College Confidential

King Louie impressed and excited

Utah kicker "King" Louie Sakoda has plenty to be happy with, including a Mountain West title and trip to the Sugar Bowl. But he was also happy to see the Mountain West Conference have so much success this year.
"Just the last four years, just the leaps and bounds the conference has gone, how exciting it was my freshman or sophomore year when BYU broke the top 25,'' Sakoda said prior to the ESPNU College Football Awards. "And then a few years later you have three teams in the top 16. I think that speaks volumes about the conference and hopefully we'll be commanding a little more respect after this season, especially if we can pull out a win in the Sugar Bowl. We'll see."
Besides the Utes, Sakoda said the Poinsettia Bowl between TCU and Boise State will be must-see TV.
"That'll be one of the most interesting games to watch,'' he said. "I don't think people realize how good of a game that will be.That's one I've got marked on my calendar."

-Trae Thompson

MWC commish sounds off about football, basketball

Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson had lots to say earlier this week about the conference's success in football and the upcoming basketball season.
With three football teams ranked in this week's Associated Press top 25 rankings, and BYU 6-0 entering tonight's game at TCU, Thompson was quite confident the winner of the Mountain West could qualify for a BCS bowl.
"I think if a team's 12-0 they'd be in one of the BCS games,'' Thompson said Tuesday during the Mountain West basketball media day in Las Vegas. "I really don't have any doubt about that. Now the rubber hits the road cause TCU, Utah and BYU have to play each other.''
Thompson said he wasn't the least surprised either when the Mountain West swept the Pac 10 in four non-conference matchups earlier this season.
"We've got a lot ofprograms - TCU, BYU, Utah, probably Air Force - that are at the points now they should be winning those home games against Pac 10 people,'' said Thompson, who is attending tonight's TCU-BYU game . "...Those programs have reached that top 25 mark."
As for basketball, Thompson predicted it could be "a real breakout year."
"I think we could see a similar thing (to football),'' he said. "We have a ton of players coming back, a lot of returning points and rebounds and great coaching."

-Trae Thompson

Aggies trying to hold on

New Mexico isn't giving up the fight, answering A&M's score with a 5-yard touchdown run by Paul Baker. However, the 2-point conversion pass was intercepted by Jordan Pugh, and the Aggies recovered the ensuing onside kick. They lead 28-16 with 5:53 left.
-- Lori Dann

Second-half shutout over for Aggies

The Aggies scored a second-half touchdown for the first time this season when Jerrod Johnson threw a 9-yard strike to tight end Jamie McCoy, making it 28-10 with 13:20 left. Texas A&M was shut out in the second half against Arkansas State and did not score in the third quarter against New Mexico. The TD was set up by Michael Bennett's fumble recovery and 37-yard return to the Lobos 22. Johnson is 9-for-17 for 120 yards and three touchdowns, and he has rushed six times for 21 yards.
-- Lori Dann

No doubts ... Goodson returns

So much for the halftime injury report. With the Aggies leading 21-10 and facing a third-and-3 at the A&M 22, Mike Goodson returned to the field. Jerrod Johnson's pass was incomplete, forcing a punt.
-- Lori Dann

Goodson doubtful to return

The halftime report on Aggies tailback Mike Goodson isn't good. Goodson suffered a right knee sprain and is doubtful to return. It looks like A&M's fortunes will rest in the hands of their youngsters, which might not be such a bad thing considering the results so far.
-- Lori Dann

Aggies find new scoring combo

Jerrod Johnson threw his second TD pass of day to freshman Jeff Fuller, who made a phenomenal catch over New Mexico cornerback DeAndre Wright. Wright seemed to have an interception, but Fuller reached over Wright's left shoulder and wrestled the ball away to give A&M a 21-7 halftime lead. The Aggies were aided by a questionable roughing the passer call six plays earlier on a third-down incompletion that would have forced them to punt.
-- Lori Dann

No perfect answer for two friends

TCU football coach Gary Patterson considers New Mexico coach Rocky Long a close friend.
The two have enjoyed golfing together before, but have traded comments about the scheduling of Saturday's season opener between the Horned Frogs and Lobos.
"Coach Long stated that we wanted to play at this time and they wanted to play at Thanksgiving,'' Patterson said during Monday's weekly media luncheon. "That would not necessarily be true. I don't think anybody wants to play their first conference game anytime to open the season. The choice was to give them two weeks off before they played us on Thanksgiving, or have the same amount of time to have preparation for this first ballgame."
Long told the Desert News in Salt Lake City "it wasn't our choice" and acknowledged they wanted to play Thanksgiving Day. A look at the schedules basically confirms what Patterson said: The Lobos face Colorado State on Nov.15, and would've had 11 days to prepare for TCU, while the Horned Frogs would get four days of prep.
Patterson said he's looking forward to returning to New Mexico, where he was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 1996-1997. He loved the town, the fans and knows it will be a great environment.
"I'm fired up about getting yelled at,'' Patterson said.

-Trae Thompson

Rebels upset Aztecs, 6-2

The No.6 seed UNLV Rebels broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the top of the ninth to upset No.3 San Diego State in the opening game of the Mountain West Conference tournament today at Lupton Stadium.
The Aztecs (30-27) got a dominant outing from starter James McLaughlin, who had a no-hitter through five innings. McLaughlin (3-2) allowed one baserunner in that span when he hit Michael Brenly in the second. UNLV (22-35) got its first hit in the top of the sixth when Steve Rinaudo singled to left field.
The Rebels took a 2-0 lead, but the Aztecs added a run in both the sixth and eighth innings to tie the game at 2-2.
McLaughlin (3-2) went 8 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, one walk and six runs (four earned), while striking out six. He threw 120 pitches, 75 of them for strikes.
UNLV advances to face No.1 seed TCU tomorrow night at 7 p.m. -Trae Thompson

Let the tourney begin

OK, about to begin Game 1 here between UNLV and San Diego State at Lupton Stadium. Just to give you all a head's up - I may not be doing as much blogging during games. Let's just say there's some rules I have to follow (but check back late at nights and early in the mornings). We'll be stand up, and leave it at that. By the way -- James McLaughlin gets the start for the Aztecs, not ace Stephen Strasburg. -Trae