Mountain West Conference News and Notes

Air Force:
Cody Getz is not the fastest or the strongest. But at this point in time, he's the best.
“He’s 5-feet-6. He weighs 161 pounds. And he runs a 4.65 [40-yard dash],” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said Monday. “I don’t know if you absolutely anticipated this.”
This season, Getz has been the premier running back on the Mountain West’s most successful running team. The Air Force senior averages 177.4 rushing yards per game — more than any other running back in the nation. Thanks to his help, Air Force runs for a conference-best 389.6 rushing yards per game.
http://trib.com/sports/college/wyoming/air-force-running-back-getz-gets-it-done/article_78636220-e19a-546a-950a-e9c78cf40e68.html

Boise State:
The NCAA is standing by a decision that Boise State must lower the number of football scholarships it can award this season and next.
The decision announced Wednesday comes after Boise State officials appealed the scholarship penalty included in a series of sanctions handed down last year by the NCAA. As part of the penalty package, the NCAA ordered the school to cut football scholarships from 85 to 82 this season and in 2013. The school self-imposed the scholarship cut last year as well.
On appeal, school officials argued the penalty levied against Boise State was inconsistent when compared to past cases.
The NCAA cited major violations by the football program and other sports and in response placed the school on probation for three years and imposed other sanctions.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/football/la-sp-college-football-notes-20121011,0,4119567.story

Colorado State:
FORT COLLINS -- Consider where the Colorado State defensive line is now. It started the season short on size, but coach Jim McElwain felt a healthy rotation of bodies could help compensate.
Now those numbers are down. Starting end John Froland has been out since the first game of the season with a nerve issue, and there's no telling when the sophomore will be back. Zach Tiedgen, who defensive line coach Greg Lupfer called the group's "steady Eddie" for his ability to play all across the front, was hurt against Air Force and is likely out at least two more weeks. Shaq Walker was held up because of transcripts and Calvin Tonga had his arrival slowed, and so too, his development as he is now starting to round into shape.
Now consider where the defensive front would be had Lanston Tanyi decided he didn't want to use his one remaining year of eligibility after graduating from Appalachian State last year.
http://www.reporterherald.com/sports/csu/ci_21736344/lanston-tanyi-late-gift-colorado-state-football-team

Fresno State:
It is fourth-and-4 at the 20-yard line, against San Diego State this past Saturday.
It's the first drive of the game for the Fresno State Bulldogs, who hit a 41-yard pass play on their first offensive play of the game and had a 9-yard run on its third to get into the red zone before the drive stalled.
Right there, many coaches would kick a field goal. From that spot on the field, converting fourth-and-4 is only about a 50-50 proposition, according to one study. The field goal is well within range, 37 yards. It's not a tough kick. It would get a lead. Go get it done.
But Tim DeRuyter kept his offense on the field, a pass falling incomplete, the football turned over on downs, and despite that he said will continue to make that call.
By going for a first down there's no message to be sent to his team -- or to the opposition.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/03/3016819/fresno-state-will-keep-firing.html#storylink=cpy

Hawaii:
(Hawaii Athletics) Under Armour, the leading athletic performance apparel and footwear brand, today unveiled its annual specially designed football uniforms in support of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), a non-profit organization that provides programs and services for injured service members and their families. This year, Boston College and the University of Hawaii will feature the head-to-toe custom uniforms on October 27 and November 24, respectively, as part of Under Armour's UA Freedom initiative, developed to help raise awareness and support for our nation's military and public safety officials.
The patriotic, freedom-inspired uniforms will be worn by Boston College on October 27th, when they host the University of Maryland. The University of Hawaii uniforms, which will debut during their November 24th match-up with UNLV, will also feature coldblack® technology that blocks the heat of the sun to help athletes feel cooler and more comfortable. These designated games mark the fourth year Under Armour has created customized uniforms, including cleats, gloves, and helmets to benefit WWP. To further honor all veterans, each team will replace the last names on the back of their jerseys with a core value declaration – Duty, Honor, Courage, Commitment, Integrity, Country, or Service. Team personnel will also pay tribute to the veterans with specially designed sideline gear that features the WWP patch. Following the games the jerseys will be auctioned off on the schools' websites with 100% of proceeds benefitting WWP.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/19768250/hawaii-football-to-unveil-new-under-armour-wounded-warrior-project-uniforms

Nevada:
When Nate Burleson got the call that he was going into the Nevada Wolf Pack Hall of Fame, he was in his car.
He was so touched that he had to pull over.
“When I got the call — Jeff Rowe called me, the guy that threw me the football (at Nevada) — I wanted to shed a tear,” Burleson, the Detroit Lions wide receiver, said Saturday at the start of the Wyoming-Nevada football game at Mackay Stadium. “I had to pull over in the car and take it all in. It was an unbelievable moment, pretty surreal. …
“It’s incredible. To go your whole life playing football and to be honored at such a high level, it was completely unexpected. I appreciate it, and I’m going to cherish this.”
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310060051&adjusted=1

New Mexico:
In pointing out trouble spots for the New Mexico Lobos' journey to Honolulu to play the struggling Hawaii Warriors, maybe the main thing to point out is the clock.
"It's really late in the day on Saturday," said Lobo Coach Bob Davie referring to the 6 p.m. start time in Aloha Stadium that converts to a 10 p.m., start New Mexico time.
Davie might have to extend his Lobos' curfew for a game that will finish Sunday morning back in Albuquerque. The time travel and simply the travel can be a problem for visitors to Honolulu. The Lobos will arrive on Hawaii soil around 11 p.m. Mountain time on Thursday.
For sure, they'll get to bed late on Thursday and try to make a quick adjustment on Friday to the time shift. Meanwhile, the Warriors will be trying to make a whole lot of adjustments both on offense and defense.
The Warriors are struggling. They are rated No. 118 out of 120 FBS schools in offense. They are 116 in scoring (20.4 points) and 116th in third-down conversion.
Those numbers have to be sweet sights for a New Mexico defense rated No. 86 and giving up 425.7 yards per game. That's one slot above Hawaii's defense which yields 425.8 yards per game.
http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100812aac.html

San Diego State:
CALIFORNIA BANK AND TRUST STUDENT ATHLETES OF THE WEEK IS FOOTBALL STAR Ryan Katz.
• Ryan accounted for a total of five touchdowns as the Aztecs cruised to a 52-14 victory over Hawaii on 10/6/2012.
• Ryan had three rushing touchdowns (9, 27, 34 yards) and connected on two touchdown passes (31, 34 yards). He had 247 total yards and was named Mountain West Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
• So far this season Katz has thrown for almost 1200 yards and has 11 touchdowns. He looks to continue his solid production when Colorado State comes to play the Aztecs on 10/13/2012.
• Ryan is originally from Santa Monica, California and is a graduate student majoring in Educational Leadership.
http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101012aaa.html

UNLV:
• 1. Bill Ireland, UNLV’s first football coach and a UNR alum, hatched the idea to have the two schools play for a replica of John C. Fremont’s 19th century Howitzer cannon. Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation constructed the 545-pound trophy and donated it to the rivalry.
• 2. Fans of the scarlet and gray haven’t had much to celebrate in the series lately. UNR comes into the 2012 game with wins in seven straight meetings (a record), most of them in blowout fashion. Overall, UNR leads UNLV 22-15.
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/oct/10/five-fun-facts-about-unlv-unr-football-rivalry/

Wyoming:
Laramie, Wyo. (Oct. 8, 2012) -- Wyoming senior linebacker Ghaali Muhammad was recognized on Monday by College Football Performance Awards as having one of the best performances of the week among linebackers across the country.
Muhammad was one of 13 linebackers in the nation recoginzed for their performances this past week.  He earned Honorable Mention honors, while Kevin Minter of LSU and Kiko Alonso of Oregon were named the Co-Linebackers of the Week.  The Honorable Mention selections were: Muhammad (Wyoming), Chase Thomas (Stanford), Jake Knott (Iowa State), Josh Francis (West Virginia), Jack Tyler (Virginia Tech), Randall Joyner (SMU), R.J. Young (UL-Monroe), Trashaun Nixon (New Mexico State), Dallas Bollema (New Mexico), Ben Heeney (Kansas), Tyler Matakevich (Temple).
Against Nevada, Muhammad had a personal best 15 tackles (9 solos and 6 assists), including 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack.  He recovered a fumble that led to Wyoming's first scoring drive of the game and made a tackle on a fourth and goal at the four-yard line that ended a Nevada scoring drive late in the fourth quarter. 
http://www.kgwn.tv/story/19766590/uws-muhammad-recognized-by-college-football-performance-awards