Sylvester coming off huge effort

From Bourbon Street to the Strip, this has been a year to celebrate for Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester.

His Sugar Bowl performance -- three sacks and a fumble recovery -- helped the Utes to a 31-17 upset of Alabama.

On Saturday, the Valley High School graduate turned 21, and he enjoyed a family barbecue at his Las Vegas home before going out with friends.

But now it's time to get serious, and the Mountain West Conference media days at Green Valley Ranch were the unofficial start of football season.

"I've had too much time off," Sylvester said Wednesday. "I lost my edge a little bit, so I've got to get back."

He's in the limelight after that bowl performance, and his team is nationally known.

"I just had a lot of fun in the Sugar Bowl," Sylvester said.

• GOING AFTER THE QB -- UNLV's Jason Beauchamp had only his job of linebacker to concentrate on last season, and he excelled in leading the conference with 127 tackles.

Now more is expected of Beauchamp, who began working at rush end in the spring. He still is primarily a linebacker but will move up to the line in obvious passing situations against certain teams.

"That's where college football and NFL football is moving toward, hybrid players and guys that can get to the quarterback," Beauchamp said. "You can have 100,000 tackles. But how many guys can tackle and can pass rush?"

• A PERFECT 10? -- In the past, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson quickly shut down expansion speculation, but he seemed more open to it this year.

He said the topic often comes up in informal discussions with league presidents and athletic directors.

If the Mountain West expands, it probably will be to add just one team to get to 10.

Thompson said expansion must move the conference toward Bowl Championship Series qualification. But no potential addition -- not even Boise State -- should get excited.

"We've looked at the numbers, and no one there puts us over the top," Thompson said.

• BRING ON THE CHAMP -- MAACO Las Vegas Bowl officials are pleased that they have the freedom to choose whichever Mountain West team best suits their needs each season, but they are considering taking the conference champion beginning next year.

The bowl also hopes to secure the No. 4 pick outright from the Pac-10 Conference, rather than share the fourth and fifth selections with the Emerald Bowl.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.