The 2001 Mountain West Conference football season was the third since eight former members of the Western Athletic Conference banded together to form the Mountain West Conference. BYU won the conference championship in 2001, the Cougars' second title since the league began in 1999.
Coaching changes Tom Craft took over at San Diego State, replacing Ted Tollner. Gary Crowton took over at BYU, replacing BYU legend LaVell Edwards.
Bowl games BowlDateStadiumCityResultNew Orleans BowlDecember 18, 2001Louisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans, LouisianaColorado State 45, North Texas 20Las Vegas BowlDecember 25, 2001Sam Boyd StadiumLas Vegas, NevadaUtah 10, Southern Cal 6Liberty BowlDecember 31, 2001Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TennesseeLouisville 28, BYU 10
Awards Coach of the Year: Gary Crowton, BYU Offensive Player of the Year: RB Luke Staley, Jr, BYU Defensive Player of the Year: DB Kevin Thomas, Sr, UNLV Freshman of the Year: RB Dominique Dorsey, UNLV
All-Conference teams First-team:
OffenseQuarterbackBrandon Doman, Sr, BYURunning backLuke Staley, Jr, BYULarry Ned, Sr, San Diego StateWide receiverReno Mahe, Jr, BYURyan McGuffey, So, WyomingTight endDoug Jolley, Sr, BYUOffensive LineDoug Kaufusi, Sr, UtahDavid Moreno, Sr, San Diego StateAdam Goldberg, Jr, WyomingDavid Shohet, Sr, Colorado StateJason Scukanec, Sr, BYUKickerV. Borombozin, Sr, New MexicoKick returnerPete Rebstock, Sr, Colorado State
DefenseDefensive lineRyan Denney, Sr, BYUJason Kaufusi, Jr, UtahBrian Johnson, Sr, New MexicoGarrett Smith, Sr, UtahLinebackerGary Davis, Sr, New MexicoJustin Ena, Sr, BYUSheldon Deckart, Jr, UtahDefensive backKevin Thomas, Sr, UNLVWill Demps, Sr, San Diego StateSam Brandon, Sr, UNLVJernaro Gilford, So, BYUPunterJoey Huber, Jr, Colorado State
Second-team:
OffenseQuarterbackCasey Bramlet, So, WyomingRunning backDameon Hunter, Sr, UtahJoe Haro, Jr, UNLVWide receiverJ. R. Tolver, Jr, San Diego StateCliff Russell, Sr, UtahTight endJose Ochoa, Sr, Colorado StateOffensive LineBen Miller, Sr, Air ForcePeter Tramontanas, Sr, UNLVJeremy Sorenson, Sr, New MexicoBen Archibald, Jr, BYUBroc Finlayson, Sr, Colorado StateKickerJarvis Wallum, So, WyomingKick returnerDexter Wynn, So, Colorado State
DefenseDefensive lineJerome Haywood, Sr, San Diego StateLauvale Sape, Sr, UtahAnton Palepoi, Sr, UNLVZach Johnson, Sr, Air ForceLinebackerEric Pauley, So, Colorado StateLeo Caires, Sr, WyomingDrew Wood, So, Colorado StateDefensive backJason Gallimore, Sr, Colorado StateAntwoine Sanders, So, UtahStephen Persley, Sr, New MexicoJustin Gallimore, Sr, Colorado StatePunterBrian Simnjanovski, Jr, San Diego State
References