LAS VEGAS — A scheduling quirk will prevent Colorado State fans from getting a live glimpse this season of .
That is good and bad.
Good because Nevada, which comes from the Western Athletic Conference, is so highly respected — it is already predicted to finish second in the MW this year.
Bad because a youngish Wolf Pack unit figures to be a more experienced, deeper squad in 2013 — when it will show up on CSU’s schedule.
But this year is the focus. And in that respect, it’s the move itself that excites coach into the College Football Hall of Fame.
“The move to the Mountain West conference is special,” Ault said. “It unities us with our sister school, UNLV. It provides us an opportunity to play schools that we haven’t had the opportunity to play. So we’re excited.”
Ault is the architect of the pistol formation, which has become all the rage in college football the last couple of seasons. But while most teams run it part time, Nevada does so full time. It adds to a conference that has a handful of teams with schemes on offense or defense that deviate from the norm.
Those in the program, however, say they are more than ready to embrace the challenge.
“We feel very confident in the move,” defensive back Khalid Wooten said.
Nevada has gone to seven consecutive bowl games. That respect filtered from its predicted finish in the MW to the four players it placed on the preseason all-conference team. That tied Colorado State for second most, trailing only Boise State.
Among those players are offensive linemen Chris Barker and Jeff Nady. Strong safety Duke Williams should be a terror in the secondary. The Wolf Pack returns six starters on each side of the ball, but none at running back.
With the move to the MW, Ault is hoping for additional opportunities to keep the talent level high.
“The thing that I like about the Mountain West is the exposure that we get for our recruiting base,” Ault said. “We’re a West Coast school, but we’re also a mountain school.”
Christopher Dempsey: 303-954-1279, cdempsey@denverpost.com or twitter.com/dempseypost
Three key issues: Nevada
Rebuilding the defensive line: Nevada has just one returning starter on the D-line, albeit a good one in junior Jack Reynoso, Another, Albert Rosette, moved to middle linebacker.
Pitch and catch: QB Cody Fajardo is a second-year starter, but to whom will he throw it? Brandon Wimberly returns after missing last season following being shot in the abdomen, but only one other player has caught a collegiate pass.
Play-calling chemistry: Nick Rolovich takes over as the team’s new offensive coordinator after spending last season as quarterbacks coach. “He’s a good addition for us,” Ault said.
Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post
