BYU, Utah Utes football: Saturday a step in right direction, coaches say

For the Mountain West Conference, last weekend will be difficult to top.

Overall, the league posted a 7-1 record against non-conference opponents, including a perfect 4-0 mark against teams from the Pac-10 Conference.

For a 10-year-old league yearning for respect, it was just what the MWC needed.

"It's probably the best day we've had as a league, certainly that I can remember, going 4-0 against the Pac-10," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "It was a phenomenal Saturday for the conference.

"We talk about respect and notoriety and so forth. I've said it many times. The only way to earn that is to do what we did on Saturday — to beat teams from BCS leagues. You can't talk yourself into respectability. You have to play yourself into it, and I think that's exactly what we did on Saturday — at least a step in the right direction towards that."

Indeed, it was a weekend to remember for the MWC, highlighted by four victories over the Pac-10. On Saturday, TCU defeated Stanford, 31-14; BYU destroyed UCLA, 59-0; New Mexico knocked off Arizona, 36-28; and UNLV downed then-No. 15 Arizona State, 23-20, at Tempe, Ariz.

The most stunning result was turned in by the Rebels, who have, for years, been mired in the lower echelon of the MWC.

"That was a great win for us — a great win for our program and what we're trying to build here," said UNLV coach Mike Sanford. "Obviously, it was one of several great wins for the Mountain West Conference.

"As a conference, we showed we are a force to be reckoned with. Without a question, I think we have one of the top conferences in the country. I think people need to recognize that. The fact we were 4-0 against the Pac-10 is pretty darn good."

When it comes to long-term Bowl Championship Series implications, this past weekend could make an impact. BYU, Utah and TCU are undefeated and vying for a spot in a BCS bowl and victories over Pac-10 teams certainly helps raise the MWC's national profile.

"I think what's happening in our league is, we're getting better," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. "The credibility that possibly we might be gaining as a program, now could be spreading more toward the league as a whole. I think that will happen over time if we keep having the type of weekend we just had."