No timetable set for MWC-Conference USA pact
It seems only a matter of time before the Mountain West Conference and Conference USA form a working relationship, but how much time is uncertain.
Any agreement appears months away, despite two meetings in Dallas last week involving athletic directors from both conferences.
"I hate to put a timetable on it, but that's probably a conservative estimate on it," UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood said.
That doesn't mean there isn't activity taking place. Livengood said the two parties are still talking, and university presidents are meeting with their athletic directors to discuss the details.
And the details, as usual, are the sticking points. It would be a football-only agreement, but there are many issues to consider, such as the postseason setup, television and scheduling.
The Mountain West is moving aggressively, even though the Pac-12 Conference decided two weeks ago not to invite four Big 12 schools. Stability is a relative terms these days, and the Mountain West doesn't even know what its own membership will look like a year from now.
"It might appear on the surface that conference realignment has died down, and it has," Livengood said, "but I don't think it's gone away."
AROUND THE MWC
Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson wasn't too pleased with the officiating in his team's 40-33 overtime loss to rival Southern Methodist on Saturday. "They changed the complexion of the whole football game with five or six calls," Patterson said on Tuesday's Mountain West teleconference. "I understand why I left Conference USA. SMU did a great job, but they had a lot of help." Patterson also wasn't happy after reading comments from SMU coach June Jones and wide receiver Darius Johnson that slighted TCU. At his Tuesday afternoon news conference, Patterson fired back: "We've let them come over and talked about how we do things academically and how we do things with the stadium and everything to try to make their program better, and their way of thanking us for that is to cut us down. I don't think they should ever look for any more help from anybody from over here ever again." ... UNLV's secondary better stay healthy, because its depth is thin. Three reserves -- Quinton Pointer, Ken Spigner and Eric Tuiloma-Va'a -- are doubtful for Saturday's game at UNR. ... Air Force linebacker Brady Amack was named the Football Writers Association of America/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after making 23 tackles at Navy, including two for loss and a sack. The tackles total tied for the most nationally this season, and it was the highest for an Air Force player since 1988.
RANKING THE TEAMS
1. No. 5 Boise State (4-0) at Fresno State (2-3), Friday. Running back Doug Martin comes off his first 100-yard game of the season and the 11th of his career.
2. Texas Christian (3-2, 1-0 MWC) at San Diego State (3-1, 0-0). The Horned Frogs have given up 139 points after allowing 156 all of last season.
3. Air Force (3-1) at Notre Dame (3-2). The Falcons' offensive line has gone three games without giving up a sack.
4. San Diego State (3-1, 0-0) vs. TCU (3-2, 1-0). Running back Ronnie Hillman is second nationally in rushing, averaging 151.5 yards per game. Oregon's LaMichael James averages 153.3.
5. Wyoming (3-1) at Utah State (1-3). The Cowboys have recovered at least one fumble in six consecutive games.
6. Colorado State (3-2, 1-0), off. The Rams have recovered nine fumbles this year, tied for second nationally with Cincinnati and Michigan. Rutgers leads with 10.
7. UNLV (1-3) at UNR (1-3). This is their final meeting before the Wolf Pack join the Mountain West next year.
8. New Mexico (0-5, 0-1), off. Three players left the program after coach Mike Locksley was fired last week.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Air Force at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have won three in a row, and they might catch a tired Air Force team, which is back on the road after going across the country to play Navy.
TRENDING
Air Force, Boise State, San Diego State and Wyoming have combined to allow eight sacks, and each rank in the top 12 nationally. It's a major reason their combined record is 13-3.
ON THE HORIZON
The Mountain West might not have much of an argument for automatic Bowl Championship Series consideration after this season. Only Boise State is ranked, and the bottom half of the league is atrocious. New Mexico could go winless, and UNLV is coming off a 25-point home loss to a lower-division school.
