Buck Buchanan Award nominee Colt Anderson and teammate Colin Dow were unanimous picks for the team - voted on by Big Sky Conference media and sports information directors - at safety and offensive guard.
Teammates J.D. Quinn, slated to play center this fall, and offensive tackle Brent Russum were also named to the team, which was released Monday.
O-linemen,” said Anderson, a two-time all-Big Sky pick from Butte who's in Park City for the Big Sky Summer Kickoff. “Those guys are great players.
“But at the same time, you can't really look at the preseason all-conference picks. They mean something, but at the same time they don't really. At the end of the season, that's kind of when it really matters.”
The media and coaches' polls for the league races come out Tuesday. The all-conference team boasted four players each from Eastern Washington, Montana State, Weber State and the Griz, who have won or shared the last 10 Big Sky titles.
Sixteen of the 29 players on the all-conference team were all-league in 2007, including quarterback Matt Nichols, receiver Aaron Boyce and defensive end Greg Peach of Eastern Washington.
Weber State posts two-time defending rushing champ Trevyn Smith at running back, and Bryant Eteuati is picked at both return man and receiver.
Both Weber and Eastern host the Griz this season.
“Our schedule's tough,” said Anderson, who is joined at the safety position by Kevin Retoriano of Montana State. “I think the conference is the most balanced I've seen it since I've been here. Anyone can beat anyone.”
The other major news from Monday's meetings was that the Big Sky is again going to try to shorten games, this time with a 40/25-second clock approach used by the NFL, and that instant replay will be used when Big Sky teams play games against Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Reviewable plays will be field goal attempts that are near the crossbar, but below the top of the uprights (the judgment call of whether an attempt was inside the uprights or outside will stand); fumbles; and plays where ball carriers hit the out-of-bounds line and end zone near the same time.
The shortening of games has been attempted before, most recently in 2006. That was called “disastrous” by Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton on Monday, but he called this new plan an improvement.
The object is not meant to shorten the game in terms of total plays, though a few less will be run under the rule, but by time.
The variables of how officials retrieve the ball at end of the play and get it placed, then start the 25-second play clock are at issue. Now when a play is blown dead, a 40-second clock will automatically start. The object is to get the ball placed for the next play before 15 seconds have elapsed. If that doesn't happen, the referee shall declare a time out and reset the play clock to 25.
In an age were games drag on past 3fi hours, perhaps putting strain on satellite time and local programming, streamlining games has its support.
“Now they've just picked a different way to do it,” Fullerton said. “They say it can shorten the game by taking the officials screwing around out of it. You get these slow officials that don't get the ball in on time, and this eliminates that.”
NOTES: The horse-collar tackle, where a ball-carrier is dragged down from behind by grabbing the inside back collar of his pads or jersey, is now against the rules. The rule doesn't apply to runners inside the tackle box, or a quarterback still in the pocket. Š UM's Quinn and Russum were all-Big Sky picks last year, Quinn at guard. Dow was a first-team all-league pick at guard in 2006. Š Big Sky Conference games to be televised in 2008 numbers more than 30, including all 12 of Montana's games. Montana State will have 10 games televised, including its Sept. 13 game at Minnesota by the Big Ten Network. Š Altitude is airing five Idaho State games, and NAU is going to have four home games on Dish Network channel 9411.
Preseason all-Big Sky Conference
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Matt Nichols, 6-2, 220, Jr. Eastern Washington.
Running back - Trevyn Smith, 5-9, 210, Jr., Weber State; Alex Henderson, 5-10, 205, Jr., Northern Arizona.
Fullback - Bobby McClintock, 5-10, 240, Jr., Portland State.
Tight end - Ryan Chesla, 6-5, 240, Sr. Northern Colorado.
Offensive guard - Colin Dow, 6-5, 300, Sr. Montana; Jeff Hansen, 6-4, 281, Jr,. Montana State
Center - J.D. Quinn, 6-4, 302, Sr., Montana.
Offensive tackle - Brent Russum, 6-4, 295, Sr., Montana;Ray Navar, 6-6, 255, Sr., Sacramento State.
Wide receiver - Aaron Boyce, 6-2, 205, Jr., Eastern Washington; Eddie Thompson, 5-11, 180, Sr., Idaho State; Bryant Eteuati, 5-7, 160, Sr., Weber State.
Kicker - Robbie Dehaze, 6-3, 193, Sr., Northern Arizona.
Return specialist - Bryant Eteuati, 5-7, 160, Sr., Weber State.
Defense
Defensive end - Greg Peach, 6-2, 250, Sr., Eastern Washington; Dane Fletcher, 6-2, 242, Jr., Montana State.
Defensive tackle - Bryce Scanlon, 6-1, 220, Sr., Weber State; Lance Witherspoon, 6-2, 275, Sr., Eastern Washington; Cyrus Mulitalo, 6-1, 245, Sr., Sacramento State
Linebacker - Bobby Daly, 6-1, 226, Sr., Montana State; Mike Brannon, 6-2, 235, Sr., Sacramento State; Cristian Sarmento, 6-1, 220, Sr., Northern Colorado.
Cornerback - K.J. Gerard, 6-1, 180, Sr., Northern Arizona; D.J. Clark, 6-2, 200, Sr. Idaho State.
Saftey - Colt Anderson, 5-11, 190, Sr., Montana; Kevin Retoriano, 5-9, 187, Jr., Montana State.
Punter - Mike Snoy, 6-2, 175, Jr., Weber State.
Special team - Cyrus Igono, 5-10, 205, Sr., Northern Arizona.
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