2006 WAC Surprises, Disappointments, MVPs

2006 WAC Surprises, Disappointments, Bests, MVPs and More

CFN 2006 All-WAC Team and Top 30 Players
 
Coach of the Year – Chris Petersen, Boise State
San Jose State's Dick Tomey is a close second. Did Dan Hawkins or Dirk Koetter get to the BCS? Sure, Boise State would've gotten in a few years ago under the current rules, but Petersen is the one who actually got it done leading the team to an unbeaten season, yet another WAC title, and the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma despite being the circle-on-the-calendar game for everyone in the WAC. The offense remained explosive.

Worst Coaching Job of the Year – Pat Hill, Fresno State
Where was the leadership when the team lost heart breakers to Oregon and Washington? Hill has focused the program so much on trying to be a big boy that it's lost sight of winning the games it's supposed to. The 13-12 loss to Utah State was as inexcusable as it gets, and the team wasn't even competitive against Hawaii or Boise State.

Best Performance of the Season - Hawaii QB Colt Brennan completed 18 of 29 passes for 413 yards and six touchdowns with an interception in the 63-10 win over Utah State.

Top Freshman – Utah State LB Paul Igboeli
He came on over the second half of the season to become the team's most promising young defensive star getting in on 17 tackles against Louisiana Tech and cranking out double-digit stops against both Boise State and New Mexico State to close out the year. He also grew into a fantastic pass rusher.

Most Disappointing Player – Nevada QB Jeff Rowe
While Rowe wasn't awful, he didn't light anyone up like he was supposed to. The veteran passer was expected to explode with two years of starting experience under his belt, but he was mediocre at best, ineffective at worst throwing for just 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions while failing to come up with a meaningful win in WAC play.

Biggest Surprise – San Jose State
The Spartans were supposed to be a bit better in Dick Tomey's second year, but no one could've expected an 8-4 season and a bowl bid from a program that spent the last several years as one of the nation's worst. The defense was good enough to keep the team in games, while the offense was balanced and opportunistic.

Biggest Disappointment – Fresno State
4-8 is not where the program is supposed to be at this point. After starting the year with a strong win over Nevada, and great showings in losses to Oregon and Washington, the wheels completely came off losing six straight before struggling to get past New Mexico State. Where was the defensive toughness? Where were the playmakers on offense other than RB Dwayne Wright? It was truly a lost year.

Best Game of the WAC Season 
Boise State 23 ... San Jose State 20, Nov. 11
Down 20-12 late in the fourth, Boise State got a one-yard touchdown run from Jared Zabransky followed up by a successful two-point conversion on a pass to Jerard Rabb to tie it. After the defense held, the BSU offense eight 18 yards in seven plays to set up a 37-yard Anthony Montgomery field goal as time ran out. Montgomery hit three field goals on the day and Ian Johnson ran for a two-yard score, but San Jose State got up on three Adam Tafralis touchdown passes and a great 54 minutes from the defense. Matt Castelo made 20 tackles for the Spartans.
Second Best Game – Hawaii 41 ... Nevada 34, Oct. 7
Third Best Game – Boise State 41 ... Hawaii 34, Sept. 23

Worst Game of the WAC Season 
Fresno State 34 ... Idaho 0
Fresno State had no problems with Idaho as Dwayne Wright ran for 133 yards and caught an 18-yard touchdown pass. Tom Brandstater threw two touchdown passes, but it was the Fresno State running game, gaining 290 yards, and the defense that made it a laugher. Idaho managed just 199 yards of total offense, committed nine penalties and completed just ten of 30 passes for 92 yards.

Team MVPs   
Boise State – RB Ian Johnson, LB Korey Hall
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 11-1, final regular season record: 12-0

Fresno State – RB Dwayne Wright, LB Dwayne Andrews
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 7-5, final regular season record: 4-8

Hawaii – QB Colt Brennan, DE Melila Purcell
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 9-4, final regular season record: 10-3

Idaho – OG Jade Tadvick, LB David Vobora
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 3-9, final regular season record: 4-8

Louisiana Tech  - RB Patrick Johnson, LB Quin Harris
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 7-6, final regular season record: 3-10

Nevada – RB Robert Hubbard, DE J.J. Milan
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 8-4, final regular season record: 8-4

New Mexico State – QB Chase Holbrook, LB Tim McManigal
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 3-9, final regular season record: 4-8

San Jose State – QB Adam Tafralis, CB Dwight Lowery
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 2-10, final regular season record: 8-4

Utah State – RB Marcus Cross, DE Ben Calderwood
CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 1-11, final regular season record: 1-11

CFN 2006 All-WAC Team and Top 30 Players