Not a lot of lover here for the WAC from College Football News
Feb 23 2005
Spring Preview 2005 ... WAC
The WAC's top storylines
By Pete Fiutak
1. New year, same Boise State
Forget about the rest of the WAC "exhibition" games, it all comes down to November 12th when Boise State goes to Fresno State play for what should be the WAC title game. The Broncos have beaten the Bulldogs four straight times ruining WAC title hopes four straight times for Pat Hill and Fresno State. Hill's crew gets more national respect because there's been a few more splashy non-conference wins along with some great looking bowl victories, but it's still Boise State that rules the roost. This should be one of the best FSU teams ever with more than enough talent to win the WAC and is more then good enough to beat Oregon early. Meanwhile, Boise State will likely fly under the radar again if it loses to Georgia or Oregon State early on. Then all the pressure will mount and Dan Hawkins' team will travel to Fresno for a little of the same old, same old. This has to be the year Fresno State finally gets the job done of the WAC title should simply be permanently handed to Boise.
2. The new lesser league
Just when Tulsa and UTEP were becoming WAC factors and potential players in the title race, they upped and left for Conference USA taking also-rans SMU and Rice along for the ride. Unfortunately, replacing the lost teams with Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State, three bottom-feeders (fine, so NMSU was more of an also-ran than a cellar-dweller) won't exactly help the Q rating. Their addition makes the non-conference matchups with the big boys even more vital than ever. An unbeaten WAC record won't register a blip on the national scale if one of the losses come to one of the higher profile teams (with the possible exception of a Fresno State loss to USC). No offense to the WAC, but Boise State, Fresno State and Hawaii should be spending their time beating down the Mountain West's door. However ...
3. ... one of the new additions will be a blast to watch
Joe Q. College Fan won't give two hoots about New Mexico State, but this could be one of the WAC's most fun teams to watch over the next few seasons with new head coach Hal Mumme and his passing attack that Southeastern used to lead DI-AA in offense and passing offense averaging 537 yards and 408 passing yards per game. Just imagine the fun of a Hawaii - NMSU game with 100 passes and a bazillion passing yards. Just imagine some of the high-scoring old-time WAC football shootouts that used to define the league. If nothing else, Mumme and his offense should bring plenty of attention. I pray to the scheduling gods that the Texas Tech and New Mexico State ADs are on the phone as we speak.
4. Big Two, Little Seven
The league might not look that great on paper, but the potential is there for a good dogfight for the number three spot behind Boise State and Fresno State. Louisiana Tech loses RB Ryan Moats, but the Bulldogs, like Nevada, San Jose State and Utah State, return a ton of experience. Hawaii has to make some wholesale changes, but it's always competitive (at least at home). Even Idaho is improving a little bit. O.K., so WAC football won't be appointment television for most college football fans, but those who enjoy the late Saturday night games will have some good matchups to watch all year long.
5. The new coaching blood
A big coup for the league was keeping Dan Hawkins at Boise State and Pat Hill at Fresno State. These two have the résumés to take over more high profile teams, but they stayed home bringing more stability to a conference that needs it. June Jones is still out at Hawaii and Jack Bicknell is still at Louisiana Tech, but the rest of the league is full of new coaches. Idaho's Nick Holt is only in his second year as is Nevada's Chris Ault (even though this is his second go-round with the program). Everyone else is new with Hal Mumme at New Mexico State, Dick Tomey at San Jose State and Brent Guy at Utah State. Even though it's asking a lot for coach to come in an make an impact like Mike Price did last year at UTEP, the overall level of WAC coaching has taken a step up.
6. The impossible turnaround
Bring us your tired, your poor, your fired coaches. One of the WAC's interesting hires was Dick Tomey at San Jose State looking to turnaround the impossible team. San Jose State's D-I status and football program have been hanging by a thread for years meaning Tomey has to try to resurrect his career by changing the entire mindset of the program. There was a time when San Jose State was a living, breathing college football semi-power with an explosive offense, but the last winning season was 1992 and the last bowl game 1990. The program has relied on JUCO transfers and plenty of road games making continuity impossible. If Tomey can get the Spartans to a bowl game in the next few years, any Coach of the Year award is his.
7. The geography of the WAC
Wouldn't it have made more sense if Louisiana Tech left for Conference USA and UTEP stayed in the WAC? With all of the movement and shifting of conferences, several geographic anomalies were fixed such as Idaho in the Sun Belt, but Louisiana Tech is still at a distinct disadvantage for road games and advantage with home games because of where it's located. No coach likes to play at Hawaii because of the flight over the pond, but there's no real fit for any other league except maybe the Pac 10 or Mountain West. Now imagine the smile on June Jones' face when his Warriors have to make the trip to Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech has to make long trips to Nevada, Fresno State and Utah State while Boise State has to make the long journey for a big-time trap game. It'll be worth noting how this all works out.
|
