Air Force has been penciled in for an appearance in the Dec. 31 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, for the second year in a row.
“We would love to have Air Force back again this year, and chances are very good that will happen,” Tom Starr, executive director of the bowl, said Monday. “Although we can’t make it official, I don’t see anything changing it.”
Should Air Force (8-4) get the Armed Forces Bowl bid, it appears Colorado State (6-6) would then be chosen for the New Mexico Bowl as the fifth bowl-eligible team from the Mountain West Conference.
Conference commissioner Craig Thompson said the holdup in making bowl assignments concerns champion Utah. The Utes finished 12-0 with a 48-24 victory Saturday over BYU in Salt Lake City, all but guaranteeing a spot in the Bowl Championship Series.
“Utah would have to drop 10 places in the polls in the next two weeks to drop off the BCS list, and I don’t see that happening,” Thompson said. “But I can’t release any of our teams for the other bowls until Utah’s place is official, or I have a contract in hand for a fifth bowl site.”
The BCS is scheduled to announce its final list Dec. 7.
The MWC has bowl contracts with the Las Vegas Bowl, the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, the Armed Forces Bowl and the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque.
If Utah gets into the BCS, as expected, Tina Kunzer-Murphy of the Las Vegas Bowl said her committee would take either BYU or TCU, which tied for second in league play.
Poinsettia Bowl officials said they would take the second- place team not selected by Las Vegas, leaving Air Force for the Armed Forces Bowl and CSU for the New Mexico Bowl.
Scott likely ready for CU
BOULDER — Colorado freshman tailback Darrell Scott likely will play Friday at Nebraska. Scott sat out CU’s last game, Nov. 15 against Oklahoma State, with a gimpy ankle.
Scott has missed substantial playing time during his first season due to nagging injuries and has rushed for just 344 yards on 85 carries, with one touchdown.
CU coach Dan Hawkins said Monday that missed practice time has prevented Scott from becoming comfortable.
“One reason some teams are playing really well is that they are playing lights-out with confidence,” Hawkins said. “I think as Darrell continues to get a feel and his body continues to get healthy and he continues to get reps, he’ll be that way. The more experience he gets and the healthier he gets, I am sure the faster he will be.”
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
Buffs footnotes.
Colorado has played most of the season with two seniors at safety, but a redshirt freshman (Anthony Perkins) and a true freshman (Patrick Mahnke) could be manning the deep spots against Nebraska. Perkins takes the spot of strong safety D.J. Dykes, who was ruled out due to an undisclosed illness. Hawkins said free safety Ryan Walters’ status remains uncertain due to a high ankle sprain.
Hawkins surprised reporters when he said he had heard before the season began that Bill Snyder might return to coach Kansas State.
“Obviously, for Bill, he means so much to K-State,” Hawkins said. “It’s not just the opportunity to return to coaching for him, but a chance to say, ‘I’m going to help my school out here.’ ” . . . Hawkins said he voted Oklahoma No. 1 in the coaches’ poll. . . . Although Cody Hawkins will start at quarterback against Nebraska, the game plan also includes using freshman Tyler Hansen, Dan Hawkins said.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
Burman sets criteria for coach
LARAMIE — He won’t release any names he’s considering to replace Joe Glenn as Cowboys football coach, but Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman said he has a good idea of the type of coach he wants.
Burman said he is looking for qualities such as leadership and the ability to recruit well.
“We want a winner, and we are not going to limit ourselves to a certain level of football,” Burman said Monday. “We are going to look all over the country to find the right fit for the University of Wyoming to help us get over the hump.”
Glenn was fired Sunday after six seasons, a day after the Cowboys finished the season 4-8. One of the first names to surface regarding the opening is Nebraska receivers coach Ted Gilmore, whom reported will interview today. Gilmore, 41, was a receiver at Wyoming in 1988-89. He began his coaching career at Wyoming in 1994 as a graduate assistant. Gilmore, who also coordinates Nebraska’s recruiting, was retained at Nebraska last year by new head coach Bo Pelini. He is making $190,000 a year.
Glenn’s coaching staff has contracts that end Dec. 31. Burman said it will be up to the new coach to decide if he wants to keep any assistants.
Lindsey Korsick, Special to The Denver Post
