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AP PHOTO
TCU quarterback Andy Dalton, left, pats the helmet of Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore following the Broncos’ 17-10 victory over the Horned Frogs in the Fiesta Bowl in January.
Published Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 | 3 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 | 3:23 p.m.
Well, color me stupid.
I truly thought that TCU would handle Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday night. Every time this season when people thought the Horned Frogs would stumble, Gary Patterson's offense would throw up 50 points like it was going out of style.
Until Monday.
As a result of the 17-10 loss to the Broncos, the Horned Frogs missed an opportunity to make themselves a prime candidate for the 2010 national title right from go. Instead, Boise State could bring back 21 of 22 starters and wear that preseason Cinderella slipper.
Still, the Mountain West Conference won't be a slouch league. Not by a longshot. With the conference's 2009 season officially in the books — a 4-1 showing in bowl games wasn't bad, eh? — here's a look at where each team stands in the big picture for 2010.
1) TCU
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 4 vs. Oregon State (at Cowboys Stadium), Sept. 11 at SMU, two TBD
True, the Horned Frogs lose All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes, but one player does not make a team, and TCU will still have more talent across the board than anyone in 2010. Despite a poor showing in the Fiesta Bowl — partly his fault, partly not — quarterback Andy Dalton will be the league's preseason favorite to repeat as Offensive Player of the Year and already holds the school's career record for passing yardage. They'll still be athletic and beyond dangerous. This one's pretty much a no-brainer.
2) Utah
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 11 vs. Pitt, Sept. 18 at Iowa State, Sept. 25 vs. San Jose State, Nov. 13 at Notre Dame.
The dynamic combo of quarterback Jordan Wynn and tailback Eddie Wide will be back, and the Utes' defense will be strong as usual. Give Kyle Whittingham plenty of credit for pulling Terrance Cain and throwing Wynn, a true freshman, into the fire midway through the 2009 season. He was 4-2 as a starter, including a perfect springboard performance into 2010 in Utah's 37-27 victory over Cal in the Poinsettia Bowl. Wynn was 26-of-36 in the bowl with 338 yards and 3 TD tosses. He'll need that experience, as Utah's non-con slate is pretty brutal in 2010.
3) Air Force
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 18 at Oklahoma, Oct. 2 vs. Navy, Nov. 6 at Army, one TBD
Leapfrogging resident league powerhouse BYU is the known quantity — Air Force. The Falcons also return tons of talent across the board and made big-time noise in a 47-20 victory over Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl. Everyone knows that Troy Calhoun's club can run the ball, but it is Air Force's defense that will set the tone in 2010. The unit forced Houston's Case Keenum into six interceptions and had the Cougars flummoxed from the beginning. Air Forced finished 2009 ranked 11th in the nation in total defense. The non-conference trip to face Oklahoma is very appealing. Statement game???
4) BYU
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 4 vs. Washington, Sept. 18 at Florida State, Sept. 25 vs. Nevada-Reno, Oct. 10 at Utah State.
Yes, the Cougars lose Max Hall as their on-field offensive engine. However, BYU always is strong across the board. Whether Bronco Mendenhall's program stays a part of the 'Big Three,' however, will depend on quarterback play. Rivals.com ranks incoming freshman gunslinger Jake Heaps as the No. 1 pro-style QB in the current senior class. Will he be ready to be unleashed from day one? Or will Riley Nelson, who backed up Hall as a sophomore this season, get the nod? That's the huge question in Provo. The non-con schedule will be no cakewalk, but tailback Harvey Unga, who has been a workhorse in that offense during the last three seasons (4,540 total yards, 45 total TD), should help BYU survive.
5) Wyoming
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 4 vs. Southern utah, Sept. 11 at Texas, Sept. 18 vs. Boise State, Oct. 2 at Toledo.
Quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels is much like Utah's Jordan Wynn in that he got the growing pains out of the way and had some big-time success as a freshman. Coach Dave Christensen brought in good talent his first year after leaving Missouri, and expect more of the same. The big concern for Wyoming will be replacing some graduated force along the defensive line. That unit was largely responsible for pushing Wyoming to its upset victory over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl.
6) San Diego State
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 4 vs. Nicholls State, Sept. 11 at New Mexico State, Sept. 18 at Missouri, Sept. 25 vs. Utah State.
Brady Hoke and his über-staff worked wonders in year one. Can that carry over? Quarterback Ryan Lindley apparently is grasping their system very well and is heading into his junior year. Combine that with three very winnable non-conference games and SDSU could get to six wins rather easily. The Aztecs ranked 74th out of 120 FBS teams in total defense. That's a nice start for Rocky Long. Expect that ranking to improve.
7) UNLV
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 4 vs. Wisconsin, Sept. 18 at Idaho, Oct. 2 vs. UNR, Oct. 9 at West Virginia, Dec. 4 at Hawaii.
Bobby Hauck has plenty of leftover talent to work with in his first season at UNLV, but the Rebels could have some struggles along the way thanks to the league's most loaded non-conference schedule. Four of UNLV's five opponents outside the Mountain West were in bowl games this year and two of them — Wisconsin and West Virginia — probably will start the 2010 season ranked. However, most of a team that went 5-7 each of the last two years is back. The Rebels certainly won't be lacking in experience.
8) Colorado State
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 4 vs. Colorado, Sept. 11 at UNR, Sept. 18 at Miami (Ohio), Sept. 25 vs. Idaho.
If Steve Fairchild can find some of that 2008 magic, the Rams' schedule is more than forgiving. If not, it'll be another disappointing, dull year in Fort Collins.
9) New Mexico
Non-conference schedule: Sept. 4 at Oregon, Sept. 11 vs. Texas Tech, Oct. 2 vs. UTEP, Oct. 9 at New Mexico State.
Ugh. No comment.
"flummoxed" i like it.
I hope the MWC wins the majority of our non-conference games.
the conference keeps getting better and better. again, with a tv contract that couldn't be any worse. it really couldn't.
you have to feel for bobby hauck, though, since that non-conference schedule is absolutely brutal. i hope people understand that he could make the rebels a lot better next year, and come out with a record worse than this year's.
next year could be the year we BEAT byu....just sayin!
JUST WIN TONIGHT @ BYU
Do you think Sanford knew he'd be sticking it to the new guy with that schedule...
Sergio, UNLV doesn't play BYU in LV this year, they play TCU and one out of four ain't good. Under a new coach, with a new system, and new assistants, it's highly unlikey the same players will transition well. And that's just besides Hauck's lack of head-coaching experience at the FBS level, not to mention the same dearth of experience among his assistants.
Since the conference schedule's yet to be determined (by the conference office), UNLV needs to hope for UNM at home after Wisconsin, or a bye with UNM the week before UNR or it's likely they'll be going into the game against the Wolfpack 1-3 or 0-4. A loss to UNR would put them at 1-4 or 0-5 and will see the fans non-existent as ever in the rest of the home games.
Be a great home-opener though- sold out stadium with 30,000+ Badger fans attandant!
@Sergio-
1) Omar lost to a freshman twice this past season.
2) Wyoming's HC was the runner-up for MWC Coach-of-the-Year.
3) Wyoming returns the most starters of any team this season and has the toughest OOC schedule (despite what this column purports) before conference play.
4) The history of FCS to FBS (D2 to D1) head coaches is unkind at best. Very few make the transition successfully.
5) It is EXTREMELY difficult for "old dog" seniors and juniors to adjust to new systems and cultures under a new HC and staff. Historically, new HCs coaching teams of mostly upper classmen starters are unsuccessful.
6) UNR returns most of its starters including Kaepernick, while UNLV doesn't have any really impressive new or returning defensive talent.
7) BYU's running game and defense will be just as solid next year and they have the #1 rated freshman QB in the nation.
8) Lavelle Edwards Stadium is one of the toughest to win in at 5,500 feet.
9) Of all the top 6 MWC teams this year, only BYU is losing a starter at a key skill position.
10) UNLV is dead last in the MWC in recruiting so far.
Care to point out ANY reason UNLV will "probably" beat BYU, Wyoming, or Air Force?
Joe Glenn- former National Championship-winning head coach at Montana for one. Flop in FBS.
BYU two years ago had a sophomore QB, freshman running backs, and a mostly sophomore defense.
AFA is a far better team than they were two years ago. One of the best defenses in the nation with the athletes necessary to execute the wishbone. UNLV will be lucky to score against them and their option will give what's left of the secondary fits.
Local talent? Give me a break. You think those kids are going to stay in Las Vegas after visiting campuses in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, California, and the Pacific Northwest?
If they've got scholarship offers elsewhere, the majority will take them. UNLV will pick up a few here and there, but the best and most talented will head elsewhere.
And you're correct, it is 75% mental, and just look at the mentality of the average UNLV student. Remedial would be a good adjective.
IT's not about "loving" your state. It's opportunity versus status quo.
UNLV has very little football tradition because they've not been competitive for twenty years. Overall, the Las Vegas community does a very poor job of supporting UNLV in general. There's a missing connection between the high schools and the university and it's cultural. The schools here are also gang-infested and many an athlete's parents would rather see their sons separated from the atmosphere of Las Vegas high schools. This also present reservations by UNLV recruiters when it comes to locals. It's possible players like Eddie Wide and Stephen Jackson would not have done as well at UNLV had they remained "under the influence" of their high school classmates.
This phenomenon isn't confined to UNLV, nor just losing programs. Most high school athletes, given the choice to play for either a powerhouse program or a local program will opt for the former. In a city that lacks tradition and culture when it comes to football, the local program will lose out to just about any other program that is at least competitive.
Coupled with the facilities, campuses, and academic stature of other schools, it's not hard to understand why the local talent leaves. As economic conditions continue to deteriorate in Las Vegas, the flight of talent will probably increase.