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Show Tuesday, July 24, 2007 DAILY 2007 MWC FOOTBALL MEDIA HERALD C5 fz) fcffl S5ffi2 DAYS BYU We had a great spring and summer and I challenged Continued from CI the guys to learn to deal with success. We've won 10 of Oregon in the Las Vegas games in three of the past Bowl. The Cougars were also four years.". undefeated at home ) and Mendenhall said he didn't had the highest home victory think his players would be margin (35 points per game) motivated by the second-plac- e in the country. prediction. BYU received 178 total "I don't acknowledge it e and three points (the poll), nor do I have a votes in this year's MWC feeling either way," he said. media poll. TCU, which was "It's something for everyone also picked to win the title to talk about for a day and in 2006, received 202 total a half here at the meetings. e It doesn't matter to me, nor points and 18 of the 23 vote cast by the MWC does it provide more motivamedia in 2007. tion for my players. I don't "We're excited about bethink it's ever been right. "All that matters for me ing picked at the top spot," said TCU head coach Gary and our team is what we Patterson. "But it's not what think we're capable of: Deyou have to say in August fending our championship but what you have to say in and reaching the standards December. We've already we're striving for." been in this position before. Utah was picked third and earned two first place votes. The Utes were followed by New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, San Diego State and UNLV. So where do the Cougars 7 , team: offensive linemen Sete Aulai and Dallas Reynolds, linebacker Bryan Kehl and safety Quinn Gooch. TCU had seven players on the team, including Offensive Player of the Year go from their 2 finish in 2006? Aaron Brown (running "We finished the season back) and Defensive Player of the Year Tommy Blake ranked 15th," Mendenhall said. "There's 14 spots in (lineman), front of us we can reach. I'm Utah had four players not of the opinion we can't offensive linemen Jason climb to those spots. At the Boone and Robert Conley, end last season the players quarterback Brian Johnson said that we needed to raise and Special Team Player of our goals. the Year, kicker Louie Sako-- , on the "Some say that sets us up da team.. to be a target, but I believe I Daily Herald Sports we're ready to defend the Editor Darnell Dickson title. The players .are carry5 can be reached at ing themselves like they're or by at expecting to win and it will be a great test of the matuddicksonheraldextra. com. Read his blog at rity level of our program." Four Cougars were named blogs.heraldextra.com to the Darnell. preseason (6-0- All-MW- 11-- first-plac- first-plac- 344-255- All-MW- C 2007 MWC MEDIA PRESEASON FOI.Ii TEAM F UTAH (2) 202 178 165; NEW MEXICO 120 1. TCU (18) 2. BYU (3) 2J3. gy4. cize because it is an important DAILY HERALD game, but this is about the young men and what they BYU need." HENDERSON, Nev. head coach Bronco Mendenhall said the decision to suspend I On the mend: Mendenhall said senior cornerback Ben junior running back Manase Criddle, who missed spring Tonga was a difficult one. As for choosing the game, with a foot injury that rehe said it was a quired surgery, will be ready "There was no debate about to go when fall camp begins it," Mendenhall said. "The rep- on Aug. 3. Fui Vakapuna, projected to resentation of the institution be the starter at running back, and of a faith is something I will not. Mendenhall said won't compromise." On July 3, Tonga was arVakapuna, who had knee surrested and booked into the gery this spring, may not be Utah fully recovered until the first game on Sept. 1. County "Fui is too big right now," Jail after running a Mendenhall said, guessing that Vakapuna is stop sign: Tonga Harvey Unga, who had a hip was cited injury midway through the for failure 2006 season, has been cleared NOTEBOOK to stop to play after missing most of at a stop spring practice. Brandon Bradley, a redshirt freshman defensign, sive back, will also see his first driving with an expired car full practices come fall. registration and providing false information to an officer. Tonga also had a warrant out I Not coming: Star Lotulelei, for his arrest in relation to an- a defensive end from Bring-haother traffic ticket. On Friday, High School from the Mendenhall announced Tonga recruiting class of 2007, did would be suspended for the not qualify academically and Arizona game on Sept. 1 and will not attend BYU this fall, wouldn't join the team for Mendenhall said. Jordan High School receiver Scotty Ebert practice until his court issues also didn't qualify. His scholare resolved. "In my opinion it would arship went to junior college serve him and the team best to punter CJ. Santiago, who ansuspend him for the first game nounced his intentions to play (Arizona) and move forward," at BYU in June. Mendenhall said. "We dealt Mendenhall said the two with it fast and effectively. deep snappers competing for There are those who will criti- - the starting role are walk-o- John Pace and former American Fork standout Chris - , I Early success: Now entering his third season as head coach at BYU, Mendenhall said he didn't really know when the Cougars would come back to national prominence. "I didn't have a time table, other than it would happen," he said. "Many have been surprised about all the things that happened last year in my second season. Others told me it took too long. All I care about is bringing out the team's full potential." I Bring the attitude: New Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, "250-plus- ." who is changing up things on both sides of the ball, said there's only one way the Air Force Academy wins football . n games. "We win at Air Force with attitude," he said. "That's the way it's always been and that's where it always has to start. We're still going to begin with running the option and we want to mix in some zone runs. We want to become more balanced. "We're not a team that's going to walk on egg shells. We're a group that's got to play and coach like our hair is on fire." 2005 but missed 2006 due to injury. "It's good getting Kyle back," said Colorado State head coach Sonny Lubick. "Not only because of his running ability but because he brings something to the locker room and to the field you can't coach. "This year, we have more starters and veterans returning than in any of my 14 years at the school. 1 think we can turn things .around." 336. COLORADO S3 7. tfQ 49. -- niFfiH QAM protect the quarterback better so we don't have to play five of them." For the record, Chris Nelson, Donovan Porterie, Kole McKa-meJohn Mulchrone and Ferguson all threw at least one pass during the regular season for New Mexico. I He said it: "Our offseason was a testament to not only having a full season under our belts but we've had another spring. For the first time since I've been here we've had 0 guys working together." San Diego State quarterback 85-9- TV field. He also said BYU had 31 married players at the end of spring and had eight more marriages this summer. He also acknowledged there are 30 players of Polynesian decent on the 2007 team. I Channel surfing: Versus will air nine MWC games this season, including Utah at BYU on Nov. 24. The network opens its football coverage with Virginia at Wyoming (noon) and Arizona at BYU (3:30 p.m.) on Sept. 1 and will broadcast 19 games total. The Mtn. will open with South Carolina State at Air Force on Sept. 1 (noon). I Welcome to the bowl: The Pac 10 has committed to play an MWC team in the Poinset-ti- a Bowl in 2008 and 2009, extending the contract for a that bowl for two more This year, a Navy team or an at large program will play an MWC team in that bowl sea-so- bowl-eligibl- e ' I Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at I He said it, too: "I'm not sure he's our starting tailback Pattersoa after runyet." ning back Aaron Brown was 344-255- Deal Continued from I A numbers game: Mendenhall said there are 73 IDS returned missionaries on the BYU team, with 39 players currently serving in the Kevin O'Connell. I Ringing the Bell: Colorado State picked to finish sixth welcomes the return of running back Kyle Bell, who ran for more than 1,000 yards in QTATP UNLV asked how he felt about being named preseason Offensive Player of the Year. . STATE AIR FORCE I The guys up front New Mexico coach Rocky Long said his offensive line is key to the Lobos success in 2007. "Last year they blocked well for Rodney (Ferguson) in the run game but we need to 110 107 62 56 35 5. WYOMING Mendenliall backs up suspending Tonga for Arizona game Darnell Dickson PTS. VOTES) (FIRST-PLAC- E 5 at ddicksonheraldextra.com. or by C1 reasons behind the delay in a carriage agreement for the Mtn. Network remains a mystery. "Launching a new network takes time," Fitzpatrick said. "CSTV launched in 2003 in about two million homes. Now we're in 22 million homes and available in 60 million. The formula for getting those things done is to have good content and to put constant pressure from people calling in to request the channel." Kevin O'Malley, a television consultant who was once the Senior Vice President of Programming at CBS Sports, said there are many examples of this process. "ESPN struggled with distribution for seven years, until they ended up overpaying for the NFL," he said. "ESPN2, with all of the clout of Disney behind them, struggled for nine years. Three other conferences that wanted to create their own channel looked at losing money for the first two seasons and waiting three years for distribution. The process takes time. It's a cliche, but like many cliches, it's one because it's true." Bringing in the satellite companies, according to O'Malley, is top priority. "Satellites can be the big key," he said. "They can kind of wave their magic wand and put you in universal availability mode. I can tell you that the last several months, the negotiations have intensified." t BYU will have all 12 of its games on the Mtn., CSTV or Versus. For, Cougar fans who don't have all three channels, there are two options: Make enough phoriPealls-te-sateHit- e or cable providers to help get a deal done or find a nearby friend or relative who has the channel they are missing. In other words, 2006 all over again. Tea OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Aaron Brown, Jr., RB, TCU ' v" rsrm is no rr! m W $m 9m ft r, 11 lSrl J. Running Back Rodney Ferguson New Mexico, Jr. Quarterback Brian Johnson Utah, Jr. biff J Kj Running Back Aaron Brown TCU, Jr. Offensive Une Sete Aulai BYU, Sr. Offensive Line Dallas Reynolds BYU, Jr. Offensive Line Matty Lindler TCU, Sr. Offensive Line Jason Boone Utah, Sr. Offensive Line Robert Conley Utah, Jr. UUC3j J LL.il lfflDl Wide Receiver Tight End Wade Betschart Travis Brown Wide Receiver Ryan Wolfe Wyoming, Sr. UNLV, New Mexico, Sr. Soph. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tommy Blake, Sr., DL, TCU K If )U Mwl.iml lllrjl..il Defensive Line Tommy Blake Defensive Line Chase Ortiz TCU, Sr. TCU, Sr. 3P5aOTiMLa DLLB DLLB Linebacker Linebacker Beau Bell UNLV, Sr. Ward Dobbs Wyoming, Jr. Drew Fowler Air Force, Sr. Bryan Kehl BYU, Sr. 'QFEaiRSS 1 .. Linebacker Jason Phillips TCU, Jr. Defensive Back Quinn Gooch BYU, Sr. Defensive Back DeAndre Wright New Mexico, Jr. fx Defensive Back Julius Stinson Wyoming, Sr. SP. TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Louie Sakoda, Jr., PK, Utah I I FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Ricky Brewer, LB, Colorado All Place Kicker Punter Jimmy Kaylor I Colorado State, Sr. Louie Sakoda I Utah, Jr. Returner (also Brian Bonner I ALL-MW- TCU, Sr. Def. Back) State' Photos RLEAssociated Press and Daily Heald |