Quarterback attrition already has hit the Mountain West Conference.
San Diego State junior starter Kevin O’Connell was knocked out in the first week with a torn thumb ligament in his throwing hand. New Mexico senior Kole McKamey, one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the league, left Saturday’s game because of torn knee ligaments.
It looked as if a third, Nevada-Las Vegas’ Rocky Hinds, might join them. But a knee injury suffered against Iowa State was diagnosed as a sprain. He will make the Rebels’ trip to Hawaii, but his playing status is questionable.
San Diego State’s job falls to Darren Mougey, who was being moved to wide receiver before the opener. The only backup is redshirt freshman Kevin Craft, son of former Aztecs coach Tom Craft.
McKamey’s backup, Chris Nelson, played last season when McKamey encountered back problems and contributed to late- season wins over Utah and Wyoming. The backup job is up for grabs.
The new QBs at San Diego State and New Mexico draw difficult assignments with San Diego State visiting Wisconsin and New Mexico hosting Missouri, which ranks second in the nation behind Colorado State in total defense, allowing 156 yards per game.
UNLV coach Mike Sanford said the injury to Hinds, a third-year sophomore who became eligible this season after transferring from Southern California, occurred on the same surgically repaired knee that cost Hinds his senior year in high school.
Not exactly a rush to judgment
Sanford said he doesn’t regret keeping his team on the field after the 16-10 loss at Iowa State. He wanted to know why the final play – a pass into the end zone – didn’t get an instant replay. It did, but the Big 12 officials in the replay box didn’t communicate it to the MWC crew on the field. The ruling was wide receiver Aaron Straiten caught the potential game-tying pass out of bounds.
Upon reviewing the tape when the Rebels returned home, Sanford said: “All I’ll say is it was definitely a play that should have been reviewed. When we watched it Sunday, we could not tell.”
TV network still work in progress
Negotiations to sign up satellite carriers as well as San Diego, Las Vegas and Fort Worth, Texas, cable markets are well into overtime for the mtn. MWC commissioner Craig Thompson isn’t making any promises for when, or if, a breakthrough comes.
“Sometimes it takes a little longer than people prefer, including myself,” Thompson said Tuesday on the MWC’s weekly conference call. As he has maintained for nearly two months, negotiations are continuing daily. He wouldn’t even commit to a resolution before the end of the football season.
“I’m not going to put out any timeline. I’m loathe to put any artificial deadline on things.”
Thompson still is pumping it as a “tremendous product.” Indeed, there are solid pregame and postgame wrapups around the league, especially with Saturday’s near upsets on the road by Air Force and Wyoming. There’s some new programming midweek, with coaches shows and weekly news conferences. Comcast Sportsnet is providing other national and NFL weeknight material, but the mornings still are filled with OLN hunting shows.
Don’t go near the water
Brigham Young and UNLV leave on Thursday for respective trips to Boston College and Hawaii. BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said the Cougars have some sightseeing trips planned for Friday, primarily to acclimate to the two-hour time difference. UNLV players will be able to hit the beach Friday morning, but Sanford said: “I’m not letting them in the ocean. I heard about a team that almost lost a guy who drifted out to sea.”
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
