The Spartans finished last in the WAC coaches' and media preseason polls. Coincidentally, first-year coach Mike MacIntyre was the last coach scheduled for a press conference at the media preview in Salt Lake City.

"I guess my goal next year is to make sure I'm not the last guy on the podium," he said.

MacIntyre has a massive rebuilding task on his hands. The Spartans, who won the New Mexico Bowl in 2006, are 13-23 in the past three years. That includes a 2-10 mark last year.

The losing has been defined by two consistent traits -- the inability to run the ball or stop the run. One of MacIntyre's first agenda items was to improve the conditioning of his team, which should help in the run game.

The former Duke defensive coordinator said a similar program led to a team-wide 739-pound weight loss in his first year with the Blue Devils.

"We're going to be in phenomenal condition," he said. "That's our goal -- to get every game to the second half and find out what happens from there."

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