NEWS » the smartest way to bring Cummins back

Last year proved the Mountain West can be more than just Boise State and everyone else when it comes to the conference title race, as evidenced by San Diego State winning its first outright conference crown.On the national scene, its still the Broncos and everyone else as the 2016 season begins.I know what we look like on paper, but we have no idea until we go play, Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said.As usual, Boise State is expected to be the class of the Mountain West headed into the 2016 season, a position of prominence the Broncos have held for most of the past decade. But there is a shift occurring. In fact, San Diego State was the unanimous preseason favorite to win the West Division, while Boise State earned 27 of the 29 first-place votes for the Mountain Division.So there are two clear favorites with the rest of the conference seemingly wide open and begging for an unexpected team -- perhaps New Mexico or San Jose State -- to rise up and challenge the Aztecs and Broncos.Everybody thinks that, through preseason hype, were going to be pretty good, San Diego State coach Rocky Long said. I think we have a chance to be pretty good, too. Its just a matter of us having the right attitude and staying away from injuries and playing well when we have to play well.THE FAVORITESMountain Division: Boise State is clearly the favorite of the Mountain Division thanks largely to an offense that features arguably the best quarterback in the conference (Brett Rypien), running back (Jeremy McNichols) and wide receiver (Thomas Sperbeck). But each of the past two years, Air Force has gotten the better of the Broncos. Its likely the division champion wont be decided until the Broncos visit Air Force in the regular-season finale.West Division: San Diego State is the class of the West Division. While running back Donnel Pumphrey gives the Aztecs a standout ball carrier who will help alleviate quarterback questions, its San Diego States defense thats the real star. The Aztecs allowed more than 17 points just once in the final 10 games of last season. If anyone challenges the Aztecs in the West Division, look to Nevada and its favorable schedule.TOP PLAYERSBrett Rypien, QB, Boise State. Was expected to redshirt but was forced to play as a freshman due to injuries. Became a star almost immediately, throwing for 3,353 yards and 20 touchdowns.Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State. A running back few know about, despite running for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State. The former wide receiver made the full-time transition to running back last year and rushed for 1,337 yards and 20 touchdowns.Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming. Little known because of Wyomings 2-10 season, Hill topped 1,600 yards rushing.Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State. The Mountain West defensive player of the year in 2015. Kazee tied a school record with eight interceptions.NEW FACESNick Rolovich is the only newcomer to the coaching ranks in the Mountain West, taking over for Norm Chow at Hawaii.His task is significant; the Warriors have gone 11-39 over the past four seasons and have seen the interest in the program dwindle significantly on the islands. And no team in the country faces more travel to start the season. Hawaii opens the season facing California in Australia before traveling to Michigan for the second game.ON THE HOT SEATFresno State went 11-2 in Tim DeRuyters second season in charge of the Bulldogs. Now entering his fifth season, the Bulldogs have gone 9-17 over the past two seasons and are picked to finished fourth in the West Division.PREDICTIONSan Diego State should be in the championship game after winning the West Division. The schedule falls favorably for the Aztecs with no Boise State on the schedule and San Jose State at home. Heres guessing that Boise State stumbles somewhere along the way on the road -- either at New Mexico on a short week or at Air Force in the regular-season finale -- but still manages to win the Mountain Division.The championship game will be played in San Diego, but it will be the Broncos taking the conference title back to Boise.Fake Air Max 90 Black .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Air Max 90 Ultra Outlet . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-off-white-x-air-max-90-all-black-cheap.html .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. Fake Air Max 90 White .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Air Max 90 White Outlet . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start.Its the first week of December and Christmas trees are being put up in houses all over Australia. Excited kids are waiting for the morning of the 25th. Some wont have the patience. Theyll go hunting for presents hidden in wardrobes, or lift the sticky-tape on a piece of wrapping paper, take a peek at whats inside. And on Christmas morning theyll regret it. A moment of impulse and everything is spoiled.It feels a little like that in Australian cricket right now. What do we want? Pat Cummins. When do we want him? Now! And indeed, Cummins is ready to play his first internationals in nearly 15 months, as part of Australias attack for the Chappell-Hadlee campaign against New Zealand. These three ODIs mark his international return from yet another long lay-off due to stress fractures of the back. At most, he will bowl 30 overs across six days with a white ball.And yet there are rumblings that he should be rushed back into the Test side, perhaps for Februarys tour of India, but maybe even in the pink-ball Test against Pakistan at the Gabba. On Inside Cricket this week, Brad Haddin was adamant that Cummins should be in contention for Brisbane if he came through the Chappell-Hadlee series fit and in form.If he gets through these three one-dayers ... traditionally these day-night games [Tests] havent been going five days and the quick bowlers might only have to bowl 16 overs in a day, Haddin said. If you use him right in a Test match, he only has to bowl four-over spells.Darren Berry, the former Victoria captain and ex-coach of South Australia, voiced a similar opinion on SEN radio on Friday morning: Surely he plays the three days and if hes up, and he fires, straight into the Brisbane Test.Notably, those who are closer to the Australia setup are more measured. National selector Mark Waugh, on the Inside Cricket panel alongside Haddin, said that while Cummins had performed well during the Matador Cup, and bowled at good pace in club cricket and two Futures League games this summer, he still had something to prove.Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, lets just see him get through these three games, Waugh said. Look, Id love to pick him for Australia in Test match cricket, who wouldnt? But hes got to show that hes ready and hes fit.And captain Steven Smith, asked this week whether Cummins might be a chance for the Test tour of India in February-March, conceded that it was possible, but added hes obviously got to play some Shield cricket first and see how he goes. And heres the thing: Cummins hasnt played Shield cricket for a long time. A really, really long time. When Cummins last played a Sheffield Shield game, not only was Smith not yet the captain of Australia, Michael Clarke wasnt eitherr.dddddddddddd It was March 2011, and Ricky Ponting was leading Australia at the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.When Cummins last played a Shield game, Jackson Bird had not even made his first-class debut. Bird now has nearly 250 first-class wickets.When Cummins last played a Shield game, the Big Bash League didnt exist.In fact, since that time Cummins has played only five first-class matches. One was his memorable Test debut against South Africa in November 2011, when he took seven wickets and was Man of the Match in Johannesburg. Then came a bone stress injury in his foot. Then came stress fractures of the back.In mid-2013, he added two more first-class games for Australia A on a tour of Africa, before once again being sidelined by a back injury.In mid-2015, he was sent to England to replace the retired Ryan Harris in Australias Ashes squad, despite not having played a first-class game for two years. He played two first-class tour matches, and lo and behold, suffered another back injury.So long ago was his spectacular Test debut, and so often has he been in and out of Australias short-form squads since then, that it is easy to think Cummins is older and better prepared than is the case. In fact, he is still only 23 - still of an age where fast bowlers are susceptible to bone injuries - and in his entire career has played only eight first-class matches.Rushing him back for the Pakistan Tests - or even for the India tour, given he may have only one Shield game before the squad is chosen - would surely be a short-sighted selection. Does anyone really believe the dry pitches of India, where the fast men will toil long and hard for any reward, would be the smartest way to bring Cummins back?Its great to be back, Cummins said in Sydney on Friday, ahead of his ODI return. Longer-form cricket, Id say its pretty unlikely. I havent played first-class for a while. Certainly hopefully I can play some first-class this year. Im sure itd need to be Shield before I start thinking about anything else.Notably, Cummins also said that on this return from injury he felt more comfortable as he was not being rushed on to an Australian tour: Knowing I wasnt going to fly straight back onto the next tour and having to bowl as well as I was 12 months ago - just having a bit more time has made a big difference.It is exciting that Cummins will be back in Australian colours over the coming week. But back in Australian whites? How about getting him through half a Shield season first? If Australian cricket wants Cummins playing the long game, it may have to play the long game itself. ' ' '