2011 Mountain West Conference football season

Summarize Timeline Top Qs Fact Check

The following Mountain West players were named to preseason award watch lists.

During the Mountain West media days on July 26–27 in Las Vegas, Boise State was picked as the overwhelming favorite to win the conference, garnering 28 of a possible 31 first place votes. Defending champion TCU received the other 3 first place votes and were picked second.

1. Boise State – 236 (28)
2. TCU – 208 (3)
3. Air Force – 176
4. San Diego State – 160
5. Colorado State – 104
6. Wyoming – 80
7. UNLV – 77
8. New Mexico – 39

The media also selected their preseason all–conference team. Boise State's Sr. QB Kellen Moore was selected as the offensive player of the year. TCU's Sr. LB Tank Carder was selected as the defensive player of the year. Air Force's Sr. KR Jonathan Warzeka was selected as the special teams player of the year.^[16]

New conference member Boise State was banned by the Mountain West Conference from wearing their traditional all blue uniforms during conference home games. Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson's reason for the rule was that coaches had stated that the Broncos received a "competitive advantage" when wearing all blue on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium. Boise State head coach Chris Petersen was quoted that he thought the ban was, "ridiculous".^[17]

NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season

Team	Head coach	Years at school	Overall record	Record at school	MW record
Air Force	Troy Calhoun	5	34–18	34–18	21–11
Boise State	Chris Petersen	6	61–5	61–5	0–0*
Colorado State	Steve Fairchild	4	13–24	13–24	6–18
New Mexico	Mike Locksley (fired on 9/25/11) George Barlow (interim)	3 1	2–22 0–0	2–22 0–0	2–14 0–0
San Diego State	Rocky Long	1	65–69	0–0	40–34^
TCU	Gary Patterson	11	98–28	98–28	41–7
UNLV	Bobby Hauck	2	82–28	2–11	2–6
Wyoming	Dave Christensen	3	10–15	10–15	5–11

*first year as conference member, ^achieved as head coach of New Mexico from 99–08

The following Mountain West teams have been either ranked or received votes in the major polls during the 2011 season:

Ranking movement
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week.

		Pre	Wk 1	Wk 2	Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5	Wk 6	Wk 7	Wk 8	Wk 9	Wk 10	Wk 11	Wk 12	Wk 13	Wk 14	Final
Air Force	AP	RV	RV
	C	RV	RV			RV	RV
	Harris	Not released
	BCS	Not released
Boise State	AP	5	4	4	4	4	5	5	5	5	5	5	10
	C	7	5	4	4	5	6	6	7	5	5	5	11
	Harris	Not released						5	5	5	5	5	11
	BCS	Not released							5	4	5	5	10
San Diego State	AP				RV
	C			RV	RV
	Harris	Not released
	BCS	Not released
TCU	AP	14	25	23	20	20				RV	RV	RV	19
	C	15	25	23	20	20		RV	RV	RV	RV	24	19
	Harris	Not released						RV	RV	RV	RV	25	21
	BCS	Not released											19

Date	Visitor	Home	Notes
September 1	UNLV 17	#10 Wisconsin 51
September 2	#15 TCU 48	Baylor 50	TCU loss snapped a 25-game regular season winning streak
September 3^	#7 Boise State 35	#22 Georgia 21	Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Boise State's first ever win against an SEC team
September 10	New Mexico 3	#13 Arkansas 52	Played at Arkansas' secondary home in Little Rock
September 10	UNLV 7	Washington State 59
September 17^	Colorado State 14	Colorado 28	Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver
September 17	Texas Tech 59	New Mexico 13	Second straight year the Lobos have hosted Texas Tech
September 17	Washington State 24	San Diego State 42
September 24	San Diego State 7	#21 Michigan 28	Michigan head coach Brady Hoke coached San Diego State the last two seasons
September 24	#9 Nebraska 38	Wyoming 14
October 8	Air Force 33	Notre Dame 59
^Denotes neutral site game

Summarize Timeline Top Qs Fact Check

Index to colors and formatting
Mountain West member won
Mountain West member lost
Mountain West teams in bold

All dates, times, and TV are tentative and subject to change.

The Mountain West has teams in 3 different time zones. Times reflect start time in respective time zone of each team (Central–TCU, Mountain–Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Wyoming, Pacific–San Diego State, UNLV). Conference games start times are that of the home team.

Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	5:00 p.m.	UNLV	#10 Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wisconsin	ESPN	L 17–51	77,085
September 2	7:00 p.m.	#15 TCU	Baylor	Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, Texas	ESPN	L 48–50	43,753
September 3	12:00 p.m.	South Dakota	Air Force	Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado	The Mtn.	W 37–20	39,105
September 3	4:00 p.m.	Colorado State	New Mexico	University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico	The Mtn.	CSU 14–10	21,454
September 3 ^	6:00 p.m.	#7 Boise State	#22 Georgia	Georgia Dome • Atlanta (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game)	ESPN	W 35–21	73,614
September 3	7:00 p.m.	Cal Poly	San Diego State	Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego	The Mtn.	W 49–21	34,384
September 3	7:00 p.m.	Weber State	Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming		W 35–32	21,492

^ Neutral site

Players of the week:^[18]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team
Kellen Moore	Boise State	Nordly Capi	Colorado State	Greg McCoy	TCU

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 10	9:00 a.m.	San Diego State	Army	Michie Stadium • West Point, New York	CBS Sports Network	W 23–20	26,778
September 10	12:00 p.m.	Northern Colorado	Colorado State	Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado	The Mtn.	W 33–14	25,367
September 10	1:30 p.m.	#25 TCU	Air Force	Flacon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado	Versus	TCU 35–19	42,107
September 10	2:00 p.m.	UNLV	Washington State	Martin Stadium • Pullman, Washington		L 7–59	27,018
September 10	4:00 p.m.	Texas State	Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming	The Mtn.	W 45–10	23,248
September 10	5:00 p.m.	New Mexico	#13 Arkansas	War Memorial Stadium • Little Rock, Arkansas	ESPNU	L 3–52	52,606

Players of the week:^[19]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team
Casey Pachall	TCU	Jerome Long	San Diego State	Brian Stahovich	San Diego State

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 16	6:00 p.m.	#4 Boise State	Toledo	Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio	ESPN	W 40–15	28,905
September 17	10:00 a.m.	Wyoming	Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, Ohio		W 28–27	14,813
September 17 ^	11:30 a.m.	Colorado State	Colorado	Sports Authority Field at Mile High • Fort Collins, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Showdown)	FSN	L 14–28	57,186
September 17	1:00 p.m.	Louisiana-Monroe	#23 TCU	Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas	The Mtn.	W 38–17	32,719
September 17	1:30 p.m.	Texas Tech	New Mexico	University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico	Versus	L 13–59	20,674
September 17	3:00 p.m.	Washington State	San Diego State	Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego	The Mtn.	W 42–24	57,286
September 17	7:00 p.m.	Hawaiʻi	UNLV	Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, Nevada	The Mtn.	W 40–20	21,248

^ Neutral site Players of the week:^[20]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Co-Players	Teams	Co-Players	Teams	Player	Team
Kellen Moore (2)/Ronnie Hillman	Boise State/San Diego State	Larry Parker/Josh Biezuns	San Diego State/Wyoming	Greg McCoy (2)	TCU

Kellen Moore was also named the Davy O'Brien Quarterback of the Week. Greg McCoy was also named the National Kickoff Returner of the Week by College Football Performance Awards.

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 24	9:00 a.m.	San Diego State	#21 Michigan	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan	BTN	L 7–28	110,707
September 24	1:00 p.m.	Tennessee State	Air Force	Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado	The Mtn.	W 63–24	33,487
September 24	4:00 p.m.	#20 (FCS) Sam Houston State	New Mexico	University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico		L 45–48 OT	16,313
September 24	5:30 p.m.	#9 Nebraska	Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming	Versus	L 14–38	32,617
September 24	6:00 p.m.	Tulsa	#4 Boise State	Bronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho	CBS Sports Network	W 41–21	34,019
September 24	6:00 p.m.	Colorado State	Utah State	Romney Stadium • Logan, Utah	ESPN3	W 35–34 2OT	22,599
September 24	6:00 p.m.	Portland State	#20 TCU	Amon G. Cater Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas		W 55–13	33,825
September 24	6:00 p.m.	#23 (FCS) Southern Utah	UNLV	Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, Nevada	The Mtn.	L 16–41	18,102

Players of the week:^[21]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Co-Players	Teams	Player	Team	Player	Team
Chris Nwoke/Deon Long	Colorado State/New Mexico	Shaquil Barrett	Colorado State	Tanner Hedstrom	Colorado State

Coaching change

On September 25, 2011 following a 0–4 start which included a loss to Sam Houston State of the FCS, New Mexico relieved Mike Locksley of his duties as head coach. Associate head coach and defensive coordinator George Barlow assumed the job on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
October 1	10:00 a.m.	Air Force	Navy	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland	CBS	W 35–34 OT	37,506
October 1	12:30 p.m.	Nevada	#5 Boise State	Bronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho (Rivalry)	Versus	W 30–10	34,098
October 1	2:00 p.m.	San Jose State	Colorado State	Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado	The Mtn.	L 31–38	27,683
October 1	2:30 p.m.	SMU	#20 TCU	Amon G. Cater Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas (Battle for the Iron Skillet)	CBS Sports Network	L 33–40 OT	35,632
October 1	6:00 p.m.	New Mexico State	New Mexico	University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico (Rio Grande Rivalry)	The Mtn.	L 28–42	30,091

Players of the week:^[22]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team
Tim Jefferson	Air Force	Brady Amack	Air Force	Alex Means	Air Force

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
October 7	7:00 p.m.	#6 Boise State	Fresno State	Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, California (Battle for the Milk Can)	ESPN	W 57–7	33,871
October 8	1:30 p.m.	Air Force	Notre Dame	Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana	NBC	L 33–59	80,795
October 8	4:00 p.m.	UNLV	Nevada	Mackay Stadium • Reno, Nevada (37th Battle for Nevada)	ESPN3	L 0–37	25,978
October 8	6:00 p.m.	Wyoming	Utah State	Romney Stadium • Logan, Utah	ESPN3	L 19–63	17,561
October 8	7:30 p.m.	TCU	San Diego State	Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, California	CBS Sports Network	TCU 27–14	44,248

Players of the week:^[23]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team
Kellen Moore (3)	Boise State	Tekkerein Cuba	TCU	Ross Evans	TCU

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
October 13	6:00 p.m.	San Diego State	Air Force	Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado	CBS Sports Network	SDSU 41–27	27,490
October 15	12:00 p.m.	New Mexico	Nevada	Mackay Stadium • Reno, Nevada		L 7–49	15,369
October 15	12:00 p.m.	UNLV	Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming	The Mtn.	WYO 41–14	22,985
October 15	4:00 p.m.	#6 Boise State	Colorado State	Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado	The Mtn.	BSU 63–13	30,027

Players of the week:^[24]

Co–Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Players	Teams	Player	Team	Player	Team
Doug Martin/Ronnie Hillman (2)	Boise State/San Diego State	Tyrone Crawford	Boise State	Chris McNeill	Wyoming

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
October 22	1:00 p.m.	New Mexico	TCU	Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas	The Mtn.	TCU 69–0	33,833
October 22	1:30 p.m.	Air Force	#5 Boise State	Bronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho	Versus	BSU 37–26	34,196
October 22	6:00 p.m.	Colorado State	UTEP	Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, Texas	TWC El Paso	L 17–31	31,797

Players of the week:^[25]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team
Kellen Moore (4)	Boise State	Byron Hout	Boise State	Antonio Graves	TCU

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
October 28 ^	7:00 p.m.	TCU	BYU	Cowboys Stadium • Arlington, Texas	ESPN	W 38–28	50,094
October 29	12:00 p.m.	Air Force	New Mexico	University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico	The Mtn.	AFA 42–0	16,691
October 29	3:00 p.m.	Colorado State	UNLV	Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, Nevada	The Mtn.	UNLV 38–35	21,289
October 29	7:00 p.m.	Wyoming	San Diego State	Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, California	The Mtn.	WYO 30–27	29,730

^ Neutral site

Players of the week:^[26]

Co-Offensive		Co-Defensive		Special teams
Players	Teams	Players	Teams	Player	Team
Brett Smith/Ronnie Hillman (3)	Wyoming/San Diego State	James Dunlap/Jonathan Anderson	Colorado State/TCU	Deante' Purvis	UNLV

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
November 5	12:00 p.m.	TCU	Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming	The Mtn.	TCU 30–21	17,673
November 5	1:30 p.m.	Army	Air Force	Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado	CBS	W 24–14	46,709
November 5	5:00 p.m.	New Mexico	San Diego State	Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego	The Mtn.	SDSU 35–7	28,362
November 5	7:30 p.m.	#5 Boise State	UNLV	Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, Nevada	CBS Sports Network	BSU 48–21	26,281

Players of the week:^[27]

Offensive		Defensive		Special teams
Player	Team	Player	Team	Player	Team
Waymon James	TCU	Jon Davis	Air Force	Parker Herrington	Air Force

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
November 12	12:00 p.m.	Wyoming	Air Force	Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado	The Mtn.	WYO 25–17	33,823
November 12	1:30 p.m.	TCU	#5 Boise State	Bronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho	Versus	TCU 36–35	34,146
November 12	4:00 p.m.	San Diego State	Colorado State	Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado	The Mtn.	SDSU 18–15	16,811
November 12	8:00 p.m.	UNLV	New Mexico	University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico	CBS Sports Network	UNM 21–14	14,937

Players of the week:^[28]

Offensive		Co–Defensive		Special teams
Player	Team	Players	Teams	Player	Team
Casey Pachall (2)	TCU	Carmen Messina/Nat Berhe	New Mexico/San Diego State	Anson Kelton	TCU

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
November 19	12:00 p.m.	New Mexico	Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming	The Mtn.
November 19	2:30 p.m.	Colorado State	#19 TCU	Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas	CBS Sports Network
November 19	4:00 p.m.	UNLV	Air Force	Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado	The Mtn.
November 19	5:00 p.m.	#10 Boise State	San Diego State	Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, California	CBS Sports Network

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
November 26	12:00 p.m.	Wyoming	Boise State	Bronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho	The Mtn.
November 26	4:00 p.m.	Air Force	Colorado State	Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado (Ram–Falcon Trophy)	The Mtn.
November 26	7:00 p.m.	San Diego State	UNLV	Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, Nevada	The Mtn.

Date	Time	Visiting team	Home team	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
December 3	12:00 p.m.	Wyoming	Colorado State	Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado (Border War)	The Mtn.
December 3	1:30 p.m.	UNLV	TCU	Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas	Versus
December 3	4:00 p.m.	New Mexico	Boise State	Bronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho	The Mtn.
December 3	5:00 p.m.	Fresno State	San Diego State	Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego	CBS Sports Network