<p>FRANK SCHWAB
THE GAZETTE</p>
<p>The temporary move to eight teams in the Mountain West Conference next season hasnt been fun for those in charge of scheduling.</p>
<p>Open dates are nice if you can fill them. Air Force mens basketball and especially football are in a bit of a bind for next season. Football still hasnt found an opponent to fill its open date. Basketball scheduling doesnt happen years in advance like football, but there are issues looming for 2011-12. The Mountain West will go from nine to eight teams next season. The conference will have 10 teams for football in 2012, and nine for all other sports (Hawaii is joining in football only).</p>
<p>Air Force senior associate athletic director Jim Trego has been working nine hours a day for weeks to fill the Falcons open football date in 2011. Hes still looking.</p>
<p>To get a Division I (FBS) team, certain things will have to fall into place, Trego said. Every day its getting more difficult.</p>
<p>College football teams usually fill their schedules years in advance, so there arent many with open dates in 2011. Trego said TCU is also having a tough time getting another opponent. One of the problems for Air Force is the unique matchup it presents with its option offense, and that the Falcons should be pretty good next season. Of the few teams with an open date, apparently none want to play Air Force, especially in Colorado Springs. Air Force is holding out hope to get a seventh home game next season.</p>
<p>The Falcons could get into a situation of debating the pros and cons of playing an FCS school, but that would mean a pair of lower-division teams on the schedule, which is not ideal. Trego said Air Force could also play just 11 games, another less-than-perfect solution. Perhaps a date will open up for an enticing FBS team, perhaps if it buys out a contract with another opponent.</p>
<p>I can tell you, Im leaving no rock unturned, Trego said.</p>
<p>Basketball is also going to have to scramble. The two extra nonconference dates on the schedule will be tough to fill because of timing. Usually teams start conference play by the first week of January, but a pared-down Mountain West could start later. San Diego State coach Steve Fisher said last week during a teleconference that many Mountain West teams, the Aztecs included, might have problems filling more dates.</p>
<p>Nobody wants to play a nonconference game once you get into conference, Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said. Teams are already starting to talk about how difficult it will be to find that game after Christmas to Jan. 15, or whenever well start league play.</p>
<p>2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</p>
<p>Air Force is still trying to fill out its 2011 football schedule. The Falcons have one open date. Here are the 11 games that are on the schedule already (dates for conference games to be determined):</p>
<p>Home games: Army (Nov. 5), San Diego State, South Dakota (Sept. 3), TCU, UNLV, Wyoming</p>
<p>Road games: Boise State, Colorado State, Navy (Oct. 1), New Mexico, Notre Dame (Oct. 8)</p>