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 |
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| 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 |
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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. |
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| Offensive Player of the Year: Max Hall, Jr., QB, BYU |
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| Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Phillips, Sr., LB, TCU |
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| Special Teams Player of the Year: Louie Sakoda, Sr., PK/P, Utah |
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| Freshman of the Year: Braylon Broughton, DE, TCU |
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