Colorado State may be challenged by New Mexico, Air Force and BYU.
Despite coming off a Mountain West championship last season, Colorado State has a bitter taste about last year’s finish.
The excitement of the Rams’ sixth title in 10 years under Sonny Lubick was dampened by a pair of season-ending losses – 36-33 to UNLV and 17-3 to TCU in the Liberty Bowl.
“The UNLV game was a tough one to take….. You sat there and you thought about that game,” linebacker Eric Pauly said. “That’s no way to end the regular season.”
New Mexico, Air Force and BYU should provide the biggest competition. The Lobos were picked second in a preseason media poll, their highest selection ever. “I don’t think we’ve done enough to earn the respect yet,” Lobos coach Rocky Long. “It will be very interesting to see how our players can handle it because we’re used to being picked seventh and eighth.”
A capsule look at the Mountain West, based on predicted order of finish:
Colorado State
The Rams will benefit from the return of 17 starters, including QB Bradlee Van Pelt, who was the conference’s offensive player of the year. … Last season, he completed 150 of 287 passes for 2,073 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. … The Rams must replace RB Cecil Sapp, who led the MWC for the second time last season with 1,601 yards and 17 touchdowns. … The Rams also lost longtime defensive coordinator Larry Kerr to UCLA.
New Mexico
With 19 starters returning, the Lobos are out to earn respect. “People keep acting like all of the sudden we’ve played good. But that’s not true,” said Rocky Long, the MWC coach of the year last season. … The team went 7-7 (5-2 MWC) last year and finished second in the conference. … Playing in only the team’s second bowl game in 41 years, New Mexico lost 27-13 to UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl. … RB DonTrell Moore comes back after winning the MWC newcomer of the year honors.
Air Force
The Falcons have 16 starters returning, including preseason All-MWC honorees offensive lineman Jesse Underbakke and kicker Joey Ashcroft, the nephew of Attorney General John Ashcroft. … The team will have to do without LB Anthony Schlegel, who transferred to Ohio State.
Brigham Young
The Cougars followed up a MWC crown in 2001 with a 5-7 (2-5 MWC) record last season. … With the return of 16 starters this year, coach Gary Crowton is hopeful the team will return to the top of the conference.
Utah
After firing Ron McBride, the Utes look to Urban Meyer to improve on last season’s 5-6 (3-4 MWC) record. … Meyer will build on the team’s strong running game, which will be boosted by the return of RBs Brandon Warfield and Marty Johnson.
UNLV
After back-to-back losing seasons, the Rebels will be without starting quarterback Jason Thomas, who is trying to catch on in the NFL after being waived by the Atlanta Falcons. … His replacement is Kurt Nantkes, hero of the upset victory over Colorado State.
San Diego State
Twelve starters return, including quarterback Adam Hall, who completed 60 percent of his passes last season for 3,253 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Wyoming
Joe Glenn takes over as head coach after the Cowboys went 2-10 (1-6 MWC) last year. … In three seasons at Montana, Glenn’s team went 39-6 and won the Division I-AA national championship in 2001.
… Glenn said he will focus on bringing stability to the program after troubles last year under Vic Koenning. “They did the best they could to win, but you had a turnstile of coaches coming in and out,” Glenn said. “That is terrible on the kids and terrible on the program and impossible. From that standpoint, it was just a mess.”
AP-ES-08-19-03 0204EDT
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