Again, every scenario is being reviewed, from TCU potentially choosing to remain with the Mountain West pending developments in the Big East, to the possibility of a football-only merger with Conference USA. At the end of the day, much has to do with which schools are remaining in those respective leagues when the dust finally settles. As you well know, this is a very fluid situation. I can guarantee you that Commissioner Thompson and the conference presidents are exploring all options and making sure the goals of the Mountain West are continued to be pursued.
Mick, Kirk Herbstreit and ESPN are so bias against the Mountain West. It's amazing how unprofessional he and other ESPN talent are in bashing the MWC and its teams for not being on the network. Herbstreit said Boise State will be a non-factor in the BCS National Championship race because their not on ESPN. When does TV dictate who can play for the National Championship?
--Derek from Las Vegas
Derek,
Can we once and for all put this topic to rest? Please? Kirk Herbstreit's bias is so profound it should be stamped on his forehead. The Facts: ESPN had a chance to sign the MW and low-balled the league. It also asked for games to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday. Just because Herbstreit is in a snit that the league opted to go a different direction, he's letting his personal bias, which is wholly unprofessional, get in the way. People can see Mountain West games. Boise State only has three games all season on The Mtn. It has three games on ESPN, three on CBS Sports Network and three on VERSUS. In the past it had approximately 6 games on the ESPN family of networks. The other games weren't on TV. This year, all of the Broncos' games are on TV, including three on ESPN. Get over it, Kirk. Believe it or not, I'm relatively certain that if Boise State wins a national championship, it's unlikely coach Chris Petersen will go out of his way to credit ESPN.
SDSU @ Michigan. Hoke vs his former team. 3-0 Aztecs in the Big House. Can it get much better than this?
How do you see this game playing out? I have big hopes for my Aztecs, but can this team, with this new coach, step up to the moment?
--Scott
Obviously, this is going to be a very emotional game for SDSU, so it's crucial the Aztecs keep their focus on the task at hand. They have gone to Ann Arbor to beat Michigan, not Brady Hoke. In a road game in front of 100,000-plus, it's imperative they keep stride early. They have done a marvelous job of not turning the ball over and keeping Ryan Lindley clean, both of which play a huge factor in this game. Lindley can hurt anyone with his throwing ability, but I think the key here is Ronnie Hillman. Michigan's front four is arguably the team's weak link, with the Wolverines having allowed almost 200 yards rushing in the last two weeks against Eastern Michigan and Notre Dame. If SDSU can keep a handle on Michigan QB Denard Robinson, I think they have legitimate shot. Hey, I've seen San Diego State with far less talent nearly beat both Michigan and Ohio State on the road a few years back. It's certainly within the Aztecs' reach.
Do you San Diego State will be ranked if it beats Michigan this weekend?
--Larry from Mesa, Ariz.
Without question. The Aztecs, already off to their best start in 30 years, are 3-0. Michigan, also 3-0, is No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the Coaches' poll. Even though I'm still not sold on Michigan's legitimacy, it is considered a Top 25 team. To win on the road against an undefeated Big Ten team will pay off handsomely, not only in the rankings, but for SDSU's football future. I would argue this is the biggest game in the program's history.
Colorado State has started the season 2-1 as many expected they would. Do you think the Rams can still make it to a bowl game this year despite all of the injuries?
--Jonathan from Denver
Jonathan,
It's not so much the injuries themselves as it is the players who have been injured. Last week's loss of junior offensive tackle Joe Caprioglio to a knee injury may be no less severe than the loss of standout senior linebacker Mychal Sisson. The backups positioned to assume Caprioglio's spot at weak-side tackle are both redshirt freshmen. Losing six starters since Week 1 presents a real hurdle. If there's hope, it's that the Rams have considerably more depth than they did during Coach Fairchild's first three seasons. Getting to a bowl game is far from impossible, but the Rams can ill afford many more injuries to front-line players.
Does Kellen Moore have a shot at winning the Heisman this year or will it always go to a player from a BCS league.
--Stephen from Oklahoma City
Stephen,
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Show me any other quarterback in the nation who has 42 career starts and 40 wins. There is nothing else that matters. Nothing. When was it mandated that the team that wins the national title must also somehow have a player deserving of the Heisman Trophy? Where is the criteria stipulating that because you play in the SEC, the Big 12, the Big Ten or the Pac-12 that you inherently must be considered a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy? The Heisman has become a popularity contest, nothing more, nothing less. When I see someone unveil a list of Heisman frontrunners in July, I want to hurl a brick through my television set. It's nothing but idle chatter, nothing more than to stir up hype. Kellen Moore wins football games. Period. If you want to show me a better statistic than that, I'll be happy to talk.
Mick McGrane has covered the Mountain West since the league's inception in 1999. He spent 12 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune, where he served as the beat writer for San Diego State football and men's basketball. He currently represents the MW as a member of the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee and is a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. McGrane serves as senior writer to the Mountain West, providing readers with exclusive, in-depth information about the Conference by highlighting its 10 member institutions and contributing feature stories on student-athletes that participate in the league's 18 sponsored sports.
Mark Knudson is a Colorado State journalism school graduate and a 12-year veteran of professional baseball. During his playing career, Mark pitched for three major league teams, including the Colorado Rockies, where he was the first Colorado native to play for the hometown team. He recorded wins over three of the four legendary pitchers who make up the 4,000 strikeout club: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. His win over Ryan came for the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day in 1991.
