MWC notebook: Teams have issues in trying to catch big three

For one Mountain West Conference coach, the ax has already fallen.

UNLV's Mike Sanford, who posted a 15-43 record in five seasons — with no winning seasons and no bowl appearances — was fired Sunday, one day after his team's 45-17 loss to Air Force.

"I'm obviously disappointed," Sanford said during Tuesday's weekly MWC teleconference.

The Rebels have a bye this week, and Sanford will remain at the helm through the rest of the season, which ends Nov. 28 against San Diego State.

"After that game, I move on to another chapter in my life," Sanford said. "I'm excited and looking forward to that."

Sanford is not leaving quietly, however. He has made it very clear that, in his opinion, UNLV has not done enough to produce a successful football program.

In the MWC, there are three top-level teams in TCU, BYU and Utah, with Air Force close to that level, Sanford explained. The rest of the programs are having a difficult time competing against the league's elite.

"Each program has some kind of a shortcoming as to why they have a hard time breaking into the top group," Sanford said. "The other ones, other than us, have made a much better commitment than UNLV has as far as facilities, finances, community support and all of those things... Most people are ahead of UNLV. I'm not making excuses, I'm stating a fact. But I do think each place has some inherent things that make it difficult to compete against the top three plus one."

Looking at his five seasons in Las Vegas, Sanford pointed out the progress the program made under his watch.

"I don't feel like I failed. I feel like I ran out of time," he said. "I think this program is in way better shape than it was when I got here in a lot of different areas."

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun praised the job Sanford and his staff did with the Rebels.

"They worked exceptionally hard. The one thing that is evident is, when it comes to the talent part of it, they did a heckuva job in recruiting and they put a pretty good foundation in place for down the road at UNLV."

WINLESS BOWL: Only New Mexico and Colorado State have yet to win a conference game this season.

With identical 0-6 records in league play, the Lobos and Rams square off Saturday in Albuquerque.

"It's two teams desperate for a win, with their backs against the wall," said UNM coach Mike Locksley. "You're going to be a heckuva ball game."

AMAZING COMEBACK: Wyoming trailed San Diego State, 27-6, at the start of the fourth quarter before rallying for three touchdowns to tie the score. On the ensuing kickoff, the Aztecs fumbled and the Cowboys recovered.

That set up a game-winning 43-yard field goal by the Cowboys' Ian Watts with 23 seconds remaining.

First-year Wyoming coach Dave Christensen called the win over San Diego State "the greatest comeback in my coaching career."

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com