Mountain West Conference Football Media Day

We all know football season is close when media day arrives. There usually is not much news just the same old coach speak about one game at a time bla, bla bla stuff. Each coach was interviewed by a local radio station and I will post that once it is available on their site. Also, to view all of the podium interviews by coaches, players and Commissioner Craig Thompson go to the offical MWC media day web site.

Also this season marks the 10th anniversary of the Mountain West Conference, when they broke away from the 16 team Western Athletic Conference that was a miserable failure, and then added TCU in 2005.

The news that comes out is the preseason all conference teams and the league order of finish. Looks like there is a tier system with the league split into thirds. I am not giving any clues about my order of finish, which I will start presenting starting in August. To me Colorado State and Air Force should be switched, Air Force only returns three offensive starters and will struggle. As for the Rams they will have one of the leagues best running back duo in Kyle Bell and Gatrell Johnosn III that should challenge the Utes and BYU for best two back program, plus Kory Sperry who had an season ending knee injury was a huge play making tight end and will help ease in the new quarterback at Fort Collins.

2008 Mountain West Conference

Preseason Football Poll

Rk. Team (first place votes) Points

1. BYU (29) 299

2. Utah (5) 274

3. TCU 239

4. New Mexico 197

5. Wyoming 156

6. Air Force 141

7. San Diego State 92

8. Colorado State 73

9. UNLV 59

Below is the preseason all conference team listed below.

2008 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team

Position Student-Athlete Class School

OFFENSE

WR Austin Collie** Jr. BYU

WR Ryan Wolfe Jr. UNLV

OL Nick Charles** Jr. Air Force

OL Ray Feinga* Sr. BYU

OL Dallas Reynolds* Sr. BYU

OL Blake Schlueter** Sr. TCU

OL Robert Conley** Sr. Utah

TE Dennis Pitta* Jr. BYU

QB Max Hall* Jr. BYU

RB Harvey Unga** So. BYU

RB Rodney Ferguson* Sr. New Mexico

DEFENSE

DL Jan Jorgensen* Jr. BYU

DL Paul Kruger So. Utah

DL John Fletcher** Jr. Wyoming

DL/LB Ryan Kemp Sr. Air Force

LB Ward Dobbs** Sr. Wyoming

LB Russell Allen Sr. San Diego State

LB Jason Phillips** Sr. TCU

DB Brice McCain** Sr. Utah

DB DeAndre Wright* Sr. New Mexico

DB Stephen Hodge** Sr. TCU

DB Robert Johnson Jr. Utah

SPECIALISTS

P Louie Sakoda* Sr. Utah

PK Louie Sakoda** Sr. Utah

Ret. Devin Moore Sr. Wyoming

Offensive Player of the Year:

Max Hall, Jr., QB, BYU

Defensive Player of the Year:

Jason Phillips, Sr., LB, TCU

Special Teams Player of the Year:

Louie Sakoda, Sr., PK/P, Utah

Freshman of the Year:

Braylon Broughton, DE, TCU