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Mountain West launches 2000 schedule in two preseason classics
Two Mountain West Conference teams kick-off the season this week in
preseason classics. BYU opens its 2000 campaign vs. defending national
champion Florida State in Jacksonville, Fla., at the Advantedge Pigskin
Classic, Sat., Aug. 26. This will be one of three regular-season trips to the East Coast for the Cougars¹ this season. The Pigskin Classic is
sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and will be played at the 73,000-seat Alltell Stadium, home of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.
New Mexico opens its 2000 season on the road at Texas Tech on Sat., Aug. 26 in the inaugural Transamerica Hispanic College Fund Classic. The game will be played in Lubbock, Texas at Tech's Jones Stadium. This game will mark the earliest start in school history for the Lobo football team. New Mexico's previous earliest start was in 1996 when it opened the season at New Mexico
State on Aug. 29.
LaVell Edwards To Call it Quits after 2000 Season
LaVell Edwards, the seventh-winningest coach in the history of college
football, announced on Thursday, Aug. 17, that he will retire as Brigham
Young University's head coach at the conclusion of the 2000 season. Edwards,
who will be 70 in October, has compiled a 251-95-3 overall record in 28
seasons with the Cougars. His teams have won 20 conference titles and have
appeared in 22 bowl games. In 1984, he was named National Coach of the Year
after BYU finished the season 13-0 and won the National Championship. He
needs just five victories to pass Tom Osborne as the sixth-winningest
college football coach in history. He enters the 2000 season with the
third-most wins (251) and the third-best winning percentage (.723) among
active coaches.
Doak Walker Award Candidates
The Mountain West Conference placed two athletes on the preseason Doak
Walker Award list announced Monday by the Southwestern Bell - SMU Athletic
Forum. Air Force¹s Scotty McKay and San Diego State¹s Larry Ned were among
the preseason candidates for the award annually given to the nation¹s top
college running back. The list will be cut down to eight semifinalists on
Nov. 8. The 2000 Doak Walker Award winner presented by Vectrix will be
announced live on ESPN¹s Home Depot College Football Awards Show on
Thursday, Dec. 7.
Five MWC Players Named to Nagurski Watch List
Five players from MWC schools, including two from BYU, have been named to
the Mike Fox/Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list for the 2000 college football
season. The Nagurski Trophy was created in 1993 by the Football Writers
Association of America to honor the best defensive player. It is presented
annually by the Charlotte Touchdown Club of Charlotte, N.C. Of the 38
national candidates, the following MWC players are on the list: Patrick
Chukwurah (LB, Wyoming), Rick Crowell (LB, Colorado State), Chris Hoke (DT,
BYU), Jared Lee (S, BYU) and Kautai Oleveo (LB, Utah).
New Sheriff in Town
Vic Koenning¹s promotion from defensive coordinator to head coach last
spring at Wyoming was one of 12 coaching changes in Division I-A (and one of
seven from an assistant position to a head job). Koenning replaces Dana
Dimel, who left Laramie for the University of Houston.
MWC Win Streaks
Utah opens the 2000 season with the longest win streak in the conference.
The Utes won their last four games of the `99 season, including a 17-16
victory over Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Colorado State carries a
five-game regular season win streak into 2000. The Rams won their final five
conference games by an average of 13.6 points per game, but the win streak
came to an end with a 23-17 loss to Southern Miss in the AXA Liberty Bowl.
As Tough As They Come
BYU may play its toughest schedule in school history this fall. The Cougars
open by playing national champion Florida State in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Advantedge Pigskin Classic). The Cougars then return to the east coast and
play Virginia, and, just three weeks later, make the trek to Syracuse, N.Y.,
to play in the Carrier Dome. In between, BYU must play a Thursday night game
vs. Mississippi State, the lone home game of September, and tackle
conference foe Air Force in Colorado Springs on Sept. 9. It doesn¹t lighten
up after October 1 either, as the Cougars make trips to two preseason league
favorites Utah and Colorado State. BYU will travel 10,874 miles this
season and will be the first MWC team to cross the Mississippi River three
times in one season.
Mtn. West Talking with BCS
This past June, the MWC accepted an invitation to participate in discussions
with the BCS entities for the next six years. Commissioner Craig Thompson
will represent the MWC at all BCS meetings. The MWC will not have a vote or
be included in the revenue distribution. An MWC team would need to finish
among the top six in the final BCS standings to earn an opportunity for an
at-large berth to one of the BCS games. Any Div. IA team can qualify for
possible selection in the BCS with nine wins and a top 12 rating in the
final BCS standings.
Preseason Predictions
In the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, Colorado State was the
highest-rated MWC team at No. 31 with 35 points. Utah followed closely
behind at No. 33 with 33 points, while BYU claimed the 41st spot with seven
points. In the preseason ESPN/USA Today poll, Utah held the highest position
by a MWC team at No. 35 with 32 points. BYU (No. 27-28 points), Colorado
State (No. 39-21 points) and San Diego State (No. 45-three points) were also
among the top 50.
In other preseason polls, Utah and Colorado State were the league¹s top
teams. Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News had the Rams at 24th and
31st, respectively., while Lindy¹s picked Utah at No. 22 and Athlon had the
Utes at No. 24.
In the preseason polls released at the Mountain West Conference Football
Media Day in Las Vegas, Nev., the leagues¹ coaches and media both selected
Utah to win the 2000 title. The following are the results:
MWC Coaches Poll MWC Media Poll
1. Utah (4) 1. Utah (17)
2. Colorado State (3) 2. Colorado State (10)
3. BYU (1) 3. BYU (3)
4. Air Force 4. Air Force
5. San Diego State 5. Wyoming
6. Wyoming 6. UNLV
7. UNLV 7. San Diego State
8. New Mexico 8. New Mexico
2000 Preseason Football Media All-Mountain West Team Offense
WR Margin Hooks, BYU, Sr.
WR Steve Smith, Utah, Sr.
OL Tim Stuber, Colorado State, Sr.
OL David Hildebrand, Air Force, Sr.
OL Rob Kellerman, Wyoming, So.
OL Doug Kaufusi, Utah, Jr.
OL Sam White, Utah, Sr.
TE Gray McNeill, San Diego State, Sr.
QB Jay Stoner, Wyoming, Sr.
RB Larry Ned, San Diego State, Sr.
RB Jeremi Rudolph, UNLV, Sr.
Defense
DL Setemi Gali, BYU, Sr.
DL Patrick Chukwurah, Wyoming, Sr.
DL Jerome Haywood, San Diego State, Jr.
DL Jeff Boyle, Wyoming, Sr.
LB Kautai Olevao, Utah, Sr.
LB Rick Crowell, Colorado State, Sr.
LB Justin Ena, BYU, Jr.
DB Andre Dyson, Utah, Sr.
DB Kevin Thomas, UNLV, Jr.
DB Al Rich, Wyoming, Sr.
DB Jared Lee, BYU, Sr.
Specialists
K Owen Pochman, BYU, Sr.
P Ray Cheetany, UNLV, Sr.
KR Steve Smith, Utah, Sr.
PR Dallas Davis, Colorado State, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year: Jay Stoner, Sr., QB, Wyoming
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Thomas, Jr., DB, UNLV
Newcomer of the Year: Jason Thomas, QB, UNLV (transfer from USC)
Player of the Year: Steve Smith, Sr., WR/PR, Utah
Mountain West vs. the BCS
Last year, the MWC fared well against BCS opponents finishing with a 7-5
record, including a 4-1 mark vs. Pac-10 teams. In 2000, conference schools
took it a step further, scheduling 20 games vs. teams representing
BCS-affiliated conferences.
MWC teams will face every major conference this season. Here¹s a breakdown:
8 games vs. Pac-10
Arizona (2)
Arizona St. (2)
Oregon St. (2)
California
Washington St.
4 vs. Big 12
Iowa State
Colorado
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
3 vs. SEC
Auburn
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
2 vs. ACC
Florida State
Virginia
1 vs. Big East
Syracuse
1 vs. Big Ten
Illinois
Air Force will play at Notre Dame Oct. 28.
Switching Gears
Wyoming¹s two-time all-conference safety Al Rich is making the the switch
from the defensive backfield to the offensive backfield in 2000. The senior
from Colorado Springs probably would have been a Jim Thorpe award candidate
this season, but with the unstable running back position in Laramie, Rich
has decided to make the move. The switch will not be completely new to Rich,
who rushed for 1,500 yards as a senior at Mitchell High School.
Mountain West Rated Sixth Best in Inaugural Year
According to the Jeff Sagarin power ratings that were released at the
conclusion of the 1999 regular season, the MWC ranked sixth behind the Big
Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-10. In fact, the MWC ranked higher than the
Big East, Conference USA, WAC and Mid-American. The three co-champions were
rated among the top-30 in the country. Utah led the MWC at No. 24, followed
by BYU (No. 25) and Colorado State (No. 30). The MWC also finished seventh
in overall attendance in `99.
College Hall of Fame Inductee
Wyoming¹s first All-America football player in 1950, Eddie Talboom, will
also become Wyoming¹s first player to be inducted to the National Football
Foundation¹s College Hall of Fame on Dec. 12, 2000. Two former Wyoming
coaches have already been inducted: Bob Devaney and Bowden Wyatt. Talboom
played tailback and place-kicker for Wyoming from 1948-50. He led the NCAA
in career scoring average for almost 20 years until Steve Owens of Oklahoma
overtook him in 1969. Entering the 2000 season, Talboom still ranked No. 5
all-time on the NCAA career scoring average list.
Four MWC Teams Rated in Top 30 Winningest NCAA Division I Programs in `90s
The Mountain West Conference has four institutions ranked among the NCAA
Division I top 30 winningest programs during the decade of the 1990s. BYU
was the highest-rated MWC team by percentage at No. 16, followed by Air
Force (25), Colorado State (28) and Utah (30).
*-Includes teams that joined the NCAA Division I-A ranks during the 1990s: Marshall (`97)
Advantedge Pigskin Classic
BYU vs. No. 2 Florida State
Saturday, August 26
Alltell Stadium (73,000 Cap.)
Jacksonville, Fla.
8 p.m. (ET), ABC
The Game
BYU will make its third appearance in the preseason Pigskin Classic since 1991. The Cougars have played in more Pigskin Classics than any other team in the country. BYU¹s last Pigskin appearance came in 1996 when it defeated Texas A&M, 41-37. The Cougars met Florida State in the 1991 Classic, with the Seminoles coming out on top, 44-28. Saturday¹s contest will be a nationally-televised game on ABC. BYU went 28-30-2 in the `90s when playing on televison. The Cougars are 5-11 all-time on ABC. BYU¹s last appearance on ABC ended with a 38-28 victory over California on Oct. 9, 1999.
The Series
Florida State leads 1-0. Last Game: Florida State 44, BYU 28, August 29, 1991 - Pigskin Classic
The Coaches
LaVell Edwards enters his 29th season at BYU and has compiled a 251-95-3 overall record. Bobby Bowden is 304-85-4 in 34 seasons as a head coach and 231-53-4 overall in 24 years at Florida State.
The Teams
BYU returns 13 starters from last year¹s team that went 8-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play. Among the starters returning are first team All-MWC wide receiver Margin Hooks (Sr.) and the Conference Freshman of the Year, Luke Staley. Hooks led the MWC in receiving yards with 1,067 on 60 receptions in `99. He needs just 943 yards this season to become the Cougars¹ all-time receiving yards leader. Staley returns for his sophomore campaign after rushing for 432 yards and scoring a league-high 13 touchdowns last season. Staley found the endzone in seven of the eight games he played and scored at least two TDs in three straight games in `99.
Players to Watch
Top Returning Passer: Bret Engemann (5 GP, 4-3-0, 75.0 Pct, 13 Yds, Longest Pass - 14 Yds)
Top Returning Rusher: Luke Staley (8 GP, 92 Att., 470 Yds, 4.7 Avg Per
Rush., 10 TD, Longest Rush - 61 Yds)
Top Returning Receiver: Margin Hooks (11 GP, 60 Rec., 1,067 Yds, 17.8 Avg Per Rec., 7 TD, Longest Rec. - 77 Yds)
Top Returning Tackler: Jared Lee (11 GP, 67-26-93, 1 Sack, 4 TFL)
Florida State returns 13 starters from its national championship run last season in which it finished 12-0 overall and 8-0 in the ACC. FSU has won 21 consecutive regular season games and enters the 2000 season ranked No. 2 in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today polls. Quarterback Chris Weinke is back for his senior year after leading all ACC quarterbacks with 3,103 yards passing in `99. Weinke has passed for 200 yards or more in 20 of his 21 career
starts and set a new ACC record for passes thrown without an interception
last season at 237. Senior running back Travis Minor also returns after
rushing for 815 yards and scoring seven TDs in `99. Against ranked opponents
last season, Minor averaged 97.2 yards per game.
Players to Watch
Top Returning Passer: Chris Weinke (11GP, 377-232-14, 61.5 Pct, 3,013 Yds, 25 TD, Longest Pass - 84 Yds)
Top Returning Rusher: Travis Minor (11 GP, 180 Att., 815 Yds, 4.5 Avg Per Rush., 7 TD, Longest Rush - 47 Yds)
Top Returning Receiver: Marvin Minnis (9 GP, 19 Rec., 257 Yds, 13.5 Avg Per Rec., 3 TD, Longest Rec. - 27 Yds)
Top Returning Tackler: Tommy Polley (1 GP, 67-42-109, 3 Sacks, 6 TFL)
Transamerica Hispanic College Fund Classic
New Mexico vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, August 26
Jones Stadium (50,500 Cap.)
Lubbock, Texas
7 p.m. (CT), Fox Sports SW/College Sports SE
The Game
New Mexico opens its 102nd season in the Inaugural Transamerica Hispanic
College Fund Classic vs. Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. Twenty-five percent
of the proceeds from the game will benefit the National Hispanic College
Fund. The Lobos and Red Raiders will meet for the 37th time on Saturday and
the first time since 1995 (a 34-7 win by Texas Tech in Albuquerque). Texas
Tech leads the all-time series 29-5-2 and has won six straight vs. New
Mexico. The last Lobo victory over the Red Raiders was in 1984, a 29-24
triumph in Albuquerque.
The Series
Texas Tech Leads 29-5-2. Last Game: Texas Tech 34, New Mexico 7, Oct. 28, 1995 in Albuquerque
The Coaches
New Mexico¹s Rocky Long enters his third season at the helm of the Lobos. He
is 7-16 in his two seasons in Albuquerque. Prior to his days at New Mexico,
Long was the defensive coordinator for UCLA. Mike Leach enters his first
season as the head coach of the Red Raiders. Leach comes to Texas Tech after
spending the 1999 season as an assistant at Oklahoma. He is also a 1983
graduate of BYU.
The Teams
New Mexico returns 15 starters from last year¹s team that finished 4-7
overall and tied for 5th with a 3-4 conference record. Junior Jeremy Denson
was named the starting quarterback two weeks ago and boasts speed and arm
strength. The Navarro College transfer threw for 2,203 yards and 31
touchdowns last season. Junior running back Holmon Wiggins proved last
season he could be the starting back and returns after rushing for 618 yards
- 424 of those yards came in the last four games of the season.
Players to Watch
Top Returning Passer: None
Top Returning Rusher: Holmon Wiggins (11 GP, 138 Att., 618 Yds, 4.4 Avg Per Rush., 5 TD, Longest Rush - 31 Yds)
Top Returning Receiver: Ted Iacenda (11 GP, 27 Rec., 303 Yds, 11.2 Avg Per Rec., 3 TD, Longest Rec. - 39 Yds)
Top Returning Tackler: Mike Barnett (11 GP, 66-46-112, 2 Sacks, 10 TFL)
Texas Tech returns 10 starters from its `99 team that went 6-5 overall and
tied for second in the South Division of the Big 12 at 5-3. Junior running
back Ricky Williams returns after missing the `99 season when he injured his
knee in the season opener at Arizona State. He was the nation¹s fourth
leading rusher in 1998 with a 143.82 yards per game average. Sophomore Shaud
Williams filled in nicely for Ricky and rushed for 658 yards and set a Red
Raider freshman single-game rushing record with 230 yards vs. Colorado.
Sophomore quarterback Kliff Kingsbury will direct the offense in 2000. Last
season, he played in six games, starting one, and threw for 492 yards and
four touchdowns.
Players to Watch
Top Returning Passer: Kliff Kingsbury (6 GP, 57-25-1, 43.9 Pct, 492 Yds, Longest Pass - 75 Yds)
Top Returning Rusher: Shuad Williams (10 GP, 112 Att., 658 Yds, 5.9 Avg Per Rush., 7 TD, Longest Rush - 66 Yds)
Top Returning Receiver: Tim Baker (11 GP, 22 Rec., 370 Yds, 16.8 Avg Per Rec., 2 TD, Longest Rec. - 55 Yds)
Top Returning Tackler: Kevin Curtis (11 GP, 93-63-153, 0 Sacks, 3 TFL)
