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Show DAILY NEIALD Wednesday, September 15. 2004 AROUND TJIE MOUNTAIN WEST HAinniiGG poweii I.Utah Colorado State 5. (2-- 0) Previous: 1 Should handle Utah State easily Previous 5 Win over Texas Tech was huge Previous: 6 MWC (0-- 2) (1-- 7. Wyoming 0) (1-- 8. Air Force (1-- 1) (1-- 1) Previous: 3 Previous: 7 Which team win show up against Trojans? Struggled to put away Washington E. OCT San Diego State r Force V 00 (W 00 UNLV they play each other on Saturday in Las Vegas. I MWC teams will play three ranked opponents this week, with BYU hosting No. 1 USC, Colorado State welcoming No. 22 Minnesota to Fort Collins, and San Diego State taking on No. 17 Michigan on the road. I Under coach Gary Crowton, BYU has posted a 3 record against Pac-1-0 teams. BYU will try to improve that record against defending national champion and Pac-1-0 leader USC I Utah has scored on 100 percent of its trips inside the red zone with six touchdowns this season. Meyer: Lack of turnovers key to Utah's early-seaso- n success 20 1-- 0 Streak vWon2 Won 1 1-- 1 Wool 1-- Wool 1 i ; l-- 00 00 00 Wyoming Colorado State I UNLV and Air Force kick off the MWC regular season when 1) ConfOverafl Utah New Mexico YEEK3II0TES Battled Texas A&M for three quarters House" is Saturday 1--1 02 0-- 2 Lostl Lost 2 Lost 2 Saturday's games San Diego State at Michigan, 10 a.m. New Mexico at Oregon State, 2 p.m. Utah at Utah State, 5 p.m. Air Force at UNLV, 8 p.m. USC at BYU, 8 p.m. Minnesota at Colorado State, 8 p.m. SOT'S IfteSlSffl News and notes from BYU's 2004 football opponents: Notre Dame (1-- 1) Last week: Def. No. 7 Michigan, 28-2This week: Notre Dame at Michigan State, Saturday 5 p.m. (ESPN) Fast facte: Notre Dame leads the series with Michigan State Jared Lloyd DAILY game Team 00 offense arrives Previous: 8 4. Brigham Young Craig Thompson commissioner on CSTVs broadcast of the Wont win any games until Previous 2 to the "Big Week 3 ' 6. UNLV Trip (0--2) Previous: 4 Gould do little against USC 1 New Mexico (M) 3. San Diego State STA1TDI1TGS "What I've heard from CSTV is that they were embarrassed by the telecast, appalled by the telecast They said it was not up to the standards of CSTV production." 0 HERALD The key to success and failure often comes down to holding on to the football, according ' to Mountain West Conference 42-24-- Stanford coaches. In the weekly teleconference Tuesday, Utah head coach Urban Meyer said one of the keys to the Utes' success was not making mistakes. "We're probably a little less high-ris- k than most offenses," he said "Our philosophy is spread the field and throw it to the best matchup, usually man coverage. When we run the ball, we don't have unNOTEBOOK blocked de fenders hitting the running backs, having the chance to knock the ball loose. You know you're going to lose if you lay it on the ground.'' . Two MWC coaches wish they'd been able to do better in that regard in blowout losses on Saturday. "We didn't take care of the football," said BYU coach Gary Crowton. "We didn't have the consistency we needed to beat a Pac-1-0 football team. We have to play good on all cylinders this week to have a chance." After turning over the ball seven times against Stanford, the Cougars now face Southern (California, a team that does a good job of causing those turnovers, at least according to Colorado State head coach Son- (2-- 0) Last week: Def. BYU, 37-1- 0 This week: Bye Fast facte: Stanford opened the 2003 season 2-with wins over San Jose State and BYU but went 2--7 the rest of the way. 7 0 No. 1 USC (2-- 0) Last week: Def. Colorado State, 490 This week: No. 1 USC at BYU, Saturday 8 p.m. (ESPN) Fast facte: It's been 87 years since USC has played a game in the state of Utah. . No. 23 Boise State 7 i 0' K DAVID Last week: Def. Oregon State, 53-3- 4 This week: No. 23 Boise State at UTEP, Saturday 7 p.m. Plays BYU: BYU at Boise State, Sept 24 Fast facte: Boise State has scored 118 points in its first two games. J. PHIUJP Associated Press reacts after throwing an interception against Texas A&M on Saturday. Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said Bramlet, who has struggled the first two games of the season, will remain the starter for the Cowboys. Wyoming quarterback Corey Bramlet (1 7) and just play your game," he said. "You can't be really too . concerned about the opponent, you .cant worry about them rushing or getting hit. Just go out and execute your game. You also can't turn the ball over. If we had done that, the score would've at least been a little bit lower." I Stanford game telecast MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said that although he hadn't seen the telecast of the game by new television partner CSTV, he had heard plenty. "What I've heard from CSTV is that they were embarrassed by the telecast, appalled by the telecast," Thompson said. "They said it was not up to the standards of CSTV productioa In some form of defense, they broadcast the game in and the specialized truck liad unbelievable problems. Ba- - ny Lubick. sically the truck was out of commission at times during the game." I Quarterback challenges: BYU, UNLV and Wyoming all ran into difficulties last week at the quarterback positioa like the Cougars at Stanford, the Rebels lost their starting quarterback, Kurt Nantkes, on the first series. Robinson said getting backup Shane Steichen comfortable in the game was key to having offensive success. "You have to go in and get the guy started in some way," Robinson said. "Wisconsin has a big defensive line, so we didn't ask Shane to hold the baLL He threw some short passes to get going. You've got to allow the quarterback to get into a rhythm.". Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said even though quarterback Corey Bramlet struggled at BYU-Stanfo- "Most of our problems came because of USCs defense," said Lubick, whose team lost 49-- 0 to the Trojans. "When they have that type of pres- sure, the quarterback knows that he's got to get rid of it and that makes you do things you don't want to." He recommended that BYU shouldn't focus on what USC does defensively, "You've got to go out there : Norm (Chow) returning to a place where he had coached for so many years. We are going to try to keep him calm all week. "BYU has obviously responded with injuries to their quarterbacks and they are back to full strength. John Beck is a guy who can run around and do things that really make it hard for a defense. They have a wide-ope- n spread attack that was effective against us last year. Their defense also gave us problems. Along with their kicking game, it's a fine football team and we will have to be at our best to play wel" ' Crowton said he thinks his team can matchup with USC "With Stanford there were some places we didnt matchup weU with them in terms of experience," Crowton said "They wanted you to bleed it down the field Our strength is not the run BYU Continued from CI into the regular season. "We've only played two football games," Crowton said. "One was a big win and one was a big loss. We're just getting started You can't just think that with one win youVe arrived Notre Dame beat Michigan but if they dont win next week people will say it's a fluke." Meanwhile, USC coach Pete Carroll is saying all the right ' things about BYU. "We have a lot of respect for (BYU), obviously because they came out of the chute and defeated a difficult Notre Dame team," Carroll said "They did k in big fashion. I think there are some special aspects to it with (USC offereive coordinator) : . ning game right now, and we're working on that. Right after hafftime we passed six or seven times and completed almost an of them. But then we got a penalty and didnt get any big plays. We came out of that with no points and we did the same thing on the next possession. "But this matchup with USC is different. They're aggressive, they're gonna come after us and single up on our outside because they have confidence in their guys there. This is exciting and I'm looking forward to the, challenge." I line change: RJ. Willing made his first career start against Stanford at left tackle. Willing also played against Notre Dame when sophomore Eddie Keele complained of chest pains. "He (Willing) got the reps in the Notre Dame game," Crowton said "He looked the best so Colorado State Texas A&M, he remains the Cowboy starter. "Corey's frustrated, feels like he let the team down," Germ said. "He's bothered by his own performance, but he knows that when you get thrown off the horse, you get back up, dust yourself off, and get back on." I Quotable: New Mexico coach Rocky Long, when asked about Air Force's use of cut blocks: "It's a part of footbalL It bothers you a little to play teams that cut blocks because not a lot of teams do that any more. If they made it illegal, it would take a lot of little guys out of the game because they're too small to block people straight up. Then we'd lose them and they'd all go play soccer." I Jared at 344-255- Lloyd con be Last week: Lost to No. 1 USC, 490 This week: No. 22 Minnesota at Colorado State, Saturday 8 p.m. (ESPN2) Plays BYU: Oct 2 in Ft Collins, Cold. Fast facte: Against USC, Colorado State was shutout for the first time since 1997. UNLV THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Crunch time starts this Cokx week for Air Force football, in more ways than one. The Falcons (1-- are preparing for their Mountain West Conference opener Saturday at 1) ). It's the first of three games for Air Force in 13 days, afl with midterm exams coming up. "Always, you'd like to win your first conference game," Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said Tuesday. "Because you'd like to be there on top looking UNLV ASSOCIATED PRESS -- . (0-2- down, rather than chasing the rest of the conference teams during the year". - Wyoming (11) Last week: Lost at Texas A&M, 31-This week: Bye Plays BYU: Oct 16 in Provo Fast facte: Wyoming lost six players to injury at 0 reached Texas A&M. jlloydheraldextra.com. Air Force he stayed in there. We played them both against Stanford and weU decide who starts when we get closer the game on Saturday." Willing is a frf oot-4- , redshirt freshman from Hawaii, I Extra points: BYU wide receiver Todd Watkins' brother Travis is a reserve offensive lineman for USC ... Chow was an assistant at BYU for 27 years. ... The last time USC played in Utah was 1915, when the Trojans lost ... The BYU-USto the Utes will be broadcast on game ESPN with Ron Franklin handuties and dling Mike Gottfried as color commentator. New Mexico C can be or by 344-25- ddicfesonheraIdextra.com. No. 14 Utah will have to balance athletic responsibilities with midterm ex--' ams in the next few weeks. "We're going to have to be e, (2-- 0) day 5 p.m. (KJZZ) Plays BYU: Nov. 20 in Salt Lake City Fast facte: Until this year, Utah had never been ranked in the top 20 in the month of September. as much rest as we can," DeBer- of some of the contact in our . program. "Most of our approach the next three weeks win be getting and getready game plan-wisting ready physkHy." (1-- 1) Last week: Def. Arizona, 236 This week: No. 14 Utah at Utah State, Satur- ry said "Maybe weU back off : 0) Last week: Def. Texas Tech, 27-2- 4 This week: New Mexico at Oregon State, Saturday 2 p.m. Plays BYU: Nov. 13 in Provo Fast facte: Wes Zunker's 43yard field goal as time expired earned New Mexico its first victory over Texas Tech in 20 years. ' Dickson (1-- Last week: Bye This week: San DiefiofState at No. 17 Michi gan, Saturday 10 a.m. (ESPN) Plays BYU: Nov. 6 in Provo Fast facte: This is San Diego State's first meeting with Michigan. play-by-pla- y reached at 1) San Diego State 300-pou- 20-1- (1-- Last week: Def. Eastern Washington, 42-2- 0 This week: Air Force at UNLV, Saturday 8 p.m. Plays BYU: Oct 23 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Fast facte: Air Force's defense has given up 986 yards its first two games. very conscious of getting them Because Air Force classes start early in August, players (0-- 2) Last week: Lost to No. 21 Wisconsin, 18-- 3 This week: Air Force at UNLV, Saturday 8 p.m. .Plays BYU: Oct 6 in Provo Fast facts: The UNLV defense gave up only seven points against Wisconsin. Air Force opens MWC regular season in Las Vegas . (0-- 2) or 2 I Darnell (2-- 0) The Scout Team appears in i fflXl I itri 1 8 the Daily Herald each Wednesday. 1 1 if Imt' |