It’s rivalry week … need I say more?

Jason Beauchamp

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 | 3:43 p.m.

This last Iowa State game, the first half was very eye-opening and exciting.

We were excited because we wanted to make a statement to the Big 12, and just let everyone know that the Mountain West can compete, and not only compete, but dominate an opponent. The first half I felt like everyone was on the same page and everyone was into it. I felt that the offense and defense were working together, and the difference between that first half and the second half, I think everyone became kind of lax. As far as the defense, we were running more zone. I feel the same with the offense. They had to tweak a couple of things. Really, we got away from the things we were doing in the first half and gave them a chance to get back in the game.

I guess the positive thing about that second half is that even though we let them back in the game, I think that we're learning how to finish, learning how to win. Even though they came back and tied the score up, I felt that on offense and defense and from a coaching stand point that we kept our composure. That really shows that we're growing as a team, because a year ago or two years ago, we would have lost hope or would have set in our minds like 'OK, I guess this isn't our game.' We're learning how to finish, and that's the good thing we take from that game.

Me personally, and the defense, even though we won, it almost felt like we didn't win because we know we can do so much better, and I personally know that I can play so much better than we did in that second half.

On to UNR ...

We're gonna leave that game in the past because we have such a huge game this week, and really this game is about, I'm not going to say vengeance, but it's something like that. It's going to be won through the heart. Whoever really wants this game, it's going to be smashmouth football, and the team that wants it more is going to win. All things are thrown out. The records, what we've done these last couple of weeks, the wins we've had, all that's thrown out when we play Reno.

This really is one of our biggest games. It's exciting that we have a rivalry like the one we do with Reno. A lot of the older players come back, and it's really going to be a huge, exciting weekend to have them here in Las Vegas.

I think on defense, as far as I've seen, Reno, they like to run an option. We're really just going to have everyone accounted for as far as playing that option, because they run it a lot of different ways, so there's going to be someone accounting for the quarterback, for the pitch man, there's usually a fullback or tight end they run as a blocker, so they run that option a lot of different ways, so I think that will be a key as far as the defense. That'll be something we'll really need to stop.

On offense, they've proven themselves in that they can play with anybody and they can put up a lot of points, and that's always good to have. Everyone has to see that really when we play our best, it's not all about the other team. It's just playing our best football. When we play our best football in all aspects of the game, we really can compete with anybody, and it's really on us. It really starts with practice, so we'll see how everyone's feeling and we'll make sure everyone's humble for this game.

I'm sure penalties will play a huge role in this week's game just like it did last week. We kept our composure and we're going to have to do the same this week. When they hit Omar (Clayton in the end zone, it really woke the team up. It made us want that game that much more.

We need to not have mistakes on defense or mistakes on offense. Like the last game, it wasn't anything amazing that they did. It was mistakes that we made that let them back. That can't happen. We're growing, so hopefully the growth will show this weekend.

Playing for the hardware ...

As many people know, the Cannon - we like to chant 'What we plannin'? To get that Cannon' - it's one of the most expensive trophies in college football, and I remember my first year here, I was redshirting, I really didn't understand what the Cannon meant and what kind of a big deal it was, and kind of took it for granted. And the worst part was when I started playing, we lost all the Reno games. Here's a huge opportunity to really claim it and really be a big part of getting that Cannon back.

We're all excited, and we've decided that this year's the year, and we're going to do our best and put on a show for Las Vegas and get the Cannon back.