Thanks to last weekend’s 4-0 record against the Pac-10 and the best three-week record in the nation against teams from BCS conferences, the Mountain West Conference is the new media darling on the national landscape.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson had at least 10 interviews with national media this week. The Tuesday coaches’ conference call was jammed with folks outside the usual footprint.
“The teams in our league are tougher than the teams we play out of the league,” said TCU’s Gary Patterson, 11-2 in his past 13 games vs. BCS teams.
The conference is 6-3 against BCS teams this season, tied for the best winning percentage so far (the SEC is 4-2).
“You can’t talk yourself into respect, you have to play yourself into respect,” said Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, 10-3 in his past 13 BCS meetings.
The success of BYU, with its nation-leading 13-game win streak and move to No. 14 in the Associated Press poll, was expected. UNLV’s upset Saturday at No. 15 Arizona State was not.
The only downside, said Patterson, is trying to schedule more BCS opponents.
“People who have said yes to future games now want to wait and see,” said Patterson, whose team plays at No. 2 Oklahoma in two weeks. “If those conference get automatic berths (in BCS bowls) they shouldn’t care about playing the rest of us.”
Helping hands.
Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, who will be inducted in the University of Houston’s hall of fame this fall, let his alma mater work out at Texas Stadium again Tuesday. The Cougars have been in Dallas since Thursday because of Hurricane Ike. The team still has no plans to return to Houston this week.
Classes resumed Tuesday at UH to little attendance, and other sports events have been canceled. CSU associate athletic director for facilities Doug Max said Houston is welcome to practice at Hughes Stadium.
“We want to do anything we can to be the good host,” Max said. “I’m sure they’d help us out.”
AFA’s Larson injures knee.
Air Force backup nose guard Stephen Larson suffered a knee injury Tuesday at practice, but the severity is unknown.The junior has played in two games this season.
“It’s something knee related,” coach Troy Calhoun said. “It locked up on him. We’ll see.”
Calhoun said receiver Spencer Armstrong didn’t practice because of a bruise below the knee. He remains questionable for Saturday’s game against No. 20 Utah.
Safety Aaron Kirchoff (shoulder) and fullback Todd Newell (ankle) practiced and will play against the Utes.
Natalie Meisler and Irv Moss, The Denver Post
