The WAC is, and has been, conference that is usually determined by a cast of two teams, or an occasional third squad that makes some noise. For the better part of this decade those two teams have been Boise State, which joined the conference in 2001, and Fresno State. I am perfectly aware of the problems of placing the lable on Fresno State as one of the perenial top two teams in the conference, given the fact that they haven’t placed themselves in the top two in conference standings just once in the last five years. However I feel that Fresno is clearly the second best program in th conference, even if the records don’t indicate that. The late season fits of absent-mindedness are what have doomed that team in its quest to win its first conference championship since 1999. Hawaii, while being inherently able to make a run at the top two, thanks largely to the offensive firepower of the June Jones, Run and Shoot system. They have not had the ability to entrench themselves at the top, in large part due to their lack of defensive play making ability, shown here, here and here all this, despite the presence of noted defensive tactician, and snazzy dressing, cowboy hat wearing Jerry Glanville. Glanville, now head coach at Portland State, was never able to do much, despite the presence of defensive front sevens which consisted, almost entirely of large Samoan men, with an intimidating hair and difficult to pronounce names. These three figure to be the main players in the melodramatic outcome of the conference. That is not to say that others don’t have the ability to make some sort of impact on the conference race, particularly New Mexico State, which is merely a Colt 45 to Hawaii’s 44 Magnum, and San Jose State which brings something relativly forgine to WAC play, namely a rock solid, lock down corner in Dwight Lowrey.
Standings
- Hawaii
- Boise State
- Fresno State
- San Jose State
- New Mexico State
- Nevada
- Idaho
- Louisiana State
- Utah State.
Conference Game of the Year – Boise State vs Hawaii – November 23
While there will not be a more exciting game than the one played between New Mexico State and Hawaii, this one will be the most important. Chances are that this will be billed as a matchup between the high flying arial attack of Hawaii vs the ground based, grind it out offense of Boise State. While that may be the way in which the game shakes out, to lable Boise as a stodgy, grind it out, old school Woody Hayes three yards and a cloud of dust offense is off the mark, way off the mark. Boise has usually averaged over 200 yards per game on the ground for the past few years, but the passing game has usually been the focus of the offense. While not at the level of Hawaii and Timmy Chang, the Bronco’s have produced some nice quarterbacks in their tenure in the WAC, their last two, Jared Zebransky of NCAA 08 fame and Ryan Dinwiddie. But the balance of the offense is what has stoped them from producing in the astronomical catagory like their Warrior friends. The game itself promises to be a good one. Neither school will be able to stop the others offense du jur, and points and yards will by flying all over the field. The back seven of the Warriors will be equal to the inexperienced passing game of the Broncos, but the Warriors won’t be able to stop the big, talented offensive line of Boise from wearing them down with Ian Johnson. Boise will score. A lot. But Hawaii will score more. Boise State will not have the pass rush to force Brennan’s hand. He will have time to stand tall in the pocket and spread the ball to his recievers. Boise’s corners are decent, and they have some experience, but the secondary does not have the depth to contain Jason Rivers, Ryan Grice-Mullen and Davone Bess. They won’t exactly be running free in clear in the game, but I can’t envision a scenario in which all three can be consistantly contained for large periods of the game. That is the key to the game, Boise State’s inability to contain those receivers.
All Conference Team
- QB: Colt Brennan, Hawaii
- RB: Ian Johnson, Boise State
- RB: Yonus Davis, San Jose State
- WR: Davone Bess, Hawaii
- WR: Chris Williams, New Mexico State
- WR: Ryan Grice-Mullen, Hawaii
- TE: Bear Pascoe, Fresno State
- C: Jeff Cavender, Boise State
- G: Hercules Satele, Hawaii
- G: Cole Popovich, Fresno State
- T: Ryan Clady, Boise State
- T: Bradis McGriff
- DE: Nick Schlekeway, Boise State
- DT: Michael Lafaele, Hawaii
- DT: Matt Hines, Nevada
- DE: Tyler Clutts, Fresno State
- LB: Ezra Butler, Nevada
- LB: Adam Leonard, Hawaii
- LB: Matt Castelo, San Jose State
- CB: Dwight Lowrey, San Jose State
- CB: Stanley Franks, Idaho
- SS: Marty Tadman, Boise State
- FS: Jacob Patek, Hawaii
- K: Dan Kelly, Hawaii
- P: Jared Kaufman, New Mexico State
- PR: Chris Williams, New Mexico State
- KR: Dwayne Sanders, Nevada
