From the shotgun: Quick takes from the MWC

New Mexico head coach Rocky Long rejects the notion that his Lobos tend to start slow and finish the season strong. In 2003, New Mexico began the year 1-3 before finishing 7-1 and earning a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl. In 2002, the Lobos were 2-4 before winning five of their next seven regular-season games en route to a postseason appearance in Las Vegas. This season, New Mexico lost four of its first six games but has won two straight. New Mexico can become bowl-eligible with two wins in its next three games.

Long said the early season losses are more a result of playing a tough schedule than being inconsistent.

"It looks like we start slow," he said. "I don't believe that. I mean, people say that all the time. I don't believe that. We get a little bit better as the season goes along and we play more people like us."

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According to MWC commissioner Craig Thompson, the projected payout for a BCS bowl this season is $14.4 million. If the Utes go undefeated and are invited to a BCS Bowl, that could mean a payout in the "ballpark" of around $1 million for each conference team, Thompson said.

Just how that money would be divided would be determined by the conference's financial distribution formula that is about to be revised.

"It's about to change five times in six years," Thompson said.

According to Thompson, the most important aspect of the formula is protecting bowl teams from losing money.

"Our goal has always been to try to make those that participate in bowl games as whole as possible, so that they don't lose money," Thompson said.

"The basic formula is going to try to get bowl participants as healthy as possible. The new piece that's going to be introduced is . . . that we use some BCS revenue to put into the bowl formula — either to create new bowls, i.e. a second bowl game in San Diego, or to supplement existing bowls so those that go to bowl games don't have to worry about losing money . . .

"There's really not a BCS component that would relate specifically — potentially and hypothetically — to this year.

Thompson did say, however, that issues relating to a potential BCS appearance by Utah (such as getting the Utes released from the Liberty Bowl) need to be discussed.

"You have to have a plan," he said. "We can't wait until 3 o'clock on Dec. 5 and go forward."

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