Dickson: Football talk heats up with MWC Media Days on the horizon

You can do both, you know.

The long, boring days of summer will continue without real football, but the football meetings give you at least a taste of what it would be like. All the arguments ... er, discussions ... you've been having with your buddies about BYU's BCS chances, another classic BYU-Utah matchup, who the fourth-string running back will be, all that will be covered.

I actually look forward to the MWC Media Days for that very reason: We get to talk football like it's actually here and not six weeks away.

The players report in two weeks.

Can you dig it?

It was interesting to look at the ballot for the All-Time MWC team. The league is celebrating its 10th anniversary, so expect a lot of these "Oh, how we've grown" stories this year. Some observations: Alex Smith of Utah seemed a pretty logical selection for the quarterback. I had a tough choice between two BYU guys at running back in Luke Staley and Curtis Brown. Staley had an unbelievable 2001 but I went with Brown and his consistency. For a supposed weak defensive league, the MWC has produced some pretty good NFL players like San Diego State's Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (1999), BYU's Rob Morris (1999) and Aaron Francisco (2004) and New Mexico's Brian Urlacher (1999). Morris just edged out fellow Cougar Cameron Jensen (2006) at linebacker on my ballot. Jensen was good, but Morris was a real force of nature.

Back to the present. Here's a summary of my votes this year for the All-MWC preseason teams and the predicted order of finish.

First, superlatives: Three of the four I've picked Cougars. Homerism? How can you not pick with the team that has gone undefeated in league play two years running and returns most of its top players? The Offensive Player of the Year is a no-brainer, in my opinion. Who else but Max Hall? There may be a few others who vote for New Mexico running back Rodney Ferguson or Utah quarterback Brian Johnson. But based on last year's statistics and standings, Hall would be the clear favorite.

The Defensive Player of the Year was a little closer, because I think TCU linebacker Jason Phillips is going to have a great year and New Mexico cornerback DeAndre Wright is a good one. But how can you pick against Jan Jorgensen, who led the MWC in sacks last season?

Freshman of the Year is tough because the MWC recruits are mostly middle-tier, not top 50 guys. It could be anyone. So I went with BYU kicker Justin Sorensen. A kicker likely won't win the award (they should make it "Freshman/Newcomer of the Year" anyway) but if Sorensen is the real deal, he could have as big an impact on his team as any other freshman.

Utah's Louie Sakoda is my top choice for Special Teams Player of the Year. He's a real weapon for the Utes, whether kicking or punting.

There are six Cougars on my All-MWC offense, and each one is tough to argue against. I think Hall, Harvey Unga, Austin Collie, Dennis Pitta and Ray Feinga are mortal locks and Dallas Reynolds is normally on these lists. There could be a little bit of a shake-up on the offensive line where only one BYU player would make the list. But if the Cougars don't get at least five players on the offensive squad, I'll be shocked. I think guard Travis Bright -- if he's healthy -- is good enough to gain a mention but probably won't. Utah's Darrell Mack deserves to be on the first team but you can't supplant either Unga or Ferguson.

Defensively, Jorgensen and David Nixon should make the top 11, but probably not anyone else from BYU. Defensive end Ian Dulan won't make the list but all he's done is start every game he's been healthy since he walked on campus. Of the linebackers, converted tight end Vic So'oto has a ton of potential but still needs more reps. He's probably a year away from making any all-conference teams. I really like junior linebacker Matt Bauman but he'll go largely unrecognized this preseason.

As for the predicted order of finish (see info box) I don't think you can pick any teams other than BYU, TCU and Utah at the top. I think those three teams are light years ahead of the others in talent in 2008. The games involving those teams are going to be classics. TCU gets BYU in Fort Worth but plays both the Cougars and Utes (in Salt Lake) in short weeks.

Of the next tier, I like New Mexico, UNLV (just doing my part to help save Mike Sanford's job) and Air Force, followed by San Diego State, Wyoming and Colorado State. New Mexico always seems to do just enough to get to a bowl game (its own); UNLV's offense should be better this year. I can't see Air Force repeating its great 2007 campaign; they just lost too much experience and talent.

Of course, the real questions won't be answered until December.

But it's still fun to ask them anytime.

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Read his blog at http://blogs.heraldextra.com/Darnell

2008 Preseason Football Media Poll (Darnell Dickson's ballot)

1. BYU

Has higher goals than Las Vegas Bowl in 2008

2. TCU

If offense catches up with defense, watch out

3. Utah

Utes return a ton of starters

4. New Mexico

Lobos always tough at home

5. UNLV

Sanford needs wins

6. Air Force

Most of Falcons' top performers have graduated

7. Wyoming

Needs to find a steady quarterback

8. San Diego State

QB O'Connell irreplaceable

9. Colorado State

Lots of work for Fairchild

2008 MWC Preseason All-Conference Football Team (Darnell Dickson's ballot)

Offense

WR Austin Collie, BYU

Should be even better with a year under his belt

WR Ryan Wolfe, UNLV

Leads outstanding group of Rebel receivers

OL Ray Feinga, BYU

Best BYU pro prospect among seniors

OL Blake Schlueter, TCU

Running game will be key for Frogs

OL Erik Cook, New Mexico

Blocking for Ferguson makes it easier

OL Robert Conley, Utah

Utes O-line should be excellent

OL Dallas Reynolds, BYU

Will be a four-year starter

TE Dennis Pitta, BYU

Former walk-on knows how to get open

QB Max Hall, BYU

Tough and makes big plays

RB Harvey Unga, BYU

Could break Curtis Brown's records before he's done

RB Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico

Lobos will give him the ball early and often

Defense

DL Jan Jorgensen, BYU

Led MWC in sacks as a sophomore

DL John Fletcher, Wyoming

Best part of Cowboys is D-Line

DL Paul Kruger, Utah

Pleasant surprise as a freshman

DL Ryan Kemp, Air Force

Will have to have big year for Falcons

LB Jason Phillips, TCU

Makes a ton of plays for Frogs

LB Russell Allen, San Diego State

Hopefully, he'll get some help this year

LB David Nixon, BYU

Team leader has great speed

DB Stephen Hodge, TCU

Woe to the WR who crosses the middle

DB DeAndre Wright, New Mexico

Cover guy can blanket a receiver

DB Glover Quin, New Mexico

Teams with Wright for a formidable tandem

DB Robert Johnson, Utah

Makes big plays for Utes

Special Teams

P Louie Sakoda, Utah

Best kicker in MWC history

K Ryan Harrison, Air Force

Had huge game in win vs. TCU last year

Ret Austin Collie, BYU

Can BYU afford to use him as return guy?

Offensive Player of the Year: Max Hall, QB, BYU

Defensive Player of the Year: Jan Jorgensen, DE, BYU

Freshman of the Year: Justin Sorensen, K, BYU

Special Teams Player of the Year: Louie Sakoda, K/P, Utah

10th Anniversary All-Time All-MWC Football Team (Darnell Dickson's ballot)

Offense

QB Alex Smith, Utah (2004)

Just edges out CSU's Bradlee Van Pelt

RB Dontrell Moore, New Mexico (2005)

Very efficient for four years in Albuquerque

RB Curtis Brown, BYU (2006)

Holds most Cougar rushing records

WR Jovon Bouknight, Wyoming (2005)

Could hurt you receiving or on returns

WR David Anderson, Colorado State (2003)

Lit up the Cougars nearly every time

TE Jonny Harline, BYU (2006)

Had two terrific years as Cougars' top threat

OL Jordan Gross, Utah (2002)

Having a nice NFL career

OL Jake Kuresa, BYU (2006)

Four-year starter always came to play

OL Ryan Cook, New Mexico (2005)

He's why the UNM running game worked

OL Robert Turner, New Mexico (2006)

Same with this guy

OL Jason Scukanec, BYU (2001)

BYU was awesome on the O-Line in '01

Defense

DL Ryan Denney, BYU (2001)

Best of the Denney brothers

DL Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, San Diego State (1999)

One of NFL's top pass rushers

DL Jason Kaufusi, Utah (2002)

Home grown (East High) product was a stud

DL Chase Ortiz, TCU (2007)

Handful for three years as a starter

LB Beau Bell, UNLV (2007)

Prolific tackler and hitter

LB Kirk Morrison, San Diego State (2004)

Was everywhere on the field for Aztecs

LB Rob Morris, BYU (1999)

Not only a great player but a personality

DB Aaron Francisco, BYU (2004)

Hardest hitting Cougar ever?

DB Brian Urlacher, New Mexico (1999)

One of NFL's best defenders

DB Eric Weddle, Utah (2006)

Made an impact all over the field

DB Jamaal Brimmer, UNLV (2004)

Great cover man and playmaker

Special Teams

K Owen Pochman, BYU (2000)

Still Cougars' all-time leading scorer

P Louie Sakoda, Utah (2008)

Can really impact the game

KR Cory Rodgers, TCU (2005)

Dangerous from anywhere on the field