By Kevin Graham
November 5, 2009
BYU BOUNCE BACK
When we last saw No. 25 BYU, they were walking off their home field after being manhandled 38-7 by TCU. Coming off a bye week preparing to play Wyoming on the road this Saturday, the Cougars are now reenergized and focused on closing out the season strong.
“Physically, it’s the healthiest we’ve been and I would say mentally it’s the healthiest we’ve been other than maybe going into the Oklahoma week,” said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. “It was a great chance to reflect on what we’re doing well, what we’re not doing well, have a chance to visit with certain players--especially senior leadership--and give them a chance to express their thoughts, become kind of unified and optimistic and motivated for the next four games. And so I think the bye week really came at a good time.”
Wyoming has lost their last two games and the common theme in both was that the Pokes lost the turnover battle. While they rank second in turnover margin in the MWC, they have failed to force a turnover the last two weeks.
“We're stopping people, but the last two weeks, we haven't created a takeaway,” said Cowboy coach Dave Christensen. “We've talked about this as a program from the onset, that turnover margin is the most important thing that we can win at this point in time.”
UTES TAKING A GAMBLE
For a team that is 7-1 and ranked No. 14 in the latest BCS standings, it would be easy for Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to rest on his laurels and not mess with a good thing. But in an effort to continue to improve, Whittingham decided to change his quarterback and his playcaller in last week’s come-from-behind 22-10 victory over Wyoming.
“Why wait until things start to go south to make a change if you feel it’s the best for the program,” said Whittingham. “Now you’re not always right. I mean I’m not sitting here saying every decision that I make or we make is correct, but you got to do what you think is right, is best. Everything is a gamble. I mean standing pat is a gamble. If you see something wrong and you stand pat and don’t try to improve on it that’s a gamble too.”
This Saturday against New Mexico, receivers coach Aaron Roderick will once again call the plays from the press box while offensive coordinator Dave Schramm will be on the sideline. While Whittingham refuses to reveal his starting quarterback, all indications point to freshman Jordan Wynn getting the nod over junior Terrance Cain who started the first eight games of the season.
The Lobos are still looking for their first win of the season and Coach Mike Locksley knows getting it this week will be difficult. "Utah offers us a tough challenge,” said Locksley. “They have probably the best defense I've seen and the thing that stands out about Utah's defense is their athleticism. They've got tremendous athleticism, not only in their front seven, but the secondary too. They're a well-coached team.”
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CLASH
Air Force (5-4) will play host to rival Army (3-5) in a game that will be getting additional attention with ESPN College GameDay broadcasting live from Colorado Springs in a tribute to veterans. The Falcons have won 11 of the last 12 meetings as the two schools battle with Navy for the annual Commander-in-Chief Trophy. On Oct. 3, Air Force lost to Navy 16-13 in overtime.
“I’ve never been involved in football games that are more intense than service academy games,” said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. “What you have is you have a bunch of young men that are on the field that you know have chosen to come…to go through the rigors and the demands of an academy. And following graduation, voluntarily have said that they want to serve and there are requirements and standards that they have to meet most certainly to get in and to get through the academy. Ultimately, there is a pretty decent chance that there are going to be guys on our sideline…paired with guys from their sideline in another area of the world at some point in the future.“
TRYING TO GET BOWL ELIGIBLE
One team will keep their slim bowl hopes alive after UNLV plays Colorado State Saturday. At 3-6, neither can afford a loss if they hope to play beyond the regular season.
UNLV was in the same situation a year ago winning two games before losing the season finale to San Diego State. “On the one hand, there's a lot of hope,” said Rebel coach Mike Sanford in the Las Vegas Sun. “We have hope, but I think the other part of it is not to get caught up in all three games. Our job is about Colorado State and beating Colorado State. That's all we can think about right now.”
The Rams are winless in MWC play and have lost six straight. Senior quarterback Grant Stucker is expected to start even though he threw for just 49 yards in last week’s loss to Air Force.
MWC OUTLOOK
TCU 38 San Diego State 7 (Preview)
BYU 35 Wyoming 17
Utah 28 New Mexico 14
Air Force 27 Army 13
UNLV 34 Colorado State 31
Kevin Graham hosts a daily sports talk show in Salt Lake City. You can listen and read his station blog. You can also follow him on Twitter
