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CORONDADO, Calif. (July 17, 2006) -- After a second-place finish in 2005 with a 6-6 overall record, the Cougars were selected to finish second behind TCU with five first-place votes in the annual Mountain West Conference preseason media poll.
"We gained momentum last season, finishing second and going to a bowl game," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "However, we're not satisfied. BYU football has a long tradition of winning conference championships and going to bowl games. Finishing second is not good enough. I don't really put much stock in the preseason poll. I believe--last year--that TCU was picked sixth. I'm just looking forward to our team playing and earning our place."
The Cougars will feature a total of five preseason all-conference picks, the MWC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and the league's Freshman of the Year.
"The direction has been established and we're optimistic," Mendenhall added. "We're moving towards that. We have some unfinished business for our program."
TCU, the 2005 MWC Champions, were picked to win the league title again in 2006. The Horned Frogs totaled 16 first-place votes after finishing the 2005 campaign with an 11-1 record, including an 8-0 mark against MWC opponents.
"Last year we won two overtime games and had a three-point win over San Diego State," TCU head coach Gary Patterson said. "To win our conference championship, you have to have depth. Last year, we had guys step in when we needed them. But there are a lot of good football teams in our league."
Utah was picked third after posting a 7-5 (4-4) record last season. The Utes, who return six starters on offense and eight on defense garnered three first-place votes.
Colorado State was the fourth team to receive a first-place vote and finished fourth in the poll with 130 total points. New Mexico was fifth with 119 points, followed by San Diego State with 104 points, Air Force with 70 points, UNLV with 58 points and Wyoming with 51 points.
"I think there's three potential BCS teams in our league: TCU, BYU and Utah," New Mexico head coach Rocky Long said. "But our league, from top to bottom, is so even. It's tough to go 11-1 or undefeated."
