2011 Mountain West Conference football season

The 2011 Mountain West Conference football season was the 13th season of college football for the Mountain West Conference (MW). Eight teams participated in that season: Air Force, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV, Wyoming and new member Boise State.

2011 Mountain West Conference football season
LeagueDivision I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision)
SportFootball
DurationSeptember 1, 2011–January 2012
Number of teams8
TV partner(s)The Mtn., CBS Sports Network, Versus
Regular Season
2011 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 14 TCU $  7 0     11 2  
No. 8 Boise State  6 1     12 1  
Wyoming  5 2     8 5  
San Diego State  4 3     8 5  
Air Force  3 4     7 6  
Colorado State  1 6     3 9  
UNLV  1 6     2 10  
New Mexico  1 6     1 11  
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

This was the first year the MW was without founding members Utah and BYU, which respectively left for the Pac-12 Conference and FBS independent status, with BYU's other sports joining the West Coast Conference. In response to their departure, the conference added Boise State for this season, and would eventually add Fresno State, Hawaiʻi (football only; other sports joined the Big West Conference), and Nevada for the 2012 season.

This was also the last year for TCU as an MW member. The Horned Frogs were originally set to become a member of the Big East Conference in the 2012 season. However, on October 10, they accepted a bid to join the Big 12 Conference.[1]

Previous season

TCU repeated as conference champions going undefeated (12–0) during the regular season for the second consecutive year. They finished the year as the highest ranked non-automatic qualifying school in the BCS rankings to receive an automatic bid to a BCS game. Since Oregon was ranked in the top two and selected to play in the BCS National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl was contractually obligated to take the highest ranked non-AQ to fill the Pac-10's spot. The Horned Frogs defeated Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl 21–19 to finish the season 13–0 and finished ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches Polls.

Air Force, BYU, San Diego State, and Utah also went to bowl games. Everyone but Utah won their bowl game to give the conference a 4–1 bowl record to win the Bowl Challenge Cup for the second consecutive year.

At one point during the season, both TCU and Utah were both ranked in the top 5 of the BCS rankings.

Preseason

Award watch lists

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

Media poll

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

All–Conference Team

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]

Boise State all blue uniform ban

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]

Coaches

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

Rankings

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.
 PreWk
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

Mountain West vs. BCS matchups

DateVisitorHomeNotes
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

Regular season

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.

Week one

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 15:00 PMUNLV#10 WisconsinCamp Randall StadiumMadison, WisconsinESPNL 17–5177,085
September 27:00 PM#15 TCUBaylorFloyd Casey StadiumWaco, TexasESPNL 48–5043,753
September 312:00 PMSouth DakotaAir ForceFalcon StadiumColorado Springs, ColoradoThe Mtn.W 37–2039,105
September 34:00 PMColorado StateNew MexicoUniversity StadiumAlbuquerque, New MexicoThe Mtn.CSU 14–1021,454
September 3 ^6:00 PM#7 Boise State#22 GeorgiaGeorgia DomeAtlanta
(Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game)
ESPNW 35–2173,614
September 37:00 PMCal PolySan Diego StateQualcomm StadiumSan DiegoThe Mtn.W 49–2134,384
September 37:00 PMWeber StateWyomingWar Memorial StadiumLaramie, WyomingW 35–3221,492

^ 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

Week two

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 109:00 AMSan Diego StateArmyMichie StadiumWest Point, New YorkCBS Sports NetworkW 23–2026,778
September 1012:00 PMNorthern ColoradoColorado StateHughes StadiumFort Collins, ColoradoThe Mtn.W 33–1425,367
September 101:30 PM#25 TCUAir ForceFlacon Stadium • Colorado Springs, ColoradoVersusTCU 35–1942,107
September 102:00 PMUNLVWashington StateMartin StadiumPullman, WashingtonL 7–5927,018
September 104:00 PMTexas StateWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WyomingThe Mtn.W 45–1023,248
September 105:00 PMNew Mexico#13 ArkansasWar Memorial StadiumLittle Rock, ArkansasESPNUL 3–5252,606

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

Week three

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 166:00 PM#4 Boise StateToledoGlass BowlToledo, OhioESPNW 40–1528,905
September 1710:00 AMWyomingBowling GreenDoyt Perry StadiumBowling Green, OhioW 28–2714,813
September 17 ^11:30 AMColorado StateColoradoSports Authority Field at Mile HighFort Collins, Colorado
(Rocky Mountain Showdown)
FSNL 14–2857,186
September 171:00 PMLouisiana-Monroe#23 TCUAmon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TexasThe Mtn.W 38–1732,719
September 171:30 PMTexas TechNew MexicoUniversity Stadium • Albuquerque, New MexicoVersusL 13–5920,674
September 173:00 PMWashington StateSan Diego StateQualcomm Stadium • San DiegoThe Mtn.W 42–2457,286
September 177:00 PMHawaiʻiUNLVSam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NevadaThe Mtn.W 40–2021,248

^ 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.

Week four

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 249:00 AMSan Diego State#21 MichiganMichigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MichiganBTNL 7–28110,707
September 241:00 PMTennessee StateAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, ColoradoThe Mtn.W 63–2433,487
September 244:00 PM#20 (FCS) Sam Houston StateNew MexicoUniversity Stadium • Albuquerque, New MexicoL 45–48 OT16,313
September 245:30 PM#9 NebraskaWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WyomingVersusL 14–3832,617
September 246:00 PMTulsa#4 Boise StateBronco StadiumBoise, IdahoCBS Sports NetworkW 41–2134,019
September 246:00 PMColorado StateUtah StateRomney StadiumLogan, UtahESPN3W 35–34 2OT22,599
September 246:00 PMPortland State#20 TCUAmon G. Cater Stadium • Fort Worth, TexasW 55–1333,825
September 246:00 PM#23 (FCS) Southern UtahUNLVSam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NevadaThe Mtn.L 16–4118,102

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.

Week five

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 110:00 AMAir ForceNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MarylandCBSW 35–34 OT37,506
October 112:30 PMNevada#5 Boise StateBronco Stadium • Boise, Idaho
(Rivalry)
VersusW 30–1034,098
October 12:00 PMSan Jose StateColorado StateHughes Stadium • Fort Collins, ColoradoThe Mtn.L 31–3827,683
October 12:30 PMSMU#20 TCUAmon G. Cater Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas
(Battle for the Iron Skillet)
CBS Sports NetworkL 33–40 OT35,632
October 16:00 PMNew Mexico StateNew MexicoUniversity Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico
(Rio Grande Rivalry)
The Mtn.L 28–4230,091

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

Week six

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 77:00 PM#6 Boise StateFresno StateBulldog StadiumFresno, California
(Battle for the Milk Can)
ESPNW 57–733,871
October 81:30 PMAir ForceNotre DameNotre Dame StadiumSouth Bend, IndianaNBCL 33–5980,795
October 84:00 PMUNLVNevadaMackay StadiumReno, Nevada
(37th Battle for Nevada)
ESPN3L 0–3725,978
October 86:00 PMWyomingUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UtahESPN3L 19–6317,561
October 87:30 PMTCUSan Diego StateQualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CaliforniaCBS Sports NetworkTCU 27–1444,248

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

Week seven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 136:00 PMSan Diego StateAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, ColoradoCBS Sports NetworkSDSU 41–2727,490
October 1512:00 PMNew MexicoNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NevadaL 7–4915,369
October 1512:00 PMUNLVWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WyomingThe Mtn.WYO 41–1422,985
October 154:00 PM#6 Boise StateColorado StateHughes Stadium • Fort Collins, ColoradoThe Mtn.BSU 63–1330,027

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

Week eight

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 221:00 PMNew MexicoTCUAmon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TexasThe Mtn.TCU 69–033,833
October 221:30 PMAir Force#5 Boise StateBronco Stadium • Boise, IdahoVersusBSU 37–2634,196
October 226:00 PMColorado StateUTEPSun Bowl StadiumEl Paso, TexasTWC El PasoL 17–3131,797

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

Week nine

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 28 ^7:00 PMTCUBYUCowboys StadiumArlington, TexasESPNW 38–2850,094
October 2912:00 PMAir ForceNew MexicoUniversity Stadium • Albuquerque, New MexicoThe Mtn.AFA 42–016,691
October 293:00 PMColorado StateUNLVSam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NevadaThe Mtn.UNLV 38–3521,289
October 297:00 PMWyomingSan Diego StateQualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CaliforniaThe Mtn.WYO 30–2729,730

^ 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

Week ten

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 512:00 PMTCUWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WyomingThe Mtn.TCU 30–2117,673
November 51:30 PMArmyAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, ColoradoCBSW 24–1446,709
November 55:00 PMNew MexicoSan Diego StateQualcomm Stadium • San DiegoThe Mtn.SDSU 35–728,362
November 57:30 PM#5 Boise StateUNLVSam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NevadaCBS Sports NetworkBSU 48–2126,281

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

Week eleven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 1212:00 PMWyomingAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, ColoradoThe Mtn.WYO 25–1733,823
November 121:30 PMTCU#5 Boise StateBronco Stadium • Boise, IdahoVersusTCU 36–3534,146
November 124:00 PMSan Diego StateColorado StateHughes Stadium • Fort Collins, ColoradoThe Mtn.SDSU 18–1516,811
November 128:00 PMUNLVNew MexicoUniversity Stadium • Albuquerque, New MexicoCBS Sports NetworkUNM 21–1414,937

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

Week twelve

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 1912:00 PMNew MexicoWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WyomingThe Mtn.
November 192:30 PMColorado State#19 TCUAmon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TexasCBS Sports Network
November 194:00 PMUNLVAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, ColoradoThe Mtn.
November 195:00 PM#10 Boise StateSan Diego StateQualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CaliforniaCBS Sports Network

Week thirteen

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 2612:00 PMWyomingBoise StateBronco Stadium • Boise, IdahoThe Mtn.
November 264:00 PMAir ForceColorado StateHughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
(Ram–Falcon Trophy)
The Mtn.
November 267:00 PMSan Diego StateUNLVSam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NevadaThe Mtn.

Week fourteen

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
December 312:00 PMWyomingColorado StateHughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
(Border War)
The Mtn.
December 31:30 PMUNLVTCUAmon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TexasVersus
December 34:00 PMNew MexicoBoise StateBronco Stadium • Boise, IdahoThe Mtn.
December 35:00 PMFresno StateSan Diego StateQualcomm Stadium • San DiegoCBS Sports Network

Home attendance

Team Stadium Capacity Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Total Average % of Capacity
Air Force Falcon Stadium 52,480 39,105 42,107 33,487 27,490 46,709 33,823 222,721 37,121 70.7%
Boise State Bronco Stadium 33,500 34,019 34,098 34,196 34,146
136,519 34,130 101.9%
Colorado State Hughes Stadium 34,400 25,367 27,683 30,027 16,811
99,888 24,972 72.6.5%
New Mexico University Stadium 38,634 21,454 20,674 16,313 30,091 16,691 14,937
120,160 20,027 51.8%
San Diego State Qualcomm Stadium 71,294 34,384 57,286 44,248 29,730 28,362 52,256 246,266 41,044 57.6%
TCU Amon G. Carter Stadium 34,000 32,719 33,825 35,632 33,833
136,009 34,003 100.0%
UNLV Sam Boyd Stadium 36,800 21,248 18,102 21,289 26,281
86,920 21,730 59.0%
Wyoming War Memorial Stadium 34,000 21,492 23,248 32,617 22,985 17,673
118,015 23,603 69.4%

References

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