Mountain West Conference Football Media Day

by Jeremy Mauss on Jul 21, 2008 7:01 PM PDT

We all know football season is close when media day arrives. There usually is not much news just the same old coach speak about one game at a time bla, bla bla stuff. Each coach was interviewed by a local radio station and I will post that once it is available on their site. Also, to view all of the podium interviews by coaches, players and Commissioner Craig Thompson go to the offical MWC media day web site.

Also this season marks the 10th anniversary of the Mountain West Conference, when they broke away from the 16 team Western Athletic Conference that was a miserable failure, and then added TCU in 2005.

The news that comes out is the preseason all conference teams and the league order of finish. Looks like there is a tier system with the league split into thirds. I am not giving any clues about my order of finish, which I will start presenting starting in August. To me Colorado State and Air Force should be switched, Air Force only returns three offensive starters and will struggle. As for the Rams they will have one of the leagues best running back duo in Kyle Bell and Gatrell Johnosn III that should challenge the Utes and BYU for best two back program, plus Kory Sperry who had an season ending knee injury was a huge play making tight end and will help ease in the new quarterback at Fort Collins.

2008 Mountain West Conference Preseason Football Poll
Rk.	Team (first place votes)	Points
1.	BYU (29)	299
2.	Utah (5)	274
3.	TCU	239
4.	New Mexico	197
5.	Wyoming	156
6.	Air Force	141
7.	San Diego State	92
8.	Colorado State	73
9.	UNLV	59

Below is the preseason all conference team listed below.

2008 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team
Position	Student-Athlete	Class	School
OFFENSE
WR	Austin Collie**	Jr.	BYU
WR	Ryan Wolfe	Jr.	UNLV
OL	Nick Charles**	Jr.	Air Force
OL	Ray Feinga*	Sr.	BYU
OL	Dallas Reynolds*	Sr.	BYU
OL	Blake Schlueter**	Sr.	TCU
OL	Robert Conley**	Sr.	Utah
TE	Dennis Pitta*	Jr.	BYU
QB	Max Hall*	Jr.	BYU
RB	Harvey Unga**	So.	BYU
RB	Rodney Ferguson*	Sr.	New Mexico
DEFENSE
DL	Jan Jorgensen*	Jr.	BYU
DL	Paul Kruger	So.	Utah
DL	John Fletcher**	Jr.	Wyoming
DL/LB	Ryan Kemp	Sr.	Air Force
LB	Ward Dobbs**	Sr.	Wyoming
LB	Russell Allen	Sr.	San Diego State
LB	Jason Phillips**	Sr.	TCU
DB	Brice McCain**	Sr.	Utah
DB	DeAndre Wright*	Sr.	New Mexico
DB	Stephen Hodge**	Sr.	TCU
DB	Robert Johnson	Jr.	Utah
SPECIALISTS
P	Louie Sakoda*	Sr.	Utah
PK	Louie Sakoda**	Sr.	Utah
Ret.	Devin Moore	Sr.	Wyoming
* member of the 2007 All-Mountain West Conference first-team. ** member of the 2007 All-Mountain West Conference second-team.
Offensive Player of the Year: Max Hall, Jr., QB, BYU
Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Phillips, Sr., LB, TCU
Special Teams Player of the Year: Louie Sakoda, Sr., PK/P, Utah
Freshman of the Year: Braylon Broughton, DE, TCU

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Comments

No offense to the MWC, but it concerns me that BYU only has one preseason all-conference on defense (and only deserves to have one preseason all-conference on defense), because its not a conference with a reputation for staunch defense to begin with. Bronco seems convinced that the new guys can step in a fill some really big shoes (especially at linebacker), but I’m not convinced. The offense had better be as good as advertised every Saturday or perfection will be out of reach

by Scott A on Jul 22, 2008 7:06 AM PDT reply actions

Totally agree about BYU’s defense, which needs to prove itself or have Hawaii type offense numbers. The only counterpoint I have is that look what BYU did last year with replacing nearly all of their DB’s in the last few games and BYU was serviceable.

“because its not a conference with a reputation for staunch defense to begin with”

That statement is not quite try BYU was the only team in the nation not to give up a 100 yard rusher.

As for defense in points per game nationally

3. Utah
13. BYU
16. TCU

Yards per game nationally

10. BYU
16, Utah
17. TCU

The top teams will always compare in the top nationally

by Jeremy on Jul 22, 2008 7:57 AM PDT reply actions