Some coaches make quarterback changes. Other coaches get to pick whoever isn’t coming out of or going into surgery.
Wyoming’s switch from junior Jacob Doss to freshman Karsten Sween comes under the heading of “coach’s decision.” San Diego State coach Chuck Long might consider it a luxury to decide between healthy players.
Long, 0-4 in his first season with the Aztecs, has lost starting quarterbacks Kevin O’Connell (thumb) and Darren Mougey (shoulder). Kevin Craft, a freshman who redshirted in 2005, will become the Aztecs’ third starter at the position this season Saturday at Brigham Young.
Craft is the son of former Aztecs coach Tom Craft, who was fired.
Long said Tuesday on the Mountain West Conference’s media call he knew it couldn’t be easy on Kraft to see his dad let go, “but our relationship is fantastic.”
There is a chance O’Connell may return in a few weeks. For now, the Aztecs’ backup is freshman Kelsey Sokoloski, Cherry Creek High School’s all-time passing leader who led the Bruins to the 2004 title as a junior. With three QB candidates coming out of spring ball, the Aztecs planned to redshirt the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Sokoloski.
“The only scrimmage he got in, he showed excellent poise,” Long said. “He’s a very intelligent young man who needs a good year in the weight room. Now he’s a snap away from getting in the game.”
If Long has his way, there will be more Coloradans on his roster. Long said director of football operations Brian Stark, a former University of Colorado student assistant, will use his ties to the area.
It shouldn’t be difficult. When recruits from Colorado visit San Diego’s glorious 70-degree weather in December, they can’t help but be impressed.
Long is trying hard to maintain some humor while injuries have cost him two quarterbacks, two wideouts, four tight ends and star tailback Lynell Hamilton.
“With all these new faces, it seems like we have to get name tags,” Long said.
Quarterbacks in the MWC have been hit hard, with three teams losing four starters for at least a game. Texas Christian’s Jeff Ballard and Nevada-Las Vegas’ Rocky Hinds missed significant playing time because of injuries. TCU coach Gary Patterson denied rumors that a sore shoulder will keep Ballard out of Thursday night’s game at Utah.
No big deal to BYU
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall made no apologies when asked – facetiously – if he felt badly about costing the MWC a potential $14 million Bowl Championship Series windfall by ending TCU’s hopes of an undefeated season.
“All I care about is our football program moving forward,” Mendenhall said.
Last year, TCU rebounded from its only loss to finish No. 11 in the final AP poll. With the Horned Frogs’ 13-game winning streak dashed, Patterson said, “If there’s anything good to come out of it, our superstitions are out the window. We don’t have to worry about how to put our socks on the same way every day.”
Loathing in Las Vegas
UNLV’s student body passed a resolution last week demanding a forum with the MWC, CSTV and Cox Cable for answers to the cable agreement impasse regarding CSTV and The Mtn.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson and CSTV’s CEO, Brian Bedol, agreed to attend, but Cox officials refused.
Cox took out a half-page ad Sunday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal claiming CSTV wanted six times the rate of most regional sports networks and referred to the league as the “Mountain West Athletic Conference.” While neither side is divulging actual figures, the MWC claims The Mtn. is being offered at the lowest rate of such networks.
“We offered to appear and at this point Cox has declined the student body invitation,” Thompson said. “That probably speaks volumes they would rather run ads and say things but they don’t want to appear and discuss or debate the situation in a public forum.”
As for UNLV students, they might not want their Mtn. so much in the wake of the Rebels’ 31-3 loss to Nevada in Las Vegas. But there’s always basketball season.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
