the NCAA in tackles.
Two other Wyoming Cowboys are also ranked among the NCAA leaders. Junior wide receiver David Leonard and sophomore punter/place-kicker Austin McCoy. Leonard ranks No. 2 in the Mountain West Conference and No. 21 in the nation in punt returns. He also ranks No. 3 in the MWC and No. 23 in the country in receptions. McCoy is ranked No. 12 in the NCAA in average number of made field goals per game, and is No. 26 in punting.
Senior wide receiver Greg Bolling returns to the starting lineup this week after serving a two-game suspension for violation of team rules. His suspension was announced during the summer and prior to fall football practice beginning. Last season, Bolling was the Cowboys' leading receiver, catching 26 passes for 271 yards. For his career, Bolling has 62 pass receptions for 646 yards. It has been a positive turnaround in turnover margin for the Wyoming Cowboys thus far in the 2009 season. UW is currently tied for No. 1 in the Mountain West Conference and tied for No. 6 in the NCAA in turnover margin this season with a per-game average of +2.00 in TO margin. Wyoming has forced six opponent turnovers this season, while committing only two. All six turnovers that Wyoming has forced are via interception. The two turnovers committed by the Pokes have both been fumbles. A year ago, the Cowboys couldn't seem to stop a rash of turnovers, ranking No. 9 in the MWC and No. 118 out of 119 NCAA FBS schools in turnover margin with a -1.83 turnover margin.

 

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Buffs To Wear Throwback Jerseys vs. Wyoming

Buffs To Wear Throwback Jerseys vs. Wyoming

Buffs To Wear Throwback Jerseys vs. Wyoming

BOULDER - Through the years, the University of Colorado athletic department has received feedback from alumni and letterwinners alike about coming up with ways to recognize those teams and students prior to the last quarter century.

As it often goes everywhere, the more recent accomplishments usually come to mind, with those who toiled decades ago sometimes forgotten. This Saturday against Wyoming, CU will pay homage to an era that first put the school on the national football map: the 1930s.

The football team will don the jersey of that era, gold in color with black numbers, along with silver pants. That decade, CU had two players lead the nation in rushing, Kayo Lam (1935) and Byron White (1937); White led the country in several categories that 1937 season and was named the school's first All-American in football. The field will also be reminiscent of how it appeared over 50 years ago, especially in the lettering and the end zone design.

In 1998 against Baylor, CU honored the past but the jersey produced for the game really didn't resemble anything the team had ever worn before. That's not the case this time around.

This year also marks the sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary of the city of Boulder and the field will be marked to acknowledge so. At halftime, the university will salute several former members of the Board of Regents; courtesy of long-time university friend and supporter, Stephen Tebo, those regents who will return to campus will be shuttled around the field in one of Tebo's vintage classic cars from his personal collection.

To close the halftime ceremonies will be a salute to senior Jenny Barringer, likely the most celebrated female student-athlete in school history. She will be presented with her award for being selected as the Honda Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

The concept was coordinated with NIKE, which designed and produced the special uniforms, which were provided to the university as a part of NIKE's annual support package. The throwback jersey is currently for sale on-line at CUBuffs.com/store, the CU Bookstore and other local retail outlets.


Game Day Central: Simas Seems Settled




BOULDER - For reasons ranging from a redshirt, to subpar academics, to conduct unbecoming a Buff, Markques Simas surely has been sitting long enough to have this all figured out.
He's been on campus since 2007, but hasn't yet played a down of meaningful football, hasn't caught a pass other than those lobbed his way in practice.

You walk away from a conversation with him hoping for his (and his team's) sake, that his latest words aren't idle ones, that he's finally got this drill down pat. And by now, if he doesn't, you wonder just what it might take for that to happen?

A big and talented wide out, Simas finally could see the field Saturday against Wyoming. Although CU's game-week depth chart still lists him as injured (slightly strained right MCL) and his head coach/position coach remains a little vague about his status, Simas promised on Monday he will play.

"I'm going to play; I will be playing, regardless," he said.

For an offense - actually, an entire team - needing to be jump-started, Simas believes he can hook up the cables and become a power source. Call him wildly ambitious, but he's confident enough in his untapped ability that right away he wants some of the responsibility in righting this season.

"We've been coming out too slow . . . it's like we've been waiting for somebody to make a play, instead of being that guy and saying, 'OK, I'm going to make this play,'" he said.

"We wait until we're down 20 points to get a sense of urgency and say, 'OK, let's turn it on.' We started slow at Toledo, but we started to pick up speed and find our identity and get a little charge going . . .

"A lot of people have said this and that . . . I've been hearing some things. Just to finally get out there and be able to play and help the Buffs get to a bowl game, the Big 12 championship - that's what I want to get done.

"I don't want to keep hearing, 'He could have been this, he could have been that.' I want to be that guy, I want to be one of the best receivers at Colorado."

Obviously, in his mostly self-imposed time away from the game, he has worked at making himself quotable. Or maybe it didn't require any work at all; his glibness has been there all along and obviously doesn't depend on playing time.

Ask him what he's learned about himself during his time in exile and he answers, "Just how hungry I am, that desire to play.

"Football's always been fun, but sitting out first two games (this season for a violation of team rules), knowing that I could have been playing, should have been playing, and seeing our offense hurt a little bit . . . it just made me realize that I need to mature and grow up and get it done. Definitely."

Sure, the Buffs can use him - provided he's ready. He's 6-feet-2, 215 pounds and athletic enough nearly to have become a scout team legend with catches made the past two seasons against the No. 1 defense.

He believes his teammates have noticed and they already have confidence in him: "They know I can play . . . they're not worried about me. It's just a fact of me getting on the field and me doing what they know I can do."

In anticipation of Simas' return last spring, quarterback Cody Hawkins recalled, "When you heard everybody from the scout team screaming, you'd know Markques made another great play. And that was an extremely frequent occurrence."

Former position coach Eric Kiesau, who now coordinates the offense and coaches the QBs, said in April he "never had a player who got so much attention on a scout team. His first year (2007), I had defensive coaches telling me how many incredible catches he made - one-handed, behind-the-back stuff.

"That was encouraging, because it was against our starting defense. As a player, the sky's the limit for him. But for him, his success and his future is how he handles himself off the field. On the field, he's as gifted as they come. He just has to make sure he goes to class and takes care of business."

Simas assures that his business, all of it, has been properly addressed and there's a changed man about to suit up in a No. 6 jersey. He contends his responsibilities have been prioritized and he no longer shoves school and team behind what he calls "the extracurricular."

Of course, such assurances have been made before, but they had no substance or staying power. Now, though, he claims hard, hurtful lessons have been learned.

"I've definitely been through a lot of stuff . . . and it hurts," he said. "But I've definitely grown and learned a lot from everything that's happened to me. I'm just taking it as a learning curve and just doing the right things so history don't repeat itself and I don't have to sit out again.

"I'll be playing every Saturday, Friday, Thursday from here on out."

Even before the 2009 season began, Simas knew his wouldn't begin until Saturday. Coach Dan Hawkins, who supplanted Kiesau as receivers coach, suspended Simas for the Colorado State and Toledo games for violating a team rule.

Thus, Simas has "already played the Wyoming game about 10 times in my head . . . I was watching CSU and Toledo (on tape), but I started watching Wyoming months ago because I wanted to make sure I'm on it.

"I've been anticipating (returning); it's been rough. But I think I'm going to make up for it this season; that's the way I've been planning it and dreaming of it.

"It's going to be like a breath of fresh air, just because I've been sitting on the sideline saying I could be doing something this game for them.

"It's going to feel real good to beat somebody for a touchdown; I don't know who it might be, but somebody better come very prepared to play on Saturday."

Forget that nameless somebody; you only hope that whoever Markques Simas is victorious against Saturday starts with himself.

 

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COLO NOTES VS TOLEDO