Air Force football preview: The limitations each MW team faces

Air Force

Recruiting limitations

The pool Air Force has to recruit from is not large. The academy has high academic standards, will almost never get a blue-chip recruit with NFL dreams because of the military commitment after graduation.

Boise State

Learning a new conference

This won’t be easy for Boise State, no matter how talented the Broncos are. Every week will feel like a nonconference game because there is no familiarity with conference foes. The coaching staff will be tested.

Colorado State

Replacing a legend

Sonny Lubick had Colorado State winning conference championships and going to bowl games, but the program has struggled since he was forced out after the 2007 season. Perhaps this is the year Steve Fairchild gets the Rams back on top, but to this point he is 13-24 as Colorado State’s coach.

New Mexico

Lack of history

The Lobos’ last conference championship came in 1964. And the recent history has been even worse, with back-to-back one-win seasons. It’s tough to overcome that while trying to convince recruits to come play at New Mexico.  

San Diego State

Apathy

Perhaps this is changing. San Diego State had the sixth-highest jump in attendance in 2010. But, it’s worth noting, in 2009 the Aztecs played in front of 24,464 per game in an off-campus NFL stadium that holds a little more than 70,000. There’s a lot to do in San Diego besides watch Aztec football.

TCU

Staying on top

The Horned Frogs have been so dominant in the Mountain West, it’s easy to forget they haven’t always been great. Over the past 26 seasons, TCU was .500 or worse 12 times. Coach Gary Patterson has turned the Horned Frogs into a power, but nothing is guaranteed to last, especially if Patterson leaves.

UNLV

Losing culture

The Rebels have a few issues, such as being overshadowed by its basketball program and having a stadium that is nowhere near campus. Coaches, including current coach Bobby Hauck, have talked about how difficult it has been to change the losing culture of UNLV football. That atmosphere keeps the school from signing top players.

Wyoming

Location

Laramie is a rather remote town of about 30,000 people. There isn’t going to be a ton of in-state talent, compared to some of its MW competitors, and try selling a kid on playing at Wyoming if San Diego State is in the chase.