Another Bronco chase ahead

LAS VEGAS » It was the media blitzin the city of glitz. The Mountain West Conference threw a three-day introductory party in the tres chic Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, where every room is a suite, and where jacuzzis, walk-in closets and 60-inch flat screens are standard features.

Two players from each of the 10 MWC schools rotated among interview rooms, where door plates listed the names of television networks.

There were rooms set up for group interviews and one-on-one chats.

Have a question? An aide would deliver a wireless microphone.

Need to jot down information? Complimentary pens and notepads were at work stations spread across a ballroom transformed into a media room.

When a reporter needed a figure, an official waved a hand and, a few minutes later, the verified number was delivered. It was "Who Wants To be A Millionaire" — with a roomful of lifelines.

At the registration table, each attendee was handed a pair of sunglasses, a suggestion to the brightness of the MWC’s future.

It was an impressive display for a league without a marquee player and whose best team — Boise State — is jetting to the Big East at the end of the coming academic year.

The MWC, for its part, was open about its concerns. In a forum address and then in a small gathering with beat reporters, commissioner Craig Thompson spoke about the league being denied an automatic qualifying berth in the BCS, a decision on what to do with the digital rights to football telecasts, and how to package a league that is the sum of former Western Athletic Conference parts.

But those matters would be for another time.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen, who is a reluctant participant in such mass-media gatherings, said he was at the event to discuss football.

And, so, the attention turned to how a league welcoming three new teams — Hawaii, Nevada and Fresno State — would face the decade-old problem of how to conquer Boise State.

"Boise State is the best team in the league," San Diego State coach Rocky Long said. "It’s going to be tough for the rest of us to catch up and beat them. But they’re not unbeatable."

That argument will be continued. San Diego State is joining Boise State in the move to the Big East next year.

Air Force Falcons

2011: 7-6, 3-4 MWC

Head coach: Troy Calhoun

The story: The Falcons lost their top passer and third-best rusher when option quarterback Tim Jefferson completed his football eligibility in December. Connor Dietz is taking over on the fly, so to speak. Because of school obligations, the Falcons started spring training in February. "It was snowing," kicker Parker Herrington said. It will be more complicated for preseason training. With the summer program ending late, the Falcons will have only 23 practices to prepare for the Sept. 1 opener against Idaho State. There won’t be any double-practice days, either. The NCAA requires five days of single practices before allowing two-a-day practices. Thing is, the sixth day is the first day of the academy’s fall semester. "We’ll have to prioritize the sessions we have," Calhoun said. The Falcons should be fit. Freshmen are required to undergo basic training in Jacks Valley. The sophomores participate in survival training. "The big concern is how they hold weight," said Calhoun, noting offensive lineman Jason Kons once lost 20 pounds while training. Linebacker Stephan Atrice, a converted safety, is expected to emerge as defensive leader.

The player: Navigating between Colorado Springs’ thin air and road games played at sea level, Herrington converted 15 of 18 field-goal attempts in 2011. What’s more, the aspiring pilot perfected his touchdowns. Herrington participated in flight school this summer and, on his second flight, managed to smoothly land his B-53 Cessna. "Flying is fun," he said. "It’s like having a fast car with a million gauges and trying to keep the gauges exactly where you want them." His confidence is apparent in the air and before his kicks take flight. And, yes, he was inspired by that Tom Cruise flick. "I saw ‘Top Gun’ several times," he said. "I wanted to be Maverick. I wanted to be a hotshot."

Boise State Broncos

2011: 12-1, 6-1 MWC

Head coach: Chris Petersen

The story: The Broncos are awaiting an appeals ruling on whether they must forfeit three scholarships for the 2012 season because of a past violation. They hope to find a more immediate resolution on selecting a starting quarterback. The four-way battle did not yield a winner in spring training, and it is unlikely a decision will be made before the start of training camp this week. "Keep asking," Petersen said, "I’ll keep giving a different answer." Petersen recalled two of the past three Broncos starters — Kellen Moore and Jared Zabransky — were 11th-hour selections. Don’t bother asking the players. "They don’t know," Petersen said. "They’re just worried about themselves." The Broncos also must patch an offense that lost two linemen, a tight end and the top running back. The rebuilding should be eased, especially because the numerous personnel groups provided game experience for the younger players. "We have guys who might not have started, but they have played," offensive tackle Joe Kellogg said. "They’ve been waiting their turn. That showed in the summer. I don’t think we had anybody miss a workout." Both starting cornerbacks are back, and a third — Jerrell Gavins, a shutdown defender in 2010 — is healthy after suffering an injury in last year’s opener. Petersen puts his trust in defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. "He’s a developer of talent," Petersen said.

The player: Some Hawaii visitors see a Waikiki show. Some go to a restaurant. The Broncos coaches took in an ILH tripleheader. "When we played Hawaii (in 2009), our coaches went to a (high school) game," Petersen said. "They were like, ‘Who’s this No. 10?’ " Punahou’s Jeremy Ioane played receiver and safety in that game. Soon after, the Broncos made an offer. Ioane is 5-10, but Petersen noted, "We’re not hung up on height. Have you ever seen one of our quarterbacks?" Ioane played in 10 games in 2011 and will be a starting safety this year.

Colorado State Rams

2011: 3-9, 1-6 MWC

Head coach: Jim McElwain

The story: One night McElwain is celebrating Alabama’s national championship. The next day he is on a flight to Fort Collins, Colo., beginning his job as the Rams’ head coach. Asked why he would leave a lucrative position as the Tide’s offensive coordinator, McElwain said: "Why not?" McElwain hired co-coordinators to implement a 3-4 defensive scheme, and lured away Dave Baldwin from Utah State to call the offensive plays. McElwain and Baldwin have ties to the Northwest, the experimental lab for wide-open offenses. Dennis Erickson, Mike Price and Mouse Davis are among the area’s alumni. "There were a lot of innovative guys coming out of the West," McElwain said. As for the shakeups, McElwain cited British economist John Maynard Keynes: "The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones."

The player: For linebacker Shaquil Barrett, the pursuit of a ring begins in the ring. At the urging of conditioning coach Mike Kent, Barrett enrolled in boxing classes. "It helps develop hand quickness," Barrett said, "but it’s tough."

Fresno State Bulldogs

2011: 4-9, 3-4 WAC

Head coach: Tim Deruyter

The story: Meet the over-the-Hill gang. Deruyter takes over for Pat Hill, whose ambitious 15-year tenure resulted in more promise than championships. Deruyter assumed Hill’s route — he criss-crossed the Central Valley to draw enthusiasm to the program — but kept little else. The four-wide passing attack has replaced the power-I, and the 3-4 defense has booted the 4-3. Quarterback Derek Carr endorsed the changes. "I’m not sure I know of a quarterback who would be sad about throwing the ball more," Carr said. The Bulldogs’ four-wide offense has some wrinkles. One of the inside receivers will be tight end Marcel Jensen. "If you looked up a picture of him, you’d be like, ‘Oh, wow,’ " Carr said. "He’s about 6-7, 260, long dreads, and he runs like a deer." The offense will not huddle, and it will be set on fast-forward. "As soon as a guy gets tackled, we’re sprinting to the line of scrimmage," Carr said. On defense, the Bulldogs will disguise coverages and blitz often. Sometimes four linemen will be in a 3-point stance, sometimes none. "We want to put a lot of pressure on offenses," Deruyter said. Last year, the Bulldogs had nine takeaways — five interceptions, four forced fumbles. This year’s goal is 30 takeaways.

The player: The honeymoon period is ongoing for Carr, who was married on June 29. "She’s the perfect quarterback wife," Carr said. "I’ve been very blessed." Carr also is relating well to offensive coordinator Dave Schramm, who was the running backs coach at Utah in 2011. "We’re polar opposites, but we get along great," Carr said. Deruyter said Carr is a quick learner, adding: "He can really spin the football. He’s athletic enough to extend plays in the pocket. He can put stress on the defense."

Hawaii Warriors

2011: 6-7, 3-4 WAC

Head coach: Norm Chow

The story: Chow, who was hired in December, implemented a new offense (pro set), new defense (double eagle) and new rules. Long hair? Snip. Tardiness? See ya next practice. Missed meeting or class? Bring a book … and hold it over your head for 30 minutes. The discipline is supposed to translate to on-field self control; an offense featuring a tight end and a fullback is supposed to set the tone for aggressive play and buy time for the defense. UH coaches spent the spring searching for starters at three key positions — quarterback, tight end and fullback. All will be debated when the Warriors report to training camp on Wednesday.

The player: Last year there were questions surrounding cornerback Mike Edwards, who had been dismissed from Tennessee in 2009 because of an off-field incident. But Edwards bit his mouthpiece, never complained when a subluxed right shoulder left him virtually one-armed, and became the Warriors’ top cover defender. He did participate in contact drills this spring following surgery, but his work ethic impressed the coaches enough to elevate Edwards into a leadership role. Edwards, only a junior, represented UH at this past week’s MWC media preview in Las Vegas.

Nevada Wolf Pack

2011: 7-6, 5-2 WAC

Head coach: Chris Ault

The story: It was in 2004 that Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault had his eureka moment. He invented the pistol, a formation aligning the quarterback 4 yards from the line of scrimmage and the lone running back 3 yards behind the quarterback. It was a read-run scheme that provided enough elbow room for the passing game. It also had assistant coaches rewriting their resumes because, according to Ault, they felt "this ain’t going to fly." Under Ault’s control, the pistol was successful, spawning offshoots at the NCAA and high school levels. Earlier this year, Ault hired former UH quarterback and offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich, then put him in the living trust. The pistol would remain as a run scheme, but Rolovich would add the run-and-shoot element. And, eventually, Rolovich would replace Ault as play-caller. Ault said he had followed Rolovich’s career, taking special notice last year, when the Warriors ran the run-and-shoot out of pistol formation. "This guy is not afraid of trying something new," Ault said. In the search for a play-calling heir, Ault said, Rolovich was "on the top of my list." Rolovich will get to work with sophomore quarterback Cody Fajardo, who had a breakout season in 2011, and two of the MWC’s best offensive tackles, Jeff Nady and Joel Bitonio. During spring training, Ault spent more time with the defense. His first task was changing the mood. "Our defense last year was the most complacent defense I’ve ever had," Ault said. "We went into games saying we know what it takes to get there, and we never got there." Ault decided to spice up the conditioning program with competitive contests in the weight room and on the field. Last week, the players who are training in Reno played dodgeball. "The whole idea was to create more competition," Ault said.

The player: Nady’s parents had a strict policy: If you play at least two sports, you don’t have to get a job in high school. Nady’s older brother had to work at Costco; Nady kept busy playing football, basketball and baseball. "I’ve never been employed," Nady said. He was a tight end and defensive end at Douglas High when he received several offers, including one from the Pack. "I didn’t even play tackle (at Douglas)," Nady said. "(Ault) took a gamble on me." Douglas is in Minden, Nev., a 45-minute drive from Reno. "We have a movie theater with six screens, and we’re a one-McDonald’s town," Nady said. But no Douglas athlete had ever received a football scholarship from the Pack. "I wanted to make history," Nady said.

New Mexico Lobos

2011: 1-11, 1-6 MWC

Head coach: Bob Davie

The story: Spiraling into depression after losing 37 of the past 40 games, the Lobos were in need of an analyst. Davie, an ESPN football analyst after being fired as Notre Dame’s head coach in 2001, was hired as the Lobos’ third head coach in five years. "We have to change everything from A to Z if we don’t want the same results," Davie said. The Lobos had seven available offensive linemen for spring training, which hindered development and competition. The 25 recruits will bring the scholarship total to 75 — 10 fewer than the maximum allowed — but with 12 seniors listed as starters, the rebuilding will last beyond this year. Davie said walk-ons will be a "key element." The Lobos will use a multiple-look offense that Davie hopes will do better than the scheme that converted only 30 percent of third-down plays in 2011. The defense is going from a 4-3 front to a 3-4. "There have been positives," Davie said. "When I first sat down with our players, when we first started the offseason, I had a hard time saying I really liked our guys," Davie recalled. "I like these guys now." The newly installed turf is a symbolic fresh start. "It’s a statement," Davie said.

The player: Linebacker Joseph Harris was 6 when "Toy Story" was released, and his imagination unleashed. Harris became fascinated with the marriage of fine-arts animation and computer programming. At UNM, where he majors in animation, Harris has created a video game ("Battle Spaceship"), produced a short CGI-crafted clip, and written a script that he hopes to take to infinity and beyond. His main project? "I see us having a good year," Harris said.

San Diego State Aztecs

2011: 8-5, 4-3 MWC

Head coach: Rocky Long

The story: The Aztecs will be going into overtime in the competition to find a successor to quarterback Ryan Lindley. Adam Dingwell is a sophomore entering his third year in the program — he threw one pass in two games last year — and Ryan Katz is a transfer from Oregon State. In spring training, Dingwell and Katz took turns with the first unit. "They had good days and bad days," Long said. Unlike Lindley, Dingwell and Katz provide mobility. "They use their legs to get out of trouble," Long said. "They can run option plays. They can scramble and throw on the run." Long said a decision will be made by the end of the first week of training camp. In either scenario, tight end Gavin Escobar is a target with height (6-6) and sure hands (51 catches in 2011). Escobar, who was raised in the New York metropolitan area, models his play after Jeremy Shockey and former New York Giant Mark Bavaro. Long is known for his aggressive defenses that employ man-to-man coverages at the corners.

The player: Cornerback Leon McFadden knows all about Montezuma’s revenge. As part of his expanded workouts, McFadden runs up Montezuma Road near the SDSU campus — backward. "It’s not that big of a climb, but it is intense," McFadden said. So, too, are his workouts on the beach. It is part of a work ethic instilled by his parents, who frowned upon video games. "My parents told me to go outside and play," McFadden said. The Aztecs struggled for several years until Long resuscitated the program two years ago. Now, the Aztecs have appeared in back-to-back bowls. "I heard about all of the bad things about San Diego State before," McFadden said. "I wanted to be part of the turnaround."

UNLV Rebels

2011: 2-10, 1-6 MWC

Head coach: Bobby Hauck

The story: There are cold streaks in Vegas, but the Rebels have been experiencing an ice age. They have had three winning seasons in the past 28 years. Hauck even received a contract extension early in what turned into a 2-10 season. But hope springs in Sin City. "We’ll be competitive," Hauck promised, perhaps encouraged that last year’s investments will mature. The Rebels started three freshmen on the offensive line in 2011. This year, there is only one senior starter on defense. "We’re going in the right direction," Hauck said. "We need time to bring guys along." Leading rusher Tim Cornett is only a junior, and if Caleb Herring doesn’t retain the starting quarterback’s job, freshman Nick Sherry is a capable option.

The player: The Rebels were honoring their city’s code of secrecy last year while awaiting a scholarship opening. One became available just before the start of the 2011 training camp, leading the way for linebacker John Lotulelei to join. Lotulelei did not break into the starting lineup until the eighth game, but he managed to finish with 60 tackles, third-best among Rebels. Jimmy Morimoto always envisioned Lotulelei would become an effective Division I player. Morimoto was Lotulelei’s head coach at Baldwin High. Morimoto, UNLV’s assistant recruiting coordinator, kept tabs on Lotulelei while he was at Merced College. "He’s a good player who’s always in the right place at the right time," Morimoto said.

Wyoming Cowboys

2011: 8-5, 5-2 MWC

Head coach: Dave Christensen

The story: There are four with head-coaching experience on the Cowboys’ staff. "It’s great having 51 percent of the vote every single time," Christensen mused. No show of hands was necessary in picking the quarterback. Brett Smith led the Cowboys in rushing (710 yards, 10 touchdowns), and his 3,332 yards of total offense was the best by a freshman in Wyoming history. Smith was held out of contact drills in spring training following hand surgery in February. "He’s completely healed," Christensen said. "He’s bigger, stronger, faster. He’s ready to go." Former UH assistant coach Chris Tormey is now in charge of the Cowboys’ defense, which will feature multiple looks. The Cowboys have expanded their recruiting reach, stretching from Hawaii to Germany, where five players were raised. Christensen emphasizes Laramie’s no-frills appeal in recruiting. "We don’t have malls, we don’t have nightclubs," Christensen said. "I tell every recruit, ‘If those things are important to you, don’t come here. It’s not going to change.’ If a kid comes in and says, ‘I like it, but it’s a little far away and the weather’s not great,’ if you come, it’s going to be the same distance and the weather is not changing. It’s a great state and a great town, and there are few distractions and low crime."

The player: With light-streaked hair and a hang-loose attitude, safety Luke Ruff appears to fit the rock lifestyle. That’s fine with Ruff, a civil engineering major who is completing an internship involving fracking, which is a procedure in which minerals and, yes, rocks, are injected into a well to open fissures and enable natural gas to emit more freely. Ruff’s friendly demeanor belies his grittiness. Center Nick Carlson marveled about Ruff’s hard hitting. "I’m not mean," Ruff said. "You get practice in and no sleep, that’s when you get angry."