Fight at Nevada leaves questions for defense

A two-week-old incident is now coming to light involving Nevada defensive backs Duke Williams (pictured left) and Marlon Johnson (pictured right).  The two engaged in a fight on April 16 or 17 after Johnson gave Williams a ride home from a party.  Later, Williams visited Johnson with some friends, a visit that ended with Johnson being taken to the hospital.

MWC & WAC players in 2010 NFL Draft

Here is how the MWC and WAC fared in the NFL Draft.  A total of 13 players were selected from MWC schools, and 5 total from WAC schools.  Utah had 6 players drafted, and the WAC had 3 players selected in the first round.

Mountain West Players in 2010 NFL Draft
BYU
Name	Pos.	Rd.	Selection	Team
Dennis Pitta	TE	4	114	Baltimore
Colorado State
Shelley Smith	OG	6	187	Houston
New Mexico
Erik Cook	OG	7	229	Washington
TCU
Jerry Hughes	OLB	1	31	Indianapolis
Daryl Washington	OLB	2	47	Arizona
Marshall Newhouse	OG	5	169	Green Bay
UNLV
Joe Hawley	C	4	117	Atlanta
Utah
Koa Misi	OLB	2	40	Miami
Zane Beadles	OG	2	45	Denver
Robert Johnson	S	5	148	Tennessee
David Reed	WR	5	156	Baltimore
Stevenson Sylvester	OLB	5	166	Pittsburgh
R.J. Stanford	CB	7	223	Carolina

WAC Players in 2010 NFL Draft
Fresno State
Name	Pos.	Rd.	Selection	Team
Ryan Mathews	RB	1	12	San Diego
Idaho
Mike Iupati	OG	1	17	San Francisco
Boise State
Kyle Wilson	CB	1	29	NY Jets
Louisiana Tech
D'Anthony Smith	DT	3	74	Jacksonville
Dennis Morris	TE	6	174	Washington

Clawson hangs it up while Bradford goes #1

Click on the title link to read Gene Wojciechowski's piece on the different worlds of former Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford and former BYU LB Coleby Clawson.  A season after Clawson's hit on Bradford landed the LB more TV time than Tiger Woods mistress photos, Clawson has likely seen his last days on the field, where Bradford is just getting started.

Boise State to get new, less glaring blue turf

Football fans around the nation in chorus: Finally!

Citing an over-abundance of light-reflecting fibers in their signature blue turf, Boise State announced that they are going to replace it with a different blue turf to make home games easier for the viewing public, both in the stadium and on TV.

Boise athletic director Gene Bleymaier said that the original installer of the blue grass FieldTurf is doing the replacement for free.  The replacement should begin on June 21 and be finished by July 30.

Willing to eat my words. Gave Jazz no shot at Game 2 victory. Shouldn't have doubted Denver's immaturity.

Spring Spotlight: UNLV

Click on the title link for a fantastic spring wrap-up piece by Ryan Greene of the Las Vegas Sun.  Greene details the progress made by the team under new coach Bobby Hauck.

(Photo by Justin M. Bowen)

Harvey Unga leaves BYU

Harvey Unga, BYU's all-time leading rusher, has voluntarily withdrawn from school.

Unga withdrew citing honor code violations, BYU's behavioral policy that includes, among other things, restrictions on drug and alcohol use, and pre-marital sex.  There is a possibility that Unga could be re-admitted in time for his senior season in the fall.

Spring spotlight: Wyoming

Click the title link for ESPN.com's Graham Watson and her spotlight on the Wyoming football team as spring practice concludes.

BYU still 'waiting to be recognized'

“It’s about as close as you can get,” Mendenhall said. “I’m very pleased with the progress and consistency. Until we have that signature season, we’ll just keep rattling off as many wins as we can. I don’t really view us as one of those teams looking from the outside in. I view us as one of those teams that are waiting to be recognized.”

Click on the title link for ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach's piece on the consistency of BYU football and their efforts to continue that despite having to replace key starters this year.

Around the MWC: 4/14/2010

A quick look around football happenings the Mountain West Conference:

BYU
The Cougars wrapped up their spring practices recently, and here are the final stats in their heated QB battle:
Riley Nelson: 29-51, 389 yards, 5 TDs
James Lark: 27-46, 253 yards, 0 TDs
Jake Heaps: 62-105, 774 yards, 7 TDs

The disparity in reps comes as a result of the policy that first downs earn a QB more reps.  While coaches are stopping short of saying it, it appears that the youngster Heaps has the edge going into the fall.
http://is.gd/bsHhX

COLORADO STATE
The Rams sports information office announced that all student tickets for the rivalry game with Colorado at Invesco Field will be general admission seating.  Tickets are $25 for students and they will go on sale on July 19, and will only be available for purchase online.
http://is.gd/bsHpn

UNLV
Exciting news for Rebel fans: new coach Bobby Hauck will answer questions during a live chat at www.unlvrebels.com on Thursday, April 15 at 11:00 a.m. PT.  Fans can log in to the website then to join the chat, and can also submit their questions early here: http://is.gd/bsHZc

WYOMING
After a solid first season for coach Dave Christensen, Wyoming has awarded the coach with a one-year extension, which keeps Christensen signed through the 2014 season.  In his first year, he led Wyoming to a 7-6 record and a New Mexico Bowl victory.
http://is.gd/bsIep

Air Force gets $5 million donation for indoor athletic facility

The Air Force Academy announced yesterday that Bart Holaday, AFA class of 1965, and his wife Lynn have committed to donate $5 million for an indoor practice facility.  The donation marks the largest contribution from a graduate in school history.

The indoor facility will have a regulation-sized field that can be used for football, soccer, lacrosse, and many other training purposes.  Scheduled for completion in early 2011, the facility will definitely help reduce delays and missed practices due to weather conditions in Colorado Springs.  The benefits of an indoor facility were displayed yesterday in Fort Collins, where Colorado State moved practice indoors due to lightning, made possible by their brand-new indoor practice facility.

While better practice conditions will result, football coach Troy Calhoun sees the facility fitting in as part of the Academy's greater purpose.  "The construction of the indoor facility will continue to provide optimal support and training grounds for the young men and women at the world's finest leadership institution," Calhoun said.  "This tremendous commitment and investment will be returned many times over by the quality of officers who, in the years to come, will lead our Air Force."