By Steve MullinsAssistant Sports Editor
For once in his life, Wyoming’s Vic Koenning doesn’t have anyanswers.
Yesterday, in the wake of an ugly 34-0 beating from San DiegoState, the usually confident head coach told reporters everything hisstaff has done in order to get decent play from its football team.
“We’ve tried morning practices, we’ve tried evening practices,”Koenning said. “We’ve tried hitting a lot, we’ve tried not hittingvery much. We’ve tried putting pressure on them, we’ve tried takingpressure off. We’ve tried everything.”
Koenning even took Cowboys players to see “Remember the Titans”before the game against SDSU.
“It didn’t work,” he said.
Since the loss, Koenning has drawn extensive criticism forcomments he’s made about his team. Among other things, he’s saidWyoming is the worst team he’s ever been around.
Said Koenning: “What I told (the media) is the same thing I saidin the locker room. I’ve tried to be positive. Maybe now I’m tryingto get some emotion out of these guys to try to prove me wrong. Thepeople (who have criticized me) have never been around football anddon’t understand. I love these guys to death.”
Air Force
This weekend the Falcons travel to Wyoming to take on a team thathas given up a Mountain West Conference-worst 35.0 points per game.By contrast, Air Force has averaged a MWC-best 29.8
points per game.
Despite the perceived mismatch, Falcons head coach Fisher DeBerryisn’t taking the Cowboys lightly.
“You’re doggone right this game concerns me,” DeBerry said. “Everygame we play concerns me. We’re not that good of a football teamourselves. And if you go back and look at the history of the gamesbetween these teams, it’s always been a gunfight at the OK Corral.”
Air Force and Wyoming have split their last four meetings.
Colorado State
Trying to get a veteran coach like CSU’s Sonny Lubick to gushabout a player is like trying to borrow money from a lightpost. Inother words, it’s not likely to happen.
Nevertheless, Lubick bestowed lavish praise upon UNLV’s JasonThomas, the man who will quarterback against his team this weekend.
“When I first saw (Thomas) on tape I said, ‘Holy mackerel, thisguy is something special.’ Especially running the football, he’sfrightening.”
Saturday’s game is sure to be a good matchup. Thomas is second inthe country in quarterback efficiency (169.4). On the flipside, theRams have the MWC’s second-best scoring defense. The game can be seenon ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m.
UNLV
One of the biggest reasons for the Rebels’ success this season hasbeen the play of their defense. Historically, UNLV has been ahorrible defensive team. So far this season, the Rebels have allowedjust 13.4 points per game.
Head coach John Robinson gives most of the credit for theturnaround to Mike Bradeson, his first-year defensive coordinator.
Yesterday, Robinson told reporters of Bradeson’s tireless efforts.
“He’s one of those guys who doesn’t sleep or go home,” Robinsonsaid. “He’s here (in the office) when I go home. When I come back inthe morning, he’s still here. Those kinds of guys die young.”
Players of the Week
Offensive: Lon Sheriff, SDSU, QB
In just his third career start, the sophomore signal-caller threwfor 317 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-27 passing in the Aztecs’34-0 blanking of Wyoming.
Defensive: C.J. Zanotti, Air Force, LB
The senior had a career day in the Falcons’ 27-13 win vs. Navy.For the game, Zanotti chalked up 19 tackles (seven solo, four forlosses), two fumble recoveries and a sack.
Special teams: Ray Cheetany, UNLV, PK/P
The specialist averaged 45.7 yards on six punts, kicked a 30-yardfield goal and converted 5-of-5 PATs in the Rebels’ 38-7 thrashing ofrival Nevada.
