Columnist Ron Kantowski: MWC showing helps boost its BCS case

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.

Ron Kantowski is a Las Vegas Sun sports writer. Reach him at ron@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4088.

At least the Mountain West Conference football teams gave Dr. Bernie Machen a leg to stand on.

If you're not familiar with Dr. Bernie Machen, he's the president of the University of Utah who represented the Mountain West in Monday's meeting with the Bowl Championship Series cartel in Chicago.

Based on the conference's showing in eight road games against BCS opponents Saturday, at least Dr. Machen didn't have to sneak into the conference room via the hotel kitchen as the MWC and other BCS outsiders began lobbying for inclusion.

True, the bottom line was nothing to write Beano Cook about -- a 2-6 record, with Colorado State (23-21 against Cal) and Air Force (22-21 against Northwestern) providing the victories.

But as one San Diego columnist put it, you'd have to go back to Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed I to find a more impressive loss than San Diego State's at No. 2 Ohio State.

The Aztecs went into imposing Ohio Stadium and held the defending national champions without an offensive touchdown in a 16-13 defeat. The Buckeyes' only touchdown came on a 100-yard interception return with SDSU perched at the Ohio State 4.

Although the scoreboard didn't indicate it, Brigham Young was almost as impressive at fourth-ranked Southern Cal, which the media had anointed as its de facto No. 1 team after it smothered Auburn in the season opener.

The Cougars spotted the Trojans a 21-0 first quarter lead but stormed back to 21-18 midway through the fourth quarter before SC tacked on two late touchdowns.

UNLV fell on its facemask in a 46-24 loss at Kansas as an 11-point favorite, but Utah and New Mexico redeemed the MWC by playing well against Big 12 competition.

The Utes lost 28-26 on the last snap at Texas A&M, as quarterback Brent Elliott suffered a broken wrist while attempting a 2-point conversion run that would have forced overtime.

The Lobos piled up 614 offensive yards in a 42-28 loss at Texas Tech that wasn't decided until the Red Raiders converted a clutch third-down pass en route to a late insurance touchdown.

Even heretofore hapless Wyoming showed some life against Oklahoma State, putting 24 points on the scoreboard after the Cowboys had taken control of a 48-24 game at Stillwater.

Were the BCS folks impressed? Hard to say, based on the rhetoric from Monday's meeting during which the five non-BCS conferences began arguing for a piece of the pie when the current BCS contract expires in 2005.

"Based upon the joint statement released and comments made on the teleconference, it was a very productive meeting," Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said in a statement.

"I am encouraged there will be future dialogue."

Warren, who caught seven passes in the Utes' season-opening win against Utah State, was suspended for Saturday's Texas A&M game after being accused of stealing $10 worth of condoms from a Salt Lake City grocery store.

Apparently, Warren wasn't around campus during the Salt Lake Olympics when they were handing out all those free condoms to the athletes.

There was no report about the brand of condoms that Warren stole. But if he ever decides to transfer, Southern Cal might be a good place for him.

"I'm thinking about a double major in hotel management, because I might as well get a degree from here that means something," he said.

Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters were hurt and Andre Agassi got knocked off in the semis ... so no need for this casual tennis fan to tune it into the U.S. Open. Too bad they couldn't have played the women's final featuring Belgians Justin Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters in Brussels. That way, CBS could have picked up the Miami-Florida game in prime time. ... Las Vegas 51s officials say talks for a new minor-league stadium are still active, but are going on quietly behind closed doors. Spring training is still part of the equation. ... The Rebels, who thankfully aren't in Kansas anymore, slipped to 95th in this week's Scripps Howard college football power ratings. If you're looking for an early candidate to make the BCS cartel miserable in November, how about Boise State? The Broncos are ranked 10th in this week's power ratings. ... One man's take on Lisa Guerrero: Maybe Dennis Miller wasn't so bad after all.