Nov. 19, 1999

FORT COLLINS - Steve Ehrhart, chairman of the Liberty Bowl, had more than casual interest at Hughes Stadium on Thursday night while watching Air Force take on Colorado State. Ehrhart's bowl gets the Mountain West Conference champion.

But if there's a tie at the top of the Mountain West Conference, the committee would choose. Brigham Young controls its own destiny, though.

"We're not bound by the conference tiebreaker rule," Ehrhart said. "If there's a tie, our committee would pick the team."

Representatives from the Las Vegas Bowl also were watching. The Dec. 18 bowl has the next choice of a Mountain West team after the Liberty Bowl.

When asked if CSU's appearance at Las Vegas for its season-ending conference game against Nevada Las Vegas might be a factor, committee member Don Logan deferred. "I can't say that it wouldn't be a factor," Logan said. "But we're impressed with CSU's team and administration."

Injury scare
CSU H-back Cory Woolstenhulme was taken by ambulance to a local hospital while streams of traffic were still snaking toward Hughes Stadium. X-rays proved negative, and it was diagnosed as a next sprain. It was an all-too-common football scene with medical crews stabilizing the player's neck before placing him on a stretcher. He showed movement in his extremities but reported some numbness. The game was held up about 10 minutes before Woolstenhulme was taken from the field.

Wide receiver Frank Rice injured his wrist.

Believe it
Air Force kickers Jackson Whiting and David Adams did a little soft-shoe routine on the Falcons' opening field goal. Whiting kicked what was an apparent 43-yard field goal, but the Falcons were penalized, and Adams came on to kick the next try, from farther out. Adams also made the kick, and Matt Rillos subbed for Whiting's holder Scott Gribben.

Wrecking crew
CSU running back Kevin McDougal had wrecked the Falcons by halftime. He already had 102 yards rushing for his 12th career 100-yard game, and his halfback pass went for a touchdown and a 20-6 CSU lead.

Ram milestones
H-back Leon Smith caught his first pass of the year, and it was good for a touchdown, thanks to a halfback heave by McDougal. "I score every time I catch the ball," Smith said ... Erik Olson boosted his career interception total to 11 with two against the Falcons ... Quarterback Matt Newton has thrown at least one touchdown pass in nine of 10 games.

Senior send-off
CSU senior starters McDougal, tackle Blaine Saipaia, defensive ends Clark Haggans and Greg Pollard, safety Erik Olson, punter Deone Horinek, Tuitele, and H-back Leon Smith, along with wide receivers J'Sharlon Jones and Jon Ueland were introduced for their final home game. Linebacker Rick Crowell also was among the seniors, although he is applying for a medical redshirt year.

Jones went out the same way he came in - drawing a penalty for a flagrant foul. His entire career has been marked as the freshman who drew a penalty against Colorado - before the game - when he came out of the locker room taunting the Buffs by waving a towel.

Home for the holidays
CSU does not have classes Thanksgiving week, so the staff sent everyone home who won't travel to UNLV on Nov. 27.