Football news and notes

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Wyoming is two weeks away from its first practice of fall camp. Wow, did summer go by fast!

As of now only one of the incoming freshman in UW’s 2011 recruiting class won’t make it for fall camp — 5-11, 185-pound receiver London Muse of Sugar Land, Texas. He didn’t qualify academically. There also is a walk-on junior-college quarterback that will join the team for fall camp, but from what I gather the starting job will be battled by true freshmen Brett Smith and Adam Pittser.

Coach Dave Christensen told me he expects junior running back Ghaali Muhammad to be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 3 against Weber State. Muhammad, who was moved from linebacker to running back after last season, missed spring ball with an injury.

Christensen does not talk about specific injuries involving players.

Christensen also said sophomore right defensive tackle Patrick Mertens may be lost for the season due to an injury. Mertens played in all 12 games last season as a true freshman and recorded 39 tackles and two sacks. Juniors Ben Durbin and Kurt Taufa’asau are the top candidates to replace Mertens in the starting lineup.

Mountain West Football Media Day is Tuesday and Wednesday in Las Vegas. Senior linebacker Brian Hendricks and senior defensive end Josh Biezuns will be there for UW, along with Christensen.

The mtn. will televise a two-hour football show from the event at 5 p.m. Tuesday, and will interview players and coaches from all eight MW teams. Here is the order of the interviews

5 p.m.    TCU: Gary Patterson (HC), Josh Boyce (WR), Tank Carder (LB)

5:15 p.m. Colorado St.: Steve Fairchild (HC), Paul Madsen (OL),  Mychal Sisson (LB)

5:30 p.m. Wyoming: Dave Christensen (HC), Brian Hendricks (LB), Josh Biezuns (DB)

5:45 p.m. Air Force: Troy Calhoun (HC), Jon Warzeka (WR/KR), Zach Payne (DL)

6 p.m. UNLV: Bobby Hauck (HC), Anthony Vidal (TE), Quinton Pointer (DB)

6:15 p.m. San Diego St.: Rocky Long (HC), Ryan Lindley (QB), Jerome Long (DL)

6:30 p.m. New Mexico: Mike Locksley (HC), Lucas Reed (TE), Carmen Messina (LB)

6:45 p.m. Boise St.: Chris Petersen (HC), Kellen Moore (QB), George Iloka (DB)

I will be in Vegas so expect numerous blog posts and Twitter updates througout, and feel free to ask questions and comment on the happenings.

  • John

    Do you make anything of the report out that Wyo was going to emphasize a power running game this season?

    • rgagliardi

      I think it will be an element of the offense but not the entire offense.

      RG

  • dutchgunz

    Very excited for media days. Rg, i hope ur having fun in vegas. Cant wait for the season to start and to begin putting the 2010 campaign behind us. I am cautiously optimistic. RG – how much does losing Mertens and Muse hurt us? It looks like yet again the O-line and D-line will be thin and vulnerable. This is not good with our two freshmen qbs coming in. Do you feel our skill positions have significantly improved? How will this year be different than last year? IMO I think the addition of G. Brandon and more importantly the departure of Arroyo will help us more than anything. I would like to hear what you think as well as what other poke fans think. Go Pokes!

    • rgagliardi

      Losing Mertens hurts but I don’t think Muse is a huge loss. They are high on the Rufran kid from Colorado Springs. Watch him.
      I’m not sure what to think about both lines. The olinemen I’ve seen around this summer look good. I’m hoping they are better.
      If the offense is effiecent and doesn’t turn it over and the defense is more like 2009 and forces turnover then 7 wins is a possibility. If not, 4 or 5 is more like it.

      RG