2009 CFN WAC Preview
Team Previews &
Predictions
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Boise State
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Fresno State |
Hawaii |
Idaho |
Louisiana Tech
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Nevada |
New Mexico
State |
San Jose
State |
Utah State
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2009 CFN WAC Preview
- WAC Team-by-Team
Capsules
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CFN All-WAC Team &
Top 30 Players
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WAC Unit
Rankings
- WAC Schedules &
Predictions
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2008 CFN WAC Preview
By
Pete Fiutak
The WAC has roughly three
years to make a big step up and become a more powerful conference. At
the moment, it's not getting the respect the Mountain West is receiving
and it's roughly a half-step behind Conference USA and a little bit
ahead of the MAC and Sun Belt in the overall pecking order. The top
teams, Boise State, Fresno State, and Nevada, have been solid, but now
it's up to the rear to make a big improvement to help in the respect
department.
The bottom feeders have made coaching changes, and
they've come up with some major coups. Dewayne Walker was this
close to being the head coach at UCLA, and now he should work wonders at
New Mexico State ... eventually. Gary Andersen is a good coaching
prospect who should do a great job at Utah State ... eventually. If
these two do a fantastic job, they're upwardly mobile enough to move on
in a hurry to bigger programs, but NMSU and Utah State, respectively,
can only hope to have enough success to get the top programs to come
calling for their coaches.
Idaho still doesn't appear to be
making any great strides under Robb Akey and Hawaii should struggle with
a tough schedule, but the league should come up with a decent year
mainly because the midsection should rise up. The bottom will still be
lousy, at least until the new coaches get their programs untracked, but
Louisiana Tech is about to hit its stride under Derek Dooley, there's a
sense of urgency for Pat Hill at Fresno State, and Nevada is loaded with
one of the best running games in America. Boise State is still Boise
State, and San Jose State should be as good as it's been since Dick
Tomey took over. But it'll still take a slew of big non-conference wins
to change up the national perception of the league, and, again, the
bottom teams can't be so miserable again. It's hard for Boise State to
make a claim to being in a BCS game when it rips through a league with
so many gimmes.
So while the league powers want to keep pushing
for their top teams to get a sniff from the BCS games, it's still going
to take something special to get one of the at-large spots. That doesn't
mean that Boise State won't be worthy if it can beat Oregon and roll to
yet another double-digit win season, but it'll be harder this year to
wake up and get another WAC title.
The games should be more
entertaining across the board, as if last year's Nevada - Boise State
battle could've been more thrilling. But week in and week out, there
should be a nice battle among the top teams to battle for a good spot in
the conference pecking order. Can San Jose State pull off a few key road
upsets to be a player in the title race? Can the Nevada offensive
machine be enough to overcome some defensive flaws? Will Louisiana Tech
take the next step forward that many are expecting? Don't just assume
it'll be Boise State and eight other teams. This should be one of the
best years the WAC has had in a long time, even if it doesn't conclude
with a spot in one of the big five bowls.
Team That'll Surprise
San Jose State - The receiving corps could end up
being the best in the WAC thanks to the return of Kevin Jurovich, the
defensive front seven is fantastic, and there are enough athletes across
the board to hand around with just about everyone on the schedule (and
yes, that might include USC for about a half). There are too many tough
road games to win the WAC title, the Spartans have to go to Boise State,
Fresno State, and Louisiana Tech, but that doesn't mean Dick Tomey's
team won't be a tough out.
Team That'll Disappoint
Hawaii - The Warriors have been great at taking
advantage of one of the best home field advantages in college football
to win just enough games to go bowling year after year, but it'll be
tough to get a 14th game this season. The passing game will have its
moments, but it won't be consistent. The defense, under beleaguered
coach Greg McMackin, will be fine, but nothing special, and there are
too many tough road battles. Getting Boise State and Wisconsin at home
won't be a plus.
Game of the Year
… Nov. 27, Nevada at Boise State. The Wolf Pack was getting blown out
against the Broncos last year before roaring back in the second half.
Boise State held on for a 41-34 win, and this year's game could be just
as entertaining. It should also go a long way to determining the WAC
championship with Louisiana Tech's game against Boise State on November
6th in Ruston being almost as important.
5 Big-Time Players Who Deserve a
Bigger Spotlight ...
1. C John Estes, Sr. Hawaii
2. WR Phillip Livas,
Jr. Louisiana Tech
3. LB Ben Jacobs, Jr. Fresno State
4. DE Ryan
Winterswyk, Jr. Boise State
5. DE Carl Ihenacho, Sr. San Jose State
Coach
on the Hot Seat
Pat Hill, Fresno State - There have been some nice
moments against some big name teams, but yearly losses to Boise State
and too many disappointments have made this a win-or-else year after 12
extremely interesting seasons. Idaho's Robb Akey also needs to show that
things are pointed in the right direction of there will likely be a
coaching change in Moscow next offseason.
5 Non-Conference Games that WAC opponents had better take very, very seriously
1.
Oregon at Boise State, Sept. 3
2. Louisiana Tech at Auburn, Sept. 5
3. Nevada at Notre Dame, Sept. 5
4. San Jose State at Stanford, Sept.
19
5. Fresno State at Illinois, Dec. 5
Bold
Prediction
… The WAC will be the hotbed of attention for its quarterbacks ... in
2010.
The WAC QBs will be the hot topic next
offseason by those looking for a new, fresh story. However, they'll be
worth watching this year. Nevada's Colin Kaepernick should have a national coming out party
against Notre Dame to start the season, Boise State's Kellen Moore
should be one of the nation's most efficient passers, Utah State's
Diondre Borel should be a thrilling dual-threat playmaker, and Fresno
State's Derek Carr, David Carr's little brother, has the talent to get
the next level types all fired up. Actually, Ryan Colburn might have something to
say about the quarterback race at Fresno State, but overall, the league
will be loaded with good signal callers who should upgrade the league's
profile.
5 Best Pro Prospects
1. CB Kyle Wilson, Sr. Boise Statebr>2. DT
D'Anthony Smith, Sr. Louisiana Tech
3. C John Estes, Sr. Hawaii
4.
RB Ryan Matthews, Jr. Fresno State
5. D Carl Ihenacho, Sr. San Jose
State
5
Biggest Shoes to Fill
1. DT Kalvin Cressel for Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State
2. LB
R.J. Kiesel Kauhane for Solomon Eliminian, Hawaii
3. S
Michael
Zant for Derrick Richardson, New Mexico State
4. C
Kenneth Ackerman for Dominic Green, Nevada
5. DE Elliot
Purcell for David Veikune, Hawaii
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