Air Force was shut out of the Mountain West Conference’s 10th Anniversary football team released on Tuesday at the league’s media days.
The team, released in celebration of the Mountain West’s 10th anniversary, is composed of players who earned all-conference first-team honors at least once in their careers. The team was selected by a combined panel of media, institutional and conference personnel and an on-line fan poll.
Air Force was the only one of the league’s nine teams not to have a representative on the team.
Rampart High graduate Dexter Wynn, who played at Colorado State from 2000 to 2003, was named the team’s punt/kick returner.
OFFENSE
Pos Name (School) Years Played in MWC
QB Alex Smith (Utah) 2002-04
RB Luke Staley (BYU) 1999-01
RB DonTrell Moore (New Mexico) 2002-05
WR David Anderson (CSU) 2002-05
WR Jovon Bouknight (Wyoming) 2002-05
TE Jonny Harline (BYU) 2004-06
OL Ryan Cook (New Mexico) 2002-05
OL Doug Kaufusi (Utah) 1999-01
OL Jordan Gross (Utah) 1999-02
OL Erik Pears (CSU) 2001-04
OL Adam Goldberg (Wyoming) 1999-02
DEFENSE
DL Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (San Diego St.) 1999
DL Chase Ortiz (TCU) 2005-07
DL Brady Poppinga (BYU) 2001-04
DL Steve Fifita (Utah) 2002-05
LB Rob Morris (BYU) 1999
LB Kirk Morrison (San Diego St.) 2001-04
LB Beau Bell (UNLV) 2004-07
DB Brian Urlacher (New Mexico) 1999
DB Will Demps (San Diego State) 1999-01
DB Jamaal Brimmer (UNLV) 2001-04
DB Eric Weddle (Utah) 2003-06
SPECIALISTS
K John Sullivan (New Mexico) 2004-07
P Matt Payne (BYU) 2001-04
Ret Dexter Wynn (CSU) 2000-03
I don’t know if any AFA players deserved to make this list – but Chad Hall would have had phenomal Heisman like numbers if Calhoun had figured out how to use him a couple games earlier. Schlegal would have been on the list too if he didn’t leave for Ohio State.
My respect for the MWC just took a nosedive. They couldn’t find ONE single solitary player from the last 10 years of Academy football that wasn’t every bit as talented as any of these who were named? Yeah, right!
I think the reaction from the Air Force folks here could be characterized as disappointed but not surprised. Or angry.
I spoke to sports information director Troy Garnhart, and he thought there were some possible Air Force guys but he could see why they weren’t picked. former QB Mike Thiessen was a possibility, but it’s hard to argue with Smith (who ended up going No. 1 in the NFL Draft) or BYU’s John Beck, who was passed over as well. There was Ryan Fleming (WR), but he probably didn’t have the numbers. The best case scenario probably was Chad Hall. But he had just the one standout season, and because it was last season, maybe it was overlooked.
Who does everybody think should have gotten on there from Air Force?
Jake,
I would have said Bryce Fisher and Frank Mindrup but I’m guessing they all played under the WAC.