LAS VEGAS, Nev. -
The Utah football team was selected to repeat as the Mountain West Conference champion in a poll of the MWC media members, conducted at the annual MWC Football Preview. The Utes claimed 15 of 16 first-place votes and 127 points. Last year, the Utes were picked to finish fifth in the preseason media poll, only to go 10-2, win the MWC championship and beat Southern Mississippi in the Liberty Bowl.

Six Utes were named to the preseason all-conference team-the most players from any school. The Utes honored were senior wide receiver Paris Warren, senior offensive guard Chris Kemoeatu, junior quarterback Alex Smith, junior defensive tackle Steve Fifita, senior defensive back Morgan Scalley and senior returner Bo Nagahi. Smith was one of seven unanimous picks.

Utah returns 17 starters in 2004-eight on offense, seven on defense, the kicker and punter. Colorado State received the only other first place vote in the preseason poll and finished second to Utah with 98 total points. San Diego State was third (87 points), New Mexico fourth (86), Brigham Young and UNLV tied for fifth (54), and Air Force (42) and Wyoming (23) rounded out the field.

2004 Mountain West Conference Preseason Poll

1. Utah (15)     127
2. Colorado State (1)  98
3. San Diego State     87
4. New Mexico          86
5. Brigham Young       54
   UNLV                54
7. Air Force           42
8. Wyoming             23

2004 Preseason All-Mountain West Conference Team

Offense
WR  David Anderson     Jr.  Colorado State
WR  Paris Warren       Sr.  Utah
OL  Claude Terrell     Jr.  New Mexico
OL  Mike Kracilik      Sr.  San Diego State
OL  Ryan Cook          Jr.  New Mexico
OL  Erik Pears         Sr.  Colorado State
OL  Chris Kemoeatu     Sr.  Utah
TE  Joel Dreessen      Sr.  Colorado State
QB  Alex Smith         Jr.  Utah
RB  DonTrell Moore     Jr.  New Mexico
RB  Lynell Hamilton    So.  San Diego State

Defense
DL  Zach Morris        Sr.  Wyoming
DL  Brady Poppinga     Sr.  Brigham Young
DL  Patrick Goodpaster Sr.  Colorado State
DL  Steve Fifita       Jr.  Utah
LB  Kirk Morrison      Sr.  San Diego State
LB  Matt McCoy         Jr.  San Diego State
LB  Adam Seward        Sr.  UNLV
DB  Jamaal Brimmer     Sr.  UNLV
DB  Morgan Scalley     Sr.  Utah
DB  Aaron Francisco    Sr.  Brigham Young
DB  Gabriel Fulbright  Jr.  New Mexico

Specialists
P   Matt Payne         Sr.  Brigham Young
PK  Wes Zunker         Sr.  New Mexico
RET Bo Nagahi          Sr.  Utah