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Sanford's firing not surprising
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 9:59 a.m.
After his team held off UNLV 42-35 last season in Provo, Utah, Brigham Young football coach Bronco Mendenhall, while sharing an elevator ride to the press box with reporters, remarked how much the Rebels had improved.
A year later, Mendenhall isn't completely sure why UNLV didn't build on that improvement, speculating that tailback Frank Summers' departure to the NFL set the team back.
But Mendenhall wasn't surprised to see fifth-year Rebels coach Mike Sanford fired Sunday after again failing to field a winner. Sanford, 4-7 this season and 15-43 overall, will coach UNLV's season finale against San Diego State on Nov. 28 at Sam Boyd Stadium.
"I think all of us know that when we become head coaches, you have to show significant progress within at least three years, and five is a long time ... to stay at the same place," Mendenhall said. "So I believe that any of us, not only Coach Sanford, you have to win in Year 5, and evidently there weren't enough wins if that is what the reasoning was."
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said Sanford's successor won't be starting over from scratch.
"When it comes to the talent part of it, they did a heck of a job in recruiting and really put a pretty good foundation in place for down the road," Calhoun said. "You look at the skill guys they have on offense, and then defensively they're going to have a bunch of guys who are returners next year, especially on the back half."
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, the defensive coordinator on Urban Meyer's Utes coaching staff in 2003 and 2004, when Sanford was the offensive coordinator, said he thinks Sanford will "land on his feet. He's done a lot of good things at other places he's been."
• NO BUCKEYES -- Fourth-ranked Texas Christian's chances of playing for the national title appear remote, but the odds might have been better if the Horned Frogs had played and beaten Ohio State.
In 2007, the teams reached a deal to open this season against each other. But the agreement was never finalized, largely because of a TCU scheduling conflict.
Frogs coach Gary Patterson downplayed how important a victory over Ohio State might have been, pointing to a schedule that includes victories at Clemson and BYU.
No one can accuse TCU of ducking quality opponents. It has played powerhouses such as Oklahoma and will fill future schedules against teams such as Louisiana State. Patterson seems to bring up these facts begrudgingly.
"I never felt like it did you any good to go and talk up your team," Patterson said. "I think you always have to talk on the field."
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL
STANDINGS
The conference from top to bottom:
No. 4 Texas Christian (10-0, 6-0 MWC) at Wyoming (5-5, 3-3): The Horned Frogs are averaging a school-record 467.6 yards per game.
No. 19 Brigham Young (8-2, 5-1) vs. Air Force (7-4, 5-2): The Cougars have won their past nine games decided by eight points or fewer, the nation's longest active streak.
No. 23 Utah (8-2, 5-1) vs. San Diego State (4-6, 2-4): The Utes have won 16 consecutive home games.
Air Force (7-4, 5-2) at No. 19 BYU (8-2, 5-1): Troy Calhoun is the first coach to lead the Falcons to at least seven wins in each of his first three seasons.
Wyoming (5-5, 3-3) vs. No. 4 TCU (10-0, 6-0): The Cowboys are the only team in the nation with three players in the top 19 in tackles.
San Diego State (4-6, 2-4) at No. 23 Utah (8-2, 5-1): The Aztecs have scored at least one touchdown in 36 consecutive games.
UNLV (4-7, 2-5), off: The Rebels are allowing 231.2 yards rushing per game, their highest average since giving up 234.2 in 1999.
Colorado State (3-7, 0-6) at New Mexico (0-10, 0-6): Injuries have cost Rams players 33 starts.
New Mexico (0-10, 0-6) vs. Colorado State (3-7, 0-6): Fourteen of the previous 15 meetings were decided by 10 points or fewer.
FIVE BEST PLAYERS
1. Jerry Hughes, DL, TCU: The senior had 1 sacks against Utah, giving him 10 for the season.
2. Andy Dalton, QB, TCU: The junior has 17 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
3. Max Hall, QB, BYU: The junior is closing in on 3,000 yards passing this season.
4. Eddie Wide, RB, Utah: The Cimarron-Memorial product, a junior, was shut down by TCU but still averages 5.8 yards per carry.
5. Jeremy Kerley, WR/Ret, TCU: The junior leads the conference with an average of 131 all-purpose yards per game.
THEY WROTE IT ...
SI.com's Stewart Mandel, on TCU: "In the past, any mention of TCU (or Utah, or Boise State) in the same sentence as 'national title' would have immediately garnered smirks and the automatic response of 'Who have they played?' Now, there's an unquestioned respect level. The Horned Frogs have Utah to thank for much of that; last year's Sugar Bowl romp over Alabama elevated both the Utes' and the Mountain West's profile."
ESPN's Mark Schlabach, on TCU: "Barring an upset loss by No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Alabama or No. 3 Texas, the Horned Frogs probably won't get a chance to play for the BCS national championship. And that might be a good thing for the Gators, Crimson Tide and Longhorns."
THEY SAID IT ...
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, after his team's 55-28 loss to TCU: "They were who we thought they were. ... I have been a head coach for five years, and that is the best team I've faced."
Wyoming coach Dave Christensen, on rallying from a 27-6 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat San Diego State, 30-27: "I've never been involved in anything like that."
BYU's Hall, on escaping with a 24-19 victory at winless New Mexico: "This might be good for us. It certainly was not pretty."
COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
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Way to go Mark....another lead off with the word BYU in it. Outstanding!