The Cowboy Chronicles

Stories of the day

July 29th, 2010 No comments »

I’m back to rodeo mode here at Cheyenne Frontier Days. But before the action begins I did some looking around and found these stories you might be interested in.

Take a look at the one out of San Diego on the possible ban of out-of-state recruiting.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/26/sdsu-considers-cutting-out-of-state-recruiting/

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50009119-77/mwc-byu-rivalry-schedule.html.csp

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700051412/Utah-Utes-Football-Confidence-not-in-short-supply-for-Utes-going-into-final-MWC-season.html

http://blogs.denverpost.com/sports/2010/07/27/csus-cory-macon-out/11454/

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/28/2368717/tcu-standout-safety-also-a-leader.html

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/07/29/1284284/bsu-expected-to-visit-tcu-byu.html

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Posted in College Football, Football, MWC Football Media Day 2010, Moutain West Conference

Player notes from MWC media day

July 28th, 2010 No comments »

MWC Media Day is over, but before I left I had a chance to talk to some of the players that made the trip. Here are some thoughts:

–Part of TCU senior safety Tejay Johnson’s major is sign language. He hopes to one day be interpreter for the deaf. He has some family members that are deaf, but said he doesn’t use his sign language on the football field.

–San Diego State senior Andrew Preston will play the “Aztec” position in defensive coordinator Rocky Long’s 3-3-5 scheme. When Long was the coach at New Mexico he had a guy named Brian Urlacher play that position. It’s a hybrid linebacker/safety that makes a lot of plays. Preston, a former linebacker, was outrunning the linebackers in winter conditioning so the Aztecs had him run with the DBs. When he held his own there, the move to the Aztec was made.

“It’s an honor to play the Aztec position, it’s the most important on our defense,” Preston said.

–BYU junior offensive tackle Matt Reynolds has had two older brothers play for the Cougars, and his younger brother, Houston, also is an offensive lineman on the BYU roster. Lance Reynolds, his dad, was a former BYU player and is a current assistant coach.

“Not nearly as much as you think,” said Reynolds when asked if there was a lot of pressure being a Reynolds and playing at BYU. “It’s been a great experience for me and my family. We run a lot of the same plays my brothers did (both also were offensive linemen) so I can call them and ask about certain plays or techniques. It’s not a case of trying to be better than my brothers, but how can they help make us better players.”

–”It’s an honor to be on Utah’s final team in the Mountain West Conference,” senior offensive lineman Zane Taylor said.

–Wyoming players David Leonard and Chris Prosinski plan on going home for a few days before they have to report back to Laramie next week for fall camp. I asked them if any of the new players caught their eye during summer workouts. Both said true freshman linebacker Oliver Schober from Germany was impressive. At 6-0, 240, Prosinski said he has the body to play sooner than later. Both also mentioned true freshman defensive back Marqueston Huff showed good speed during the workouts.

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Posted in BYU, Chris Prosinski, College Football, David Leonard, Football, MWC Football Media Day 2010, Moutain West Conference

Thompson talks at MWC Media Day

July 28th, 2010 No comments »

Mountain West Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson gave his annual “state of the conference” address this morning at MWC Football Media Day here in Las Vegas.

And frankly, he didn’t say anything that new or earth-shattering.

He talked up his league, just like any commissioner would do.

The top goal remains gaining automatic access to the Bowl Championship Series.

He doesn’t agree with WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. Benson said earlier this week the MWC doesn’t have much of a chance now to be a BCS automatic qualifier when it loses Utah next year to the Pac-10 and gains Boise State.

Thompson said Boise State’s last two BCS rankings were sixth and ninth. Utah’s were sixth and 23rd.

“I don’t know what numbers he’s looking at,” Thompson said.

Thompson still likes the television contracts and distribution his league has. He also thinks talks for getting the mtn. on Dish Network may open up again with Boise State joining the league next year.

All in all Thompson was happy where things are, but again, what else did you expect him to say.

I’m off to do some player interviews and then to catch a plane home. Thanks for your comments the last couple of days. I may check in again at the airport if I get a chance.

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Posted in MWC Football Media Day 2010

Media Day thoughts — Day 1

July 27th, 2010 No comments »

The first day of Mountain West Conference Football Media Day functions here in Las Vegas are wrapping up. Interview sessions are done, but several writers — including me — that cover their respective teams and the league are working diligently in the media room.

No surprise to me that Wyoming was picked fifth. That’s where I picked the Cowboys. Senior free safety Chris Prosinski and junior linebacker Brian Hendricks were voted to the preseason all-conference squad. I thought senior receiver David Leonard and his 77 catches last season might make it. But receiving yards and touchdowns trump catches as San Diego State’s Vincent Brown and UNLV’s Phillip Payne got the nod.

Want to hear something a little scary Wyoming fans?

Colorado State went 7-6 and won the New Mexico Bowl over Fresno State in 2008 — coach Steve Fairchild’s first season. In 2009, Wyoming went 7-6 and won the New Mexico Bowl over Fresno State.

CSU went 3-9 in 2009 and lost its last nine games. In that rough 2009 season the Rams played the “Big Three” in the MWC — BYU, Utah and TCU in consecutive weeks, but it did have a game in Idaho sandwiched in there. They played at BYU and TCU and hosted Utah.

This season, Wyoming gets “The Big Three” on three straight weekends starting Oct. 9 at TCU, Oct. 16 at home to Utah an Oct. 23 at BYU. Could the same fate happen to UW in 2010 as it did CSU in 2009?

Let’s hope not.

Other interesting news and thoughts from the day:

–Air Force may use senior cornerback Reggie Rembert at receiver this season. Rembert joked with coach Troy Calhoun that he wanted to play receiver. Calhoun threatened to make Rembert run more gassers at practice, and Rembert was cool with that if he could play receiver. We shall see.

–Colorado State senior Zac Pauga is a rarity in college football — a fullback that is used as a fullback. Pauga will block for a talented group of CSU running backs, including seniors Leonard Mason and John Mosure, UCLA transfer Raymond Carter and redshirt freshman Chris Nwoke. Pauga also can catch the ball with 25 receptions and three TDs last season.

–New Mexico coach Mike Locksley is in year two of trying to change the culture of Lobos football. His team went 1-11 last season. But did the culture need changing? New Mexico went to five bowl games this past decade under former coach Rocky Long. New Mexico was picked to finish last in the MWC in the preseason poll.

–San Diego State is the only team not to have played in a bowl game since the MWC started in 1999. The Aztecs were picked to finish sixth. They were 4-8 last season and lost their last four games, including two in the fourth quarter at home to Wyoming and at UNLV.

–Improving on defense, becoming more fundamentally sound in all aspects and teaching the fine points of the game to be more efficient are the top goals for first-year UNLV coach Bobby Hauck for the Rebels when fall camp begins.

MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson will give his “State of the Conference” address Wednesday morning. Will provide live “Tweets” via Twitter that you can follow on this blog.

See Wednesday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang for what UW’s Prosinski is looking foward to the most this season, and if TCU can break another preseason jinx. You also can go online to both papers at www.wyomingnews.com and www.laramieboomerang.com.

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Posted in College Football, MWC Football Media Day 2010, Moutain West Conference

First interview session in the books

July 27th, 2010 No comments »

The first five teams just completed their interview sessions here at MWC Football Media Day in Vegas. See my Twitter posts below to see some highlights. The next one begins at 3:45 MST and I will Tweet (if my computer doesn’t die) during those as well.

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Posted in MWC Football Media Day 2010, Moutain West Conference

TCU unanimous pick to win; two UW players voted to all-conference team

July 27th, 2010 7 comments »

TCU received all 31 votes in the Mountain West Conference preseason media poll, released here Tuesday morning during MWC Football Media Day at Red Rock Resort.

Wyoming was picked fifth.

Here’s how the voting went:

1. TCU (31) 279

2. Utah 242

3. BYU 207

4. Air Force 195

5. Wyoming 147

6. San Diego State 128

7. Colorado State 96

8. UNLV 56

9. New Mexico 45

Any thoughts on this?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Wyoming junior linebacker Brian Hendricks and senior safety Chris Prosinski were named to the preseason all-conference team.

TCU placed eight players on the team, and swept offensive player of the year (QB Andy Dalton), defensive player of the year (LB Tank Carder) and special teams player of the year (KR/PR Jeremy Kerley).

Utah had four players on the team, while San Diego State and Air Force each had three.

Here is the complete 2010 Preseason All-MWC Team

Offense

QB Andy Dalton, Sr, TCU#*

WR Vincent Brown, Sr., San Diego State**

WR Phillip Payne, Jr., UNLV

RB Eddie Wide, Sr., Utah*

RB Jared Tew, Sr., Air Force**

OL Matt Reynolds, Jr., BYU#*

OL Jake Kirkpatrick, Sr., TCU**

OL Caleb Schlauderaff, Sr., Utah**

OL Zane Taylor, Sr., Utah**

TE Alston Umuolo, Sr., San Diego State

Defense

DL Johnathan Rainey, Jr., New Mexico**

DL Wayne Daniels, Sr., TCU**

DL Cory Grant, Sr., TCU**

LB Carmen Messina, Jr., New Mexico*

LB Tank Carder, Jr. TCU**

LB Mychal Sisson, Jr., Colorado State**

DB Brandon Burton, Jr., Utah

DB Reggie Rembert, Sr., Air Force*

DB Anthony Wright, Jr., Air Force**

DB Andrew Rich, Sr., BYU**

DB Chris Prosinski, SR., Wyoming**

Note: Five defensive backs were selected due to a tie in voting

Specialists

P Brian Stahovich, Jr., San Diego State**

K Ross Evans, Jr., TCU*

Ret. Jeremy Kerley, Sr., TCU#*

Offensive Player of the Year: Andy Dalton, TCU

Defensive Player of the Year: Tank Carder, TCU

Special Teams Player of the Year, Jeremy Kerley, TCU

#unanimous 2010 preseason selection

*2009 First Team All-MWC

**2009 Second Team All-MWC

A couple of interesting notes on this squad:

–The offense consisted on nine seniors and two juniors; the defense had five seniors and seven juniors. All of the linebackers were juniors.

–Dalton, Kerley and Reynolds were the only unanimous picks.

–Every team was represented

–Nine of the 12 defensive players were Second Team All-MWC picks last season.

–The offensive line consisted of players from the top three teams in the preseason poll.

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Posted in 2010 MWC Preseason all-conference, 2010 MWC football predicted order of finish, College Football, Football, MWC Football Media Day 2010

WAC football media day underway

July 26th, 2010 No comments »

Here is a story from the Idaho Statesman about WAC football media day. No surprise Boise State’s pick, but scroll down some and see what WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said about the MWC’s chances of BCS automatic qualification.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/07/26/ccripe/broncos_not_quite_unanimous_wacs_no_1_moore_named_preseason_play

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Posted in Boise State, College Football, Moutain West Conference

Got a UW or MWC football question?

July 26th, 2010 No comments »

I will be taking a break from covering rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days and heading to Las Vegas today for the Mountain West Conference Football Media day functions Tuesday and Wednesday.

The head coaches of all nine teams and two players from each squad will be there, and MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson also will speak Wednesday morning.

I’ve got plenty of questions in mind, but do you? Let me know on this blog about specific questions you would like me to ask anyone there. I will try and do so and answer them for you on this blog.

This could be fun.

I also hope to do some live “Tweeting” on my Twitter account, which you can follow on this blog. If not, you can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/rpgagliardi.

Send me those questions. Interview sessions begin Tuesday afternoon.

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Posted in College Football, MWC Football Media Day 2010