Here’s the latest Mountain West Football Notebook, compiled by Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman with contributions from beat writers around the league.
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
AIR FORCE
Air Force didnt exactly take it easy during its second off-week of the season, so there was no pushing it into an extra gear Monday as it continues to prepare for UNLV.
We didnt take any days off at all, senior cornerback Steffon Batts said. Were trying to win these last two games.
The Falcons (2-8) wont have the luxury of December practices to develop their underclassmen as theyll miss a bowl game for the first time in seven years, but coach Troy Calhoun said that didnt impact his decision to keep the team on an intense schedule despite not playing this past week.
It likely played a factor that this weeks game falls on a Thursday, so there was no need to limit the team to a short week of preparation.
We worked over the weekend, said Calhoun said. We have to. Just the advancement that we have to make and the investment we have to make in our younger guys, we have to take advantage of each day.
UNLV will come to Falcon Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the home finale for Air Force. The Rebels (5-5) need one more victory to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2000. UNLV, which is also coming off an open week, closes with a home game against San Diego State.
Next game: vs. UNLV, 7:30 p.m. MT Thursday (ESPNU)
Notes: Nose guard Robert Green, who missed the seasons first seven games with an MCL injury before returning to play a huge part in a victory over Army, has injured the PCL in the same knee and will miss the final two games. Calhoun said that surgery wont necessarily be required for Greens latest injury and he could be recovered in about six weeks. … Linebacker Joey Nichol is out this week and may not return after injuring his groin against Army. Nichol leads Air Force and ranks seventh in the Mountain West in tackles.
— Brent Briggeman, The Gazette (Colorado Springs)
BOISE STATE
The Broncos are inching closer to needing to make a decision at quarterback.
Senior starter Joe Southwick has returned to practice — he was in pads Tuesday — and will play in some role when hes ready, coach Chris Petersen said.
Junior backup Grant Hedrick still is expected to start Saturday night at San Diego State, Petersen said.
Petersen has been non-committal about who will start when Southwick returns, but he said theres no doubt the senior will play.
Well just take that one day at a time, Petersen said.
Southwick broke his right ankle Oct. 19 against Nevada and had surgery Oct. 21. He showed some rust Monday.
Like he has been out for a while, Petersen said. Hes throwing the ball fine.
Southwick is 15-4 as the Broncos starting quarterback (not counting the Nevada game, when he left after the first play). The Broncos averaged 40.8 points per game in his games this season.
Hedrick is 3-1, counting the Nevada game. The Broncos have averaged 36 points per game in those.
The quarterbacks have similar stats, too. Hedricks rating is slightly higher (153.20 to 149.89).
Hedricks biggest weakness might be turnovers. He threw an interception and lost a fumble last week against Wyoming — giving him six turnovers (three interceptions, three fumbles) this season — after a fantastic performance at Colorado State.
I thought Grant was solid (against Wyoming), Petersen said. Thats why I think its so interesting at that quarterback position. You can take a couple steps forward in one week and then maybe a step back in certain phases of it. He made some good decisions.
Next game: at San Diego State, 8:35 p.m. MT Saturday (CBS Sports Network)
Notable: Boise State will collect a league-high $1.6 million in TV bonuses under the plan it negotiated as part of the schools recommitment to the Mountain West. Fresno State is second at $1.3 million. True freshman WR Thomas Sperbeck is out with a sprained ankle. Senior WR Kirby Moore (foot) has been practicing but still has not played since Sept. 20 at Fresno State. LB Ben Weaver, the Broncos top tackler, didnt play against Wyoming but Petersen is hopeful hell play this week. RT Rees Odhiambo returned from injury in that game. The Broncos opponent has scored first in each of the past four games and seven of 10 on the year.
— Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman
COLORADO STATE
Kapri Bibbs hasn’t just run all over the football field the past two weeks, the Colorado State running back “has put us on the map,” coach Jim McElwain said Monday.
Although Bibbs, as a first-year player in the program, isn’t available to the media, the numbers he’s put up the past two weeks have attracted national attention. He ran for a school-record 312 yards in a Nov. 9 win over Nevada and followed that up with a school-record six touchdowns Saturday night in a 66-42 win at New Mexico. In the past two games, the 5-foot-11, 203-pound sophomore has run for 603 yards and 10 touchdowns on 68 carries.
He leads the NCAA’s top division, the Football Bowl Subdivision, in touchdowns (25) and points (150) and is No. 2 in rushing with 1,439 yards, trailing only the 1,801 yards of Boston College’s Andre Williams.
He was the Walter Camp Foundation national player of the week and won an ESPN Helmet Sticker. He was selected one of four nominees for the Capital One Impact Performance of the Week on Saturday night and Monday was named the Mountain West Conference’s offensive player of the week for the second week in a row.
People across the country are talking about the Colorado State running back, even if they can’t talk directly to him.
“I think it’s awesome,” McElwain said Monday. “And I think it’s something that shows the hard work of a lot of guys around a guy, and yet, because of that, as I have said, his name does show up in the box score. And that’s pretty cool. In fact it’s really cool.”
Bibbs already has set single-season CSU records for touchdowns and points and moved up to No. 5 on the career list for rushing touchdowns in a season with 25 this year, one more than Gartrell Johnson, Damon Washington and Oscar Reed had in their entire careers and just one shy of the career totals of Bradlee Van Pelt and Kevin McDougal. Only Steve Bartalo, with 46, and Cecil Sapp, with 29, have scored more.
He’s run for three or more touchdowns in each of the past five games and in six of the past seven, setting school records for the most three-TD games in a row and in a season. Bibbs is No. 3 on the school’s single-season rushing list, trailing only Sapp’s 1,601 yards in 2002 and Johnson’s 1,476 in 2008.
And Bibbs still has two more regular-season games and a possible bowl game to add to his totals.
Bibbs “is a guy that can run behind his pads” and “understands the patience it takes to match the discipline of your footwork with the front (line),” McElwain said.
Best of all, the coach said, “He’s got a God-given ability to finish.”
Next game: at Utah State, 1:30 p.m. MT Saturday (CBS Sports Network)
Notable: McElwain defended his policy of not allowing first-year players in his program to talk to the media, saying there’s a lot of individual development going on when an athlete first enters the program in terms of academic demands and social adjustments and that talking to reporters is “part of the right of passage” for those who have been in the program and understand what it is to be engrained in the green and gold. “My biggest thing is it’s to help the development of a young man in his life. There’s going to be time; it’s not like it’s never going to happen. And yet I guess my excitement is that you guys want to (talk to Bibbs). That, to me, is cool.” Backup running backs Donnell Alexander (knee) and Davon Riddick (ankle) are expected back after missing the New Mexico game with injuries. CSU announced a noon kickoff time for its regular-season finale Nov. 30 against Air Force.
— Kelly Lyell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
NEW MEXICO
Kasey Carrier’s college football career is over.
Cole Gautsche’s is on hold.
New Mexico coach Bob Davie said Gautsche, a sophomore quarterback, and Carrier, a senior running back, will not play in the Lobos’ final two games this season. Both exhibited concussion symptoms after absorbing blows to the head during UNM’s 66-42 loss to Colorado State last Saturday.
Gautsche’s latest injury raises red flags. He missed a game last year with concussion symptoms and sat out this year’s game at UTEP after a similar incident in the season opener against UTSA.
Regarding the young quarterback’s football future, Davie declined to speculate. But he said: “We’re going to take one step at a time. Cole’s a very important (player), but more important than all that is Cole.
“We’re going to pull out all stops to make sure we do everything we can to first diagnose exactly what the problem is, how severe the problem is moving forward and always, obviously, err with caution.”
Carrier, a preseason All-Mountain West Conference selection, finishes his senior season with 1,122 yards rushing and 3,233 — good for fifth on New Mexico’s all-time list — for his career.
Junior Clayton Mitchem will start at quarterback Saturday for UNM (3-7, 1-5) at 15th-ranked Fresno State (9-0, 6-0). Junior Crusoe Gongbay is the likely starter at running back.
“Man down, man up,” Davie said. “Next one in.”
Next game: at Fresno State, 2 p.m. MT Saturday (ESPNews)
Notable: New Mexico’s season finale at Boise State (Nov. 30) will be aired on ESPN2, meaning UNM will — as per the Mountain West’s TV contract — pick up a $500,000 bonus. But the Lobos will have to earn it, facing the Broncos (7-3, 5-1) in Boise with an 8:15 p.m. kickoff. Brrr. … Backup linebackers Tevin Newman and David Orvick also are lost for the final two games due to injury, Davie said. Starting offensive guard Jamal Price is “50-50″ with a shoulder injury. … On the good news/bad news statistical scale, New Mexico ranks second in the nation in rush offense (323.8 yards per game) and 122nd — ahead of only downstate rival New Mexico State — in rush defense (262.7). … Punter Ben Skaer has stepped on the field only as a holder the past two weeks as the Lobos scored 87 points in splitting games against Air Force and Colorado State. He’s ranked fourth nationally with an average of 46.5. Had Skaer punted once in either game, he would have dropped out of the NCAA rankings without the required 3.6 attempts per contest. Since he did not punt against the Falcons and the Rams, those games don’t count against his total.
— Rick Wright, Albuquerque Journal
UTAH STATE
There’s little for the Utah State coaching staff to be smiling about as they review tape of Kapri Bibb’s last two games.
Still, coach Matt Wells insisted Monday that he’s looking forward to seeing how his defense can handle a sophomore running back who has run for 603 yards in two weeks.
“It will be a big challenge for our defense, not only the front seven, but the secondary as well,” Wells said. “It will be fun to watch, our strength against their strength. We’ll see how that unfolds on Saturday.”
On the Aggies’ conference-best defense, the hallmark has been the unit’s ability to stop the run. Only two backs have gone over the century mark against Utah State, which allows 127.3 yards per game.
The front seven was expected to snuff out the run this year with five all-WAC performers returning, and for the most part it has gone as planned. Utah State has allowed only six runs of 20 yards or more this year, and only eight rushing touchdowns. Both Jake Doughty and Zach Vigil are in the Mountain West’s top six in tackles, while Kyler Fackrell is among the league leaders in tackles for a loss.
Still, the group has taken its lumps, most recently against UNLV’s Tim Cornett who had 115 yards and a score.
Pride will be on the line on Saturday, as well as the Aggies’ hopes for staying in stride with Boise State in the Mountain Division race. Wells said his players are well aware of that fact.
“We’re playing for something,” Wells said. “We’re in the middle of the Mountain West race and who knows how this thing is going to unfold here in the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a 12-day stretch here where we’ve got to give everything we’ve got from both a coaching standpoint and a player standpoint.”
Next game: vs. Colorado State, 1:30 p.m. MT Saturday (CBS Sports Network)
– Kyle Goon, Salt Lake Tribune
WYOMING
The Cowboys are going to a college basketball approach for their final two regular season games.
“This is a tournament,” interim defensive coordinator Jamar Cain said. “Are we going to win this championship or go home? Our backs are against the wall.”
Cain said he drew a basketball bracket on a board for his players to show them what’s in front of them, and it starts by having to beat Hawaii (0-10 overall, 0-7 MW) at noon Saturday at home.
Wyoming (4-6, 2-4) has lost four straight by a combined score of 199-83, but if it wins its last two games it will be bowl eligible for the third time in coach Dave Christensen’s five seasons. That has become the top goal in the program right now.
“You have to go hard or go home,” senior receiver Robert Herron said. “There’s no more talking we can do, or no more motivating. Players have to motivate themselves. Some have embraced this, but I think we have to get others to get into it, too.”
No matter the outcome Saturday, the Cowboys end the regular season a week from Saturday at Utah State (6-4, 5-1). UW has not defeated a team with a winning record this season. Utah State has the league’s best scoring defense (19.4 points per game), rushing defense (127.3 yards per game) and passing defense (220.9 ypg).
But the Cowboys’ emphasis is on Hawaii, which despite being winless has had some close games.
The Rainbow Warriors lost at home 28-21 in overtime to San Diego State last Saturday. They also lost by a combined 22 points to No. 15 Fresno State, San Jose State and Colorado State at home, and by two at UNLV. All those teams have .500 or better records.
Christensen said Hawaii “isn’t that far away” from picking up its first win.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys have been in their last two games against the top two teams in the MW.
UW lost to Fresno State 48-10 in Laramie and 48-7 last Saturday at Boise State. The Cowboys led Fresno State 10-0 early in the second quarter and 7-0 at Boise State in the first.
But there were few positives after that.
“We’re not at their caliber in any way, shape or form,” Christensen said. “We’re trying to get there. They are very established programs with great depth and a lot of big-time playmakers. We’re working to get there.”
Next game: vs. Hawaii, noon MT (MW Digital Network)
Notable: The left side of Wyoming’s offensive line was missing for most of the Boise State game. Senior guard Tyler Strong was out with an injury and junior tackle Walker Madden left early in the game with an injury and didn’t return. Madden, who had a walking boot on after the game, is probable this week. Strong is expected to play. … Junior strong safety Jesse Sampson is out for the rest of the season with an injury. Sampson started one game and played in four games and missed the first five games recovering from an Achilles injury in the spring.
— Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune Eagle
WEST DIVISION
FRESNO STATE
Fresno State dropped one spot to No.15 in the BCS standings coming off its bye week, which did not sit too well with receiver Davante Adams.
“I don’t want to make bold statements that’d be seen as disrespect to other teams, but we feel we could compete and beat anybody,” he said. “We know we have guys that can match up with those guys (from big-name schools).
“When you know what you’re capable of and the things that you can do and who you can play with, it kind of gets frustrating a little bit. They got a lot of talent over there, sure. But when you’re one of only six undefeated teams left, that should be something more.
“A ‘W’ is a ‘W’ and you can’t apologize for victories. Being from a big-name school or whatever, but you’ve got two or three losses and you’re ranked ahead of us? I don’t get it sometimes.”
Adams, who on Monday was selected as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, said his frustration has been building.
“I feel like if there was some way to even play those teams … I know that’s what the bowl game is for, he said. It’s just kind of lingering with me for a while. I try not to think about it too much or harp on that stuff too much since we can’t control it. We’ve done as much as we can do.”
Next game: vs. New Mexico, 2 p.m. MT Saturday (ESPNews)
Notable: Fresno State used its bye week to use up most of the NCAA evaluation days it had remaining. The staff has a pretty humorous history on the recruiting trail.
Offensive line coach Cameron Norcross was an assistant at Nevada in 2008 when Kevin Hart from Fernley, Nev., held the infamous press conference to make an oral commitment to Cal, a school that was not recruiting him.
That, Norcross said, had him scrambling for a bit.
I went back and watched his tape two more times to make sure I didnt miss anything, because hes an O-lineman and hes right up the road, said Norcross, who had recruited Hart to walk on at Nevada. It was a frantic couple of hours because theres a kid in our backyard thats committing to Cal that we hadnt offered, so Im thinking I have to go and try to justify it to Coach (Chris) Ault why havent we offered this kid? I scrambled for a few hours.
Coach Tim DeRuyter and defensive coordinator Nick Toth were at Texas A&M in 2011 when defensive back Floyd Raven, who had gone back and forth between Mississippi and Texas A&M, found out his mother had forged his signature on his letter of intent and faxed it to Mississippi.
Raven had preferred Texas A&M. His mother, obviously, wanted him to go to Mississippi.
He ended up at A&M.
Quarterback Derek Carr gets to take on New Mexico on Saturday " the Lobos are ranked 115th in the bowl subdivision in passing efficiency defense and 117th in scoring defense. In five home games this season, Carr has averaged 404.0 passing yards and has 19 touchdown passes to only one interception. He has thrown 249 consecutive passes at Bulldog Stadium without an interception.
— Robert Kuwada, Fresno Bee
HAWAII
Despite the 0-10 record, Hawaii coach Norm Chow said he plans to keep playing the best available players. Asked if UH should look ahead and play developing players, Chow said: “That’s not fair to the seniors. We’re not giving up on this season. We’re going to keep fighting and working. We’ll worry about next year next year.”
That means Sean Schroeder will remain as the No. 1 quarterback for the final two games. Schroeder is a fifth-year senior who transferred to UH last year after earning a bachelor’s degree at Duke. Schroeder started 11 of 12 games in 2012, but ceded the No. 1 job after undergoing back surgery. Taylor Graham, a transfer from Ohio State, started the first three games this year before suffering a dislocation of his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Ikaika Woolsey started UH’s fourth game, against Nevada, and Schroeder has been the No. 1 quarterback the past six games.
Joey Iosefa, a 6-foot, 233-pound running back, has been the most prolific Warrior the past two games. After being limited to two carries in the first eight games because of a fractured left foot, Iosefa rushed 35 times for 191 yards against Navy and a school-record 37 times for 150 yards against San Diego State. Iosefa, who was raised in American Samoa, was a soccer and volleyball standout before playing football in high school. He said he gained strength — he can bench press 445 pounds — by working on his family’s taro farm.
The Warriors’ MVP this year has been Scott Harding, a 27-year-old junior who is the No. 1 punter, punt returner and slot receiver. He leads the Warriors in receptions (44) and fourth-quarter catches (22). Relying on a rollout, rugby-styled technique, Harding has punted 46 times, with only 10 returned for 40 yards. Three of those returns resulted in lost fumbles. None of his punts has been a touchback. Harding played Australian rules football for six years before joining the Warriors in August 2011. He was supposed to grayshirt and join UH in January 2012. But he did not want to wait, and instead paid for his first semester at UH.
Next game: at Wyoming, noon MT Saturday (MW Digital Network)
Notable: This will be the Warriors’ third cold-weather game this month. They played Utah State on Nov. 2 and Navy on Nov. 9. The teams will be battling for the Paniolo Trophy, sort of. A replica of the original trophy recently was made. Paniolo is the Hawaiian word for cowboy. Noting that Wyoming has lost to Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State, Fresno State, etc., Chow jokingly said UH will be known as “Hawaii State” this week.
— Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
NEVADA
The Nevada football team appears to have dodged a bullet with the news Monday that offensive guard Jeremy Macauley has a sprained knee and sprained ankle.
Macauley, a redshirt freshman from Reed High in Sparks, Nev., was carted off the field during the third quarter of the Wolf Packs 38-16 victory over San Jose State at Mackay Stadium in Reno on Saturday. The win snapped a five-game losing streak.
The Wolf Pack, who have a bye this week, close the season at home against BYU on Nov. 30.
Theres no major damage, a sprained knee and a sprained ankle, coach Brian Polian said at his weekly luncheon. He came in a walking boot yesterday for the (team) picture, but at least hes putting pressure on it.
Macauley, a walk-on whom Polian plans to put on scholarship when he has the opportunity, has been pressed into a starters role because of the teams lack of returning experienced players in the front. Polian has praised his effort all season.
Polian said it is too early to tell if Macauley, who against Colorado State on Nov. 9 moved over to center because of an injury to starter Matt Galas, will be able to play in the finale. If he cant go, senior Fred Lavulo, who converted from defensive tackle in fall camp, or sophomore Zach Brickell likely would start.
Next game: Nov. 30 vs. BYU
Notable: Senior offensive tackle Joel Bitonio has been selected to play in the Reeses Senior Bowl, Jan. 25 in Mobile, Ala. Two Wolf Pack players were named Mountain West players of the week this week, linebacker Jonathan McNeal (15 tackles, one sack) and punter Chase Tenpenny (51.2-yard average, zero return yards allowed on four punts). The coaches hand out four weekly team awards but only after a victory, so there have been none for five weeks until this week. Its been a while since we had something to celebrate so we named a lot of players of the week, Polian said. Two players were named Basalite Big Blockers of the Week (offensive linemen who graded out the best), sophomore guard Connor Talbott and freshman tight end Patrick Clifford. Both running backs, Don Jackson and Kendall Brock, were named offensive players of the week. Three players were named defensive players of the week " McNeal and defensive ends Brock Hekking and Ian Seau. And two players were named special teams players of the week, Tenpenny and Chris Solomon. Polian said hes optimistic that linebacker Jordan Dobrich (concussion) and receiver Aaron Bradley (hamstring) will play in the finale. Neither played in the SJSU game.
— Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette-Journal
SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego States offensive line woes continue.
The Aztecs have had inconsistent play from the offensive line for most of the year, and the line play looked rough again at Hawaii " especially in the first half.
SDSU allowed two sacks before halftime and quarterback Quinn Kaehler struggled with the constant pressure as Hawaii recorded eight quarterback hurries, and kept Kaehler dodging and ducking from defenders for most of the night.
As a result, the Aztecs offense suffered in the first half.
The SDSU running backs managed only 65 total yards in the first half. Kaehler was 9 of 21 for 144 yards and a touchdown at halftime, and 56 of those yards came on one big play " when he hit Colin Lockett for a touchdown after the defense literally stood frozen thinking that a Hawaii offside penalty had ended the play.
The offensive line didnt play particularly well in the first half, SDSU coach Rocky Long said.
Things got a little better in the second half when the offensive line made some adjustments, and as a result the quarterback play improved.
He played OK, Long said of Kaehlers performance. He managed the game, but it wasnt his best game by far. He got pressured early.
In the second half the offensive line was much better and we were able to run the ball and then he threw OK.
Kaehler finished 17 of 34 for 265 yards and a touchdown.
But despite the Aztecs offensive line struggles, Long said hes going to keep the same configuration on the line for this weekends Senior Night matchup against Boise State.
Im not going to change anything. I thought our two tackles played well, Long said, adding that the two guards, Zach Dilley and Darrell Greene, did not play well.
SDSU has started the same three guys at center and at the two tackle spots all year, but the guard spots have been more in flux.
Redshirt freshman Nico Siragusa started at right guard in the season opener before he was replaced by Darrell Greene for the rest of the season. And Japheth Gordon, a senior, started seven games at left guard before the cumulative effect of several nagging injuries began affecting his performance, and Dilley took over.
SDSU has also had a bad snap in two consecutive games. Against Hawaii, it appeared as if the snap was high and right, and Kaehler had to leap to try to corral it. The play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by the Rainbow Warriors.
That is a real concern to have it two weeks in a row, Long said. We cant have that kind of stuff.
Next game: vs. Boise State, 8:35 p.m. MT Saturday (CBS Sports Network)
Notable: Safety Gabe Lemon has still not been cleared to play. He is suffering from a lingering neck stinger and has missed the last four games. To compound the sudden lack of depth at safety, Marcus Andrews, Lemons replacement, broke a knuckle in his hand against Hawaii. Lemon is still expected to play against Boise State, but will likely do so with a club-like cast on his hand. DL Sam Meredith is day to day with a labrum tear. LB Derek Largent continues to struggle with knee and ankle issues, but is probable for the Boise State game.
— Stefanie Loh, U-T San Diego
SAN JOSE STATE
The season is in danger of slipping away for San Jose State after the Spartans were drilled by Nevada. The 38-16 defeat came just a week after blowing a fourth-quarter lead to San Diego State in another loss — both of which prevented SJSU from becoming bowl eligible.
So whats the cure for the Spartans ails?
Ice cream. Yes, ice cream.
SJSU coach Ron Caragher looked to boost morale at practice Monday when he had the offensive and defensive linemen participate in a field goal contest.
Both units had five attempts at a 20-yard field goal and the winner would earn ice cream for either the offensive players or defensive players. Fortunately, the contest ended in a tie so everybody got to enjoy a treat.
Youve got to create energy and upbeat attitude, Caragher said. Renewed energy and enthusiasm goes a long ways towards a good practice.
The Spartans will need much better practices to snap a two-game losing streak and get the elusive sixth win. Navys triple option presents a lot of challenges, especially after SJSU struggled to contain the running of Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo.
San Jose State is only a season removed from a 12-0 shutout of Navy, but the circumstances have changed so much that its a distant memory. Only one defensive starter from last years game — defensive tackle Travis Raciti — is lined up to start this week. Of the 10 tackles for loss the Spartans had in last years game, none are by players who will start Fridays game.
Anthony Larceval had two tackles for loss and a sack, but hes a backup this year after suffering a serious illness last December that nearly ended his career. Derek Muaava, Vince Buhagiar and Tony Popovich combined for 3.5 tackles for loss but are all out with injuries. The remaining are by four players who either graduated or quit the team.
Next game: vs. Navy, 7:30 p.m. MT Friday (ESPN2)
Notable: The game vs. Navy will take place on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Spartans will have a Military Appreciate Night, giving out two free tickets to any active or former military members with proper ID. Theyll also have enlistment ceremonies for the Army and Navy among other special events.
— Jimmy Durkin, San Jose Mercury News
UNLV
UNLV is expecting to play in some un-Las Vegas-type conditions Thursday at Air Force.
Weather.com forecasts a high of 31 degrees and a low of 12 with a 90 percent chance of snow.
The Rebels played in similar conditions the last time they visited the state of Colorado, and it didn’t work out so well for them. They committed four first-half turnovers, three of which led directly to touchdowns, in a 33-11 loss at Colorado State last November.
But coach Bobby Hauck takes the approach of not worrying about what he can’t control.
I lived in Colorado for four years, and if you dont like weather, just wait five minutes, Hauck said. So were not going to worry about it too much. Well dress for it, and I think this football teams mentally tough enough to go and play hard regardless of what the climate is.
This is the third attempt for UNLV (5-5, 3-3 MW) to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2000. The Rebels came up short in their two prior tries, losing 34-24 to San Jose State and 28-24 to Utah State.
They had a week off to prepare for Air Force (2-8, 0-6).
If conditions were clear, the Rebels would figure to have an even better chance to beat the struggling Falcons. As it is, oddsmakers have made UNLV a 1-point underdog.
Not that UNLV is making an issue of the weather.
I think the way you have to go into a game is weathers not a problem, quarterback Caleb Herring said. If you let that become a distraction, youre letting it beat you before the game even starts.
Next game: at Air Force, 7:30 p.m. MT Thursday (ESPNU)
Notable: Safety Frank Crawford, who leads UNLV with four interceptions, will not play because of an undisclosed injury. … Tim Cornett is 30 yards rushing from 1,000 and Devante Davis is 52 yards receiving from the same mark. UNLV has never had a 1,000-yard rusher and receiver in the same season. Cornett also is trying to join Mike Thomas (1973-74) as the school’s only two-time 1,000-yard rusher. … UNLV is 1-7 at Falcon Stadium, the lone win occurring in 2001, a 34-10 victory.
— Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review-Journal