From top to bottom, a look around the Mountain West Conference

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 | 2:20 a.m.

Talk of how the Mountain West Conference has gained national credibility dominated the league’s media day Tuesday at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino.

And it was widely acknowledged that three schools — Utah, TCU and BYU — were responsible. After all, one of the Mountain West’s big three have won the conference title in each of the past six seasons. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple.

“I think we’ve had good football teams,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “I’m not necessarily like all the rest of you and putting just three teams into that.”

Perhaps, this could be the year an outsider breaks into the top-tier of the Mountain West. Air Force and Colorado State are both coming off seasons in which they reached a bowl game. UNLV feels it is much improved. New Mexico, Wyoming and San Diego State all enter a new era with a first-year coach.

Here’s a rundown of the nine teams who will compete for Mountain West supremacy beginning in two months.

1. TCU (11-2 overall in 2008, 7-1 Mountain West, beat Boise State in San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl)

Coach: Gary Patterson (73-27 overall and at TCU)

Returning Starters: Offense: Jr. QB Andy Dalton, Sr. RB Joseph Turner, Jr. WR Jimmy Young, Jr. WR Bart Johnson, Jr. RT Marcus Cannon, Sr. LT Marshall Newhouse. Defense: Sr. DE Jerry Hughes, Sr. CB Rafael Priest, Sr. CB Nick Sanders, Jr. S Tejay Johnson.

MVP: Sr. DE Jerry Hughes

Key Newcomer: Jr. S Malcolm Williams

Dates to Circle: Sept. 26 at Clemson, Oct. 24 at BYU, Nov. 14 vs. Utah

TCU’s mission for the upcoming season is quite simple: Make sure the No. 1 next to its name in the Mountain West preseason poll never leaves.

“That preseason ranking shows potential,” junior quarterback Andy Dalton said. “We want to prove it right.”

Seated to Dalton’s right at the media day podium, senior defensive end Jerry Hughes nodded his head in agreement. If the Horned Frogs are expecting to win their second ever Mountain West championship, Hughes will have to live up to his hype entering the season.

Hughes is the preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after leading the nation with 15 sacks last season. He was one of the leaders on a defense that ranked first in the nation by giving up less than 218 yards per game.

But TCU returns only four defensive starters. The schedule is also an issue. Two of the Horned Frogs’ first three games are on the road against Atlantic Coast Conference foes Clemson and Virginia. Coach Gary Patterson said marquee non-conference matchups no longer intimidate his team.

“I think that’s where we’ve changed the program from 10 years ago,” Patterson said. “We don’t go into those games thinking we are going to play well. We want to go in thinking we will win those ball games.”

2. BYU (10-3, 6-2, lost to Arizona in Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl)

Coach: Bronco Mendenhall (38-13)

Returning Starters: Offense: Sr. QB Max Hall, Jr. RB Harey Unga, Sr. TE Dennis Pitta, So. LT Matt Reynolds. Defense: Sr. DE Brett Denney, Sr. DE Jan Jorgensen, Sr. DL Russell Tialavea, Sr. LB Matt Bauman, Sr. LB Shawn Doman, Sr. LB Coleby Clawson, Sr. CB Brian Logan, Sr. S Scott Johnson

MVP: Sr. QB Max Hall

Key Newcomer: Fr. S Craig Bliss

Dates to Circle: Sept. 5 vs. Oklahoma, Sept. 19 vs. Florida State, Oct. 24 vs. TCU

Using a classic football cliché, BYU coaches and players insist they are only focusing on their next game. Really, though, the Cougars mean it.

BYU will kick off its season on Sept. 5 against Oklahoma, a team that figures to be in the top three in the nation in every preseason poll. The showdown will be the first regular season football game ever played at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“It will be a lifetime experience for all of us,” coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “We intend to go play well to represent our school and our league.”

BYU has done that well over the past three years. The Cougars have won at least 10 games in each of those seasons and taken two Mountain West titles.

Senior quarterback Max Hall has been the key the past two seasons. Hall has thrown for 7,805 yards and 61 touchdowns in that span. Other than Hall, the Cougars return only three other offensive starters. But don’t underestimate those three.

Junior running back Harvey Unga averaged nearly five yards per carry last season, senior Dennis Pitta is one of the nation’s best tight ends and sophomore tackle Matt Reynolds is a rising star. Still, it all starts with Hall, who is the preseason Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and a dark-horse Heisman candidate.

“We have a great leader in Max Hall,” Pitta said. “We’re going to rely on him offensively.”

3. Utah (13-0, 8-0, beat Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl)

Coach: Kyle Whittingham (37-14)

Returning Starters: Offense: Sr. RB Matt Asiata, Sr. WR David Reed, Jr. C Zane Taylor, Jr. G Caleb Schlauderaff, Sr. T Zane Beadles. Defense: Sr. DE Koa Misi, Jr. LB Nai Fotu, Sr. LB Mike Wright, Sr. LB Stevenson Sylvester, Sr. S Joe Dale, Sr. S Robert Johnson.

MVP: Sr. LB Stevenson Sylvester

Key Newcomer: Jr. DE James Aiono

Dates to Circle: Sept. 19 at Oregon, Nov. 14 at TCU, Nov. 28 at BYU

A lot has changed for Stevenson Sylvester in the last six months.

Wherever Sylvester goes, he gets stopped. That comes with the territory of being a Utah football player now.

“I’ve had many conversations with people in different states wondering about Utah or wearing the Utah logo,” Sylvester, a senior linebacker, said. “People know who we are.”

How could they not? Utah, of course, shocked the college football world with a 31-17 victory against Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl last January. The Utes were the only team in the country to go undefeated.

Duplicating the dream season, however, might be next to impossible. For starters, Utah lost its leader and starting quarterback, Brian Johnson, to graduation. No clear successor has emerged and it’s still a three-way battle between junior Terrance Cain, junior Corbin Louks and freshman Jordan Wynn.

“Spring football went very well. We got a lot of things solidified — one of which was not the quarterback situation,” coach Kyle Whittingham said. “It’s an ongoing process. In fact, that is going to be the primary focus of all two-a-days.”

Whoever the new guy is, he will be assisted by the running game. Leading rusher Matt Asiata is back for his senior season.

4. Air Force (8-5, 5-3, lost to Houston in Bell Hellicopter Armed Forces Bowl)

Coach: Troy Calhoun (17-9)

Returning Starters: Offense: So. QB Tim Jefferson, So. RB Asher Clark, Sr. WR Josh Cousins, Sr. G Peter Lusk, Sr. G Nick Charles, Sr. T Chris Campbell. Defense: Sr. DT Ben Garland, Jr. LB Andre Morris, Jr. LB Ken Lamendola, So. CB Anthony Wright, Jr. CB Reggie Rembert, Sr. S Chris Thomas.

MVP: Sr. S Chris Thomas

Key Newcomer: Fr. K Daniel Compton

Dates to Circle: Sept. 12 at Minnesota, Oct. 3 at Navy, Nov. 14 vs. UNLV

Please excuse coach Troy Calhoun’s attempt to juxtapose his team’s situation with Tom Watson’s recent run through the British Open.

“There was a golfer over there in Scotland recently, a youngster who was 59, and I don’t know where he was picked to finish in that tournament,” Calhoun said.

As flawed as the comparison might be, Calhoun has a point. The Falcons defied expectations last year by winning seven games and reaching a bowl game.

Why not do it again and move on up the Mountain West hierarchy? Air Force, which ranked sixth in the nation in rushing offense last season, returns six of its top seven running backs including sophomore Asher Clark. Leading the defense will be senior safety Chris Thomas and junior linebacker Ken Lamendola, who combined for 17 tackles per game last season.

5. UNLV (5-7, 2-6)

Coach: Mike Sanford (11-36)

Returning Starters: Offense: Jr. QB Omar Clayton, So. WR Phillip Payne, Sr. WR Ryan Wolfe, Sr. WR Rodelin Anthony, Sr. G Joe Hawley, Jr. T Evan Marchal, Jr. T Matt Murphy. Defense: Jr. DE Isaako Aaitui, Sr. DT Martin Tevaseu, Jr. DT Malo Taumua, Sr. LB Jason Beauchamp, Jr. LB Ronnie Paulo, Jr. LB Starr Fuimaono, Jr. CB Quinton Pointer.

MVP: Sr. LB Jason Beauchamp

Key Newcomer: Jr. DE B.J. Bell

Dates to Circle: Sept. 12 vs. Oregon State, Oct. 10 vs. BYU, Oct. 31 at TCU

Ryan Wolfe has a feeling — a really good feeling about the Rebels’ upcoming season.

Wolfe, a senior receiver who has been at UNLV since the beginning of the Mike Sanford era, spoke with a quiet confidence Tuesday.

“It feels like this year the stage has been set,” Wolfe said. “I feel like everything is in place this year more so than in the past.”

Maybe it’s that UNLV returns 14 starters, more than the four teams ranked ahead of it, from a team that showed flashes last season. Maybe it’s Wolfe’s belief that junior quarterback Omar Clayton could become the best in the Mountain West. Maybe it’s the steady progress made last year in Sanford’s fourth year.

Whatever it is, Sanford believes in it, too.

“We are very excited about our season,” Sanford said. “Excited about 2009.”

6. Colorado State (7-6, 4-4, beat Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl)

Coach: Steve Fairchild (7-6)

Returning Starters: Offense: So. WR T.J. Borcky, Sr. WR Rashaun Greer, Sr. WR Dion Morton, Sr. C Tim Walter, Sr. G Adrian Martinez, Sr. G Shelley Smith, Sr. T Cole Pemberton, Jr. T Mark Starr. Defense: Sr. DT James Morehead, So. LB Mychal Sisson, Sr. CB Nick Oppenneer, Sr. CB Gerard Thomas, Sr. S Klint Kubiak.

MVP: Sr. WR Rashaun Greer

Key Newcomer: Jr. RB Leonard Mason

Dates to Circle: Sept. 5 at Colorado, Oct. 10 vs. Utah, Nov. 7 at UNLV

Consider Colorado State’s upcoming season an experiment into how far a dominating offensive line can lead a football team.

Although the Rams lost their quarterback and two top rushers, they return all five starters from a formidable offensive line. Senior guard Shelley Smith, who made the Mountain West preseason All-Conference Team, will anchor the unit.

The Rams also lost seven defensive starters, but coach Steve Fairchild still has high hopes for his team.

“It’s still our aim at Colorado State to get our football team back to be one of the elite teams in the Mountain West – to be a team much like Utah has, where we compete year in and year out for the conference championship,” Fairchild said. “We’re not there by any stretch of the imagination, but we’re headed in the right direction with the mindset of our football team.”

7. New Mexico (4-8, 2-6)

Coach: Mike Locksley (0-0)

Returning Starters: Offense: Sr. QB Donovan Porterie, Jr. WR Chris Hernandez, Jr. WR Bryant Williams, Sr. C Erik Cook, Sr. G Joshua Taufalele, So. T Byron Bell. Defense: Sr. LB Clint McPeek, Sr. S Ian Clark, Sr. S Frankie Solomon.

MVP: Sr. C Erik Cook

Key Newcomer: Jr. ATH Arvell Nelson

Dates to Circle: Sept. 5 at Texas A&M, Oct. 3 at Texas Tech, Oct. 31 at San Diego State

New Mexico will not be the most talented team in the Mountain West this season. The Lobos won’t be the fastest, either.

First year coach Mike Locksley, however, is determined to make sure no one plays with more intensity than the Lobos.

“Anybody who plays the Lobos knows they will play a tough minded team,” Locksley said, “a very physical team.”

It’s appropriate then that senior center Erik Cook was the offensive representative for New Mexico at Media Day. The 6-foot-6, 318-pound Cook exemplifies the toughness Locksley preaches.

The Lobos pass offense must improve as it ranked 110th in the nation last season.

8. San Diego State (2-10, 1-7)

Coach: Brady Hoke (34-38 overall, 0-0 at San Diego State)

Returning Starters: Offense: So. QB Ryan Lindley, Sr. RB Atiyyah Henderson, Jr. RB Vincent Brown, Sr. WR Roberto Wallace, Sr. TE Waika Spencer, Jr. C Trask Iosefa, Sr. G Ikaika Aken-Moleta, Sr. T Peter Nelson. Defense: Sr. DE Jonathan Soto, Jr. DE B.J. Williams, Jr. DT Ernie Lawson, Sr. LB Luke Laolagi, Jr. LB Andrew Preston, Sr. LB Nick Sandford, Sr. CB Aaron Moore.

MVP: So. QB Ryan Lindley

Key Newcomer: Fr. S Nat Berhe

Dates to Circle: Sept. 5 at UCLA, Oct. 31 vs. New Mexico, Nov. 28 at UNLV

San Diego State’s red and black jerseys might be the only way for Mountain West fans to recognize the Aztecs this year.

Everything else has changed drastically. Brady Hoke, who was previously at Ball State, took over the program and immediately brought in former Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges to run the offense and former New Mexico coach Rocky Long to run the defense this offseason. Together, the trio form one of the most well-known coaching staffs in the Mountain West.

“Obviously, both Rocky and Al’s resumes speak for themselves,” Borges said.

Senior linebacker Jerry Milling said the new coaching staff has invigorated offseason workouts. The Aztecs will need more than that for a successful season.

Last year, they lost 10 games by an average of 26 points.

9. Wyoming (4-8, 1-7)

Coach: Dave Christensen (0-0)

Returning Starters: Offense: Sr. QB Karsten Sween, Jr. WR David Leonard, Sr. WR Greg Bolling, So. WR Brandon Stewart, Sr. TE Jesson Salyards, Jr. G Sam Sterner, So. T Clayton Kirven, Sr. T Ryan Otterson. Defense: Sr. DE Mitch Unrein, Sr. DT Fred Givens, Sr. DT John Fletcher, Sr. LB Weston Johnson, So. LB Gabe Knapton, Jr. CB Marcell Gipson, So. CB Tashaun Gipson, Jr. S Chris Prosinski

MVP: Sr. DT John Fletcher

Key Newcomer: Jr. QB Robert Benjamin

Dates to Circle: Sept. 12 vs. Texas, Sept. 19 at Colorado, Nov. 27 at Colorado State

New Wyoming coach Dave Christensen knows he’s starting at the bottom. It doesn’t seem to bother him.

Christensen, who previously served as the offensive coordinator at Missouri, had no complaints with Wyoming’s last place ranking in the preseason Mountain West poll.

“That’s where I would have voted us, too,” Christensen said. “We haven’t done anything yet. Credibility and respect is something that is earned on the playing field.”

If Wyoming has any positives, it’s that it returns 16 starters — the most in the Mountain West. Christensen admitted that the Cowboys would lean on their defense to keep them in games, which is led by sophomore linebacker Gabe Knapton who had 92 tackles last season.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or at case.keefer@lasvegassun.com.