Have you ever heard anyone brag about their "Mountain West Conference" education? You know, like an "Ivy League" education? If you haven't, there's probably good reason. The Conference itself can't even count.
Right now the MWC is celebrating it's 10th anniversary and honoring an "All Decade" team in each sport. While I think such a celebration and honor is a great idea, I think they jumped the gun. You see, the embryo known as the MWC was conceived on May 26, 1998 (in a Denver airport, if I remember correctly). The new conference was officially born on July 1, 1999 - just over NINE years ago now. The first season of competition occurred in the 1999-2000 season. I know. I was at the first football game ever in the new conference - a 34-13 BYU victory over Colorado St. on September 16, 1999 in Cougar Stadium. (Plus, I still have my white ESPN hat proving I was at that game.) Now, starting with that season, let's count forward football seasons:
Season #1 - 1999
Season #2 - 2000
Season #3 - 2001
Season #4 - 2002
Season #5 - 2003
Season #6 - 2004
Season #7 - 2005
Season #8 - 2006
Season #9 - 2007
How can you have an All-Decade team that doesn't cover an entire decade? Now, true, the MWC is entering its 10th year of competition. But that's like saying that after you have been married for 1 year and 1 day that you are going to celebrate your 2nd Anniversary since you are entering your 2nd year of marriage. Let just call it fuzzy math.
Nevertheless, despite the MWC's apparent inability to count correctly, I still dutifully filled out a ballot online and voted for the All-Decade Football team. Here are a few of my favorite aspects/quirks of the ballot in a random stream of consciousness format:
-Four of the eight quarterbacks on the ballot were BYU quarterbacks.
-Didn't DonTrell Moore play a full decade (not a baker's decade)? That's what it seemed like. Still, though, props to him for being the only 4-time All-MWC player in MWC history
-It is a little sad that BYU averaged nearly 3 starting wide receivers per year and only 1 starting quarterback per year, but had 4 QB's nominated compared to only 3 receivers.
-On second thought, after Gary Crowton's QB juggling act, maybe BYU averaged closer to 3 starting QB's per season as well. Ha!
-How did Ben Moa get nominated? He played for a school and in a system that employed the tight end as a sixth blocker or a sideline clipboard holder. Moa had one good play - that little "jump shot" pass on a 2-point conversion to beat Air Force. How does one play get you the chance to make the All-Decade team?
-Now, in regards to the All-Short-Name Team, Moa is a first teamer. So is Max Hall.
-The offensive line is where we'll see which school ended up having the most voters vote online. Like anyone is going to vote for any offensive lineman besides their own favorite team. Other than 3 stinkin' Utes (one of whom is a brother of 2 BYU players), I've never heard of any of those non-Cougars. I haven't even heard of Matt Johnson who evidently played for BYU in 1999.
Right now the MWC is celebrating it's 10th anniversary and honoring an "All Decade" team in each sport. While I think such a celebration and honor is a great idea, I think they jumped the gun. You see, the embryo known as the MWC was conceived on May 26, 1998 (in a Denver airport, if I remember correctly). The new conference was officially born on July 1, 1999 - just over NINE years ago now. The first season of competition occurred in the 1999-2000 season. I know. I was at the first football game ever in the new conference - a 34-13 BYU victory over Colorado St. on September 16, 1999 in Cougar Stadium. (Plus, I still have my white ESPN hat proving I was at that game.) Now, starting with that season, let's count forward football seasons:
Season #1 - 1999
Season #2 - 2000
Season #3 - 2001
Season #4 - 2002
Season #5 - 2003
Season #6 - 2004
Season #7 - 2005
Season #8 - 2006
Season #9 - 2007
How can you have an All-Decade team that doesn't cover an entire decade? Now, true, the MWC is entering its 10th year of competition. But that's like saying that after you have been married for 1 year and 1 day that you are going to celebrate your 2nd Anniversary since you are entering your 2nd year of marriage. Let just call it fuzzy math.
Nevertheless, despite the MWC's apparent inability to count correctly, I still dutifully filled out a ballot online and voted for the All-Decade Football team. Here are a few of my favorite aspects/quirks of the ballot in a random stream of consciousness format:
-Four of the eight quarterbacks on the ballot were BYU quarterbacks.
-Didn't DonTrell Moore play a full decade (not a baker's decade)? That's what it seemed like. Still, though, props to him for being the only 4-time All-MWC player in MWC history
-It is a little sad that BYU averaged nearly 3 starting wide receivers per year and only 1 starting quarterback per year, but had 4 QB's nominated compared to only 3 receivers.
-On second thought, after Gary Crowton's QB juggling act, maybe BYU averaged closer to 3 starting QB's per season as well. Ha!
-How did Ben Moa get nominated? He played for a school and in a system that employed the tight end as a sixth blocker or a sideline clipboard holder. Moa had one good play - that little "jump shot" pass on a 2-point conversion to beat Air Force. How does one play get you the chance to make the All-Decade team?
-Now, in regards to the All-Short-Name Team, Moa is a first teamer. So is Max Hall.
-The offensive line is where we'll see which school ended up having the most voters vote online. Like anyone is going to vote for any offensive lineman besides their own favorite team. Other than 3 stinkin' Utes (one of whom is a brother of 2 BYU players), I've never heard of any of those non-Cougars. I haven't even heard of Matt Johnson who evidently played for BYU in 1999.
-I can't believe that female kicker who missed a PAT for New Mexico in a bowl game a few years ago wasn't nominated.
-How about Brady Poppinga being nominated at 2 positions. He'll probably end up as a co-defensive lineman and a co-linebacker.
-If it seems like Utah QB Brian Johnson has been around awhile, he has. In 2000 and 2001 he suited up on New Mexico's defensive line.
-You don't realize how pedestrian BYU's cornerbacks have been recently until you see that you have to go back to Jenaro Gilford in 2001 to get an all-conference performer there.
-Okay, I'll admit it. I voted for Eric Weddle. But only because he went up and congratulated John Beck after Beck-to-Harline.
-Matt Payne is definitely in my Top 3 favorite kickers/punters BYU has ever had along with Lee "Barefoot" Johnson and Brad "The Mad...Punter" Hunter. Leonard Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a close 4th. I've never seen a kicker hit like Payne. Unfortunately, there was one period of time in the Crowton years that I was pretty sure Matt Payne was the best special teams, defensive, and offensive weapon on the team.
-How come no All-Decade Coach to vote for? Wait, I take it back. I really don't want the Urban love fest to start again.
Well, there you have it. Click here if you haven't seen the official results yet. It's a fun little thing to help keep us occupied until the season starts. Only 26 more days!
In the meantime, maybe more of the the mtn television programming time should be devoted to things like math and counting. And capitalization.
-How about Brady Poppinga being nominated at 2 positions. He'll probably end up as a co-defensive lineman and a co-linebacker.
-If it seems like Utah QB Brian Johnson has been around awhile, he has. In 2000 and 2001 he suited up on New Mexico's defensive line.
-You don't realize how pedestrian BYU's cornerbacks have been recently until you see that you have to go back to Jenaro Gilford in 2001 to get an all-conference performer there.
-Okay, I'll admit it. I voted for Eric Weddle. But only because he went up and congratulated John Beck after Beck-to-Harline.
-Matt Payne is definitely in my Top 3 favorite kickers/punters BYU has ever had along with Lee "Barefoot" Johnson and Brad "The Mad...Punter" Hunter. Leonard Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a close 4th. I've never seen a kicker hit like Payne. Unfortunately, there was one period of time in the Crowton years that I was pretty sure Matt Payne was the best special teams, defensive, and offensive weapon on the team.
-How come no All-Decade Coach to vote for? Wait, I take it back. I really don't want the Urban love fest to start again.
Well, there you have it. Click here if you haven't seen the official results yet. It's a fun little thing to help keep us occupied until the season starts. Only 26 more days!
In the meantime, maybe more of the the mtn television programming time should be devoted to things like math and counting. And capitalization.
No comments:
Post a Comment