Mountain West Conference Preview
AIR FORCE
2001 record: 6-6
Coach: Fisher DeBerry
Outlook: DeBerry has done a fantastic job with just two losing seasons in 18 years, despite the fact Air Force cannot recruit NFL-caliber athletes due to military obligations. Once again the Falcons will have a wishbone offense featuring RB Leotis Palmer, who is the leading returning rusher. Untested junior QB Chance Harridge, who rushed for 181 yards on 30 carries in five appearances as the backup last season, gets his day in the sun. The defense has struggled over the past couple of seasons, but hopefully an infusion of young talent will help. FS Jeff Overstreet was on his way to an All-Conference type of season when he was injured after five games.
Noteworthy: DeBerry is third on the list of Division I-A coaches in terms of longest tenure at the same school, behind Joe Paterno (36 years) and Bobby Bowden (26). DeBerry has posted .500 or better seasons in 16 of his 18 years at the Academy and has taken his squads to 11 bowl games.
Schedule: Midwestern schools Northwestern and Notre Dame visit Colorado Springs.
BYU
2001 record: 12-2 (Lost to Louisville in Liberty Bowl)
Coach: Gary Crowton
Outlook: Crowton made a huge first impression, winning his first 12 games before back-to-back defeats. This year the Cougars have just four starters back on offense and will hand the ball to QB Bret Engemann,a junior who redshirted last season. Superstar WR Reno Mahe, who recorded a team leading 91 receptions for 1,211 yards last year, will be tough to defend. Defensively the Cougars will rely on LB Paul Walkenhorst, who figures to be a consistently disruptive force and the one of the best defenders in the league. CB Jernaro Gilford had seven interceptions and 17 pass break-ups as a junior.
Noteworthy: BYU's offense was so dominant last year that K Matt Payne attempted only 17 field goals, while tying an NCAA record with 73 extra points.
Schedule: This year they only have three conference road games, but two are trips to Colorado State and Utah, the league's frontrunners. BYU opens at Syracuse on Aug. 29.
COLORADO STATE
2001 record: 7-5 (Beat North Texas in New Orleans Bowl)
Coach: Sonny Lubick
Outlook: They are a stronger team than last year's squad with experienced QB Bradlee Van Pelt and a stable of great runners led by RB Cecil Sapp, who missed last season due to injury. Defensively the Rams are led by LB Eric Pauly and LB Drew Wood, who always seem to be around the football. Special teams is always an area of strength for the Rams, especially with speedy returnmen CB Dexter Wynn coming back.
Noteworthy: Lubick is the school's all-time winningest coach and was inducted into the Colorado State Hall of Fame in 1998. First-team All-American P Joey Huber averaged 43 yards per punt and had 17 downed inside the 20-yard line.
Schedule: The Rams have a tough non-conference schedule that includes Virginia, UCLA, Louisville, and Colorado.
NEW MEXICO
2001 record: 6-5
Coach: Rocky Long
Outlook: The offense should be a little more diversified and potent this year. QB Casey Kelly provides the Lobos with plenty of reason for offensive optimism along with WR Dwight Counter, who had a team best 43 catches for 774 yards last year. The Lobos finished first in the conference in rush defense each of the last two years and will be led by NT Hebrews Josue, who returns to be a force in the middle. The Lobos could be a contender if a couple of things go right and could find themselves in a bowl for the first time since 1997.
Noteworthy: LB Charles Moss broke Brian Urlacher's school linebacker record with a 382-lb power clean, while also setting a LB record with a 39.5 inch vertical leap. QB Casey Kelly was drafted in the 32nd round of the June draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Schedule: The Lobos play Colorado State and BYU on the road in November.
SAN DIEGO STATE
2001 record: 3-8
Coach: Tom Craft
Outlook: The Aztecs have the fewest amount of returning starters in the conference, but returning is WR J.R. Tolver, who was clearly the main man with 63 catches in 2001 and has more receptions than any other player in the conference the last two years. Craft is going to put more emphasison throwing the football, so whoever wins the starting job between QB Lon Sheriff or QB Adam Hall should be ready. The defense has five starters back but looks a little weaker than last year. CB Ricky Sharpe and CB Jeff Shoate will be one of the better cover tandems in the league.
Noteworthy: WR J.R. Tolver has 134 career receptions and could become SDSU's all-time leading receiver, which is impressive at a school where the list includes Webster Slaughter, Will Blackwell, Az Hakim and Darnay Scott.
Schedule: The Aztecs play eight road games this year and a tough non-conference schedule that includes road trips to Fresno State and Colorado and home games versus Arizona State and UCLA.
UNLV
2001 record: 4-7
Coach: John Robinson
Outlook: The Rebels will look to rebound from an off year and have a healthy QB returning in Jason Thomas. With RBs Joe Haro and Dominique Dorsey and WR Troy Mason, the offense should put a lot of points on the board. QB Thomas is looking to bounce back from a rough 2001 and if he plays up to his capabilities, UNLV can contend for the conference title. Defensively, they are stronger this year, led by DE Ahmad Briggs and DT Dietrich Canterberry. The Rebels must start the season playing better on both sides of the ball to avoid another losing run.
Noteworthy: Robinson is the only Division I-A coach to wear dual hats of head coach and athletic director. Robinson's 8-1 bowl record gives him a higher winning percentage (.888) in the postseason than any coach with a minimum of eight bowl appearances.
Schedule: UNLV starts at home against Wisconsin, then faces Kansas and goes to Oregon State and Toledo.
UTAH
2001 record: 8-4 (Beat USC in Las Vegas Bowl)
Coach: Ron McBride
Outlook: The Utes have had two losing seasons in 11 years and snapped a streak of nine consecutive winning seasons in 2000. This year Utah is much more experienced with 13 starters back. Seasoned junior QB Lance Rice will look to get the ball in the hands of speedy WR Josh Lyman, who has 4.58 speed and had a team high average of 15.6 yards per catch. The running game should improve with two of the best linemen in the conference, LT Jordan Gross and C Dustin McQuivey, paving the way. The defense has eight returning starters for one of the best defensive units in the nation. Three returning All-Americans are LB Sheldon Deckhart, who led the team in tackles, sacks, tackles for losses and pass breakups; DL Garrett Smith, who started in 31 games coming into this year; and DE Jason Kaufusi.
Noteworthy: Utah lost three league games by a grand total of six points. The Utes rarely find themselves in big scoring shootouts, yielding more than 30 points only once last season while holding eight teams to 21 points or fewer.
Schedule: The Utes travel to Arizona and Michigan, then enter into a favorable conference schedule that includes four home games against the top contenders in the league.
WYOMING
2001 RECORD: 2-9
Coach: Vic Koenning
Outlook: Koenning looks to have a more balanced team with better run blocking and improvement from RB Derek Armah, who looked good in spring drills. QB Casey Bramlet, who had seven 300-yard passing games, should get better throwing to a very talented group of receivers led by All-American WR Ryan McGuffey, who is one of the best receivers in the nation. On the defensive side of the ball the leaders are DT Brandon Casavan and S Guy Tuell. The Cowboys won't have a problem scoring points, but have to improve on the 33.5 points and 465 yards per game they gave up last year.
Noteworthy: WR Ryan McGuffey has caught at least one pass in every one of his 20 college games.
Schedule: The Cowboys have brutal non-conference road games against Tennessee and Washington.
