With spring football in gear it is time to take a look at some news from Mountain West opponents and other college football news.
The Boise State vs. Fresno State game will be shown on one of the ESPN networks on Friday Oct. 7 and this marks the 11th straight year the game will be on ESPN.
Boise State head coach Chris Peterson took home the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award. The award honors a college football coach who personifies Dodd's principles of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Not sure how I missed this when the Mountain West schedules were released, but Boise State will not be playing Idaho for the first time in 41 years and Boise State fans are fine with it.
UNLV wide receiver Phillip Payne is looking for redemption and a better year on the field in 2011. Payne was non-existent in Bobby Hauck's new offense; prior to Hauck's arrival Payne payed in 20 games had 14 touchdowns and 87 receptions and he hopes to get closer to that production in 2011.
The 2012 season should be the next time the Rebels have a real shot in making a bowl game, because Wisconsin and TCU will be off the schedule and with an eight-game league schedule UNLV could miss out on a Mountain West power. However, their non-league schedule is set and all four games are winnable as the Rebels host Minnesota and Washington State while traveling to Utah State and Louisiana Tech. Hope is on the horizon for Rebel fans, but it just will have to wait one more year.
Former San Diego State head coach and Michigan man Brady Hoke talks about how his Michigan team needs to more tough:
"I think right now we've got to see who can run the power play and get downhill and do the things we want them to do," Hoke said. We've got to develop some fullbacks. We've got to develop some tight ends. They haven't been used a whole lot the last couple of years."
Hoke takes on his former team on Sept. 24.
Wisconsin will be without top wide receiver Nick Toon will miss all of spring camp as he had foot surgery. Last season Toon had 36 receptions with 459 yards in 10 games.
Here is all the info one needs about Colorado State's spring practice with depth chart, returning personnel, roster and spring practcie schedule.
SB Nation's Ralphie Report breaks down all the happenings at Colorado's spring practice where they are trying to turn back into a winning program.
Corn Nation previews their linebacking corp:
Nowhere will the difference between the conferences be more obvious than what will happen to the linebacker unit at Nebraska. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that it will be the linebackers that determine how well the Husker defense performs in 2011.
That is a pretty big statement for Nebraska, but will it matter when thet travel to take on Wyoming.
Double T Nation takes a deep look at the entire Texas Tech Red Raiders roster. New Mexico better study up if they want a chance to hang with Tech.
Cowboy Altitude talks about Wyoming returning to spring practice and takes a look at Wyoming's quarterback position where Brett Smith is currently on top of the depth chart.
Notre Dame suspended wide receiver Michael Floyd has been suspended indefinitely, but the exact extent of the suspension will not be known at this time. This is Floyd's second alcohol related offense, but his status for the 2011 season and the Air Force game is still up in the air.
Stay tuned for more spring football news from the Mountain West and their opponents.
Follow Mountain West Connection via Twitter and Facebook for News Quick Hits and Random Nonsense