Mountain West Conference Report, Oct. 17

BALANCED BOISE STATE TAKES ONUS OFF NEW QUARTERBACK

Boise State long has possessed a strong running game and defense, but the greatness that was Kellen Moore sometimes obscured that fact.

Now that Moore, college football's all-time winningest quarterback with 50 victories, is gone, the spotlight is on that running game and defense.

The Broncos (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West Conference), who host UNLV (1-6, 1-1) at 12:30 p.m. PDT Saturday, average 162.5 yards rushing per game, with D.J. Harper having gained 549 yards.

Their defense allows a 14.7-point average, and the Broncos haven't given up a first-half point in the past four games.

"I've thought our defense has been overshadowed around here for a long, long time," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "I just don't think you win as much as we've had the good fortune (to) if you don't play really good defense."

Boise State is breaking in a new quarterback, junior Joe Southwick, and the transition hasn't been easy.

The Broncos have been held to 20 or fewer points three times. Southwick completed 11 of 22 passes for 113 yards in Saturday's 20-10 victory over Fresno State.

But he has shown promise this season, completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,237 yards and nine touchdowns, and Petersen said Southwick succeeds in areas that aren't as apparent.

"I think we're making strides," Petersen said. "He's a smart guy, and we didn't throw it a ton here this last week, but he did a lot for us. ... He's doing a lot more than maybe some people realize."

TALK OF THE LEAGUE

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun often answers football-related questions by discussing the virtues of the academy.

He ventured even more off topic on Tuesday's Mountain West teleconference when asked about Saturday's dustup with Wyoming coach Dave Christensen.

Christensen got into it with Calhoun after the Falcons' 28-27 victory when the coaches met after the game, and Christensen then told reporters Air Force quarterback Connor Dietz faked an injury to buy his team time.

"I don't think that's what we are in this business to teach kids - how to cheat," Christensen said. "And that's what that was."

The Mountain West reprimanded Christensen, and he apologized.

So when Calhoun was asked Tuesday about the situation, he offered this response:

"For our guys, I think any time you're an officer candidate, there are different scenarios in life from which you must learn. I'm not saying it's the same, but there are definitely some learning experiences that can occur, you know when Jane Fonda in 1972 went and was a little bit cozy with the North Vietnamese and denounced those that were in the Air Force. There's something to draw from that.

"I think Saturday there is something you can draw from different instances in life, and certainly that's the case. As you go through and you progress forward, I think the thing you've got to know as an officer, you're going to fight for those freedoms, for the First Amendment - and that First Amendment can be used in various ways. If you go fly a bunch of missions or you're deployed or you're involved in combat and return to your country, there could be different marches, there could be different things that are said to you. You've got to know that can occur, but you march forward, too."

So, to be clear, did Calhoun really compare Christensen sticking up for his team to Jane Fonda hanging out with the North Vietnamese?

AROUND THE MWC

UNLV's opener at Minnesota next season was moved to Thursday, Aug. 29. This year's game at Sam Boyd Stadium also was played on a Thursday. ... This has been a difficult first season for Colorado State coach Jim McElwain, who is down to using third-string quarterback Conner Smith, a redshirt freshman. "I don't go into a season thinking we're going to get to the third, fourth or fifth guys," McElwain said. ... San Diego State didn't commit a penalty against Colorado State, the first time the Aztecs pulled off that feat since 1973.

UNLV INJURY REPORT

POS., PLAYER AREA STATUS

DL Alvin Amilcar Undisclosed Out

OL Patrick Carroll Back Out

DL David Green Undisclosed Out

DB John Therrell Arm Out

DL James Boyd Leg Doubtful

OL Brett Boyko Leg Doubtful

DB David Greene Arm Questionable

QB/WR Caleb Herring Leg Questionable

OL Cameron Jefferson Leg Questionable

LB Tani Maka Leg Questionable